Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs

Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs is the atmospheric and haunting sequel to Amnesia: The Dark Descent, developed by The Chinese Room. While it shares the same terrifying survival-horror DNA as its predecessor, it takes a different narrative direction, focusing more on story-driven exploration and psychological horror than jump-scare tactics.
Set in a steampunk-inspired world, the game follows the protagonist, Oswald Mandus, who wakes up in a mansion with fragmented memories of a horrific machine he built. As the story unfolds, the player must piece together Mandus’ past while uncovering the dark secrets of the machine, all while navigating a world filled with grotesque creatures and eerie environments. The atmosphere is chilling, with haunting audio design and atmospheric visuals that keep you on edge throughout the experience.
The game’s strength lies in its storytelling and atmosphere. The narrative is deeply unsettling, and the grim setting paired with the psychological themes create a sense of dread that’s hard to shake off. The environmental storytelling is especially strong, with clues scattered throughout the game’s environments, allowing players to uncover the disturbing tale at their own pace.
However, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs has its flaws. The pace can be slow, and some players may find the lack of the traditional puzzle-solving elements from The Dark Descent a bit disappointing. Instead of the more challenging puzzles, the focus is largely on exploration and uncovering the story, which might leave some fans of the first game yearning for more interactive gameplay. The lack of significant challenge, combined with the more linear progression, can make the experience feel less engaging than the first game.
Despite these criticisms, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs excels at building a deeply atmospheric and unsettling experience. Its strong narrative, eerie world-building, and psychological horror elements make it an intriguing experience, though it might not have the same lasting impact or intensity as its predecessor.
Score: 7.5/10 – A haunting and atmospheric horror game with a strong narrative, but lacking some of the interactive elements and intensity of the first Amnesia.

Now I'm scared of pork. The game throws me into a dark, eerie world where monstrous, mechanical pigs hunt me down with their glowing eyes and creepy grunts. Every time one of those twisted, mechanical swine came at me, my heart raced and my palms sweated. Thanks to Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, pork isn't just dinner—it's a terrifying reminder of my nightmarish encounters. I can't even look at a piece of bacon without shuddering.
돼지돼지야.

Puzzles are dissatisfying. but the atmosphere and environment is cool and the macabre story is pretty good. the game didn't catch me. but i am not saying it's a bad game.

A mixed bag of a game for sure, if you have played the first game, you will quickly realize this one isn't as well designed in its gameplay. But the music, art direction and story, truly were fantastic from the start, they weren't realized perfectly, but ultimately this is a game i would still recommend to anyone.
This is one of those games you have to make peace with, it could've been better, but we still got something unique to experience. Just finish it once and see what i'm talking about.
---{ Graphics }---
☐ You forget what reality is
☑ Beautiful
☐ Good
☐ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS
---{ Gameplay }---
☐ Very good
☐ Good
☐ It's just gameplay
☑ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't
---{ Audio }---
☐ Eargasm
☑ Very good
☐ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf
---{ Audience }---
☐ Kids
☑ Teens
☑ Adults
☐ Grandma
---{ PC Requirements }---
☐ Check if you can run paint
☐ Potato
☑ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer
---{ Game Size }---
☐ Floppy Disk
☐ Old Fashioned
☑ Workable
☐ Big
☐ Will eat 10% of your 1TB hard drive
☐ You will want an entire hard drive to hold it
☐ You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data
---{ Difficulty }---
☐ Just press 'W'
☑ Easy
☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☐ Significant brain usage
☐ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls
---{ Grind }---
☑ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☐ Isn't necessary to progress
☐ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You'll need a second life for grinding
---{ Story }---
☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☐ Average
☐ Good
☑ Lovely
☐ It'll replace your life
---{ Game Time }---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☐ Short
☑ Average
☐ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond
---{ Price }---
☐ It's free!
☐ Worth the price
☑ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money
---{ Bugs }---
☐ Never heard of
☑ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs
---{ ? / 10 }---
☐ 1
☐ 2
☐ 3
☐ 4
☐ 5
☐ 6
☐ 7
☑ 8
☐ 9
☐ 10

⭐ Rating: 6.5/10 ⭐
Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs takes a different approach from The Dark Descent, shifting away from complex gameplay mechanics in favor of a more narrative-driven experience. Developed by The Chinese Room, the game leans heavily on storytelling, atmosphere, and psychological horror rather than resource management and survival elements.
Pros:
✅ Strong atmosphere – The game excels in environmental storytelling, with eerie sound design and disturbing visuals that create an unsettling mood.
✅ Compelling narrative – If you enjoy deep, philosophical horror with themes of industrialization and human corruption, the story will likely intrigue you.
✅ No resource management – No sanity meter or inventory means a more streamlined experience, which some players may appreciate.
Cons:
❌ Less interactivity – Unlike The Dark Descent, there’s no real inventory system, and puzzles are minimal, making gameplay feel simplified.
❌ Short playtime – Can be completed in around 4-5 hours, making it feel more like a long interactive horror story rather than a full-fledged survival horror game.
❌ Less scary – While still disturbing, it lacks the same level of terror and tension that The Dark Descent had, due to the removal of sanity effects and fewer monster encounters.
Final Verdict:
If you go in expecting another Amnesia: The Dark Descent, you might be disappointed. However, if you’re a fan of atmospheric horror and enjoy games like Dear Esther or SOMA, you’ll likely appreciate its narrative and unsettling world. Worth playing for the story and atmosphere, but don’t expect the same level of fear and challenge as its predecessor.
💀 Recommended? Yes, but only if you enjoy story-driven horror.

This game is such a good balance of basic game mechanics, and storytelling. I love how this was very story oriented to the point where everything you interact with tells you something about it. At parts it was terrifying, at others it was intense but bearable. I recommend this for anyone who is really looking for a story rich game that is mentally traumatising whilst fun to play! As someone who has completed the game 100% It is enjoyable through and through!

A Haunting Masterpiece: Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs
"Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs" is a mesmerizing journey into the depths of psychological horror, masterfully crafted by The Chinese Room and Frictional Games. From the moment I stepped into this dark, twisted world, I was captivated by its unique blend of narrative depth, atmospheric tension, and emotional resonance.
The game's setting is a brilliantly realized Victorian-era industrial nightmare. The level design is both intricate and immersive, with each area meticulously detailed to enhance the feeling of dread and unease. The haunting soundtrack and eerie sound effects work in perfect harmony to create an ambiance that is both chilling and immersive, pulling you deeper into the story with every creak and whisper.
What truly sets "A Machine for Pigs" apart is its narrative. The story of Oswald Mandus and his descent into madness is compelling and thought-provoking. It's a tale of loss, guilt, and the monstrous lengths one might go to in the name of redemption. The writing is poetic and profound, with each diary entry and voice recording adding layers to the rich tapestry of the game's plot.
The gameplay mechanics are streamlined compared to its predecessor, focusing more on exploration and narrative rather than complex puzzles. This choice enhances the overall experience, allowing players to become fully absorbed in the story without being pulled out of the moment by overly challenging tasks. The tension is palpable throughout, with the fear of the unknown driving you forward, even when every instinct screams to turn back.
"Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs" is not just a game; it's an experience. It pushes the boundaries of what horror can be, combining psychological terror with a deeply human story. For those who appreciate a game that can evoke strong emotions and leave a lasting impact, this is a must-play. Prepare to be haunted long after the credits roll.