Supermassive Games' next title in collaboration with 2K,The Quarry, is coming out on July 25, 2025 for PC and consoles. Like other works created by the English developers,The Quarrywill also be a cinematic horror adventure with several big-name Hollywood actors appearing.
The developer is currently working on several games that will be part ofThe Dark Pictures Anthology, but it has already been clarified thatThe Quarryis a standalone projectlikeUntil Dawn, even considered something of a spiritual sequel. To makeThe Quarryimprove uponUntil Dawn, it shouldn’t repeatUntil Dawn’s mistakes and tell an entirely different story.
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The Quarry: What We Know So Far
In its announcement trailer,The Quarrylooks to be a classic teen-horror flick that takes its cue from several cornerstones of the genre. In the game, players will control nine teenagers and entertainers at a summer camp in the remote forests of northern New York. None of them are aware of the dangers that lurk in the forests until it is too late. This premise is clearly riffing off popular genre staples from the 1980s likeFriday the 13th. Younger players might also find similarities with the ninth season ofAmerican Horror Story: 1984, or in media likeStranger Things.
As mentioned, the protagonists are played by Hollywood stars and celebrities such as David Arquette (Scream), Ariel Winter (Modern Family), Justice Smith (Jurassic World), Brenda Song (Dollface), Lance Henriksen (Aliens), and Lin Shaye (A Nightmare on Elm Street). Many more are expected to be announced over the coming weeks.
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The Quarry’s Similarities With Until Dawn
In addition toFriday the 13th,The Quarryalso appears to reference movies likeThe Hills Have EyesandDeliverance. The game will not focus much on jump scares, but on tension as withUntil Dawn. The similarities are apparent, even in the game’s initial concept: a group of teenagers who find themselves trapped and under duress in an isolated summer camp (rather than a cabin in the mountains).
The Quarryalso reuses the solid formula that characterizes every Supermassive Games title. In this case, it is a graphic horror adventure in which players shape the story. In every one of Supermassive’s previous titles, like the latestHouse of Ashes, it is of crucial importance to choose the path players want to take in order to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. The lives of all the characters that appear in the game are in the hands of the players.
These mechanics allow players to have broad choices on how to progress, and enable the game to have good replay value.Supermassive Games recently revealed five new titlesin theDark Pictures Anthologythat all focus on this type of gameplay. The developers also wanted people to play the game together with friends; online with up to seven people in the case ofThe Quarry, with the players invited to attend and vote on key decisions.
An exciting feature introduced withThe Quarryis selecting levels of difficulty, which was not possible in previous games. This will allow all types of players to enjoy the game and appreciate its nuances. In addition, players can watch the entire story with the film mode so that they can enjoyThe Quarryas if it were a TV series. Finally, once the adventure is completed for the first time, the ability to play a new game with three lives will be unlocked. The points at which characters can die are many, so three lives aren’t much, but they serve to remedy some mistakes that players make.
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How The Quarry Can Improve
WhileUntil Dawnhas been widely praised by critics, it’s not a game without flaws. One of the aspects that have caused the most discussion is quick-time events (QTEs). In some sections of the game, players are allowed to make mistakes since they will not have any consequence on the story. By contrast, a small distraction in a QTE phase will likely lead to specific characters dying, turning it into abad decision. It was a design choice to ensure players pay attention, but this can also be an issue for accessibility.
Another flaw thatThe Quarryshould improve is the management of collectibles.InUntil Dawn, finding some collectibles is crucialfor certain characters to continue their adventure. This means going straight to the end of the game could be a wrong choice, players are obliged to stop and explore secondary areas. Another thing that should be better managed inThe Quarryis the diversification of the secondary areas. InUntil Dawn,it is almost impossible to determine whether following one path leads the player to continue the story or explore hidden areas.
Finally, the fear inUntil Dawnis mainly unraveled indoors, sometimes withjump scares, not making the most of the mountain setting.The Quarryshould improve this mechanic and take advantage of the external environments to create a greater sense of anguish, even when people are outdoors and with different possibilities of escape.
The Quarrywill be available from June 10 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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