Few games capture fear quite like the Amnesia series. The franchise prides itself on being a genuine horror experience that forces players to live out disempowering scenarios rather than ones that are full of weapons and easy escape plans. The player’s only respite from the madness is a couple of matches and, hopefully, a hiding spot.

Amnesia: Rebirth is a welcome addition to the series, as it returns to many of the mechanics that were missing from the previous entry to the benefit of everyone involved. Rebirth works to tell a story centered around a fresh set of characters, all while throwing players into a setting that stands in stark contrast to the locations of the last two games. The experience is one that stays with the player and might keep them up at night, but that is sometimes harmed by over reliance on maze-like environments and a bit too much darkness.

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Many players were not happy about the removal of the signature Sanity mechanics in previous title Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs. Stepping into dark areas held no consequences and looking directly at monsters would not make it easier for them to find the player. This is fixed in Amnesia: Rebirth, as walking through darkly lit areas is detrimental to the player character’s mental state. The screen will crack, tear, and exhibit glimpses of monstrous beings when the player character becomes too afraid. This will attract monsters as well as force the player to search for medicine to help this condition. The only aspect of this that goes too far is the overabundance of darkness.

Puzzles and exploration take center stage for much of Amnesia: Rebirth. The puzzles inspire more creativity in the player and allow them to come up with solutions rather than feeling as though they are just putting pieces into predetermined slots. Environments are also much less linear this time around, which would be a welcome change if the player could see what they were doing. The first main location of the game is so dark that the player character is trapped in a state of constant insanity. Matches are scarce, and burn out in seconds, leaving players no choice but to run aimlessly in the dark looking for where they need to go. This builds fear as intended, but becomes a frustrating gameplay experience as almost every door is locked tight and there never seem to be enough matches. If the game is about making it through the darkness with the player’s sanity intact, this would be fine, but a game about finding a specific item in a maze of rooms isn’t helped when the player is unable to see anything and is too scared to waste their matches.

Amnesia: Rebirth's story is a wonderfully Lovecraftian affair that takes the player by surprise at every turn. Characters are rarely ever seen yet live on through their perfect voice actors and well-crafted letters placed throughout the environment. It is haunting to read about how Amnesia: Rebirth's setting consumed the previous set of travelers, and how the player character’s team was likely among the victims. As with all Amnesia games, something happened, and the player character can’t what it was. Uncovering these events is satisfying thanks to beautifully drawn portraits of key moments of the story which are found in the player character’s journal - but are blurred until the specific memory is uncovered. This helps the player piece together the story in their own way, adding to the gradual mystery reveal.

Aside from the frustration that can come from gameplay at times, the only flaws in Amnesia: Rebirth come from its graphical prowess. After three games, and such major leaps in gaming technology, it is sad that the newest title in the series has the appearance of something from two console generations ago. The graphics barely take away from the fearful experience of playing the game until the monsters appear on screen. They are surprising in their appearances as intended but lack some punch because of the graphical performance of the rest of the game. It was easy to be afraid of the creatures from past games as they held up somewhat for their time, but now they've begun to look a little silly.

Overall, Amnesia: Rebirth is a strong horror title that will definitely entertain fans of the previous games. Gameplay is more complex and challenging, and the player is made to work a bit harder for their achievements. The maze-like nature of rooms may become annoying to players who enjoy a more focused and streamlined experience. While Darkness and Sanity mechanics are a welcome return to form, the maze environment may to lead players wishing they could just look up the solution and get to the real scares. The real draw, however, is the marvelous story and brand new set of locations that take the game into exciting new territory. Amnesia: Rebirth is worth a shot for any fans of the series or of horror in general - just maybe with the brightness settings turned up a bit.

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Amnesia: Rebirth is available on PlayStation 4, PC, Linux, and Mac. Screen Rant was provided with a PlayStation 4 code for the purposes of this review.