Hey gamers, I'm in a period of reflection and discovery, and that led me to think about my favorite game (or the one I played the most in 2025), The Long Dark. What better way to share this than with some of my latest favorite screenshots for this new contest?
Note: Many of the screenshots have been edited and cropped to remove health bars for better aesthetics, but all the photos shown were taken by me during different playthroughs.
In The Long Dark, we face nature and our own minds on numerous occasions. By reading nature, we can't know exactly when the right time is to venture out and explore. The map often only shows our starting points, but returning to our starting point isn't always easy unless you're an expert. What catches my attention the most are the many abandoned cabins we can find. I always go inside to rummage around and warm up a bit.
The storm is the worst thing that can happen in the open air of this world; it's very difficult to survive without shelter, and when night falls, the cold is felt much more intensely. The lighting is so dim that you can barely see beyond your immediate surroundings.
The Long Dark presents us with a world that is both full and empty at the same time. In survival mode, we will never see another living person. This frozen world constantly reminds us that the forest will win the battle. These empty and unsettling landscapes put you on edge, like this forest of tall, leafless trees, just trunks and lots of snow with nowhere to rest.
It is a place where the image of destruction and oblivion is ever-present; it is an environment completely abandoned and ravaged by the power of nature.
In moments when the sun rises but everything looks so old, like a faded photograph, it's addictive to immerse yourself in these kinds of worlds, where there's no guarantee of finding anything, but where you let your mind and imagination run wild. There's no greater danger than yourself, because not knowing when to rest and stop can lead to the end of the game.
Places like this seem friendly, but without a food source, long-term survival is impossible. Hunting is important; it's a skill that takes many days to develop, since our character is a completely ordinary person trying to survive in this hostile environment. Having a roof over your head is a good start, but much more is needed.
There are mysteries I haven't quite unraveled, like this sign in one of the abandoned factories, the legend "they hate the light," implying that there's danger there. I know it's not referring to wolves, bears, or any of the animals we might encounter in the game; none of them flee from the light. Is there a danger beyond?
The train tracks and the fog are my favorite scenery. I always feel a presence in these places. This is one of the most dangerous locations in the game; there's hardly anywhere to take refuge, and the distance between shelters is at least two days. In this game, we can only walk; there are no vehicles to make transportation easy. I always carry a weapon, even though I know that if it's an animal, I'll hear it first. I like to be alert.
But The Long Dark always gifts us with beautiful landscapes and gentle sunsets, to make us believe that the worst danger has passed. But I think it's nothing more than a trap to make us lower our guard.
There's a lot I like about this game, and I'm sure I still have a lot to face out there, but it will be a matter of returning to long play sessions and confronting my imaginary fears. But that will be another time.
See you next time ❤️ Yowi.
All photos were taken by me