This collection consists of all three Pemumbra games: Overture, Black Plague and Requiem. The first two games are survival horror games while the third game lacks any survival horror elements. What is interesting about the Penumbra games is the way that you interact with the game world. The game simulates real world physics which means that you can push or throw objects around and they will behave realistically. Opening doors, chests, etc. is done through pulling on the doors by holding the mouse button and moving the mouse rather than by merely clicking on them. This results in a sense of realism, but more importantly it is a good basis for some interesting and fairly original puzzles.

There are two types of horror elements in the first two games. First of all there are creatures that you need to avoid, because they will attack and kill you if you don't. In the fist game it is possible to fight some of these creatures and win, which makes them a bit less scary. In the second game this is not possible and they must be avoided. The fact that you can be attacked by one of these creatures at any time results in a creepy atmosphere. This is further enhanced by the story which is quite scary. I found the story in the first game to be a bit better than in the second game, in part since everything was new and unfamiliar and therefore a bit creepier than in the second game when I had already become used to some of the horror elements in the games. Also the story in the first relies a lot on keeping things mysterious and leaving questions unanswered to achieve it's creepiness. The second game tries to give some answers but these are not quite as creepy as the mysteriousness in the first game.

With an interesting physics based interaction with the game world, a creepy atmosphere and some original and fun to solve physics based puzzles the first two Penumbra games are very good and I would recommend them to anyone who likes horror games.

The third game, Requiem, is a different kind of beast altogether. It isn't much of a horror game, with neither survival horror elements or much of a story. Instead it is all about solving puzzles and jumping. In other words it is a puzzle platformer. A few of the puzzles are creative, but most of them are rather easy and unoriginal. The lack of any real story makes progress in the game feel unrewarding and the game lacks the creepy atmosphere of the first two games. All together it is a much less interesting game and imo not worth buying on it's own. The collection is still worth it's prize though since it doesn't cost much more than the sum of the pizes of the first two games.

A great collection from the same creators of amnesia...

Nice atmosphere, an adventure game with a little bit of action.

You start to play and can´t stop playing.

This game is four stars because of the price. Paradox's ideas for a horror game play environment is unsurpassed. The monsters in this game don't usually die. Instead, the game is based more on survival and stealth. I also loved how your character at times grew... insane... where you can't tell what is real and what is not. That being said, the major pitfalls of the game for me include the lack of NPC interaction, the lack of player choice, the lack of variety of monsters, and the storyline seemed to leave much to be desired. There were quite a few moments that made me jump. Paradox always does a good job with the fear factor, and I have respect for them for that.

From the creators of Amnesia, (this game was actually created before Amnesia, but it didn´t reach the same succes) If you have played Amnesia then this game is for You. Think of it as a modern Amnesia with weapons, but don´t let the weapons scare You, (there enough in this game that helps you with that) they are not very efficient but gives you an another alternative to complete the game. It fails to create the same scary atmosphere as Amnesia, but it will still fulfill it´s major purpose, scare you. The game plays best in a "pretty" dark room, with headset on. You are trapped in a old bunker from WWII and need to find a way out. And that´s only one of your problems. It is very entertaining to play and has a good story, with a lot of mystery, and it will force you to turn it off, because of it´s power to fright you (still not as good as Amnesia but that is a masterpiece, but still very very good).

This is a great deal. Penumbra is one of those games I will remember for a very long time, especially the first two titles in series. It's very unique controls with everything based around physics makes you go deep with your character and there is a lot to go deep into, great storyline, adventure, puzzles and the dark atmosphere surrounding everything around. I recommend it to everyone who likes real horror games. The only disappointment might be the 3rd title in series which is more of puzzle-solving game than an adventure horror.

The Penumbra Collection will always be a cherished addition to my game library. It's dark, muddled, moody, tense, and puzzling yet it lives with a bright and vivid character unique to the survival horror genre.

This is a great deal for the package. It includes all three parts to the Penumbra series. Great puzzle games that make you think. Don't play this game if you're easily scared, though!

Great bundle of one of the best horror adventure series out there. In the times of Alan Wake's-Metro-Resident Evil-tonsofother shootouts this is very refreshing and unique experience. As other comments pointed out this isn't about fighting but pure survival and solving of mysteries. Atmosphere is great, gameplay pretty decent too so there's really little to think about if you don't mind getting scared... a lot.

I bought this game for an awesome bargain and I don't mind puzzle thrillers.

Graphics: Sub-par

Sound/ Ambiance: Good

Gameplay: Decent - Good

Controls: Could be better

Overall: A Good Buy

If you rather gameplay over low graphics than this is the game for you. The graphics are sub par but the puzzles and the ambiance helps to make up for it somewhat.

Do not despair if you get stuck, use online walkthroughs and complete the game, its worth it.

Overall, I enjoyed it especially Part 1: Overture and Part 2: Black Plague. Part 3: Requiem, however I did not.

Part 1: Takes you on a quest to find your father in a frigid part of the world where you end up in a mine. Following notes and a helpful voice through a radio (who knows exactly where you are to tell you what to do) your quest now turns into finding that helpful voice who is trapped somewhere in the lower mines. At the end of Part 1, you do wonder if things could have turned out differently.

Part 2: Penumbra Black Plague is way better than part 1. It continues where Part 1 left off. You are now in a facility. You have less means of killing your enemies but the adrenaline rush is more frequent. This time you are aided by a cynical voice who is part of you (which makes more sense than the "psychic" miner in part 1) and he will remain with you to the end. It adds humor to a somewhat eerie game. The puzzles in part 2 are more complex and uses more brain power/common sense to solve. Part 2 ends just like Part 1, where you are expecting a continuation, however...

Part 3: Does not exactly continue on the same notion that Part 2 left off. Part 2 made you believe that you are going to find or confront the menace in the mines. However, you're in a dream? finding orbs to complete the stage? Which of course made little to no sense to me, and once again the helpful miner from PART 1 is now your aid, even though all remnants of this miner was wiped from your memory in PART 2.

Solving puzzles and finding orbs with a contradicting storyline made me not complete Part 3.

In conclusion. Penumbra is the game to buy because Part 1 & Part 2 makes this game worth every penny.

I own this entire series (obviously) , and to tell you, it redefines what all think as horror. In most horror games you can defend yourself with a knife, gun, bomb or other such items, this game is not like that. with the first game the most deadly weapon you have is a rusty old pickaxe, however, considering what you will face, that is nothing, for there are massive " rock-worms" which could break through 8" thick steel alloy doors, and as you can see, this make the game much harder and scarier for a pickaxe an not do anything to it. in the second game you have NO weapons at all, and you discover a virus has infected the place you are in, which cause anyone who catches it to slowly become a zombie-ish alien creature that sounds as though it has come from straight from the gates of hell. If you get scared out of your with by a simple "boo" you WILL faint even by watching this during the day, if you PLAY it at NIGHT... it scares anybody. Oh, and by the way, you find out you have the virus i mentioned earlier

Great survival horror adventure, the story and atmosphere fits well together and this game even recommends you to play it in the dark which really does amplify the creepiness. There controls are fairly simple and puzzle are somewhere straight forward but theres a few think outside of the box ones and a few physic based ones. This should be a must buy for any survival horror game fan.

The interactive physics really enhance gameplay, rather than simply making things look good. If only the combat could be fixed and the puzzles are very nicely executed.

Simple, scary, and satisfying. Aside from object collection, there’s little in the way of replay value, but Penumbra Collection is an enjoyable romp while it lasts.