The Long Dark WINTERMUTE

The Long Dark WINTERMUTE is the five-episode narrative mode for The Long Dark, following bush pilot Will Mackenzie and Dr. Astrid Greenwood as they try to reunite and save a remote community in the wilderness of Northern Canada. After a mysterious flash of light appears in the sky, their plane crashes on Great Bear Island and the two are separated. Electronics have gone dark, a deadly winter is closing in, and the island’s survivors face a quiet apocalypse.

The story

As Mackenzie searches for Astrid, he reaches the town of Milton and begins to grasp the scale of the disaster. His search leads him deeper into the winter wilderness, where a mysterious trapper may be able to help him find her, though his trustworthiness is uncertain.

After the events in Milton, an enigmatic stranger rescues Astrid from near death. In Pleasant Valley, she must use her medical skills to help the survivors she encounters while looking for Mackenzie and investigating the mystery drawing them toward Perseverance Mills, a remote mountain community plagued by illness.

Later, a murderous gang of convicts captures Mackenzie. He must escape one of Great Bear Island’s darkest corners, recover the Hardcase, continue searching for Astrid and try to save the innocents caught in the conflict.

Episodes and play

WINTERMUTE’s story is told across five episodes. Each episode offers between 5 and 8 or more hours of story-driven survival gameplay, around 60 minutes of cinematics, a custom soundtrack and achievements where supported. The first four episodes represent approximately 30 hours of gameplay; the fifth episode is included and unlocks for free when released.

Unlike Survival Mode, WINTERMUTE has no permadeath, and you can save your progress as you play. The story builds on The Long Dark’s survival sandbox gameplay and explores Great Bear Island’s history and mysteries.

Cast and music

The voice cast includes Jennifer Hale, Mark Meer, David Hayter and Elias Toufexis, who performs in Episode Three. The soundtrack is composed by Cris Velasco.