Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Amnesia: The Dark Descent plunges players into a harrowing survival horror experience as they assume the role of protagonist Daniel, exploring the eerie depths of Castle Brennenburg. Tasked with maintaining his sanity while evading monsters and solving puzzles, players must navigate the dark corridors and unsettling events that plague the castle. Narrative themes include blood, darkness, torture, and death. Special thanks to GamePhobias & vgtriggers on tumblr for pulling together a lot of the information below.

• Release date: 09-08-2010
• Developer: Frictional Games
• Publisher: Frictional Games
• Platforms: Linux, MacOS, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One

Triggers for this game

Animals & Wildlife

• Insects

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Some of the 'low sanity' effects take the form of symptoms commonly associated with drug withdrawal and use, including bugs crawling on-sceen.

  • Can't be avoided

Crime

• Explosions & Bombs

  • Can't be avoided

• Kidnapping

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  The antagonist would find and kidnap people for use in his rituals

  • Can't be avoided

• Murder

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  During an auditory flashback in the Dungeons, the murder of a young girl can be heard

  • Can't be avoided

• Torture

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  Some documents and flashbacks contain descriptions of mutilation. Clicking on the torture devices in the Choir and Transept will cause text to appear, describing the torture. Torture rooms must be visited to complete the game, and the clicking on the devices will cause a text flashback to appear, detailing the suffering of a previous victim.

  • Can't be avoided

Death & Loss

• Drowning

  In the Sewers section

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  After the player completes the puzzles to fill the room with water, there is a large, metal box that the player passes by. Inside it sounds like someone is drowning.

  • Can't be avoided

Gore

• Animal Violence

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  Strong implications of animal abuse & violence

  • Can't be avoided

• Beheading

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  A character can be decapitated, and their head put in the player’s inventory.

  • Is avoidable

• Blood

  Found in every level

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  When you're attacked, splashes of blood appear onscreen.

  • Can't be avoided

• Body Horror

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  Monsters have their bodies twisted. Some documents and flashbacks contain descriptions of mutilation. Clicking on the torture devices in the Choir and Transept will cause text to appear, describing the torture. Looking at the antagonist’s portrait with low sanity will cause his face to become malformed and eyeless. You drill into a dead mans head and inject his blood into yourself. You don't see the injection part, but you do see a drill cut into flesh and blood flow out.

  • Can't be avoided

• Dismemberment

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  Disembodied limbs

  • Can't be avoided

Horror Themes

• Chase & Pursuit

  • Can't be avoided

• Ghosts & Hauntings

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  Auditory flashbacks can sometimes be heard. Although it’s not clear what triggers these, a common theory is that it is ghosts.

  • Can't be avoided

• Jump Scares

  • Can't be avoided

• Monsters

  Monsters chase you throughout the game. Since you have no way to protect yourself, you will have hide and run away frequently.

  • Can't be avoided

• Zombies & Undead

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  Some interpret the enemies Servant Grunt and Servant Brute as being undead. There is a character that can be alive while decapitated.

  • Can't be avoided

Mental Health

• Grief

  Grief & guilt

  • Can't be avoided

• Hallucinations

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  Some hallucinations and flashbacks are unavoidable. That said, low sanity causes more hallucinations. You can avoid this by keeping the Sanity meter as high as possible.

  • Is avoidable
  • Can't be avoided

• Mental Illness

  • Can't be avoided

Non-Sexual Abuse & Violence

• Child Abuse

  Suggestions

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  An early loading screen suggests that a character had a physically abusive father

  • Can't be avoided

• Manipulation

  Brainwashing

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  A character exploits the desperation of another to make them commit atrocious acts

  • Can't be avoided

• Misc. Non-Sexual Abuse & Violence

  Victim blaming

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  A character blames his torture victims for becoming criminals in the first place, leading them to be brought to the dungeon.

  • Can't be avoided

• Mutilation

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  Some documents and flashbacks contain descriptions of mutilation. Clicking on the torture devices in the Choir and Transept will cause text to appear, describing the torture.

  • Can't be avoided

• Stalking

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  The Player Character is pursued by a being called ‘The Shadow’, and at some points in the game must flee it. It manifests as glowing red fog.

  • Can't be avoided

Phobias

• Claustrophobia

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  Must hide in wardrobes and other small spaces to evade monsters

  • Can't be avoided

• Hemophobia

  Found in every level

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  When you're attacked, splashes of blood appear onscreen.

  • Can't be avoided

• Necrophobia

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  Dead bodies show up in the game here and there. More frequently, they are mentioned in writings, etc.

  • Can't be avoided

• Nyctophobia

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  Darkness is a main game mechanic, and light may attract monsters.

  • Can't be avoided

• Ommetaphobia

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  If you click on the iron maiden, you'll receive a text flashback of a victim experiencing this, including eye trauma. Looking at the antagonist’s portrait with low sanity will cause his face to become malformed and eyeless.

  • Can't be avoided

Physical Health & Body Issues

• Misc. Physical Health & Body Issues

  Seizures

  ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers

  During some low sanity events

  • Can't be avoided

• Pain & Physical Suffering

  • Can't be avoided

Sex & Erotica (Consensual)

• Nudity

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  Most of the dead bodies are nude men. The antagonist is nude during the final level.

  • Can't be avoided

Sexual Abuse

• Sexual Assault

  Implications

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  Strong implications of sexual abuse & violence

  • Can't be avoided

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