History Creator / FrictionalGames

* SurvivalHorror: Their specialty. Deemed by many critics to be one of the most important present day innovators of the whole genre. Particularly given their strong indie company culture and an almost amusingly small, but very competent development team...

The official site can be seen [[http://www.frictionalgames.com/site/ here]], the dev blog is [[http://frictionalgames.blogspot.com/ here]] and the [[TheWikiRule Frictional Wiki]] can be seen [[http://wiki.frictionalgames.com/ here]]. They also have [[https://store2.esellerate.net/store/checkout/CustomLayout.aspx?s=STR9929807578&pc=&page=OnePageCatalog.htm their own game store]]. An archive of an early version of the official forums (with some of their old game projects and a different logo) can be found [[https://web.archive.org/web/20061020085521/http://frictionalgames.com/forum/index.php here]].

* The ''VideoGame/{{Amnesia}}'':

* The ''VideoGame/AmnesiaSeries'':

* ''VideoGame/{{Penumbra}}'' (2006): The original tech demo that started their rise to fame and [[AdaptationExpansion became the basis for]] the commercially released ''Penumbra'' trilogy. It is freeware and has been translated into several languages, so you can find it [[http://www.frictionalgames.com/site/penumbra/ here]]. Though it became a SleeperHit once it was first released for free download on the internet, it notably [[ItWillNeverCatchOn didn't score at all at a Swedish game developer competition it was originally made for]].

** ''VideoGame/AmnesiaTheBunker'' (2023): Another NonLinearSequel in the series, ''The Bunker'' dramatically shakes things up by offering players the one thing that they've never had in the series before: A means of defending themselves, in the form of a revolver gun. It is set during World War I in an underground [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin bunker]].

** ''VideoGame/AmnesiaTheBunker'' (2023): Another NonLinearSequel in the series, ''The Bunker'' dramatically shakes things up by offering players the one thing that they've never had in the series before: a means of defending themselves, in the form of a revolver gun. It is set during World War I in an underground [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin bunker]].

** ''VideoGame/AmnesiaTheBunker'' (2023): Another NonLinearSequel in the series, ''The Bunker'' dramatically shakes things up by offering players the one thing that they've never had in the series before: a means of defending themselves, in the form of a pistol. It is set during World War I in an underground [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin bunker]].

* ''VideoGame/AmnesiaTheDarkDescent'' (2010): SpiritualSuccessor to ''Penumbra'', set in the late 1830s in a HauntedCastle in Prussia, following the [[TitleDrop dark descent]] of former British diplomat Daniel [[OntologicalMystery into the mysteries of the castle and his own past]]. This game is the one that [[BreakthroughHit fully brought the studio into mainstream recognition]]. Even though they nearly tanked during the [[DevelopmentHell unintentionally prolonged development]], they released the game in September 2010 (at first, as a digital purchase only). To their surprise, the game eventually took off really well and received an immense amount of praise from critics and gamers alike.

* ''VideoGame/AmnesiaAMachineForPigs'' (2013): A [[TheVerse same-universe]] sequel to ''The Dark Descent'', ''A Machine For Pigs'' employs similar themes, and is set in [[IndustrializedEvil industrial England]]. Opening at the end of 1899, Oswald Mandus awakens from fevered nightmares of a monstrous machine, only to find it is both real and located beneath his manor. The first ''Amnesia'' game developed by Creator/TheChineseRoom, Frictional Games oversaw its creation and took credit as its publisher. It was met with mixed reviews [[ContestedSequel by comparison]].
* ''VideoGame/{{SOMA}}'' (2015): Released in September 2015, utilizes the third version of Frictional's HPL Engine, ''SOMA'' is a return to sci-fi horror with deeper themes in mind, in order to create a much more disturbing experience - a reaction to Thomas feeling that ''Amnesia'' was more of a "shallow fright-fest".
* ''VideoGame/AmnesiaRebirth'' (2020): Released October 20th, 2020, it is another NonLinearSequel to ''The Dark Descent'' and ''A Machine for Pigs'', focused on "twisting expectations, refining old features, and upping the ante on everything you’ve seen from (Frictional Games)."

* ''VideoGame/{{SOMA}}'' (2015): Released in September 2015, this is the studio's latest first-person horror project. The game utilizes the third version of Frictional's HPL Engine. A return to sci-fi horror, ''SOMA'' was written with deeper themes in mind, in order to create a much more disturbing experience - a reaction to Thomas feeling that ''Amnesia'' was more of a "shallow fright-fest".
* ''VideoGame/AmnesiaRebirth'' (2020): Releasing October 20th, 2020, it is another NonLinearSequel to ''The Dark Descent'' and ''A Machine for Pigs'', focused on "twisting expectations, refining old features, and upping the ante on everything you’ve seen from (Frictional Games)."

The studio specializes in SurvivalHorror games that have a unique level of immersiveness. This is particularly thanks to the studio's in-house developed game engine, in which all of the characters' interaction with their surrounding environment is purely physics-based (e.g. manipulating objects and furniture is done in real time by clicking and dragging, without any quick time events or similar animations).

* ''VideoGame/AmnesiaRebirth'' (2020): Released October 20th, 2020, it is another NonLinearSequel to ''The Dark Descent'' and ''A Machine for Pigs'', focused on "twisting expectations, refining old features, and upping the ante on everything you’ve seen from (Frictional Games)."

* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NST1KLFwNnI Amnesia: Rebirth]]'' (2020): Upcoming on October 20th, 2020, it is another NonLinearSequel to ''The Dark Descent'' and ''A Machine for Pigs'', focused on "twisting expectations, refining old features, and upping the ante on everything you’ve seen from (Frictional Games)."

* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NiQAlGUw_o Amnesia: Rebirth]]'' (2020): Announced in March 2020 for an Autumn release, it is another NonLinearSequel to ''The Dark Descent'' and ''A Machine for Pigs'', focused on "twisting expectations, refining old features, and upping the ante on everything you’ve seen from (Frictional Games)."

* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NiQAlGUw_o Amensia: Rebirth]]'' (2020): Announced in March 2020 for an Autumn release, it is another NonLinearSequel to ''The Dark Descent'' and ''A Machine for Pigs'', focused on "twisting expectations, refining old features, and upping the ante on everything you’ve seen from (Frictional Games)."

* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NiQAlGUw_o Amensia: Rebirth]]'' (2020): Announced in March 2020 for an Autumn release, it is another NonLinearSequel to Amnesia, focused on "twisting expectations, refining old features, and upping the ante on everything you’ve seen from (Frictional Games)."

* ''Amensia: Rebirth'' (2020): Announced in March 2020 for an Autumn release, it is another NonLinearSequel to Amnesia, focused on "twisting expectations, refining old features, and upping the ante on everything you’ve seen from (Frictional Games)."

* ShoutOut: They frequently include lots of overt and subtle references to various horror works into their games. Beyond that, they often reference classic game titles in one way or another. ** The name of their in-house game engine, HPL, is a nod to Creator/HPLovecraft, one of their favourite horror authors.

* GameMod: The ''VideoGame/{{Penumbra}}'' series wasn't built with modding in mind, yet it didn't stop one of the fans from trying to create a mod (he was eventually unsuccesful). Frictional remedied this with ''VideoGame/AmnesiaTheDarkDescent'', which was developed from the get-go as a modder-friendly game.

* ''VideoGame/{{SOMA}}'' (2015): Announced in October 2013, this is the studio's latest and current first-person horror project. The game will utilize the third version of Frictional's HPL Engine. A return to sci-fi horror, ''SOMA'' was written with deeper themes in mind, in order to create a much more disturbing experience - a reaction to Thomas feeling that ''Amnesia'' was more of a "shallow fright-fest". ''SOMA'' was released on September 22, 2015.

* ''VideoGame/{{SOMA}}'' (2015): Announced in October 2013, this is the studio's latest and current first-person horror project. The game will utilize the third version of Frictional's HPL Engine. Few details about the game's plot and setting have been released, though the teaser website and announcement trailer have strong parallels to the Wiki/SCPFoundation and ''VideoGame/IHaveNoMouthAndIMustScream''. A return to sci-fi horror, ''SOMA'' was written with deeper themes in mind, in order to create a much more disturbing experience - a reaction to Thomas feeling that ''Amnesia'' was more of a "shallow fright-fest". ''SOMA'' was released on September 22, 2015.

* ''VideoGame/{{SOMA}}'' (2015): Announced in October 2013, this is the studio's latest and current first-person horror project. The game will utilize the third version of Frictional's HPL Engine. Few details about the game's plot and setting have been released, though the teaser website and announcement trailer have strong parallels to the Wiki/SCPFoundation and ''VideoGame/IHaveNoMouthAndIMustScream''. A return to sci-fi horror, the dev team intends to bring deeper themes to the front, in order to create a much more disturbing experience - a reaction to Thomas feeling that ''Amnesia'' was more of a "shallow fright-fest". ''SOMA'' was released on September 22, 2015.