The Dark Pictures Anthology is back with the scariest entry yet; House Of Ashes is about a group of military combatants stumbling upon the depths of a cursed ancient cavern. Not only is the cast expected to face off against horrific monsters, but also the threat of other enemy soldiers. With a total of five playable characters, House Of Ashes puts a lot of pressure on players, putting the lives of each character in their hands.
The Dark Pictures Anthology is about carefully planning each choice, trying to keep the casualties to a minimum (outside of the one or two unbearable characters players wouldn't mind offing). Some smaller decisions don't manifest their repercussions until hours after and can make pinpointing the cause of an event rather difficult. To help prep any players for their second or third playthroughs, here are some of the most difficult decisions the player must make in House Of Ashes.
Disclaimer: Heavy spoilers ahead!
10 Trying To Silence Merwin
- Playable Character: Nick
In the earliest encounter with the vampires, Jason and Nick flee with a severely injured Merwin as he bleeds out. The vampires primarily use sound as their source of tracking/hunting their prey and Merwin's cries of pain put Jason and Nick in a sticky situation.
This may seem like a simple QTE section, but it is a rather important decision in disguise. While the prompts appear to cover Merwin's mouth and silence him, Jason will warn Nick multiple times to loosen up as it seems as if Nick is choking him in the process.
At this point, the player can choose to go along with the QTEs, losing the vampire pursuers but also killing Merwin in the process, or intentionally fail the QTE to allow Merwin to pass out from the morphine on his own.
9 Antagonizing Eric
- Playable Character: Rachel
This decision doesn't boil down to one specific moment; rather it is a series of choices that accumulate into one consequence in the end. While Eric still insists on giving their marriage a second chance, Rachel has already (seemingly) moved on to a relationship with Nick.
At one point, Nick will finally put his foot down and force Rachel to speak her mind and explicitly tell both parties what she wants. This isn't a single decision that the player can control; in fact, Rachel goes to give her answer in this cutscene without any player intervention. Throughout the game, the player must antagonize Eric if they wish for Rachel to move on and end up with Nick. If the player finds Eric as a better fit for Rachel, they must make sure to keep a warm disposition as Rachel when interacting with Eric.
8 Shooting The Civilian
- Playable Character: Jason
This situation may seem like a small part of the game but in fact, it actually holds important repercussions. Just before the earthquake that takes everyone down to the depths of the Zagros Mountains, Jason is met with a civilian trying to escape the gunfire. Jason can either choose to shoot or withhold; either way, Salim happens to witness this.
Shooting the civilian causes Salim to be much less agreeable and trusting towards the group later on when stuck in the caverns underground. Depending on Jason's actions here, Salim will either try to comply with Jason and the others or will even go as far as pulling his gun on the group and trying to escape.
7 Cutting The Rope
- Playable Character: Eric
Arguably one of the tensest moments of the entire story is when Rachel and Eric find themselves being pursued by an enemy soldier. Here, Rachel takes a spill and ends up hanging by a rope that is tied to Eric. Eric in this situation can either sacrifice Rachel and cut the rope or continue to hold on hopes of pulling both of them to safety.
However, because Rachel's character is needed for most of the plot, she will survive the fall no matter what; in fact, it is Eric that has the chance of dying during this scene instead by either falling with Rachel or getting shot by Dar.
6 Telling Jason About Salim
- Playable Character: Nick
The thought of a Marine teaming up with an enemy combatant may sound bizarre but when faced with the supernatural threat of vampire-like monsters, all humans needed to come together to fight and survive. After a short encounter with Salim, Nick has the choice of telling Salim to find cover or being upfront with Jason about siding with an enemy combatant.
Depending on the player's previous choices before this point, Jason can be shot by an agitated Salim. If Eric is present, Salim even has the chance to shoot the Colonel dead before fleeing if he is not told to take cover by Nick.
5 Abandoning Or Saving Clarice
- Playable Character: Rachel
Rachel, separated from the group, runs into a surprisingly still alive, but very ill Clarice. It is up to Rachel to either give Clarice hope and comfort her, telling her that there is a cure, or to tell her the painful truth about her inevitable transformation.
Depending on how the player treats Clarice and their ultimate choice of swinging the rope back to her in order for both to cross will determine how this situation plays out. Clarice can be left behind either as Rachel's choice or of her own volition. However, if Rachel succeeds in bringing Clarice back, the rest of the group will scold her for bringing a threat to them.
4 Going Back To Save Salim
- Playable Character: Jason
Salim, although an enemy combatant, can be quite the ally if befriended. An allied Salim will help the group in many difficult situations and even the very headstrong Jason can warm up to the opposing soldier. Not going back for Salim when he is cornered near the hives can (of course) end in his death.
However, if the QTE sections are successful and Jason waits by the elevator for Salim, Salim can battle his way out of the hive on his own.
3 Dealing With Rachel
- Playable Characters: Rachel, Jason
After a messy encounter with a vampire, it seems as if Rachel's fate is sealed as there appears to be a good chance she's also been infected. This single situation can play out numerous ways. If Rachel does decide to let Jason kill her for the sake of the group's safety (or takes her life herself), her story will end there.
However, if she pleads for her life and Eric is present, he will use his UV light to extract the parasite from within her. Alternatively, she can be cocooned in the liquid found near the hives as Salim states it preserves human flesh. If there are survivors at the end of the ordeal, Rachel will be extracted and cured; if not, Rachel will essentially be left for dead.
2 Antagonizing Or Cooperating With Salim
- Playable Characters: Nick, Jason, Rachel, Eric
This is yet another decision that does not boil down to one single instance in the game but rather a series of choices made by the player. Salim is presented as a hesitant soldier, yet still an enemy combatant nonetheless.
Whether or not the player decides to give Salim a chance will truly dictate how the group (mainly Jason) sees him. Jason and Salim's relationship can vary drastically; they can survive and return to the surface as brothers in arms, or betray each other due to their irreconcilable differences.
1 Playing Co-Op Vs. Single Player
This may not be an "in-game" decision but it is definitely one that will affect the player(s) overall experience. The main story of either version will essentially be the same, with all crucial points being present. However, there are many cutscenes and choices that are omitted from the single-player mode and are only available in the co-op version of the game.
One example is the dynamic between Salim and Dar; while they are still seen arguing in the single-player mode, their relationship is much more fleshed out in the co-op version of the story. Salim is even given the choice of rebelling against his Commander when discussing the importance of his son.
House of Ashes was released on October 22, 2021, and is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.