Every game in the Dark Pictures Anthology follows a particular pattern; players take control of multiple characters and try to get them out of a horror scenario alive. In The Devil In Me, that scenario is an H.H. Holmes copycat hunting a film crew. In order for Kate, Charlie, Mark, Jamie, Erin, and the dog to survive their time on the island, players must make smart choices and be quick with their fingers.
[Warning: spoilers for The Devil In Me.]
Many of the deaths in The Devil In Me are the result of a failed quick-time event (QTE). Some QTEs don't have an impact on the story, while others are the difference between life and death. The QTEs of Little Hope are an excellent example of this. There are six types of QTEs in the game; hiding from the killer, an aimed shot with a weapon, button mashing, pressing a button at the right moment, keeping a character's heartbeat or breathing steady, and staying balanced. At some point, failing one of these QTEs can get someone killed. For players who struggle with quick reflexes or feel overwhelmed by QTEs, The Devil In Me includes accessibility features to make them easier, such as disabling QTE timers, button adjustments, and difficulty ratings.
All Life or Death Decisions in The Devil In Me
While certain interactions will alter relationships between the characters and may seem significant, players should remember the dark premonitions they've found (a mechanic seen in the previous game, House of Ashes) depicting a character's death and avoid that scenario as best they can. Situations that correspond to a premonition are noted below. Each life or death choice is organized by chapter & character the player controls.
- Blackout, Erin: When the killer offers Erin an inhaler, take it. Attacking the killer will get Erin stabbed in the neck, as seen in the "Stabbed" premonition.
- Silver Ash Institute, Erin: Don't use the inhaler in this chapter, despite prompting. When Jamie tells Erin to hide, listen to her and hide in the closet. Running will kill Erin.
- Ignition, Charlie: This scene matches the "Burned" premonition where Charlie tries to go through the incinerator door and gets roasted. Instead, open the grate on the floor, working through the multiple prompts. Despite the ambiguous ending, Charlie will survive.
- Breathless, Jamie: Jamie must choose whether to kill Erin or Kate in a scene that may be nostalgic for Until Dawn players. Jamie must choose for Kate to die. Kate will live as her chamber has a crack in it, allowing Mark to break the glass and free her.
- Waste Disposal, Charlie: All Charlie needs to do to survive is pass every QTE event, including the breathing mini-game, before jumping over a gap.
- Director's Suite, Jamie: When Du'Met begins chasing Jamie, run. Next, when the wall begins to close, Jamie should tell Kate to wait. Otherwise, players will have to complete a sudden QTE to survive. Finally, when Jamie and Kate enter the Glass Trap, crush whoever possesses the screwdriver. The screwdriver was introduced earlier, so it's important to remember who has it. This decision can be seen in the "Crushed" premonition. When the scene returns to the duo, the victim will have survived, thanks to the screwdriver. This clever use of tools puts the game high on the Dark Pictures rank list.
- Chase, Kate: As seen in the "Dragged" premonition, when Jamie is captured by the killer, Kate must choose to save her.
- Maze, Kate: Once Kate enters the barn, barricade the door and run to the opposite door. Erin will get axed otherwise.
- Cliffside, Charlie: Saving Charlie requires passing the breathing and balancing QTEs. Charlie's failure to breathe is depicted in the "Cured" premonition.
- Homestead, Jamie: When Jamie and Kate are in the house, give an anxious response, so Kate hides behind the sofa. Du'Met will trigger the "Searching" premonition as he hears Connie growling, but don't kill the dog. Instead, Kate and Connie will tag-team the killer and allow everyone to escape.
- Lighthouse, Mark: Although Erin doesn't trust Charlie, do not tie him up. Charlie is not in on it, and he'll just get killed.
- Lake, Erin: Erin must tell Mark to grab the gun. Although he'll fail, he'll get pepper spray instead.
- Lake Finale: In Man of Medan fashion, everyone will escape by boat, triggering the killer to try and stop them in a furious series of QTEs. Connie will be on the boat but get thrown off. The dog will swim to safety, so players don't have to worry. Players must pass every QTE given to them or get someone killed. It's best for Jamie to jump overboard when given a chance. If Mark fails his QTEs after getting the axe and Kate fails too, the "Spiked" premonition will play out. Afterward, Mark must open his inventory and use the pepper spray on the killer. With a successful QTE, Mark and Kate will jump off the boat, and it will explode, as seen in the game's first premonition, "Explosion."
With that, players will have saved everyone and the dog in The Devil In Me and can bask in their victory.