All Games by Frictional Games, Ranked

Frictional Games are returning in March, 2023 with their newest Amnesia installment titled The Bunker. From first glances the Developer appears to be switching it up, bringing back the classic Survival Horror genre to its rightful place. It is welcoming change to see the return of good, scary atmosphere combined with survival elements of limited ammo and resources. Frictional Games are the masters when it comes to Horror Games where your only option to survive is to run. Becoming a pioneer of the transformed Survival Horror which we all grew used to seeing. But the change towards Horror similar to that of Resident Evil is truly a sight to be happy about. This is our ranking of every game by Frictional Games.

Every Horror Game Made by Frictional Games, Ranked

7. Penumbra: Requiem

Penumbra: Requiem is the third and final installment of Penumbra. It released not long after Black Plague which was likely its downfall. Requiem lost what made Black Plague a fantastic game. It moved away from creating the perfect horror atmosphere and into a puzzle platformer. Which was a strange change and one that did not work for the trilogy. It is a shame for this sudden and blatant shift from what made Penumbra Overture and Black Plague so special. This game is filled with back to back puzzles and whilst some may enjoy that, it does not appropriately express the previous story seen in Black Plague.

The game attempts to explain to us what happened to the protagonist of Black Plague. However, it falls on deaf ears because of its gameplay decision. If you are interested in the Penumbra trilogy, we highly recommend playing Overture and Black Plague only.

6. Amnesia: Rebirth

Rebirth is a overall good game however it does have more flaws than the other Amnesia games on the list. Whilst the voice acting is great, everything is always explained to the player which often breaks the immersion of the game. As strange as it sounds, the regular scenes of being in the Desert also takes away from the horror and impending doom that is usually felt with Frictional Games’ work. Yes it has good storytelling and great level design, with many puzzles to complete. Its faults lie within it feeling far from a typical Amnesia game.

In moments of pure horror as you try to hide or evade the monsters, this is when we get a glimpse into what made Amnesia stand out as a product. However this quickly fades away once you leave these areas. Whilst a Horror Game does not need to be scary 24/7, it is a strange change from what we saw in A Machine for Pigs and The Dark Descent.

5. Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs

A Machine for Pigs is better than Rebirth however it once again does not come close to Dark Descent. Perhaps this is due to the fact that Dark Descent was such a unique take on horror that we had never seen before. Now, we are used to the sanity bar, the horrors of the unknown and its storytelling on insanity. However, unlike Rebirth, A Machine for Pigs does have special qualities that resemble what made Dark Descent great. Its setting is eerie from the vary start, with a twisted undertone for the story ahead as we play as a father searching for his twin boys.

A Machine for Pigs is dark and it does not have breaks in its atmosphere unlike Rebirth. Similar to most Frictional Games’ work, its storytelling is always top notch, however it does fall short in the horror department. Making this more like a walking simulator of finding notes and listening to the ramblings of our protagonist. Rather than an immensely scary game. There is no sense of panic of urgency when playing this game unlike Penumbra and The Dark Descent. The focus appears to be on the psychological aspect of the game, even though this can easily be done in a scary way as seen in Dark Descent.

4. Penumbra: Overture

Something that we always see in Horror Games today is the overuse of notes and letters to tell the story of the game. But with Frictional Games, the use of this is always perfect and matches the setting. Everywhere you visit is abandoned, the uncertainty of if you are the last person alive wandering the darkness. This is the case in Penumbra: Overture, as you go into the game blind, unknowing what lurks in the unknown. You follow your fathers footsteps into a place that no man should enter, knowing fair well that he disappeared the same time 3 decades before you visit.

What makes this game is its sound design, with the majority of the setting being silent, the use of sound such as the groaning of the walls as you dive in deeper into the underground facility. Hearing every footstep you make which echoes through the empty corridors you walk through. Overture is like a scary walking puzzle simulator, where no matter the setting, something makes you feel uneasy. You feel as though you need to hurry and figure out the puzzle or whatever is behind you will catch up. This game is all about atmosphere and not much on action, so keep that in mind if you ever play Overture.

3. SOMA

SOMA is definitely the best storytelling of Frictional Games’ work. Whilst its setting can be terrifying for some (myself included) as it is located deep in the Ocean, it is its story which puts SOMA high up on the list. There is something incredibly meaningful and emotional about the story of SOMA. Without spoiling it however, it is a mix of Lovecraftian Horror and a Sci-Fi adventure. Whilst at times this game, similarly to Overture feels like a scary walking simulation, its story is one that you would only expect in Films or Books. It is incredibly well written, with likeable characters and excellent dialogue.

Its monsters are some of the most unique we have seen by Frictional Games however at times, its gameplay can feel rather competitive. This is its main flaw and why it sits at Number 3 on the list. What Frictional Games does so well is create an atmosphere unlike no other, however its gameplay never reaches as high as its storytelling. SOMA had me at the edge of my seat in moments where you are exploring the Ocean floor. But I put that on my fear of giant sea creatures over anything else. Still, this game has the best story out of any on this list and if you can look past its repetitive gameplay, you will highly enjoy the SOMA experience.

2. Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Amnesia was a standalone and standout product of its release. It blew up online and became a figure head for the majority of Survival Horror Games which flooded the Indie industry for many years to come. Frictional Games pioneered the sanity bar mechanic, which made for a terrifying experience. As you would try to make sense of your surroundings, the protagonist would have his sanity chip away. You would not be able to stare at the monsters for long as teeth grind, vision blurred and hallucinations ensued the longer you pulled at your curiosity.

The first hour of the game is some of the best every produced in a horror. With a HP Lovecraftian feel of the fear of the unknown, you do not know what is in the Castle stalking your every move. There is a reason this game was so big online and it is because of its highly unique take on horror. This could have been a standalone product in itself as it had an intriguing story behind it.

However, as years flew by and horror developed further and further away from the classic Survival Horror genre, Amnesia too strayed further away from the standard of horror. Meaning that when looking back at this game in 2023, it has not aged particularly well. Perhaps this is due to the sheer volume of Amnesia inspired Horror Games we have seen since its release. Similar to the mass amount of PT copies in the horror world. However, for the first time playing this game, Amnesia: The Dark Descent was a truly terrifying experience.

1. Penumbra: Black Plague

Many may disagree with this top pick but Penumbra is a damn good Horror Game which is massively underrated in the horror scene. It flew under the radar for most, getting a rather cult following due to its larger success with Amnesia: The Dark Descent online. Unlike what was seen in Amnesia, Penumbra does not have a sanity bar. But do not let that take away from its incredible build up of atmosphere and so of the best jumpscares in game history. The game begins in a highly intriguing way, introducing our protagonist from the POV of himself written at the present where the entirety of the game takes place in the past. Now, typically this setting is something I despise, especially in films however in this sense, it added a sense of mystery.

The opening scene artwork is for its time of release, dark and grim. Humans appearing freakish and animalistic, you have to wonder what happened to them? You awake in an abandoned derelict room, wallpaper torn off and the door is locked. Similar to Amnesia, it is the fear of the unknown as you play the game of what happened to the Personnel in the facility and what else could be lurking down here with you? The monsters of Penumbra are strange, deformed humanoid figures, transformed by an infection. Their bodies resemble that of what the western world view to look like aliens from another planet.

Concluding Thoughts

The horror in Penumbra is so well done, with an atmosphere similar to what was built in the Amnesia series. The dialogue of Clarence, a sentient virus which is part of the hive mind of the virus is great. Everything about Penumbra is so well done, with an eerie atmosphere, terrifying monsters and a great story to back the horror. If you have not played this game, you must because it is better than later Frictional Games’ work such as SOMA and Amnesia. We can only hope that something like that would get a remake, similar to that of Resident Evil and Silent Hill.

That is our ranking of every game made by Frictional Games. Do you agree with our list? Let us know what you think about Frictional Games on Facebook. Is your favorite SOMA, Penumbra or the Amnesia series? Feel free to take a look at our other horror related content. From articles such as How to Beat Fears to Fathom – Carson House and How to Evade All Monsters in The Classrooms.