Among Ashes

Among Ashes is clever horror with a unique approach to fear, never outstaying its welcome and keeping you on edge until the end.

Among Ashes plays upon the fears of being home alone as a teen, and also leans into a time when creepypastas were in their infancy. I like the game-related creepypastas like Lavender Town Syndrome or Ben Drowned, so having a game in the same genre is awesome to me. Of course, as with all horror, if you boil it down to the individual parts it’ll either resonate with you or it won’t. If you’re fine with being home alone and creepypastas don’t spook you out, then maybe this isn’t for you. A short game that leaves a lasting impression is all the more powerful, in my eyes.

Among Ashes is one of those indie titles that should be celebrated for its great ability to break out of the box through brilliant narrative and game design solutions. However, it has to curb its ambitions because of so many technical problems due to its low budget.

While Among Ashes has a great premise and takes advantage of it through interesting gameplay choices, the bland story, excessive puzzles, and numerous glitches make for a flawed experience that I wouldn’t recommend spending money on until some of the issues are fixed.

Among Ashes is a great addition to this already stellar year of indie horror. It doesn't quite reach the highs of titles like Hollowbody, but is an enjoyable dose of horror nostalgia that pulls together a range of approaches to create an identity that feels fresh and unique.

Despite its flaws, the unsettling atmosphere and experimental narrative make Among Ashes a fascinating experience for horror fans.

Among Ashes is a subversive horror game, capitalizing on the classic fear of being alone at your computer with your back to the door. While some elements fall short, horror fans should definitely give this indie title a try.

Among Ashes is a game that wants to appear outdated, and that is simply the case, intentionally or unintentionally. Graphically everything looks very mediocre on the PC (in-game) and even outside your computer it is not something to write home about. The game is therefore difficult to follow at times and confusing and unclear. The same goes for the game mechanics and the gameplay. It is all just not quite there, while the concept is very cool. The close-combat melee attacks feel very stiff and the use of inventory and moving in the environments also feels very mediocre. In addition, you are often busy in the same environments, which makes everything very linear. Among Ashes is not a bad game and in terms of concept quite well put together, but unfortunately it does not live up to it in the end.

8/10: Radiant - Jess Recommends

Among Ashes succeeds as a refreshing take on the horror genre, delivering a unique mix of psychological tension and nostalgic homage that’s a lot of fun to experience. Its crafty ‘game within a game’ structure is effectively implemented to make for some genuinely clever puzzling and storytelling, whilst the throwbacks to the 2000s (and especially MSN Messenger) kept a smile on my face when playing. And sure, it does have some small setbacks with the clumsy combat, but it still manages to offer a satisfying horror experience that’s unique, enjoyable, and – most importantly – genuinely scary.