Those Who Remain is a psychological thriller that takes place in Dormont, a small town in the US.
Dormont appears to be a regular and typical American town at first glance. However, it is cursed by a demon who shrouded everything in darkness.
Most of the town's population has been trapped inside the darkness, with no means of escape.
Edward Turner is just an ordinary man with troubled past, who arrives in the wrong place at the wrong time. He soon finds out that something is very wrong in Dormont.
There are strange creatures roaming in the dark, killing everyone that gets close. The only way to survive is by staying in the light.
The danger in the dark is not the only thing at play in Dormont.
There are strange portals that emanate a bright light, that seem to bring anyone that goes through them to another place, similar yet different, apparently unreal but very real.
Actions taken in one place have repercussions in the other.
Those Who Remain is difficult to recommend, but there is an interesting meditation on guilt, redemption, and judgement hidden amongst an unfortunate mass of clunky design and gameplay. It might even be that watching someone else play the game is the best way to enjoy it, so you won't have to fight the controls and frustrating checkpoints. Ultimately,...
Although it had some good ideas at the start, Those Who Remain feels like the most cookie cutter horror game possible that barely manages to present anything fresh enough to keep you interested across the six hour playtime.
Those Who Remain deserves major points for creativity of ideas and premise.
Those Who Remain doesn't have jump-scares, it has jump-yells. Yelling at the game for its clunky controls and puzzles. A new one around every corner.
From storytelling to game design, Those Who Remain's tepid approach to its overabundant tropes made me want to leave Dormont as soon as I arrived. My best advice to horror fans: ignore the exit—even if your tank is running low.
