Eternal Darkness

An underrated classic that combines psychological and action oriented horror.

Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem is a 2002 psychological horror game developed by Silicon Knights for the Nintendo GameCube. It is notable for being the first mature rated game that Nintendo has ever published. The story unfolds through multiple time periods where you play twelve different characters throughout history, who all have a connection to the “Tome of Eternal Darkness”. Strongly influenced by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, the game follows a narrative that weaves together themes of insanity, sacrifice, and horrors beyond comprehension, culminating in a confrontation with ancient gods.

The game begins with Alexandra Roivas, who investigates her grandfather's mysterious death in his family estate. Upon exploration of his home, she finds the “Tome of Eternal Darkness” and begins reading it. The tome contains accounts of various people throughout history, starting all the way back in 26 BC. Most of the game consists of the player controlling the people described in these accounts, and their experience with an ancient evil. The intricate storytelling elevates the narrative beyond typical horror tropes and conventions, allowing for a rich and layered story that examines several characters in detail.

Much like Silent Hill, Eternal Darkness was notable for its mature themes and complex storytelling, which were somewhat unconventional for video games at the time. However, the biggest standout of Eternal Darkness is the sanity system. As players experience the game, each characters' sanity decreased, causing players to encounter disorienting effects like hallucinations, visual distortions, and even breaking the fourth wall. Some of these effects would make the player think that their game crashed, that all their save data was lost, or have bugs crawling on the screen. This mechanic deepened the psychological horror aspect, making players feel increasingly unsettled.

Upon its release, Eternal Darkness garnered critical acclaim and has since gained a cult following. Its unique approach to horror has influenced subsequent games in the genre, demonstrating that horror can be both psychological and action oriented. By effectively portraying the fragility of the mind, the game encourages players to consider the effects of fear and trauma, adding depth to the horror experience and making it resonate on a more personal level. Unfortunately, Eternal Darkness sold very poorly and was considered a commercial failure. Plans for a sequel were never realized, and development team Silicon Knights eventually shut down in 2014.