Dark Atlas: Infernum

Dark Atlas: Infernum offers a different kind of horror, with no weapons or easy action, where hiding, thinking, and solving simple puzzles sustain an unsettling yet interesting atmosphere.

As a reviewer, you are often in a discord. On the one hand, you want to watch a debut game as a first attempt by a studio that has yet to find its hold in a tough industry. Especially when this crowdfunding is via Kickstarter. On the other hand, you have already played so many games that you immediately know what works and what doesn't. Not to mention the expectations you have as a reviewer, as a reader/gamer too by the way. I wish I could say that Dark Atlas was a meritorious attempt, but unfortunately. It's a frustrating, downright annoying game that will put your patience to the test more than once and that, apart from a few good environments, really has nothing to offer. Even die-hard lovers of horror games should miss them.

Dark Atlas: Infernum is not a game for everyone. Its slow pace, narrative focus, and technical limitations may alienate some players.

Dark Atlas Infernum is an intimate descent into the hellscape of the mind, where atmosphere and art direction shine with a force of their own. Its blend of psychological horror, infernal aesthetics and a distinctly Spanish flavour gives it an unmistakable identity, although simple puzzles, some technical issues and uneven execution dull the overall impact. Even so, it achieves what few manage: it suffocates with beauty and unsettles with conviction.

Dark Atlas: Infernum has a somewhat interesting story, but aside from that there's nothing else positive to say about it. Annoying enemies, poor checkpointing, bad voice acting, and more, all combine to make for a psychological horror game that's impossible to recommend.

Dark Atlas: Infernum aims high but stumbles where it matters most: gameplay. The lore intrigues, the atmosphere unsettles, and the sound design impresses. Yet players often fight the game itself more than its monsters. Beneath the frustration lies a clear artistic vision, but only the patient will endure instant deaths, cruel checkpoints, and stamina that rivals an asthmatic sloth. Everyone else is better off staying on the surface and letting the lost souls wander alone.