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
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  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. 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
  3. 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

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
  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
See all critic reviews »