The folks at Supermassive Games found themselves with a big hit with 2015’s Until Dawn, a thrilling interactive horror story starring Hayden Panettiere, Rami Malek and Nichole Sakura. Nearly seven years on, they’ve done it again with The Quarry, a spiritual successor that plays in a familiar way but takes advantage of better technology and throws in some twists of its own.
This time around, the cast playing the teens in peril includes the likes of Brenda Song, Detective Pikachu‘s Justice Smith, and Ariel Winter. A group of summer camp counsellors decide to stay an extra night at Hackett’s Quarry, unaware that there’s something bloodthirsty out there in the woods, and it’s the player’s job to guide them as best as they can, making decisions for them and reacting to quick-time events along the way.
All of the playable counsellors can survive, but each one can also die before the end credits roll. Like a movie, if one character meets a gory demise, the story simply continues. In fact, later scenes can play out significantly differently depending on who’s alive and dead and other preceding events.
2K Games
There is a massive number of variations on how the story can unfold, with branching paths at so many turns. A seemingly minor decision, like whether or not to take fireworks for a party, might have consequences or present a character with an additional option several chapters later.
Being able to take charge of what is essentially a horror movie remains as gripping as ever, and a large part of that is down to the narrative and characters. It’s impossible to go into details without delving into spoilers, but the story keeps the player on their toes, not revealing its full hand straight away and preferring to slowly unravel its twists. It means the player is almost as much in the dark as the counsellors over the true nature of the threat, resulting in the tension being dialled up even in the quieter moments when the teens aren’t running for their lives.
The script is decent, but in particular the motion-capture technology does a terrific job at letting the cast’s acting talent shine, making the performances feel authentic which in turn helps to establish believable relationships among the teens and keep the player in the moment.
To name a few standout actors, Song is really likeable as the no-nonsense, headstrong member of the group, while Prodigal Son star Halston Sage, playing a self-assured influencer, delivers a delightfully convincing turn.
For Modern Family fans, Winter plays the shyest person in camp who also has a crush on a fellow counsellor, though it’s a shame her character sort of fades into the background in the latter stages of the game (if she survives that long, of course).
2K Games
The supporting cast are also memorable, with horror favourites including Grace Zabriskie, David Arquette and Lin Shaye featured. Ted Raimi is the pick of the bunch here, revelling in the role as the creepy local sheriff who knows more than he’s letting on. Raimi’s scenes with Siobhan Williams, who plays a counsellor who goes missing after the prologue, are among some of the most absorbing in the game.
The story is not without its flaws. While there are a lot of different ending variations based on who makes it through the night and some key decisions, the true final chapter of the game ends on a rather abrupt and underwhelming note.
But that doesn’t change the fact that this is an entertaining and very worthwhile ride, and one that players might want to experience more than once from the beginning to see all of the different ways in which the deadly events at Hackett’s Quarry can unfold (including all of the gruesome deaths).
Platform reviewed on: PC
The Quarry is out now on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
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