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The Long Dark

The Long Dark
The Long Dark Key Art.jpg
Developer(s) Hinterland Studio Inc.
Publisher(s) Hinterland Studio Inc.
Director(s) Raphael van Lierop
Designer(s) Raphael van Lierop
Alan Lawrance
Writer(s) Raphael van Lierop
Marianne Krawczyk
Composer(s) Cris Velasco
Sascha Dikiciyan
Engine Unity
Platform(s) Linux, Microsoft Windows, OS X, Xbox One
Release date(s) September 22, 2014 (Steam Early access)
June 15, 2015 (Xbox One Game Preview)
Genre(s) Survival
Mode(s) Single-player
Aggregate score
Aggregator Score
GameRankings 80%(1 review)

The Long Dark is a first-person open world survival simulation video game in development by Canadian company Hinterland for multiple platforms. The player assumes the role of a crash-landed bush pilot who must survive the frigid Canadian wilderness after a global disaster. The game received seed financing from the Canada Media Fund, and further funding was secured through a successful Kickstarter campaign in October 2013.

An alpha version was released through Steam Early Access on September 22, 2014. Development efforts are ongoing with regular updates. The alpha version was later launched on the Xbox One on June 15, 2015 as one of the first two launch titles associated with Microsoft's Game Preview Program. Early reviews of the alpha release were generally positive, and the game went on to sell around 750,000 copies by April 2016.

The first part of Season One of The Long Dark's Story Mode is currently in development while the Sandbox Mode is currently playable and regularly updated.

The game takes place in the frigid Canadian wilderness where the player assumes the role of a crash-landed pilot struggling to survive after a global disaster. The gameplay is stated by the developers to be a "survival simulation that accounts for body temperature, caloric intake, hunger/thirst, fatigue, wind-chill, wildlife, and a host of other environmental factors." There are two game modes available to the player, Story mode and Sandbox mode. Story mode will be episodic and was initially planned to be released late 2014, but was pushed to a late 2016 release. However, it was not released in 2016 and there has been no mention of any schedule for release. For the game's alpha release, the players have access to Sandbox mode, with an option to spawn in one of the six maps: "Mystery Lake", "Coastal Highway", "Pleasant Valley", "Forlorn Muskeg", "Desolation Point", and "Timberwolf Mountain", all of which are connected together through transition zones.

The objective is for the player to survive as long as possible by scavenging and utilizing whatever resources they may find within the world. This includes commodities such as food, water, firewood, medicine, and tools such as weapons, axes, knives and a host of other items. Wildlife is also present, such as deer which can be hunted for food, and wolves and bears which are a constant threat to the player as they venture outside. All items and wildlife are randomly spawned for every new game, so no two games will be alike for the player. Tools and items degrade over time, forcing the player to make careful decisions regarding their condition and their eventual need for repair. Fire, being a primary component, is necessary for warmth and cooking. The player has to forage for wood and fuel on a regular basis to stay alive. The player can also get sick from food poisoning and disease.The Long Dark simulates a full day/night cycle which is a fundamental part of the game. The game also simulates temperature and windchill, both of which are random during every playthrough, encouraging the player to monitor the weather carefully at all times to prevent death from exposure. Initially the game did not feature varied experience modes, but due to player demand, Hinterland added three experience modes to accommodate a range of playstyles. The easiest mode "Pilgrim", is for players looking for a more exploratory experience, "Voyageur" is a middle ground and the most well rounded with regard to exploration and survival, and "Stalker" offers a more hardcore survival experience.


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