** This review will only cover Survival Mode, in which players survive until they die. Story Mode, while great in its own right, will not be mentioned.


The Long Dark (TLD) is a game about surviving the brutal conditions of the Canadian bush, using only what can be found and crafted. Players must endure harsh weather, aggressive wildlife, and disabling afflictions, all while maintaining basic needs like adequate warmth, satiety, and hydration.


1. Repetition.

Necessary tasks can come off as boring minutiae. While true-to-form, these minor necessities can still be frustratingly yawn-inducing.

2. Walking simulator.

There's no fast travel or vehicles. Your modes of transportation are walking, running, and rope climbing. That's it. You can't even jump.

3. RNG.

The random placement generation of vital tools and very limited presence of certain crafting stations (namely the Forge and Ammunition Workbench) exacerbate the tendency for TLD to, at times, feel like an arduous scavenger hunt instead of a true survival game.

4. The learning curve.

On Stalker difficulty, the second-highest of four, the learning curve is noticeably steeper than its predecessor difficulty, Voyageur. For Interloper difficulty, the fourth and hardest, the learning curve is simply a path to your grave. If you intend to play this game a lot, expect to invest a lot of hours playing and reading guides. There is a LOT to master if you eventually want to surmount Interloper.

5. Wolves.

They're jerks. And on harder difficulties, their meat can give you worms. Ew.


1. The immersion.

You really feel like you're standing in your player's boots as you wander and explore the vast frozen expanse of Great Bear Island. Certain occurrences are event-based: you're always more likely to find sticks and tree limbs beneath trees after high winds; animal areas depopulate as you hunt more; and a pickup of wind will surely render an poorly-shielded campfire untenable. The dedication to realism is impressive, and leads to a more enchanting experience.

2. The graphics.

Oh, the graphics. TLD incorporates a sort of "painted world" visage on the sky/clouds, rock formations, buildings, items, and snow. Sky effects are thoughtfully crafted and vary wildly based on the weather. I've invested nearly 1,000 hours in TLD, and I'm still routinely stunned by vistas of gorgeous sunrises.

3. The map.

TLD is just as much an exploration game as a survival game; the observant are rewarded handsomely. Cleverly hidden pathways and navigational puzzles offer bountiful, life-saving rewards.

Regions are somewhat few (11 as of this writing), but each one is immense and overflowing with secrets for the keen-eyed. While they all look superficially similar - that is, as big snowy landscapes full of rocks, cliffs, and trees - each one is unique. Some maps are teeming with the remnants of human presence, telling tales of apocalyptic woe, while others appear nigh-untouched by mankind. Weather varies wildly, and each region lights up differently during the Aurora.

4. The audio.

If you put on a decent pair of headphones, walk outside, and close your eyes, you'll feel like you're really standing in the frozen Canadian wilderness. Hinterland's audio team thought of everything. You hear every crunch of the snow beneath your boots, the strain of your bow as you draw it to fire, every wisp of wind. Floorboards creak, fires crackle, flags flap in the breeze. I'm pretty sure the audio from the can opener came from an actual can opener.

You hear it all in high quality, and with a well-trained ear, you can even hear a wolf stalking you before it has a chance to become a problem.

5. The possibilities.

Nearly every facet of Survival Mode gameplay can be adjusted via the Custom difficulty, meaning that there's a way for even the most inchoate survivalists to have a shot at learning the ropes at their own pace. Conversely, independent difficulty settings can be dialed to 11, for the masochistic survivor who looms in hubris over Mother Nature.

- - -

The Long Dark is a game whose praises don't really need to sung. Anyone interested in the survival genre of video games will quickly realize that they've happened upon a real diamond in the rough. With beautiful graphics, top-notch immersion, and deeply satisfying gameplay, it's plain to see that Hinterland is a dedicated studio who put an insane amount of work, time, and love into their sole release.

I can't recommend The Long Dark enough. It's a true break from reality, almost like playing a Gary Paulsen novel.

Buy it. Seriously.

10/10