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Until Dawn (2015)

Until Dawn (2015)

Supermassive Games · released Aug 25, 2015

Third-Person AdventurePlayStation 3, PlayStation 4

When 8 friends become trapped on a remote mountain getaway gone wrong, things quickly turn sinister and they start to suspect they aren’t alone. Gripped by fear and with tensions in the group running high, you’ll be forced to make snap decisions that could mean life or death for everyone involved. Every choice you make while playing as each of the eight friends, even the seemingly trivial ones, will carve out your own unique story.

86
VGC Score
·No trend datamedium confidence
79%
Press
87%
Player sentiment
4,475
Ratings

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (Metacritic)7920
Creator reviews (2 tracked)902
All-time Steam reviews0
Metacritic user ratings87750
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)0
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (100)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 95
    trust 84CreatorAug 24, 2015

    Until Dawn is everything that Quantic Dream games have tried to be, unsuccessfully, for the past decade. It emulates horror movies while demonstrating a clear understanding of what makes those movies work, its focus on consequence is nervewracking and intricate, and its story is silly but strongly delivered. It’s the best David Cage game not made by David Cage, and it’s the best interactive horror flick you’ll play.

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  • 80
    trust 77Aug 24, 2015

    At its best, the game lives up to its title, in that players will be glued to it all night, until dawn, exhilaratingly racing to one of the many potential endings.

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  • 90
    trust 75Oct 7, 2015

    Designed by passionate horror fans, Until Dawn is a love letter to the era of slasher movies, a game fully aware of its ridiculousness that asks players to join it for one heck of a ride. Whether you play it by yourself or with a friend or two, this is an adventure worth partaking in.

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  • 80
    trust 75Sep 4, 2015

    Until Dawn is a great example of interactive cinema. Here we have a great looking game with interesting characters and truly impactful decision making moments. The story isn't groundbreaking but the entire product is a well thought out slasher that doesn't allow to save your progress manually (and that creates tons of tension!).

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  • 80
    trust 72Sep 2, 2015

    Until Dawn ends up being one of this year's most interesting games on PS4. It takes the butterfly effect to an interactive level with great success. Choosing the horror genre to set things in motion is amusing in every aspect.

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  • 80
    trust 69Aug 24, 2015

    As a schlocky horror it's a success, but its fiction actually goes beyond simple slasher, even if it remains intentionally silly throughout. The sometimes sloppy controls will irritate, while the performance capture could have been better, but neither of these issues are nightmarish enough to pull you out of the popcorn flick plot, which is buoyed by the impressive

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  • 75
    trust 69Aug 24, 2015

    Until Dawn is fun and will keep you on the edge of your seat, but it is also a one-off experience. The game has its flaws but it delivers, because it doesn't try to revolutionize the industry, only to satisfy horror movie fans with silly lines, stereotypes and above all else, jump scares that will make you laugh out of nerves.

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  • 90
    trust 68Aug 24, 2015

    It hits on all the right notes, has interesting variation outcomes from the butterfly effects, it looks great, and it’s the closest we’ve come to being in a horror flick. Sometimes funny, sometimes cheesy, sometimes downright scary and tense as hell, Until Dawn is one wild ride, and while not everyone will think it’s worth the entry price, I couldn’t be happier with the end results. I had such a blast with it, I started it over immediately to complete again, a rare thing these days. They aimed to go for an interactive horror movie experience and they absolutely nailed it.

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  • 70
    trust 67Aug 24, 2015

    It's a near-perfect adaptation of an average slasher/monster film. It's a fun romp through a horror movie, and the tension of all characters being able to live and die contributes well to the overall feel. At the end of the day, though, it's not exceptional and lacks replay value. A $60 price tag is too high for the experience, especially with companies like Telltale Games and Dontnod Entertainment offering similar experiences for lower prices.

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  • 60
    trust 66Aug 24, 2015

    Until Dawn struggles with clunky video game elements and rough pacing, but mitigates it with B-movie slasher mainstays and a willingness to embrace player failure.

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  • 80
    trust 66Aug 24, 2015

    Terrifying night in the snowy mountains is a surprisingly exciting adventure. The interactive video structure works great, grabs your attention and keeps your eyes peeled to the screen, even if horror is not your favourite genre.

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  • 80
    trust 66Aug 24, 2015

    I didn't expect to have so much fun with Until Dawn, and the depth with which my choices mattered and affected the final outcome encouraged repeat playthroughs. The visuals can be wonky at times, but in the end Until Dawn succeeds in being a thoughtful use of familiar mechanics, a great achievement in player-driven narrative, and a horror game you shouldn't miss.

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…and 88 more tracked reviews.