The Long Dark

 Xbox One
User Score
6.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 46 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 46
  3. Negative: 11 out of 46
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  1. thereviewlawman
    Aug 19, 2017
    7
    THE LONG DARK gave me a mixed impression when i played it. I had to use my mind while playing so that to me offered something that is not all that common now. The graphics were in a unique style that i had never seen before. As I previously stated, thinking was an important aspect of the game determining whether or not you died or survived. I was always wary of wildlife knowing the soundTHE LONG DARK gave me a mixed impression when i played it. I had to use my mind while playing so that to me offered something that is not all that common now. The graphics were in a unique style that i had never seen before. As I previously stated, thinking was an important aspect of the game determining whether or not you died or survived. I was always wary of wildlife knowing the sound of a wolf howl could save your life(I learned this the hard way). The game is unforgiving and surviving for more than a couple of hours when starting a game is challenging no matter what difficulty you are playing on.IN THE LONG DARK you will soon know how cruel mother nature can be. You may decide to look for a new home but as soon as are just of sight of your old safe house the wind picks up snow starts falling in droves and you hear the heart piercing howl of a wolf not far from your current position. Chances are you will succumb to the cold, be mauled by the wolf or manage to stumble back to your base and die of hypothermia as you attempt to light a fire. YOU HAVE FADED INTO THE LONG DARK is a phrase you will see or hear often. No matter your skill level i have often thought i was safe only to find how neck deep in peril i actually was.

    Here is a recount of one of my personal experiences. I am stocked up on food and supplies in a barn and i am ready to find a more long term sustainable home. I have no way to hunt but i have a hunting to harvest already dead carcasses. So i set out into the wild ready for anything, or so i thought. While I was so excited about long term survival I began to forget about short about short term survival. The wind was picking up and snow was falling more heavily and steadily. If I was paying more attention i would have noticed I was on the cusp of a blizzard yet I didn't so i played the price in blood. My breathing became more rasp and hoarse and i learned i now had hypothermia. I began to run in the direction of the barn i had set out from throwing all caution to the wind which was now giving me windchill. I almost decided to just give myself over to the elements but low and behold I caught sight of the barn only a hundred feet away. My heart now set on survival i began to shamble towards the barn safety within reach,when i heard the howl. I was now face to face with a wolf caught in a life or death struggle. I heaved the wolf off my and burst inside the barn which consisted of waiting at a loading screen. I was safe or so i thought my arm had been ripped open by the wolf and there was now a risk of infection. Later that day i went to bed with a fire roaring my arm bandaged and antibiotics swallowed.I woke in the middle of the night to find severe infection had set in and i had a very bad case of hypothermia. My vision was blurred and I knew without a shadow of a doubt I would soon be rapping on death's door. I was facing the end so I decided I would face death weapon in hand. I open the door to the outside stepped out and faced the wolf.

    While this game is fun it is more of a required video game taste. There are problems with THE LONG DARK but if you interested in survival i will recommend give this game a try.    … Expand
  2. anti_lov
    Nov 4, 2016
    9
    Highly immersive and stylistically slick, The Long Dark is equal parts rewarding, terrifyingly lonely, and challenging. At the onset of entering one of multiple areas of its large frozen sandbox world, you will be pressed to scavenge in order to secure food, water, and warmth to make it through the long cold nights. With some luck and common sense, you'll begin to store up the supplies andHighly immersive and stylistically slick, The Long Dark is equal parts rewarding, terrifyingly lonely, and challenging. At the onset of entering one of multiple areas of its large frozen sandbox world, you will be pressed to scavenge in order to secure food, water, and warmth to make it through the long cold nights. With some luck and common sense, you'll begin to store up the supplies and tools you need to keep alive, and with some thoughtful planing, you can begin collecting and assembling items to make your task easier and more sustainable. You'll learn that living off the land is key.

    From my exp with the game, resources like wood (used for fire and tools) will not "regen" and reappear in the open world once found and used, which makes things realistic but will force you to keep moving, exploring, and not getting too settled in one place for too long. Once you have run out of wood for a fire source within reach of where you are, for example, you can be left with no choice but to move on to find another source of shelter and resources. Depending on your play style, you will love or hate this aspect of the game.

    All in all, I have survived around three weeks with my current play through, and while there is a learning curve that might keep some players away, once you get into the groove of the game it is quite a rush, in the lonely harsh open world kind of way, where each day you live feels like a mini victory in and of itself.

    Although the game is not narrative heavy, there is certainly a story unfolding in a subtle way, waiting to be discovered as you explore. No fancy cutscenes or voice acting...just clues to something bad that has happened leaving countless dead and an unforgiving world for you to survive in. Overall, enjoying my time and vibe of the game!    … Expand
  3. pajama_dad
    Aug 22, 2016
    10
    For a $20 dollar early access game you get a surprising amount of content that has been updated and polished at a pretty consistent rate. The sandbox is exactly what you want in a survival game- punishing yet fun, beautiful and stylish in presentation, realistic in its systems without feeling cumbersome.
  4. Jspotter89
    Aug 24, 2017
    10
    I had played survival-horror games before The Long Dark. I had never played a pure survival game. I came into TLD without ever having heard of it, or playing it over the course of its long trial period. It showed up as an ad on my Xbox, and the art style (and free-to-play days) was enough to get me to give it a try.

    Boy, am I glad I did. This is not a flashy game, although it can be    I had played survival-horror games before The Long Dark. I had never played a pure survival game. I came into TLD without ever having heard of it, or playing it over the course of its long trial period. It showed up as an ad on my Xbox, and the art style (and free-to-play days) was enough to get me to give it a try.

    Boy, am I glad I did. This is not a flashy game, although it can be visually captivating a lot of time. Your goal is very basic, and your activities mundane. You must survive, and to do that, you must fish, hunt, harvest plants, loot abandoned buildings, boil water, and cook food. Yet, somehow, when combined with the stark, stylish visuals, this is enough. More than enough, even.

    I've never experienced a game that has such a pedestrian purpose (simply to live), with mundane tasks, that still feels exciting, and had genuine pulse-pounding moments. Will I make it back to my shelter before I freeze to death after a sudden blizzard caught me in the open? Will my character, who has survived 150 days in the wild, die suddenly from a wolf attack, or from falling off a rope I tried to climb when I was too tired? Do I need that bear's hide so badly that I have to risk a mauling to get it? How do I balance just the right amount of food and water to carry to make a trek to a new region that might take 3 to 5 days to get there? Where is the nearest cave or shack that I can use to weather any blizzard that catches me outdoors?

    All of these question and more have confronted me at one time or another, and not all were answered successfully. Over the course of living in this wild, austere setting, you come to recognize the sound of crows hovering over the carcasses of men and beasts, the low growl of a nearby wolf stalking you, and the cracking of ice that is not thick enough to support your weight.

    Simply put, if you enjoy games that don't force you to "crank it to 11" at all times, TLD is a wonderful experience. It is stylish and immersive in a way that many games are not, and it forces you to learn its systems or face the consequences. In a game area that is about 50 square kilometers, it offers you no fast travel, and only the most rudimentary of maps that you yourself have to work to reveal. I've never played anything like it.    … Expand
  5. CreepyB4by
    Sep 27, 2020
    1
    Rough game. Doesn't even tell you how to start a fire outside of a fireplace. I couldn't figure it out in survival mode so I switched to story mode and they don't tell you how to do it in story mode, either, so I had to google it. Lame.

    You know what else is lame? Needing a heavy hammer and a forge to make a sliver of metal with tape or cloth wrapped around one end. Why do I need a    Rough game. Doesn't even tell you how to start a fire outside of a fireplace. I couldn't figure it out in survival mode so I switched to story mode and they don't tell you how to do it in story mode, either, so I had to google it. Lame.

    You know what else is lame? Needing a heavy hammer and a forge to make a sliver of metal with tape or cloth wrapped around one end. Why do I need a forge to make an improvised knife and why can't I just make a better knife if I have a forge at my disposal?

    It's also rough in that instead of harvesting supplies from the wild and beating nature, so to speak, you have to scavenge abandoned buildings for cans of soda and such man-made items. It's like a post apocalypse survival game more than a nature survival game.

    Then there's the story. I'm not going to get into it too much, but it doesn't make sense right off the top. Why am I supposed to care about this person's ex? Why am I looking for her when she isn't looking for me? Why do I care about helping a blind woman in the Canadian interior? There is no motivation at all. They could have wrote it in that the blind woman saves your life so at least you might feel indebted to her or something. Nope.

    Also sucks hunting rabbits with rocks and no targeting reticle, esp when cooking and eating them doesn't seem to do anything for hunger. I get more out of eating a can of sardines, unless it gives me food poisoning, in which case, rather than just puke or have diarrhea for a while, it kills me in my sleep. This game doesn't make any sense.    … Expand
  6. Turms_of_Alps
    May 11, 2021
    10
    There is snow. There is cold. There is wind. Its not everyones cup of tea. The illustration style is moody and poetic. Walking and surviving simulator that makes you learn it the hard way.
  7. ganjabanshee
    Jan 2, 2022
    0
    This is the best survival game ever !
    Incredible atmosphere...can't stop...playing.
  8. Broyax
    Apr 16, 2020
    0
    Je crois que cet étron indé a été longtemps une daube en accès anticipé avant de devenir un étron confirmé... un étron épisodique qui plus est, morceau par morceau, developpé par une équipe de caves dans un garage... avec des moufles. Et avec l'Unity, le moteur préféré des développeurs indépendants parce qu'on peut bricoler n'importe comment et qu'il est très portable (disponible surJe crois que cet étron indé a été longtemps une daube en accès anticipé avant de devenir un étron confirmé... un étron épisodique qui plus est, morceau par morceau, developpé par une équipe de caves dans un garage... avec des moufles. Et avec l'Unity, le moteur préféré des développeurs indépendants parce qu'on peut bricoler n'importe comment et qu'il est très portable (disponible sur toutes les plate-formes, y compris sur les smartphones d'autistes des réseaux sochiasses).

    En tout cas, l'Unity ici est en 3D mais en 16 couleurs et si laid, si vilain, si moche qu'on se demande où on a atterri... un repoussoir épouvantable ! c'est de mauvais goût par dessus le marché, boulotté avec le fion, bâclé de haut en bas et foiré de bas en haut... toute l'interface est à revoir, de la cave au grenier. La musique grinçante fait couiner quelques violons et s'avère aussi affreuse que le reste... et en plus, par dessus tout, ça se permet des ralentissements ! enfin, les cinématiques mièvres et stupides ne sont pas zappables...

    Quoi qu'il en soit, ça ne reste qu'une daube de jeu de survie très maladroit, fait en dépit du bon sens, complètement injouable et aussi amusant qu'un prospectus des impôts. Tiens, je te survis infâme daube et je tire la chaaaasse.    … Expand
  9. IronBuffalo
    Nov 16, 2018
    7
    An interesting download off the marketplace that should chew up several hours if that’s what your looking for. For challenge hounds, there are some things to keep you coming back and even for the casual it’s good enough to have you checking for updates. Definitely something that will stay on file for future rainy days.

    Gather, hunt, explore and above all else, survive in a comic style    An interesting download off the marketplace that should chew up several hours if that’s what your looking for. For challenge hounds, there are some things to keep you coming back and even for the casual it’s good enough to have you checking for updates. Definitely something that will stay on file for future rainy days.

    Gather, hunt, explore and above all else, survive in a comic style world with a serene setting and enough thrown at you to keep it feeling intense and paced enough to keep you going. The story mode drives you through the game while the survival mode is just that. Choose your pace, yet choose wisely as there is nothing more to do except see how long you can outlast the elements, animals and time.

    A well put together game, polished just enough.    … Expand
  10. Meeleepit
    Apr 28, 2021
    8
    Started playing this on gamepass after i got my xbox series x and i really enjoy this game.

    What i enjoy the most is the atmosphere of the world.

    It really feels as if i am in a icy storm.
  11. hj54
    Aug 23, 2021
    0
    The game has potential, but is ruined by the lazy devs. They haven´t even fullfilled promises made over 6 years ago. Updates are few and far between, but they sure ramp up their posts in time for a nice steam sale. Just another reminder to not buy early access games.
  12. zePineapple
    Oct 27, 2020
    0
    This game is just sloppy. I suppose they were going for realism, but it drops you in the wild with absolutely no introduction to the game mechanics. Want to build a fire? Great, figure which magic combination of buttons does that. Want food? Tough luck, you're already starving and there's nothing nearby. Want to pick something up? Good luck, the hitbox on items is tiny.

    They spent so    This game is just sloppy. I suppose they were going for realism, but it drops you in the wild with absolutely no introduction to the game mechanics. Want to build a fire? Great, figure which magic combination of buttons does that. Want food? Tough luck, you're already starving and there's nothing nearby. Want to pick something up? Good luck, the hitbox on items is tiny.

    They spent so much time on the art style they forgot it's supposed to be a playable game.    … Expand
  13. cpss86
    Apr 12, 2021
    10
    This game is just awesome. Yes I know it doesn't have 10/10 graphics and yes it's not realistic, but it has some more important to offer - STORY & GAMEPLAY. I haven't played such absorbing game for long time!
  14. Anderteyker
    Dec 26, 2021
    0
    Заскриптованое и забаганое говнище, раз 5 перезапускал так как не мог пройти дальше из-за багов + эти скрипты с медведем просто вымораживают
  15. mrtrollface
    Jun 26, 2022
    7
    As of writing, this review is based upon the 4 episodes released so far. There's supposed to be 1 more, but I doubt it will change my opinion. It's definitely not bad. If you're looking for a walking simulator, but with more interactivity, then this will do.

    PROS: - Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer (aka, both voice actors for each version of Commander Shepard in Mass Effect) are both the    As of writing, this review is based upon the 4 episodes released so far. There's supposed to be 1 more, but I doubt it will change my opinion. It's definitely not bad. If you're looking for a walking simulator, but with more interactivity, then this will do.

    PROS:
    - Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer (aka, both voice actors for each version of Commander Shepard in Mass Effect) are both the VAs for the two playable characters, and they do a great job at it.
    - Satisfies that itch for a survival game. A bit more in depth to what Subnautica does. Decently challenging on the middle difficulty, have to constantly pay attention to what you're picking up to not be overencombered.
    - Most the time, there's good rewards for completing optional tasks.
    - Good atmosphere and OST
    - Distinct art style

    CONS:
    - A lot of times, its too much of a walking simulator. Even with auto-walk enabled, it was kind of boring during the 2nd episode, which has just an enormous second area with hardly anything in it.
    - Highly repetitive
    - Not really the most interesting story
    - The unholy amount of wolf packs in episode 4 made that episode mostly unfun and tedious. This episode hardly gives you anything to properly deal with them. It's just wolf pack after wolf pack, not even 2 minutes apart sometimes.
    - No jumping at all. A very odd decision, jumping would've made the gameplay a lot better. There's times where I couldn't make a small jump above me, and I had to walk a fair distance to get even 2 feet above my head.
    - Pretty bad pathing issues with the wildlife. I was cornered by a bear once, and it just got stuck in place walking and would instantly attack me if I tried moving. Wolves will try to run away when I scare them off, but they'll sometimes run directly at me and attack even though they're supposed to be non-hostile when scared.    … Expand
  16. Stazco
    Aug 17, 2020
    9
    amazing, UNIQUE game! great immersion, nice permadeath experience, exploration is pure pleasure!

    i miss skills development in story mode and hands animation with equipped clothing
  17. DerEinheimische
    Jan 26, 2022
    9
    One of the best extrem-survival story games I've every played. Sadly it takes a while till new updates are coming and its not a game u play everyday. There are also a few bugs but overall its a great game which was made by unity.
    The story is defently worth a try.
  18. hologramme
    Jun 18, 2022
    8
    Muy bueno para ser de exploración, entretenido, pero hay que mejorarlo mucho más en el aspecto de estadísticas
  19. iskendersoysal
    Apr 17, 2023
    0
    Overrated boring so-called survival game from a trashy developer called Raphael van Lierop.

Awards & Rankings

81
#81 Best Xbox One Game of 2017
38
#38 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. GamingTrend
    Nov 13, 2019
    85
    The Long Dark is an amazing spectacle of narrative brilliance and survival. The twists and unexpected turns of the story are complemented by the survival mechanics that are challenging and thought provoking. The Survival Mode gives players a sandbox to play in, and allows them to play and survive how they see fit. With the story being released in episodic expansions, there's always a reason to come back and play.
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  2. Generación Xbox
    Jan 14, 2019
    68
    The long dark have a very good game concept, and a great gameplay but many flaws let it down.
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  3. Gaming Age
    Jan 2, 2018
    67
    I may be overcompensating the other way a little too hard when I say that it seems like a perfect fit for anyone who likes their games to be challenging. At the same time, tough, given what I saw between very frequent deaths, I’m pretty sure it’ll be a great match for anyone who doesn’t mind dying a bunch.
    Read full review
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