Summary
Frictional Games has created horror gaming masterpieces from Penumbra toAmnesia. Each game has its characters isolated from the rest of society as they try to remember where, why, and sometimes even when they are. The stories are not only cryptic but often require you to actually read every bit of lore to understand the full context of the mysterious events surrounding you.
So which Frictional Games titles are the best and which ones don’t offer the same level of quality despite being decent titles in their own right? From horror to puzzles, and even challenge, this is every Friction Games title ranked.
8Penumbra Requiem
Physics Puzzles But No Monster
Penumbra Requiem is the third installment of the Penumbra series. While the game does featuresome solid puzzlesand even puts a cap on the entire storyline, it doesn’t deliver as many scares as the other games.
This is because there are no monsters in Requiem. The game takes you through familiar locations from the first two games and feels like a rightful epilogue, but lacking that little bit of horror often associated with Frictional Games. However, the game still has all the familiar mechanics of the Penumbra series worth checking out.
7Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs
A More Linear Experience
Seeing as the first game was a success, Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs doesn’t exactly live up to the hype. It lacks a few key elements from the first game, such as the tinderbox, the lamps, and the oil. Monsters are also more scripted rather than randomly encountered, which can remove the tension later on in the game.
Despite everything, it still delivers that horror atmosphere that comes with every Frictional Games title. It also has a decent story worth sinking your teeth into. So, if you’re looking for a game that can scare you but won’t drive you up the wall, A Machine For Pigs is a decent entry point.
6Amnesia: Rebirth
Horror Beneath The Desert
Amnesia: Rebirth is the long-awaited return to form for the Amnesia series. Everything players love is back in this entry from the lamp to limited sources of light. There are also plenty of new monsters that will come at you if you stop watching your back.
The atmosphere of Amnesia: Rebirth is very different from the first title and might not be as scary. However, it still sets up a desolate location perfect for making you feel isolated. As the game progresses, you will discover that things get a bit more familiar as the origins of the monsters are revealed, and you move through creepier locations.
5Penumbra Overture
Frictional Games Begin
Penumbra Overture is the first survival horror game made by Frictional Games. It is an excellent entry to look at as both a standalone horror experience and as a way to explore the elements that eventually resulted in Amnesia. Unique among many of the other Frictional Games is the ability to combat the monsters found deep within the caverns and abandoned facilities.
There are mutated dogs, spiders, and even gigantic worms hiding in the corners. However, what it does lack is one unbeatable monster to put pressure on you as you try to collect items needed to solve puzzles. Regardless, the atmosphere and story alone are enough to make the game stand tall.
4Penumbra: Black Plague
The Building Blocks Of Amnesia
Penumbra: Black Plague is the sequel to Overture and picks off right where the first game ends. Aside from pushing the story forward, it also changes around a few gameplay elements. This means combat is now mostly gone and there are seeminglyunkillable enemies.
The dogs and spiders of the first game are replaced with the Tuurngait Infected, pale sickly humanoids that chase you. This time, stealth takes center stage as you solve physics puzzles and collect items needed to proceed. With unkillable monsters, the game is much scarier than its predecessor. It also swaps out the rocky, quarry-like underground for a bunker setting.
3Soma
Underwater Terror
Somais a standalone title in the Frictional Games library. It has a unique underwater atmosphere and less focus on monster horror, preferring to provide psychological scares instead. After going in for an experimental neural exam, you find yourself deep under the ocean inside an abandoned facility.
There are some monsters that will chase you around, but it’s not the focal point.The grand selling point of Soma is its story, which is fantastically well-written and eerie to boot. If you want to immerse yourself in a good horror story but not feel completely overwhelmed, Soma does it far better than others.
2Amnesia: The Bunker
Amnesia Meets Resident Evil
Amnesia: The Bunker is a perfect first-time experience for the survival horror series. The game has creatures that act as obstacles but can be removed if necessary. Meanwhile, there is one monster constantly chasing you around the bunker as you try to escape.
The fantastic thing about Amnesia: The Bunker is that there is a clear goal from start to finish. This is to escape the bunker by blowing up the entrance. Some items will help you access different parts of the bunker, giving you a sense of progression as more areas become available. This is also the first Frictional game to give you a gun, even if all it does is deter the monster temporarily.
1Amnesia: The Dark Descent
The Perfect Blend Of Horror And Puzzles
The original Amnesia game is by far one of the best blends of horror and puzzles. While other titles have some quality-of-life features or a more direct storyline, Amnesia still has the scariest atmosphere and the creepiest monsters.
The fact that the story is so cryptic really makes you work to understand what the monsters are and your own identity. The monster also appears at random times, giving you a choice to stay in the shadows or go into the light. Both have their benefits and force you to ration your lantern oil for when you truly need it. It is a rite of passage for any horror game enthusiast.
