10 Video Games Way Darker Than Originally Advertised

2. Inside

Bugsnax transformation
Playdead

The colour palette and aesthetics of Inside alone are enough to warn you that you might be in for a rough ride, venturing through a big, scary dystopian landscape with just a small boy as your player character.

Even though most of the game revolves around a fairly dark concept, the real kicker comes at the end. After all the trials and tribulations of reaching the final chapter, there’s no happy resolution - instead our beloved little guy gets absorbed into a giant blob.

The alternate ending doesn’t provide much more hope, as instead there he ends up as one of the mindless zombies we’ve encountered throughout. How dark this ending is depends on the theory you believe about it.

Some think that the Huddle (AKA the big blob) has been controlling the boy the whole time, intending to use him as an agent for its release.

Alternatively some think that it’s all one big metaphor for agency and player control, in which we’re the malevolent force controlling the boy and to go for the alternate ending is to release him and end it all.

In truth, any way you look at it, it’s all a bit bleak.

Contributor
Contributor

WhatCulture's shortest contributor (probably). Lover of cats, baked goods and Netflix Originals.