I Marathoned the Entire Dark Pictures Anthology Ahead of Directive 8020, and Here’s My Official Ranking

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I really enjoy story-focused games where your choices matter, like Life is Strange, Dispatch, Until Dawn, and the Dark Pictures Anthology. So, I was excited to hear about Directive 8020 and added it to my list of games to play in May 2026. My wife and I decided to play through the Dark Pictures Anthology games beforehand, and the best way to experience them is in the order they were released: Man of Medan, Little Hope, House of Ashes, and The Devil in Me.

Overall, the first season of The Dark Pictures Anthology offers a solid beginning, some truly great moments in the middle, and a slightly less impactful ending – though it’s certainly not bad. With Directive 8020 on the way, it’ll be exciting to see what the next season brings. If you’re looking for something to do before its release on May 12th, playing through all four games is a fantastic way to spend your time – each one takes about 6-7 hours to complete. I’d also suggest checking out Until Dawn and The Quarry if you have the time. Just to clarify, this list doesn’t include the Dark Pictures: Switchback VR spin-off game.

Since there are only four games, I decided to limit myself to one game per tier.

S-Tier: House of Ashes

House of Ashes delivers truly frightening creatures – monstrous, primal vampires – and stands out as some of the best horror in gaming. It’s on par with Supermassive’s other hits like Until Dawn and The Quarry, and feels like a strong addition to The Dark Pictures Anthology. Unlike previous games in the series, House of Ashes has a more focused and consistent tone, which builds tension throughout and avoids confusing the player.

The characters in House of Ashes are well-developed and feel authentic, largely thanks to the compelling drama and conflict between them – especially considering they’re soldiers who were once enemies. The game also plays incredibly well, with a good flow, a balanced mix of action and horror, and a real sense that your choices matter when it comes to keeping characters alive.

What’s That Weapon? Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)

A-Tier: Little Hope

Little Hope excels in its storytelling structure and atmospheric setting, rivaling House of Ashes in quality. Like other games in the series, players control several characters who find themselves stranded in an abandoned town in Massachusetts. The story jumps between three time periods – the 1692 witch trials, a family tragedy from the 1970s, and the present day – exploring themes of guilt, trauma, and mental breakdowns. It cleverly uses historical connections and recurring character types to create a compelling narrative.

The ending of Little Hope has sparked a lot of debate. While it connects to the game’s main ideas and is influenced by your choices, some players feel those choices don’t matter much in the end, taking away from the feeling of control. This criticism is fair, and the game does offer an explanation, but the compelling story is strong enough to make Little Hope a standout title, especially for those who prioritize narrative over complex gameplay.

B-Tier: Man of Medan

It’s important to acknowledge where things began, and Man of Medan deserves recognition as the foundation for The Dark Pictures Anthology. Its haunted ship setting is full of promise and creates some truly suspenseful scenes, though it takes a while to get going. The game is best enjoyed with others, as its multiplayer options really enhance the experience. However, Man of Medan suffers from inconsistent pacing – it builds slowly but loses steam too quickly. Like Little Hope, the story jumps between different timelines, but these aren’t as engaging. The characters are decent enough, though not particularly memorable.

Let me be clear: Man of Medan was an important first step for the series, but it felt more like a test run than a complete game. However, it’s still a solid B-tier title – definitely not a failure. Even with its imperfections, Man of Medan is a really enjoyable, story-focused experience.

C-Tier: The Devil in Me

While The Devil in Me doesn’t fully succeed, it’s commendable for attempting to improve the Dark Pictures series, and its hits and misses suggest a positive path forward for Directive 8020, especially with more development time. The game’s concept – a haunted hotel based on the notorious serial killer H.H. Holmes – is a clever and unique take on horror, though this inspiration doesn’t always translate into consistently well-designed traps and environments. The addition of features like inventory management and increased exploration is a logical step, but these elements sometimes feel incomplete.

The characters in Dark Pictures: The Devil in Me are decent, but the game doesn’t quite live up to the promise of earlier installments. The beginning feels slow and spends too much time establishing the characters. However, like Man of Medan, The Devil in Me is still enjoyable and worth playing through multiple times, despite its imperfections.

Dark Pictures Season 2 Begins with Directive 8020 on May 12

Directive 8020 marks a new direction for the game series. It’s been four years since the last installment, The Devil in Me, and all four games of the first ‘season’ were released within a four-year span. This new game introduces cosmic horror and lets players control five different characters. You’ll play as Brianna Young, an astronaut portrayed by Lashana Lynch, who has to survive a dangerous, shape-shifting alien after her ship crashes on the planet Tau Ceti f. Think of it like Among Us, but much scarier – and it comes out on May 12th!

I read TopMob’s first look at Directive 8020, and they really highlighted how well the game sets things up, especially when you realize the characters are totally in over their heads. That uncertainty is a great hook, and they think it could lead to something really special if the story keeps going in that direction. They’re still getting to know the characters, so they haven’t fully invested yet, but they said the game feels more focused than other stuff they’ve seen from Supermassive. Basically, if the game can keep that tension going and really explore those ideas, it could be one of Supermassive’s best games yet!

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2026-05-02 17:35