The Quarry was one of those games that had been on my list for quite some time. Much of that curiosity came from the fact that it was developed by Supermassive Games, the studio behind Until Dawn — one of my favorite PlayStation exclusives and one of the best narrative horror experiences I've ever had the chance to play. With The Quarry's arrival on Xbox Game Pass, the perfect opportunity finally came to see whether it could reach the same level as its spiritual predecessor.
As you'd expect from a Supermassive game, the experience revolves almost entirely around the player's decisions. Throughout the story we're constantly confronted with choices that influence relationships between characters, future events and, of course, who lives or dies before the final credits. Exploration continues to play an important role, encouraging us to hunt for clues, collectibles, and additional information that helps better understand the mysteries surrounding Hackett's Quarry camp.
The formula still works quite well and maintains that constant sense of tension that characterizes this type of game. We never know exactly what the consequences of our actions will be, which makes every decision carry considerable emotional weight. However, I felt that not every choice has the impact it initially appears to have. At several points I was left with the impression that certain decisions led to very similar outcomes, regardless of the option selected.
Another aspect that caused me some frustration was how certain choices are interpreted by the game itself. There were situations where I picked an option believing the character would react in a specific way, only to watch a completely different response from the one I had imagined. I particularly remember one moment where I selected an option meant to comfort another character, and the reaction turned out to be so insensitive it had precisely the opposite effect. It's true this unpredictability contributes to the suspense and the authenticity of the interactions, but in The Quarry I felt it happens too frequently, sometimes making it hard to truly understand what we're choosing.
Despite those limitations, the narrative manages to stay quite engaging from beginning to end. The story clearly draws inspiration from classic teen horror films, packed with charismatic characters, dark secrets, questionable decisions, and supernatural threats. It's pretty much what I imagine a typical '80s slasher film turned interactive video game would look like. Supermassive once again demonstrates its ability to create tension and keep the player constantly curious about what will happen next.
Visually, The Quarry is an impressive game. The character models offer a very high level of detail, especially in facial expressions during the more dramatic sequences. The environments also help build a convincing atmosphere, making great use of the forests' darkness, the isolated spaces, and the constant feeling that something is about to go wrong.
The cast also deserves a mention. The performances are, on the whole, quite solid and contribute immensely to the immersion. The presence of recognizable actors helps give the group of protagonists personality and makes it easier to form emotional connections with each of them. When characters are well written and well acted, difficult decisions naturally become more impactful.
The soundtrack does its job and adequately accompanies the moments of tension and action, although there are a few occasions where certain musical choices don't seem to fit a scene's tone perfectly. It doesn't hurt the experience, but it's one of those small details that occasionally breaks the atmosphere slightly.
In the end, The Quarry proved to be an excellent adventure and horror experience, especially for those who enjoy games focused on narrative and choice. It's one of those titles that's perfect for playing in a group, debating every decision and trying to save as many characters as possible. Although it didn't quite reach the same level as Until Dawn for me, it's still one more demonstration of Supermassive Games' ability to create engaging, tense interactive stories full of memorable moments.
out of 10
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Game The Quarry Released 2022 Available on PC · PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · Xbox One · Xbox Series X|S Reviewed on Xbox Series X|S |  Cover: IGDB |
| PL | Pedro Lopes Writer · Portugal |
A games writer from Portugal running on a highly irresponsible amount of coffee — his blood type is officially "espresso". He has been a content creator at Lisbon Games Week, a jury member at Over & Out ’25 and an attendee of DevGAMM Lisbon 2025 (mostly for the free coffee). He has a Pac-Man tattoo on his finger, which contractually obliges him to chase ghosts forever.