Supermassive Games, makers of an eight-part series known as The Dark Pictures Anthology, recently released their highly anticipated third installment, House of Ashes. This third game follows the first two titles in the series, Man of Medan and Little Hope.
The creators decided to create each of these games based on real events and stories. For example, Man of Medan is based on the legend of the ghost ship Ourang Medan while Little Hope is based on the Andover witch trials of 1692. Drawing information and inspiration from these events and stories created an element of additional fear for players.
But when it comes to the new House of Ashes, Supermassive has decided to move away from ghosts and the supernatural. This time around, they're relying on solitary exploration and monsters to scare.
Based on ancient history
House of Ashes is based on the historical character Naram-Sin, an ancient Mesopotamian king who was cursed by the gods and his kingdom of Akkad. A Mesopotamian myth describes Naram-Sin disrespecting one of the gods by plundering his temple, so that the god brought famine, drought, and disease upon Naram-Sin's kingdom. In order to save the rest of the kingdom, the other gods decided to destroy Akkad as a sacrifice to appease the angry god.
In the game, players will explore a buried Akkadian temple to uncover the history and dark secrets that lie beneath the sand.
Related: How Long Does It Take To Beat House of Ashes?
Other Inspirations
Besides this main backstory, Supermassive also drew other inspirations for House of Ashes. Movies like Alien, Predator, and The Descent all played a part in creating that feeling of uncertainty and loneliness while being chased by a monster in a buried temple. Plus, you might even get some inspiration from The Mummy in-game, since a team of people are forced to explore it.
Players can expect plenty of suspense and fear in this addition to the Dark Pictures anthology. If you're already a fan, five more games are expected to come out of this series in the coming years.
For more House of Ashes guides and information, check out What is the monster in House of Ashes? on Pro Game Guides!
