The Order: 1886

A Neo-Victorian Tapestry

Imagine an alternate history where the Industrial Revolution wasn't born out of economic necessity, but out of a desperate fight for human survival. The Order: 1886 transports us to a beautifully grim, smog-choked 19th-century London. But this is not the London of Charles Dickens; it's a battleground.

For centuries, an elite order of knights—descendants of King Arthur’s Round Table—has fought a shadow war against "Half-breeds," monstrous lycanthropes and vampires that prey on humanity. Kept unnaturally young by a mysterious healing liquid called Blackwater, these knights now have a new advantage: hyper-advanced, steampunk-esque technology courtesy of the Order's chief armorer, a brilliant young inventor named Nikola Tesla. As Sir Galahad, one of the most respected knights, you find yourself navigating a powder keg of lower-class rebellion, political intrigue, and ancient monsters. It’s an incredibly rich, gothic fantasy setting that immediately pulls you in without giving away its darkest secrets.

Art, Graphics, and Gameplay

From an artistic standpoint, The Order: 1886 is a triumph of art direction. Ready at Dawn opted for a highly cinematic, filmic presentation. To achieve this, the game runs in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio—meaning it has prominent black bars at the top and bottom of the screen—coupled with film grain, anamorphic lens flares, and incredibly realistic lighting. The texture work on velvet coats, the intricate brass details of the weaponry, and the wet cobblestones of Whitechapel remain astonishing.

On the gameplay front, it’s a very traditional, cover-based third-person shooter. When you are in combat, the shooting feels weighty and satisfying, heavily elevated by the inventive arsenal. Weapons like the Arc Gun (which fires bolts of electricity) and the Thermite Rifle (which shoots a cloud of flammable dust that you then ignite with a flare) are brilliant additions. However, the gunplay is frequently interrupted by forced slow-walking segments, environment inspections, and heavily scripted Quick Time Events (QTEs), especially during melee combat and boss fights.

Press and Player Reception

When review embargoes lifted in 2015, the reception was highly polarizing. The gaming press universally praised the jaw-dropping visuals and the fascinating lore, but came down hard on the game's length and lack of player agency. Clocking in at around 6 to 8 hours with zero multiplayer, no branching paths, and very little reason to replay, critics felt it was more of an interactive movie than a fully fleshed-out game.

Players echoed this sentiment. While many loved the narrative and the sheer spectacle, a massive wave of backlash erupted over the $60/€60 price tag. In an era where open-world games offering dozens of hours of content were becoming the norm, The Order felt to many like an overpriced technical demo for the relatively new PlayStation 4.

Commercial Performance

Commercially, the game had a strong initial launch, debuting at number one in the UK sales charts and performing well in its opening week across other territories. However, word-of-mouth regarding its short length severely crippled its "legs." Sales dropped sharply in the following weeks. While Sony never released official, final sales figures, the game is widely considered a commercial disappointment relative to its massive AAA development budget, ultimately killing the chances of a much-needed sequel.

What to Expect

The game is divided into 16 chapters (including a Prologue and an Epilogue).

However, do not expect 16 massive, sprawling levels. The structure is extremely linear and highly directed. Some chapters consist almost entirely of cutscenes or narrative walking segments with no combat at all. You should expect a rollercoaster ride: you strap in, enjoy the narrative, shoot some beautifully designed guns in specific arenas, and watch the story unfold. You cannot explore London freely; you are walking down the specific, beautifully crafted corridors the developers designed for you.

How Has It Aged?

Remarkably, over a decade later, The Order: 1886 visually outclasses many modern releases. The character models, facial animations, and environmental details look like they belong to a late-PS4 or even a current-gen PS5 title. It is a testament to the raw talent of the technical artists at Ready at Dawn.

Mechanically, however, it shows its age. The gaming industry has largely moved away from intrusive QTEs and forced cinematic walking sequences. Today's players, used to high mobility and dynamic combat loops, might find the gameplay rigid, slow, and overly restrictive.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Visual Masterpiece: Still one of the best-looking games ever made; a true showcase of graphics and art direction.
• Fascinating Lore: The blend of Arthurian legend, steampunk tech, and gothic horror is incredibly well-executed.
• Unique Arsenal: Tesla's weapons are a joy to use and visually spectacular.
• Stellar Voice Acting: The cast delivers a gritty, grounded, and highly cinematic performance.

Cons:

• Pacing Issues: Too many forced walking sections and unskippable cutscenes interrupt the action.
• Overreliance on QTEs: Crucial moments, including boss fights, are reduced to simple button prompts.
• Very Short: The campaign is brief, ends on a massive cliffhanger, and offers no replay value.
• Restrictive Level Design: The world feels like a beautiful museum you aren't allowed to touch.

Is it Worth Buying Today?

If you are paying full price? Absolutely not. But that is the beauty of time. Today, The Order: 1886 can frequently be found in digital sales or pre-owned bins for a handful of dollars or euros.

At a heavily discounted price, it is absolutely worth experiencing. Think of it not as a sprawling video game, but as a high-budget, interactive weekend miniseries. Put it on a big screen, turn up the sound system, and enjoy the visual spectacle and the gripping atmosphere of a neo-Victorian London. It remains a fascinating piece of PlayStation history—a gorgeous, flawed experiment that laid the groundwork for the cinematic Sony exclusives we know today.