Players assume control of nine teenage counselors who must survive their last night at Hackett's Quarry summer camp amongst supernatural creatures and violent locals.

Envisioned as the spiritual successor to Until Dawn (2015) and inspired by teen slasher and monster films such as Friday the 13th and The Thing, The Quarry features a large ensemble cast including Ariel Winter, Brenda Song, Skyler Gisondo, David Arquette, Halston Sage, Ted Raimi, Ethan Suplee, Lance Henriksen, Lin Shaye, Justice Smith, and Grace Zabriskie.

[5] Players can disable certain gameplay elements such as button mashing, quick-time events, and aiming and shooting, allowing them to progress in the game with minimum input.

Downloadable content was also included for purchase which allowed the player to use the "Death Rewind" option at the first playthrough, as well as an "80s throwback" mode which gives the characters alternate outfits which were popular in the 1980s.

Laura Kearney (Siobhan Williams) and Max Brinly (Skyler Gisondo) drive during the night of June 24, 2021 to visit Hackett's Quarry, where the two have been hired as summer camp counselors.

A local county sheriff (Ted Raimi) approaches their car and orders them to stay the night at a nearby motel, but they drive to the camp anyway.

Two months later, seven camp counselors — Abigail Blyg (Ariel Winter), Dylan Lenivy (Miles Robbins), Emma Mountebank (Halston Sage), Jacob Custos (Zach Tinker), Kaitlyn Ka (Brenda Song), Nick Furcillo (Evan Evagora), and Ryan Erzahler (Justice Smith) — have closed the Hackett's Quarry camp due to summer's end and are saying goodbye to a busload of departing children.

However, their plans to return home are derailed by Jacob, who had recently been dumped by Emma; he clandestinely sabotages the van in an attempt to spend one more night at the camp and win her back.

The camp owner, Chris Hackett (David Arquette), asks them to stay locked inside the lodge for the night and tells them he will return with help in the morning.

Their frivolity gets interrupted when Jacob hears Abigail's screams and runs into the woods to help her, while Emma swims to an island in the middle of the lake where she is attacked by another monster and possibly killed.

Dylan and Ryan call for outside help by going to Chris Hackett's office, but their attempts to summon first responders are impeded by an abrupt power outage and loss of phone service.

One month earlier, Sheriff Hackett revealed the truth by making Laura watch Max transform under a full moon, where he then gouges her eye in bestial rage.

The locals living near Hackett's Quarry have a more "retro" feel and the team was influenced by films such as The Hills Have Eyes, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and Deliverance.

While the game pays homage to various horror films, the team used what they learned from making Until Dawn to build up players' fear in The Quarry, through creating tension rather than relying heavily on jump scares.

[10] The game's ensemble cast includes David Arquette, Siobhan Williams, Lin Shaye, Lance Henriksen, Grace Zabriskie, Ted Raimi, Ariel Winter, Ethan Suplee, Miles Robbins, Halston Sage, Zach Tinker, Brenda Song, Skyler Gisondo, Evan Evagora, and Justice Smith.

[15][16][17] Destructoid stated that The Quarry successfully replicated what made its predecessors unique and praised its ability to "fluctuate between tension, drama, and levity", while writing, "These games are at their best when they leverage classic horror while also infusing some modern touches, meta moments, and well-timed laughs..."[18] Game Informer lamented the limited player agency but praised the quality of the "enthralling" choices and engaging narrative.

[22] GameSpot praised the game's snappy dialogue, ensemble cast, love for horror movies, and the "palpable sense of weight behind many choices", but criticized the "glacial" walking speed of the exploration and the narrative's pacing issues.

"[25] PC Gamer felt that, while the title retained the strengths of the developer's previous games, it only showed marks of improvement through its production values, and stated, "The plot, performances and visual fidelity are worth turning up for, as are some of the shocks, but more than ever much of your involvement seems like protective padding sandwiched between the scripted thrills.

"[27] Shacknews gave high praise to the dynamically branching storylines, unique characters, homages to classic horror, and solid scares, but took minor issue with the fixed camera creating some awkward moments and the inability to fast-forward on repeat playthroughts.