Darkwood

 PC
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 165 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 127 out of 165
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 165
  3. Negative: 13 out of 165

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  1. vaurne
    Dec 24, 2020
    7
    This game does NOT hold your hand, and it will scare the living HELL out of you, even though it is just a simple 2D game. Very easily the best 2D horror game out there, even comparing it to Lone Survivor or any other classic horror indies.

    You will be pulled in. It is mysterious, creepy, and leaves you wanting to know more. The atmosphere couldn't be done better, and the controls are    This game does NOT hold your hand, and it will scare the living HELL out of you, even though it is just a simple 2D game. Very easily the best 2D horror game out there, even comparing it to Lone Survivor or any other classic horror indies.

    You will be pulled in. It is mysterious, creepy, and leaves you wanting to know more. The atmosphere couldn't be done better, and the controls are next to perfect. Even though it might stop being scary once you get the hang of the game and go out exploring quite a lot, it will still be unsettling. Every time you put on your headphones and start this game, you will be IN it, completely absorbed by it's aesthetics and design (sound, level, character...)

    But it is quite complicated, and difficult to say the least. You will die and get frustrated, and you will, most likely, not know what you're doing, even after a few hours of the game. If you like an intuitive video game that explains itself quite well, this probably isn't for you. But you can still play it and have lots of fun if you have a friend that can guide you along the way, or try a bit harder than you usually do, and get there yourself!

    Main negative aspect of this game for me is that when you do get the hang of it, it goes from being very complex, to quite easy. You start realizing most of the mechanics are trivial or not as meaningful as you thought. And as much as it has a lot going for it, it doesn't keep on giving you more and more; it just gives you what it has, and that's it.    … Expand
  2. Dragoduval
    Jan 23, 2023
    5
    I wont lie, i like this game and the ambiance, but at the same time it never clicked with me enough that i could beat it.

    I really need to give it a second chance one day.
  3. suneater
    Dec 22, 2018
    5
    I really, really wanted to like Darkwood. One of my favorite reviewers was in love with this and I decided to play it for my spooky Halloween game this year. Unfortunately the core gameplay loop became repetitive and I lost all interest in actually finishing it. This is already a niche game (survival horror that effectively manages both survival and horror elements), so it definitelyI really, really wanted to like Darkwood. One of my favorite reviewers was in love with this and I decided to play it for my spooky Halloween game this year. Unfortunately the core gameplay loop became repetitive and I lost all interest in actually finishing it. This is already a niche game (survival horror that effectively manages both survival and horror elements), so it definitely "isn't for everyone" but even for fans of the genre I can't recommend it.

    While the game tries to hide it and mixes things up with special events, the core gameplay loop consists of: shopping/repairing your current hideout, scavenging & exploring new areas for about 10 hours of game time (one second IRL is one minute in-game), final preparations to defend yourself at night, and then finding something to do on your phone during the 9 hours of night time. The biggest problem with this game is how night is just a huge waste of time. Environments become dark at 18:00 and after 20:00 the darkness will actually start damaging you outside of your chosen hideout. There are unique events that happen at night but most of them are just psychological horror SFX, like creepy ambient noises and lighting changes. This is all without considering the monster attacks at night; You will need to huddle in a corner behind a wall of defenses in order to protect yourself at night because of how poor your vision is. When I quit the game a few days into Chapter 2, my defenses didn't even matter because there was a new enemy who could just spawn inside of my hiding room. While night time advances at double speed of day time, it's still a huge waste of your time. Lights on at 20:00, sunrise at 7:00, and a one hour time skip (sleep I guess?) will start the new day at 8:00. You need to start returning to your hideout at at least 18:00 so this means literally half your day is wasted by the night.

    Enemies become predictable and very frustrating to fight with the clunky combat system. They like to pretend to wander at night, triggering traps and opening random doors, but they always psychically know where you are despite you making no noise. During the day time the simplistic AI likes to rush straight at you and many track you if you sidestep. Aiming a gun causes a cone to be drawn, drastically reducing your FOV. This means when an enemy lunges at you and lands behind you while aiming, they'll be invisible to you until you swing around. New enemies will spawn in explored areas but the loot they drop is almost always just EXP food. Ammo scarcity means that you'll be relying on traders all game to keep more than one weapon loaded. Enemies in Chapter 2 are practically mini-bosses with their unique movesets, fast attacks, and quick movement. Combat eventually became so frustrating that I was annoyed by running into anything.

    I hate to review games without finishing them but I am done with Darkwood. I loved the game during the first and second hideout and enjoyed the atmosphere and difficulty changes in the third hideout's area. Unfortunately, Chapter 2 became really miserable for me and I have no motivation to finish the game. I definitely understand how someone could love this game but I don't have the patience to finish a game that I feel actively wastes my time. Your mileage may vary; This a game that "isn't for everyone" within a genre that "isn't for everyone".    … Expand
  4. IIIAHMIII
    Dec 25, 2019
    5
    Controls are laggy on ps4. Like a serieus 1 sec input this will make the fighting hard. Its not a good game its slow and the story well its not bad not good. Dont spend to much money on this one.
  5. O3liveon
    Oct 26, 2022
    7
    You're standing at the end of a meadow. Behind you is safety, your campsite. Maybe friends you've come with, in front of you is an abattoir of creaking moans from swaying wood, warning you, not out of maliciousness, but out of earnest sorrow. They're saying, "Do not come in here." You can't understand what the trees are telling you, but there you stand at the precipice of the thick forest,You're standing at the end of a meadow. Behind you is safety, your campsite. Maybe friends you've come with, in front of you is an abattoir of creaking moans from swaying wood, warning you, not out of maliciousness, but out of earnest sorrow. They're saying, "Do not come in here." You can't understand what the trees are telling you, but there you stand at the precipice of the thick forest, it's mid day but you can only see whatever is darker than midnight as that tree's grotesque canopy blots out the sun. For there is no warmth or light inside these woods. You haven't even entered and yet, just by peering into the eyes of what you can't see lurking back at you, you find yourself lost. There is no campsite any longer to return to. There were no friends that you came here with. In these woods there has never been safety. You're gone now, there is no returning, and you haven't even crossed the threshold.
    Needless to say, I gave this a 7 because I liked the atmosphere and tension this game masterfully crafts. It isn't a game for everyone, you have to have patience and be willing to take the time to explore the world. Don't come here if you're looking for a quick paced action packed game. It's about atmosphere and scaring your pajamas right off! You may have to be in the mood to play this game but it's definitely worth trying out. Especially on sale and in the spooky season, which is what I did.    … Expand
  6. Young_Fawn
    Jun 21, 2023
    6
    Very Strong Start, Falls off Later

    I recently played Darkwood as a part of a game trade with a friend, I've had it in my library for years now but just gotten round to playing it now. Darkwood is a top down horror survival game, however just because it's top-down, doesn't detract in any way from the horror aspects of the game. The game is genuinely terrifying. During the day you    Very Strong Start, Falls off Later

    I recently played Darkwood as a part of a game trade with a friend, I've had it in my library for years now but just gotten round to playing it now.

    Darkwood is a top down horror survival game, however just because it's top-down, doesn't detract in any way from the horror aspects of the game. The game is genuinely terrifying.

    During the day you go out into the woods, collect resources, set up your safehouse and progress the story. At night, you stay in your safehouse and thats when all the real horror occurs. Things attacking your base whilst you're holed up in a room, hearing them walk around, looking for you. Sometimes they break in, sometimes you don't, but night time never gets old in this game, it's always on the edge of your seat horror.

    There are a lot of places to explore in Darkwood, chapter 1 especially has three different zones, and the story is pretty decent but it's not amazing.

    The game really excels at having you feel lonely and that everything is out to get you, allowing short reprieves in the mornings and when you find someone who's friendly.

    Combat isn't the greatest and I tried to avoid it where possible, especially as enemies become harder and harder.

    There were a few issues for me however.

    Chompers are enemies that simply just take too long to kill and do utterly insane damage, dying which forces you to basically retrace your steps to get the items again, only to potentially die a second time. Chompers are the most frustrating thing and especially because your character feels like he's made of literal paper.

    I feel like the supernatural elements and enemies of the game should've been reserved for night time only and not having these otherworldly enemies running around during the day.

    Upon arriving at chapter two, you are given what is essentially a massive middle finger, as you can't take all your equipment and storage from chapter one to chapter two; this is immensely frustrating and you basically feel like you're starting from the beginning again, albeit in a massively more disruptive and difficult area. It was in chapter two that I basically just wanted the game to end.

    Overall, Darkwood is a great game and not a lot of people even make it to chapter two, judging from the achievement rarity. It's a fun horror survival game with some elements that are just a bit annoying; but the night time is one of the most anxiety inducing scenes you'll ever find in a game. 6/10.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

75
#75 Best PC Game of 2017
60
#60 Most Discussed PC Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. XGN
    May 28, 2019
    80
    Darkwood is a thrilling survival horror game that delivers a unique experience with its pixel art top-down graphics, great sound design and gameplay in mysterious woods full of danger lurking behind every tree and corner.
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  2. GameGrin
    Dec 15, 2017
    85
    Despite some unsatisfying gameplay systems, Darkwood can provide legitimate thrills and scares for the horror fans that miss the vibes of such classics as Silent Hill 2 and Pathologic without ever using a jump scare. Whether it is the uniquely grotesque art style or the ever-challenging design of its difficulty, Acid Wizard Studio has proven it understands what ingredients make up a good horror experience and the randomised elements of the game allow a unique narrative every time you play.
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  3. CD-Action
    Nov 16, 2017
    75
    Darkwood’s developers have an expert grasp of what terror is, where it lurks and how to frighten the player to make him come back for more. They couldn’t decide whether they’re making a story-driven game or a sandbox, but their effort is still worth recommending to everyone who enjoys good horrors. [11/2017, p.64]
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