- Publisher: Konami
- Release Date: Apr 2, 2026
- Also On: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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Apr 6, 2026Darwin’s Paradox is a strong debut from ZDT Studio, cleverly utilizing cinematic platforming genre staples to create a fun, well paced 5-hour adventure. That being said, an abrupt ending unfortunately robs the game of a satisfying conclusion, and it’s clear that the Nintendo Switch 2 version needed more time in the oven to properly utilize the hardware.
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Mar 30, 2026Darwin's Paradox! is a decent game that, while not reaching its full potential, has enough interesting ideas to warrant a try. Its presentation is charming, the level design is mostly adequate, and despite some stumbles in the puzzles and stealth sections, it manages to be a fun, albeit short, experience that fans of 2D platformers can appreciate.
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Apr 20, 2026Darwin’s Paradox can be a lot of fun, but how much you enjoy it depends on how much you enjoy stealth games where dangerous enemies chase you. It’s short and sweet, saying all it needs to in its brief runtime. It can be exceptionally clever, especially in its first half. However, after the halfway point there are some absolutely obnoxious sequences with some real baddies chasing Darwin and a few particularly annoying stealth segments in certain chapters.
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Apr 7, 2026Konami’s ability to make us grow attached to an octopus while mixing stealth and puzzle-solving brings back memories of when the company was willing to take risks. Darwin feels comfortable from the start, easy to understand and, above all, fun, with a fresh idea that feels straight out of the sea. The music and art enhance every moment, and in its most tense sequences the game uses them to deliver a more-than-entertaining wordless story across its nearly six-hour runtime.
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Mar 30, 2026It’s a shame that this game couldn’t be more focused on its puzzle platforming, because these half-baked distractions suck a lot of the fun out of what could’ve been something really special.