Penumbra: Black Plague Gold Edition vs V Rising

A full spec-by-spec comparison of Penumbra: Black Plague Gold Edition vs V Rising — engine, performance, dimensions, features and price, with the differences highlighted to help you decide.

Specification Penumbra: Black Plague Gold Edition Frictional Games V Rising Stunlock Studios
Overview
Release Date January 23, 2009 May 8, 2024
Availability Released Released
Developer Frictional Games Stunlock Studios
Publisher Frictional Games Stunlock Studios
Official Site http://www.penumbragame.com/ https://playvrising.com/
Gameplay
Genre Action, Adventure, Indie Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer
Game Modes Single-player, Multiplayer Single-player, Multiplayer, Co-op, Online Co-op
Perspective First-person
Average Playtime 2 hours 7 hours
Platforms & Pricing
Platforms PC, Apple Macintosh, Linux PC
Available On Steam Steam
PC Requirements
Minimum Requirements OS: Windows 2000/XP Processor: 1Ghz Memory: 256MB Graphics: Radeon 8500/GeForce 3 (GeForce4MX not supported) Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: Windows 10 64 bit Processor: Intel Core i5-6600, 3.3 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X, 3.5 GHz Memory: 12 GB RAM Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti, 2 GB or AMD Radeon R7 360, 2 GB DirectX: Version 11 Network: Broadband Internet connection Storage: 7 GB available space Additional Notes: Minimum System Requirements might change in the future
Recommended Requirements Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: Windows 10 64 bit Processor: Intel Core i5-11600K, 3.9 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, 3.7 GHz Memory: 12 GB RAM Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, 8 GB or AMD Radeon RX 590, 8 GB DirectX: Version 11 Network: Broadband Internet connection Storage: 7 GB available space Additional Notes: Recommended System Requirements might change in the future
Critic & Community Scores
Metacritic 78 / 100
Community Rating 3.9 / 5 (124 ratings) 3.7 / 5 (175 ratings)

Penumbra: Black Plague Gold Edition vs V Rising: which should you buy?

Both games are available on Steam and offer action‑adventure experiences, but they differ significantly in age, scope, and hardware demands. Penumbra: Black Plague Gold Edition is an older 2009 title that runs on modest hardware (Windows 2000/XP, 1 GHz CPU, 256 MB RAM) and delivers a short, atmospheric first‑person horror adventure lasting about two hours. It supports single‑player and multiplayer but is limited to PC, Mac, and Linux with very low system requirements. V Rising, released in May 2024, is a modern massively multiplayer game that requires a 64‑bit Windows 10 system with a mid‑range CPU (Intel Core i5‑6600 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X), 12 GB RAM, and a mid‑tier GPU (GeForce GTX 750 Ti or Radeon R7 360). It offers a longer average playtime of seven hours and includes single‑player, multiplayer, co‑op, and online co‑op modes. In terms of community reception, Penumbra holds a 3.9/5 rating from 124 users while V Rising has a slightly lower 3.7/5 rating from 175 users. If you have an older computer and prefer a short, low‑resource horror experience, Penumbra is the logical choice. If you own a recent PC that meets or exceeds the 12 GB RAM and mid‑tier GPU requirement and you want a more expansive, multiplayer‑centric game with longer content, V Rising is the better option.

Frequently asked questions

Which game is cheaper?

The price for each title is not provided in the data, so the cost difference cannot be determined.

Which game requires more powerful hardware?

V Rising requires a 64‑bit Windows 10 system with at least an Intel Core i5‑6600 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X, 12 GB RAM, and a mid‑tier GPU (GeForce GTX 750 Ti or Radeon R7 360), whereas Penumbra can run on a 1 GHz CPU, 256 MB RAM, and an old GPU like Radeon 8500.

Which game offers more playtime?

V Rising has an average playtime of 7 hours, while Penumbra averages about 2 hours.

Which game supports more multiplayer options?

V Rising offers single‑player, multiplayer, co‑op, and online co‑op modes; Penumbra offers single‑player and multiplayer but with less emphasis on large‑scale online play.