Hinterland have been working hard to make the search for an elusive stick that much more engrossing, and it shows in almost every gorgeous vista and scene of desolation. It’s one of the best and most breathtaking survival games I have ever encountered and one that’s been fine-tuned since it was released into Early Access back in 2014. The Long Dark is full of moments like these, the triumphs after so many lows. Shortly before my Dahmer-inspired spree, a wolf attack had left me bleeding out and minus all of the clothes I had just spent searching through countless empty houses for. This might sound a little sadistic (and really, it is), but it makes sense if you’ve slogged through the game for hours upon hours while feeling utterly, hopelessly vulnerable against the elements and many wolves that want to eat your throat. It was when I shot a wolf in the face with a flare gun, ate its flesh, and used its hide to furnish my shoes. I can pinpoint the exact moment when I fell in love with The Long Dark‘s stylish brand of survival.
