I have a soft spot for any story-driven, choice-heavy games Life is strangeDispatch, by morningand Dark Pictures AnthologySo it shouldn't surprise anyone Instruction 8020 High on my list of games to play in May 2026. Before that, my wife and I sat down to play each game before the new release. Collectively, of course, the best way to play them is in release order: Man of Medan, Little Hope, House of Ashes, and The Devil in Me.
That said, what players experience this way is an acceptable beginning, a high middle, and a weak (though by some definition “weak”) ending. These games represent “Season 1”. Dark Pictures AnthologyAnd it will be interesting to see what Season 2 brings after its release Instruction 8020. Otherwise, marathoning these four games is a great way to pass the time before Directive 8020; After all, a single run of each game is only about ~6-7 hours. Instruction 8020 Releases on May 12, so this is a reminder to start your marathon early. Time permitting, I also recommend it until the morning and quarry. This category does not include 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
A house of ashes Explores a Sumerian temple full of vampires—not Dracula or the shiny kind, but wild beasts. It's not just supermassive, it's the best creature-driven horror in the games, and it stands up there until the morning and quarry with proper Dark pictures Branding. Overall, it has a clearer identity than its predecessors that helps drive the tension throughout, avoiding the ambiguity (largely) that sometimes undermined it in earlier entries.
Director 8020 is its cosmic and physical horror [PREVIEW]
After a brief presentation at Gamescom, it seems clear that the wait for Director 8020 will be worth it – especially for cosmic / body horror fans.
A house of ashes' The characters are all strong and benefit from sharp writing, especially the interpersonal conflicts between the survivors (as they are soldiers on opposing sides). In terms of gameplay, it feels refined, it has strong pacing, its use of action goes hand in hand with its horror, and its character existence feels like it's at a premium.
What is that weapon?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
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Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5 seconds) Medium (5.0 seconds) Hard (2.5 seconds) Permadeath (2.5 seconds)
A-Tier: Little Hope
little hope Definitely gets points for its timeline and setting, because it's there A house of ashes. As with all these games, players take on the role of a handful of characters little hope When they stumble upon an abandoned New England town in Massachusetts. The story weaves together three different events: the 1692 witch trials, the family tragedy of the 1970s, and the modern day. In three volumes, it deals with themes of crime, trauma, and psychological break and makes heavy use of historical parallels and recurring character archetypes.
Dark Pictures: Little Hope Review
The characters and story of The Dark Pictures: Little Hope are a step back from Man of Maiden, but there's still some fun to be had.
little hopeThe ending is clearly divisive, as it offers core themes (and is based on player decisions), with some feeling that ultimately any choice undermines player agency and little hopes options make less sense in hindsight. This is an understandable criticism, although it is well explained in the game. Still, the journey itself is enough to secure it a high rating, especially for players who value story over mechanical depth.
B-Tier: Maiden's Man
Always respect the OGs, and Man of the field deserves credit for establishing the original formula The Dark Pictures Anthology. Its setting aboard a ghost ship is rich with potential and offers some genuinely tense moments at least once it comes into play. Man of Medan's gameplay modes also encourage shared experiences (so it's always best to play with a friend or partner). That said, the game struggles with uneven pacing, and the story builds slowly and loses momentum quickly. Like little hopeThere are multiple timelines at play here, but in less compelling ways. and the characters of Man of the field are solid, if largely forgettable.
The Dark Pictures: Man of Maiden Review
The Dark Pictures: Man of Madden Till Dawn isn't quite as polished, but it's still an effective horror gaming experience with a great story.
Now, don't get me wrong. Man of the field Some very important groundwork is laid, but it feels more like a proof of concept than a fully realized Dark Pictures game. But it is B-Tier, not like D or F-Tier. Despite the weakness, Man of the field is an incredibly fun, story-driven game.
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C-Tier: The devil in me
the devil in me It deserves credit for trying to develop it Dark pictures The formula, especially the annual alignment, and its successes (and arguably failures) bodes well Instruction 8020 More development time to do the same thing. The premise – a murder hotel inspired by real-world serial killer HH Holmes – is incredibly inspired and offers a different flavor of horror than previous titles, but that inspiration inconsistently spills over into the mesh design and set pieces. New mechanics like inventory management and more exploration-heavy gameplay make sense as additions, but sometimes feel underdeveloped.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me Review
Despite some flaws and inconsistencies, The Dark Pictures: Devil In Me brings the first season of the anthology to a powerful end.
And when character work is fine, Dark pictures sets higher expectations than the devil in me delivers, and the game spends a lot of time moving around the characters the devil in meis opening That said, despite its flaws (eg Man of the field), the devil in me Every game is worth it.
Dark Pictures Season 2 begins on May 12 with Directive 8020
Instruction 8020 Suffrage is meant to represent an evolution. After all, it's been four years since its release the devil in meThe last game in the franchise, when all four games of “Season 1” were released within four years. In it, players control five playable heroes in a new horror genre: Cosmic Horror. The main character is astronaut Brianna Young, played by actor Lashana Lynch, who must survive a shape-shifting alien among her crew when the ship crash lands on the planet Tau Ceti F. It basically is between usBut scary, and it would be a great way to spend the night of May 12th.
As GameRant wrote in its preview Instruction 8020“The setup is strong, especially once it's clear the crew doesn't really understand what they're doing, and there's a lot of potential for uncertainty if the story continues this way. I still need more time with the characters to really care about the consequences, but the direction feels more focused than I've seen from Supermassive in the past. If that can develop the idea of a ten-room ending. More complete studio experiences.”
- issued
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May 12, 2026
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Intense violence, blood and gore, strong language, in-game purchases, user interaction
