The Underrated 77 Metacritic Survival Game That Proves Atmosphere Matters More Than Visual Fidelity (& It’s Not Ark)

The survival genre has evolved in a variety of different ways over the years, but one thing is certain. It’s meant to be a challenge. From visually impressive games like The Forest to more simple-looking and stylized games like Project Zomboid, the objective remains the same. Survival at all costs is key. Regardless of how a game looks visually, making sure that its survival mechanics are grounded and that its atmosphere is oppressive and challenging is of the upmost importance. Ultimately, as long as the game nails its atmosphere, the visuals don’t really matter.

The Long Dark is a perfect example of this. Instead of opting for The Forest‘s realistic graphics, The Long Dark chooses a simpler aesthetic that’s more cartoonish in nature. It may not boast realism visually, but it feels lifelike where it counts. The realism is found in the gameplay and unforgiving environment, which proves that impressive visuals are actually one of the least important details when bringing a world to life. Sure, it may only have a 77 on Metacritic, but that’s a solid enough score to suggest it’s a game worth trying for oneself.

The Long Dark’s Frigid and Dangerous World Does the Heavy Lifting, While Its Simple Art Style Provides an Eerie Contrast

In The Long Dark, players take on the role of Will Mackenzie. He’s a bush pilot who crashes in the Northern Canadian wilderness and must fight for survival during what the game calls a “quiet apocalypse.” This apocalypse is caused by a strange geomagnetic storm that has caused electronic blackouts, strange and aggressive animal behavior, and erratic, dangerous weather. The aftermath of this storm is what sets The Long Dark‘s story into motion, but it can also just be experienced as a sandbox survival game.

The Long Dark’s Simpler Visuals Actually Make it a More Effective Survival Game

Even if it wasn’t a survival game, The Long Dark‘s art style would still be eye-catching. It’s incredibly charming, but it’s also a heavy contrast to the harshness of the Canadian wilderness that Mackenzie has to survive. These contradicting energies add an extra layer of bleakness to the experience, because the characters and the environment look more like they should be in a cartoon that has a happier vibe. It really drives home the seriousness of the situation in a way that ultra-realistic visuals may not have succeeded at.

It’s unnerving, and it makes The Long Dark‘s atmosphere that much more effective. The design is minimalist, but everything from the sound design, to the intense weather systems, to the lonely isolation felt throughout the game is given as much attention and detail as possible. The Long Dark‘s mechanics make it one of the hardest open-world survival games, even years after its launch.

In The Long Dark, Every Move Counts, and the Next Step Could Be Mackenzie’s Last

The Long Dark is not a walk in the park; it can be downright grueling and frustrating, but also very rewarding. The pacing alone can be a challenge, as Mackenzie’s steps are slow, every movement eats up calories, and patience is key. Slow-burn games aren’t for everyone, but The Long Dark is a great demonstration of how pacing can make or break a game. The Long Dark‘s pacing shouldn’t be a turn-off for those who are skeptical about hearing this, though. It’s one of the main features that truly sells its world. In fact, said slow burn is what makes it one of the most realistic survival games around.

Details That Make The Long Dark So Challenging

• Permadeath
• The game doesn’t provide answers. Players have to figure things out on their own.
• Hunger, Thirst, Fatigue, and Cold have to be monitored.
• The Hunger bar has a max of 2,500 calories. More strenuous movements burn more calories.
• Finding resources and survival gear, like first-aid kits and better clothing is tough.
• Hunting, fishing, and scavenging for food
• Health threats like hypothermia, dysentery, broken bones, parasites, cabin fever, scurvy, or frostbite can mean certain death.

Image via Hinterland Studio

The Long Dark’s Two Modes Show Different Sides of Surviving a Cold Apocalypse

• Survival Mode
• Wintermute Mode (Campaign)

Another aspect that makes The Long Dark such a compelling survival game is that players get to experience both a story and straightforward sandbox gameplay. Some stick to the story while others prefer the survival sandbox, but both are well worth the time. Of course, Survival Mode is definitely the go-to option for genre lovers who just want to focus on staying alive. However, Wintermute Mode shows another side of Mackenzie’s struggle for survival that brings The Long Dark‘s atmosphere to even greater heights. Survival Mode constantly puts Mackenzie through the wringer, but Wintermute makes players even more attached to him and the side characters. This raises the stakes a lot when trying to keep him alive. Wintermute doesn’t feature Survival Mode’s permadeath, but that doesn’t make Mackenzie’s potential demise hurt less. It’s a solid story with a lot of heart that can draw players even deeper into a world that’s already unforgiving enough in Survival Mode.

The Long Dark is About to Get Its Last Story Update

Those who are interested in The Long Dark‘s story will want to mark their calendars for March 31, 2026. This is when Episode 5 of Wintermute releases, and it will serve as the finale for the game’s campaign. Although this closes the curtain on the overarching narrative, Survival Mode is still expected to get updates down the road.

Whether one loves a good, bleak story filled with challenging gameplay or one simply loves reveling in the doom of survival mechanics, The Long Dark is still one of the best and more underrated. It’s hard to find a game like The Long Dark. There are plenty of survival titles out there, but The Long Dark has a special spark that is hard to forget once you’ve played it. It has a strange blend of both isolated hopelessness and coziness. Apart from Mackenzie, The Long Dark works to make the entire setting a main character. Trying to survive in The Long Dark is incredibly rough, but it’s also more beautiful than its visuals may initially suggest, making for an experience worth having.