The Dark Rites of Arkham

About The Dark Rites of Arkham

The Dark Rites of Arkham is a point-and-click adventure game from Postmodern Adventures, published by enComplot. Released in 2026 for PC, it casts you as either Detective Jack Foster or Harvey Whitman, investigating a ritual murder tied to the Salem witch trials. The game leans into eerie, narrative-driven exploration, blending cold-case detective work with occult conspiracy. Its strength lies in weaving historical horror with modern procedural mystery, asking you to piece together a centuries-old secret that threatens the world. It’s not just a whodunit, it’s a why-and-how, with a runtime that stretches over 15 hours on average. Best suited for players who like their stories layered with folklore and moral ambiguity.

Gameplay

You’ll spend most of your time clicking on objects, interrogating suspects, and solving logic-based puzzles tied to the case. Each scene is a carefully detailed diorama, inspect crime scenes for hidden clues, cross-reference evidence in your notebook, and choose dialogue options that subtly shift the investigation’s tone. The game’s core loop alternates between forensic analysis (like deciphering cryptic symbols in a locked room) and environmental storytelling (e.g., uncovering a witch’s journal in a derelict library). Combat is absent entirely; tension comes from dead-ends and misdirects. The dual protagonists occasionally switch perspectives, offering conflicting theories. Controls are intuitive but can lag during fast-paced action sequences, which are rare but occasionally jarring.

What Players Think

Critics praised its “haunting atmosphere” and “dense, layered writing” (90% on Metacritic). PlayPile community stats show 82% completion rates among finishers, with an average playtime of 15.3 hours. Most players rate it 8.5/10, though 22% cite repetitive puzzle design as a flaw. The mood is overwhelmingly “thought-provoking” (68%) and “unsettling” (55%), with 43% tagging it as “overly slow.” Achievement data reveals 74 total rewards, including obscure ones like “Find the Witch’s Hidden Recipe.” Community reviews highlight the ending’s “jaw-dropping twist” but note some voice acting feels dated. Price is $29.99, with a 10% discount for enComplot subscribers.

PlayPile's Take

It’s a solid pick for fans of narrative-heavy adventures like 80 Days or Oxenfree. The game’s true strength is its lore, not gameplay mechanics. If you’re okay with a deliberate pace and enjoy figuring out conspiracy threads, it’s worth $30. The 15-hour runtime and 74 achievements justify the price for completionists. Skip if you prefer action or fast pacing. The weakest link is its occasional technical hiccups, but the story alone makes it memorable.

Storyline

Detective Jack Foster rejoins the police department after a traumatic incident to take over the investigation of what appears to be mere political blackmail. Soon, however, he's faced with the discovery of a gruesome ritual murder that took place in a sealed room, from which no one could have gotten in or out without being seen. Along with his new partner, Harvey Whitman, an expert on cults, Foster dives deep into the shadows of the city of Arkham. The case will get even darker when they find out it is related to three witches that escaped the Salem trials in 1693, and a conspiracy that could put an end to the world as we know it.