The Devil in Me is the fourth and final instalment in the first season of video game series The Dark Pictures Anthology and is best enjoyed on a rainy autumn afternoon or on a dark winter night. The story revolves around a group of investigative filmmakers who want to shoot a documentary at a replica of Chicago's infamous World's Fair Hotel where serial killer H. H. Holmes once installed numerous deadly traps to murder unsuspecting tourists. The group heads to an isolated island on Lake Michigan as personal and professional tensions are growing between the characters. Once arrived upon the island, the five characters are left to their own devices and soon realize that the creepy mansion is much more than just a replica since an anonymous killer is menacing to take their lives one by one.
This video game convinces on numerous different levels. For instance, its atmosphere is creepy from start to finish without ever drifting off into exaggerated jump scares. This starts with a particularly strong opening scene that brings to life Chicago in the late nineteenth century and continues coherently in present-day America.
The challenges in this game are decent but not too tough. They blend in wonderfully with the story without becoming frustrating for less experienced players. The video game's final quarter however will make it a challenge for even more experienced gamers to save all five characters from the madness on the isolated island.
The game should take about six hours to complete, meaning that it offers one long evening of perfect entertainment. Playing this game feels like organizing a horror movie night with some friends and is just as much fun for genre fans. Playing this game with friends or completely isolated and alone are both highly recommended options. The game is so addictive that you will feel compelled to complete it in one single setting. The game's replay value is relatively high as there are numerous different ways to live or to die on that gloomy island.
On the downside, this entry in the franchise offers few to no new ideas, so occasional gamers might as well stick to one of the preceding entries. The story of this game is of average quality and at times quite predictable. The characters are decent but previous entries have had more fascinating development in this regard.
At the end of the day, The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me is highly recommended to seasoned fans of the franchise or gamers who appreciate the genres horror and mystery. This video game is not as creative as immediate predecessor House of Ashes but overall stronger than both Little Hope and Man of Medan. The most notable improvement of this game is the more fluid use of quick time events. Its biggest downside is the predictable story. If you are interested in immersing yourself into a mysterious horror movie atmosphere for about six hours, then this game is the best choice among more recent games on the market, so don't hesitate to buy this product for a reduced price for next Halloween.
