Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Developer(s)Frictional Games
Publisher(s)Frictional Games
Designer(s)
  • Thomas Grip
  • Jens Nilsson
Programmer(s)
  • Thomas Grip
  • Luis A. Rodero Morales
Writer(s)
  • Mikael Hedberg
  • Thomas Grip
Composer(s)Mikko Tarmia
EngineHPL Engine 2
Platform(s)
Release
  • Linux, OS X, Windows
  • September 8, 2010
  • PlayStation 4
  • November 22, 2016
  • Xbox One
  • September 28, 2018
  • Nintendo Switch
  • September 12, 2019
Genre(s)Survival horror, adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a 2010 survival horror[1] adventure game developed and published by Frictional Games.[2] It was first released on September 8, 2010, for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. The game follows Daniel, who must explore the dark and foreboding Castle Brennenburg, while trying to maintain his sanity by avoiding monsters and unsettling events.[3] It became a critical and commercial success, earning three awards at the Independent Games Festival, and was cited as one of the most "influential games of the decade" by The Washington Post.[4][5]

Originally self-published via online distribution, the game later received retail releases by 1C Company in Russia and Eastern Europe, as well as THQ in North America.[6][7][8] In 2011, an expansion titled Amnesia: Justine, alongside a collection of five short stories set in the world of the game, written by Mikael Hedberg and illustrated by the game's concept artists, were made available.[9][10] In addition, many fan-made mods were released throughout the years.

The Dark Descent was followed by Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs (2013), an indirect sequel developed by The Chinese Room. The Amnesia Collection – containing The Dark Descent, its Justine expansion and A Machine for Pigs – was released for PlayStation 4 on November 22, 2016, for Xbox One on September 28, 2018, and for Nintendo Switch on September 12, 2019.[11]

  1. ^ "Amnesia: The Dark Descent for PC". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2012. Age rating=Pegi 16, M for mature
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference game was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Amnesia: The Dark Descent – PC Hands On Archived 11 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine Eurogamer, 25 July 2010.
  4. ^ "Indie Rock: 2011 IGF Winners Announced". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. 3 March 2011. Archived from the original on 9 September 2014.
  5. ^ Park, Gene; Favis, Elise; Klimentov, Mikhail (19 December 2019). "The most influential games of the decade". The Washington Post. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  6. ^ 1C-SoftClub/Snowball to publish Amnesia: The Dark Descent in Russia & Eastern Europe Archived 20 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine Frictional Games, 3 May 2010 (Article by Jens Nilsson)
  7. ^ Chalk, Andy (16 February 2011). "Amnesia: The Dark Descent Coming to Retail". The Escapist. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  8. ^ Mitchell, Richard (16 February 2011). "THQ places Amnesia: The Dark Descent in a retail box". Joystiq. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  9. ^ "Amnesia: The Dark Descent gets a free expansion!". In the Games of Madness: Official Blog of Frictional Games. 12 April 2011. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016.
  10. ^ Bardin, Maxim (17 November 2010). "Amnesia: Justine – Now Available To Everyone". Linux Gaming News. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  11. ^ SICKR (12 September 2019). "Amnesia Collection out today on Nintendo Switch". My Nintendo News. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2020.