Inseparable from the character of Samantha Giddings, nicknamed Sam, Until Dawn is a narrative game steeped in the conventions of the slasher genre—a subgenre of horror movies featuring teenagers (or young adults) hunted down by a psychopathic killer. In the vein of games like Heavy Rain, Beyond Two Souls, Detroit: Become Human, and The Quarry, this adventure creates a thriller-like atmosphere where every decision can impact the protagonists’ fate.
The plot begins with the disappearance of twin sisters, Hannah and Beth. A year later, to honor their memory, Josh, their younger brother, decides to invite his friends to the scene of the tragedy. While the game sets a very “teen movie” vibe, events escalate when a masked, Saw-style psychopath begins hunting down the group. The characters split up, and the player is faced with impossible choices. Very quickly, it becomes clear that the character of Sam (Hannah and Beth’s best friend), played by the late Hayden Panettiere, is at the heart of the story.
While Until Dawn 2 has just been revealed during Sony’s State of Play, Until Dawn will remain Supermassive Games’ pioneering horror title—and a fitting tribute to a much-loved actress. Hayden Panettiere, the actress who played Samantha Giddings using performance capture, passed away on August 26, 2026, at the age of 36. Playing this game is, in a sense, a way to keep her memory alive.
Why Should I Download Until Dawn?
Until Dawn is a horror game inspired by the great slasher classics—those “teen movies” in which teenagers and/or young adults are hunted down by a killer. The game features a group of young people in an isolated cabin. From the very first minutes, you can’t help but draw parallels to films like Wes Craven’s Scream, Jim Gillespie’s I Know What You Did Last Summer, James Wong’s *Final Destination*, or Jamie Blanks’ Urban Legends. Discerning movie buffs, meanwhile, will be reminded of horror film classics, from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre to The Hills Have Eyes, not to mention Friday the 13th, Halloween, and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Quite the lineup, isn’t it? Until Dawn is steeped in the same tension that defines these feature films.
With the controller in hand, it’s almost as if the player becomes the director of an interactive movie: every decision can impact the survival of one of the protagonists. Set in a highly realistic 3D world, Until Dawn invites you to take on the roles of the different characters in turn, creating butterfly effects (a classic feature of Supermassive Games titles). As you explore the hallways of the cabin and its surroundings, each character’s story weaves into the main plot, and the tension builds to a crescendo, forcing the player to make very difficult decisions: should you choose this character over another? The path on the right or the one on the left? Should you hide the truth? Keep in mind that nothing is forgotten—everything adds up.
Until Dawn relies on a mechanic that’s integral to Supermassive Games’ titles: the butterfly effect. The plot and characters deliberately toy with the player, who is—often—forced to react quickly. While some decisions have an immediate impact, certain events may come back to haunt the player by echoing a choice made several hours earlier. It’s incredible! According to the developers, Until Dawn features nearly 200 variations, which speaks volumes about its various story branches. As for the gameplay itself, it relies primarily on exploring environments, nerve-wracking QTEs (pressing the right button at the right time), and suffocating therapy scenes where Dr. Hill (Peter Stormare) directly questions the player about their decisions.
Developed by Ballistic Moon, the 2024 remake uses Unreal Engine 5 to enhance the environments and characters from the original PlayStation 4 release. The game features an over-the-shoulder camera and all-new sequences, including endings not found in the 2015 title. Thanks to ray tracing, everything looks more organic: models, animations, lighting, and weather effects. The cabin becomes a character in its own right, and interactions feel more authentic—especially with snow that reacts in real time to the characters’ movements. The prologue has also been expanded to give Hannah and Beth a more prominent role.
For those who want to learn more about the sequel announced in January 2027, here’s what you need to know about Until Dawn 2. Firesprite has taken over from Supermassive Games and is set to transport us to Akashima Island, a far cry from the cabin and snowy landscapes of the first game. A new multi-path slasher game, the title follows a group of young people — passionate about paranormal phenomena — who host a show about these strange events. Behind the many idyllic settings lie buried secrets, unspoken tensions between the characters, betrayals, and… above all, a killer who’s decided to bring his own brand of bloodshed to this tropical setting. See you on January 28, 2027.
Is Until Dawn Free?
No. Until Dawn is a paid game that’s available in both physical and digital formats. You can find the game at affordable prices, especially if you look for used physical copies.
What Operating Systems Are Compatible with Until Dawn?
Until Dawn is a game that was originally released in 2015 on PlayStation 4. Thanks to the 2024 remake, you can now enjoy Supermassive Games’ landmark title on Windows PC (Steam and the Epic Games Store) and PlayStation 5. Please note that there is no Xbox Series version. The same goes for the Nintendo Switch 2.
What Are the Alternatives to Until Dawn?
In the realm of narrative games, several titles are worth checking out. Among them is Supermassive Games’ latest release, Directive 2080. A 3D narrative game, this title moves away from the slasher movie genre to embrace an atmosphere reminiscent of *Alien*. The plot unfolds aboard the Cassiopeia, which has become the epicenter of a manhunt serving as a pretext for chases, infiltration, QTEs, and multiple-choice dialogues. Every decision can impact the characters, forcing players to carefully consider their actions. The experience of the developers at Supermassive Games is evident; they’ve mastered the genre, and there’s no shortage of surprises. There’s even a multiplayer mode for cooperative play with up to 5 players.
The Quarry is quite simply the spiritual successor to Until Dawn. This time, Supermassive Games plunges us into the heart of an American summer camp with nine teens who decide to stay together one last night to celebrate the end of the season. With a stellar cast (David Arquette, Lin Shaye, Ariel Winter) and high-quality writing, The Quarry pulls the same strings as Until Dawn: the butterfly effect, nerve-wracking QTEs, multiple branching paths, and a host of spectacular deaths. It’s a bit longer, a bit more wordy, but tailor-made for those same evenings with friends, on the couch, and with cold pizza. If you love slasher movies and video games, this one’s for you!
From Quantic Dream’s list of narrative games, one might choose Heavy Rain or Beyond Two Souls—two very different but deeply memorable works. The French studio’s other major game is Detroit: Become Human, an incredible immersion into a dystopian world set in 2038. The Blade Runner-esque plot revolves around three robotic characters: Kara, Connor, and Markus. In a fractured society, relations between humans and androids have become strained, and it is against this backdrop that the various protagonists navigate their stories. With fast-paced QTEs, masterful direction, extraordinary music, dozens of branching storylines, and top-notch production values, this title is a masterclass in the genre.
