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

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. 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
  2. liandrom
    Apr 25, 2023
    9
    ( 9.5 / 10 )

    ( Darkwood, this game is almost a masterpiece in the survival horror genre, the game has great art design, great environments, the tension the game make on us is amazing, and you actually have fear to die, the OST is great, and the plot is MAGIC :0, must play :D )
  3. philzlz
    Apr 11, 2023
    9
    The game evoked a very strong feeling of helplessness that I miss in modern horror games. It reminded me of one of my favorites Silent Hill with its psychological horror. Sometimes what you cant see and only hear, scares you more than what you see.

    I would lie if I said I did not get frustrated sometimes, melee combat was atrocious, the swamp was terrible to navigate and losing all my    The game evoked a very strong feeling of helplessness that I miss in modern horror games. It reminded me of one of my favorites Silent Hill with its psychological horror. Sometimes what you cant see and only hear, scares you more than what you see.

    I would lie if I said I did not get frustrated sometimes, melee combat was atrocious, the swamp was terrible to navigate and losing all my hoarded items when transitioning to it felt cheap. I liked the story and wanted to play every day to see the ending. Overall it was a depressing experience that not many games can offer, it is dark and sad but also strangely addictive.    … Expand
  4. Pmstz
    Feb 3, 2023
    8
    Very nice game
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
  5. 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.
  6. L0_GUN9
    Dec 17, 2022
    10
    Terrifying 2d game with no jumpscares but it uses amazing sound direction and art to scare you
  7. darkwoodFAN
    Nov 27, 2022
    10
    Я закончил играть 30 минут назад. Ета игра ШЕДЕВР. Все персонажы проработаны. А концовка берёт за душу. Обязательно Поиграйте. Ставлю 10/10.(сорри за ошибки)
  8. 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
  9. Chaothic
    Sep 12, 2022
    8
    Anticlimactic - this game is the most accurate definition of it I've ever used.

    It's a masterpiece at building up atmosphere, the tension, the anticipation, but then.. there's little to nothing. (I guess that adds to realism, but come on, we have IRL for that).
    On a good day, I'd give a solid 9/10.
  10. Sanitater1916
    Feb 8, 2022
    10
    10/10 best game I’ve ever played. Story is vague and always keeps you speculating and theorizing about it. It’s Absolutely horrifying, especially for the first few hours but over time, as you lean about what’s what the scariness is reduced, but in new each location you always find new horrifying abominations which give you that original scare. The characters are all unique and interesting.10/10 best game I’ve ever played. Story is vague and always keeps you speculating and theorizing about it. It’s Absolutely horrifying, especially for the first few hours but over time, as you lean about what’s what the scariness is reduced, but in new each location you always find new horrifying abominations which give you that original scare. The characters are all unique and interesting. It’s extremely immersive and a long game too, took me 41 hours to beat. The only bad thing is that normal mode is too easy and hard is too hard.… Expand
  11. DiegoTan
    Sep 28, 2021
    1
    This game is like an extremely small shard of a precious stone burried within a giant pool of feces. Do you really wish to dive into it just to look for that small shard?

    It took me around 40 hours of tedious, boring, uninspired gameplay.. to not even finish it and get glitched out at the end of chapter 2. It took around 6 hours of frustration and boredom for each small cool moment in    This game is like an extremely small shard of a precious stone burried within a giant pool of feces. Do you really wish to dive into it just to look for that small shard?

    It took me around 40 hours of tedious, boring, uninspired gameplay.. to not even finish it and get glitched out at the end of chapter 2. It took around 6 hours of frustration and boredom for each small cool moment in the game (each lasting around a minute or two). Rarely I feel like I completely wasted my time with a game, and this is one of these moments. I am quite unhappy with the experience.    … Expand
  12. grilledcheeze
    Jun 12, 2021
    10
    It was a grueling journey indeed. Darkwood is a tale of abandonment, despair, isolation, and desolation. It shows the dark truth and the utter helplessness of people left behind due to an illness that has plagued certain woods in Poland. The Stranger, one of the people who monitors the woods, has lost his way. He meets a Doctor who interrogated and lacerated him in order to spit out theIt was a grueling journey indeed. Darkwood is a tale of abandonment, despair, isolation, and desolation. It shows the dark truth and the utter helplessness of people left behind due to an illness that has plagued certain woods in Poland. The Stranger, one of the people who monitors the woods, has lost his way. He meets a Doctor who interrogated and lacerated him in order to spit out the way out of the woods. Left to die, the Stranger somewhat lives. He then began to embark on a journey to find the Doctor and battle through the unforgiving, hellish woods for freedom and solitude. Darkwood is a survival horror game like no other. I've never played a game like this one, especially a horror survival game where everything hits straight to the feels. It was a very unique entry to the already oversaturated genre of horror and brought a ton of new & interesting things to the table. It's a very atmospheric game; bleak and haunting. The game is very rewarding, though it is a hard and daunting task to get recompenses without surviving the difficult place the game sets in. The four current places, Dry Meadow, Silent Forest, Old Woods, and the Swamp have very unique layouts and distinct ambiances to them. Each place you progress to has an increase in difficulty, so be prepared every time. The combat wasn't great at first, mainly because this is my first formal introduction to a top-down game. It grew on me later on and got used to it so quickly, I died a lot less coming into the Silent Forest. There is a diverse type of enemies throughout the game, with each having their own unique abilities and equipment, making them hard to kill, especially during the first encounter. But the Stranger also dons abilities of his own through the gathering of cookable food for the Oven to turn into essence, which gives the player the power and advantage during battles. There is one catch though. With each tier, there will be one downside ability for the player to choose indefinitely. The story progresses pretty slowly and it's mostly because of how it depends on one's own pacing and how he/she approaches the game. Patience is essential to this, so be sure not to rush things, unless you're confident enough in your abilities and you're basically a god in these types of games. The side characters are compelling. They each have their own story to tell and personalities that reflect their appearances. The Trader, the first person you encounter in Dry Meadow, is quiet and reserved, giving no emotion at all. Cannot speak or anything, he can only write. He is the main source of getting equipment and valuables in order for the player to survive, but he needs to survive the nights in order to be given a Reputation, a mechanic that acts as the currency of the game. Wolfman, my favorite but not so favorite character as well, is very intimidating at first encounter. He doesn't give a damn about the Stranger at first but slowly opens up as you impress him with your prowess throughout the game. He has an interesting side-quest, but also a very questionable one too which is where my hate for this man, or animal, stems from. But I had no other choice. He rewards me great though, so that's somewhat a win. There are others like the Musician, a young innocent boy who only wants to free a certain someone from the grasps of an old woman. I did this boy dirty because I followed Wolfman's quest which resulted in a heartbreaking situation. This is what this game also does great. Your actions really matter. It affects the people around you and those choices reflect the character you're trying to build upon. It reminded me heavily of Fallout: New Vegas, another fantastic survival game. The music is outstanding. It gave me chills down my spine due to how eerie they sounded. I love how well it mixed up with the already tense and unrelenting atmosphere the game had and just added some more flavor to the horror aspect of it. The game doesn't have any jump scares. Really. Darkwood is an impressive game, undoubtedly one of my favorite games as of recent. Acid Wizard Studio made a gem of a game, and I wish a lot more people would try this masterpiece out. One of the best of its kind, worth a 10/10 rating.… Expand
  13. IsHaplo
    Jun 11, 2021
    10
    What a game. The fact that there's nothing else like it (top-down, true survival horror, with this art style) unless Acid Wizards make a DLC, or sequel says a lot. Cannot replicate magic this good.

    Blows my mind that only 8 percent of players globally even made it to the second-half of the game. The swamp is even scarier.
  14. halfs2
    May 30, 2021
    10
    I enjoyed the soundtrack a lot, the atmosphere of the game is very good, it always makes you tense and doesn't teach you anything, as the days go by you learn how to survive the night, how to defend yourself, I'm loving the game and I paid an incredibly low price on the PC version on steam. I'm looking forward to a darkwood 2, maybe with co-op multiplayer?
  15. freenik
    Feb 4, 2021
    8
    A great piece. Horror, anxiety, depression, this game brings them all in a very original and well thought fashion. Very low occurrences of jump-scares.
  16. 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
  17. HunterReloaded
    Dec 21, 2020
    9
    Its a really amazing game. This is the perfect horror without crappy screamers and with strange but interesting plot. But sometimes this game may be little bit boring, because all that you have to do - its just running and exploring locations with limited time.
  18. Hannibal1
    Dec 3, 2020
    10
    One of best games I ever played... It has everything (character building, story, immersive gameplay and so on)... Only thing i would improve is to make day last longer for more time to explore...
  19. Grahl1
    Nov 16, 2020
    10
    Perfect little game. It left me wanted more, left me wishing that this developer had another 10 games like this. Few games these days are done right. Darkwood could have fallen into banality if it was just another pretty game with a decent story and well-made atmosphere but without a challenge element that actually makes a game feel like a game. Fortunately, it has a very simple, but veryPerfect little game. It left me wanted more, left me wishing that this developer had another 10 games like this. Few games these days are done right. Darkwood could have fallen into banality if it was just another pretty game with a decent story and well-made atmosphere but without a challenge element that actually makes a game feel like a game. Fortunately, it has a very simple, but very effective combat system, and the survival elements add up to the challenge. One of the best games I've ever played, and probably the best indie.… Expand
  20. Pusichka
    Oct 28, 2020
    10
    WHEN ALL GAMES WILL HAVE THE PLOT OF THE SAME LEVEL, I WILL UNDERSTAND THAT DIED AND I AM IN THE EMBROIDERY OF OWN ILLUSIONS. EXTREMELY Pity THAT I LEARNED ABOUT THIS GAME BY ACCIDENT, AND ALL GARBAGE FROM LARGE COMPANIES WITH LOOTBOXES, GRIND, MICROTRANSACTIONS FOR SIGHT EVERY DAY. WORLD IS NOT FAIR. POLAND IS REALLY ABLE TO MAKE GAMES. FALAUT 3 OR 4 SHOULD BE LIKE THIS GAME. DARK ANDWHEN ALL GAMES WILL HAVE THE PLOT OF THE SAME LEVEL, I WILL UNDERSTAND THAT DIED AND I AM IN THE EMBROIDERY OF OWN ILLUSIONS. EXTREMELY Pity THAT I LEARNED ABOUT THIS GAME BY ACCIDENT, AND ALL GARBAGE FROM LARGE COMPANIES WITH LOOTBOXES, GRIND, MICROTRANSACTIONS FOR SIGHT EVERY DAY. WORLD IS NOT FAIR. POLAND IS REALLY ABLE TO MAKE GAMES. FALAUT 3 OR 4 SHOULD BE LIKE THIS GAME. DARK AND EXCITING. INCREDIBLE. BUT THE FALOUT GAME SERIES BECAME A SIMPLE CHILDREN'S GAME. IT'S A PITY

    КОГДА ВСЕ ИГРЫ БУДУТ ИМЕТЬ СЮЖЕТ ТАКОГО ЖЕ УРОВНЯ Я В КАКОЙ-ТО МОМЕНТ ПОЙМУ ЧТО УМЕР И НАХОЖУСЬ В ОБЪЯТИЯХ СОБСТВЕННЫХ ИЛЛЮЗИЙ. КРАЙНЕ ЖАЛЬ ЧТО Я УЗНАЛ ОБ ЭТОЙ ИГРЕ СЛУЧАЙНО, А ВСЯКИЙ МУСОР ОТ КРУПНЫХ КОМПАНИЙ С ЛУТБОКСАМИ, ГРИНДОМ, МИКРОТРАНЗАКЦИЯМИ НА ВИДУ КАЖДЫЙ ДЕНЬ. МИР НЕ СПРАВЕДЛИВ. В ПОЛЬШЕ РЕАЛЬНО УМЕЮТ ДЕЛАТЬ ИГРЫ. ФАЛАУТ 3 ИЛИ 4 ДОЛЖНЫ БЫЛИ СТАТЬ ПОХОЖИМИ НА ЭТУ ИГРУ. МРАЧНЫМИ И ЗАХВАТЫВАЮЩИМИ. НЕВЕРОЯТНЫМИ. НО СЕРИЯ ИГР ФАЛАУТ СТАЛА ПРОСТОЙ ДЕТСКОЙ ИГРОЙ. ЖАЛЬ    … Expand
  21. rocketpony
    Oct 17, 2020
    4
    I don't know if this game is horror, but it's not even a little scary. At its core, it's just a survival crafting game with some really annoying mechanics designed to pad out play time. (Clunky controls, steep learning curve in combat, tiny inventory, long walks from re-spawn point to find your corpse, mandatory "base defence" sections at night that feel like a chore.) I've played for 5I don't know if this game is horror, but it's not even a little scary. At its core, it's just a survival crafting game with some really annoying mechanics designed to pad out play time. (Clunky controls, steep learning curve in combat, tiny inventory, long walks from re-spawn point to find your corpse, mandatory "base defence" sections at night that feel like a chore.) I've played for 5 hours and the story is nowhere to be seen (except for a couple of small suggestive bits in the prologue). You're just trying to survive as some spooky stuff is happening around you, but there is no context for any of it and no reason to get invested in the hero.

    In short, this is not so much survival horror as survival chore. Something to play if you want to recreate the experience of washing your dishes with a toothbrush and no running water, all without getting off your chair.    … Expand
  22. Hentaiman
    Oct 9, 2020
    0
    The game is bad and the story is all over the place it isnt good by any means everything that happens just seem to happen for the sake of it with no real meaning and the controls are clunky and awful the combat system sucks and no matter what people say its not scary by any means and the atmosphere is ok at best dont waste your time with this stupid game
  23. Pentakill
    Sep 13, 2020
    9
    The horror depicted in this game is on another level. The sound design is so terrifying, plus the fact that if you are running from something, thanks to the really interesting camera perspective, you CAN'T see what's chasing you. I had to stop playing a couple of times to 'reset' my anxiety levels.
  24. kezzyhko
    Aug 29, 2020
    8
    ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍
  25. Sinaliked
    Aug 3, 2020
    10
    cant stop blaming myself for why finding this now !!!
    the moment i saw the gameplay i knew i would fall in love with it. OMG its atmosphere is nice.playing without a headphone but it's still scary i mean the sounds alone can do all the job for making you nervous :) keep up team (^o^)
  26. Jackermy
    Aug 1, 2020
    9
    This game is one of the best indie games that I have ever seen and moreover one of the best horror games. The atmosphere is awesome, locations are great, characters are unique and a little bit special).
    Game will never let you bored. Lore is perfect and you will be trying to find more and more about this.
    I highly recommend you to play in this game.
  27. StrohNamiX
    Jul 27, 2020
    9
    Pretty scary 2d horror with amazing atmosphere and intriguing story. I just recently finished resident evil 7 and liked it but I would prefer darkwood anyday. There aren't enough games like this. The atmosphere was so tense. The gameplay is unforgivable and maybe in some aspects a little bit hard. I would still recommend it to any horror fan, especially if you like the silent hill, h.p.Pretty scary 2d horror with amazing atmosphere and intriguing story. I just recently finished resident evil 7 and liked it but I would prefer darkwood anyday. There aren't enough games like this. The atmosphere was so tense. The gameplay is unforgivable and maybe in some aspects a little bit hard. I would still recommend it to any horror fan, especially if you like the silent hill, h.p. lovecraft, junji ito kind of horror.

    Story.: 9/10
    Graphics / Atmosphere / Sound.: 10/10
    Gameplay.: 7/10

    Result.: 9    … Expand
  28. EdgarMttz
    Jun 22, 2020
    8
    Darkwood es una obra maestra entre los horrores de supervivencia, ofreciendo una jugabilidad excepcional, historia y atmósfera, con giros lo suficientemente inteligentes a la fórmula para dar lugar a resultados originales y variados. Este juego está tan bien hecho que puedo recomendarlo a cualquier jugador que no se siente intimidado por ninguna mano, dificultad desafiante, y mecánicaDarkwood es una obra maestra entre los horrores de supervivencia, ofreciendo una jugabilidad excepcional, historia y atmósfera, con giros lo suficientemente inteligentes a la fórmula para dar lugar a resultados originales y variados. Este juego está tan bien hecho que puedo recomendarlo a cualquier jugador que no se siente intimidado por ninguna mano, dificultad desafiante, y mecánica implacable. Valdrá la pena.… Expand
  29. comasauce11
    Jun 13, 2020
    9
    Despite its top down perspective, Darkwood delivers an incredibly horrifying atmosphere with impeccable sound design to boot. Very unique world with fantastic gameplay and pacing.
  30. kirovairship
    May 11, 2020
    10
    Picked this game up during a steam sale, not knowing anything about it. As a horror & game fan it surprised me and I ended up loving it.
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
  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]
See all critic reviews »