The Best Play Order for The Dark Pictures Anthology

If you‘re looking to get into the smash hit interactive horror series The Dark Pictures, the recommended play order is to start with the original – Man of Medan – and go in release order from there through to the newest game The Devil in Me.

Why Release Order Trumps the Rest

Playing the games in order of launch lets you:

• Appreciate how the series evolves and builds complexity with each new entry
• Spot interconnected plots, characters and threats across multiple games
• Get that rewarding feeling when you notice callbacks, links and references
• See how major choices and consequences carry over between titles
• Experience the escalating stakes and rising scale of each subsequent story

It allows you to view the full breadth of the anthology, picks up nods to past games you would otherwise miss, and lets you import choices from previous titles..

Game Lengths – The Devil In Me Goes Longest

According to HowLongToBeat, game lengths are:

• Man of Medan: 4 and a half hours (Main Story)
• Little Hope: 6 and a half hours
• House of Ashes: 7 hours
• The Devil In Me: 12 hours (for full completionist playthrough)

So while all games are tight, gripping experiences, The Devil In Me offers the longest adventure – making it the choice for players craving an epic interactive tale.

Hundreds of Endings – House of Ashes Offers Most Variety

When it comes to replayability and making different choices to see new outcomes, House of Ashes comes out on top – boasting hundreds of customizable endings based on whether each character lives or dies.

Meanwhile, The Devil In Me has the most extra content to discover off the main path, making your choices feels that bit more impactful.

Gradual Improvements – Critics Praise Latest Releases

Reviewing critic scores on Metacritic, there is steady improvement as the series goes on:

• Man of Medan: 72%
• Little Hope: 73%
• House of Ashes: 78%
• The Devil In Me: 76%

So House of Ashes represents peak acclaim so far – showing Supermassive really finding their groove by the third outing.

Gameplay Gets Bigger & Better

Analyzing the gameplay innovations with each release shows clear evolution:

• More action set-pieces and QTE sequences
• Expanded explorable spaces
• Enhanced movement mechanics
• Bigger cinematic spectacle
• Deepening character arcs
• Increasing variety of deaths / jump scares

Combine this with interface and control refinements, and it‘s clear why fans praise later entries as offering the most rewarding experiences.

So for the optimal first playthrough, The Devil In Me is an excellent entry point to the series – offering the biggest environments, most layered characters, and plenty of heart-pounding action that represents peak Dark Pictures so far.

Key Development Facts

To understand the genesis of the smash hit interactive horror series:

• Made by acclaimed studio Supermassive Games
• Published globally by Bandai Namco Entertainment
• Inspired by PS4 exclusive Until Dawn
• Anthology model like TV shows such as Black Mirror
• Each game features a unique horror setting and standlone story

So with captivating stories, slick presentation, Hollywood casting and nail-biting gameplay – The Dark Pictures keeps going from strength to terrifying strength.