Darkwood (2017)

Acid Wizard Studio

Google Stadia · Linux · Mac · Nintendo Switch · PC (Microsoft Windows) · PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · Xbox One · Xbox Series X|S

3.62 from 197 ratings

2072 members have it in their collection · 51 playing now · 1276 backlogged · 157 wish listed

How long? Main story 18h · 100% 24h (from 4 logged playthroughs)

Darkwood is a unforgiving survival horror with a procedurally generated, open world. By blending RPG, roguelike and adventure elements together with a challenging difficulty, Darkwood aims to please players craving for a deep and rewarding experience. The fear of unknown is powerful. Your senses will be deceived by Darkwood's surreal terrors. No answer will be given to you for free, … Read more
Darkwood is a unforgiving survival horror with a procedurally generated, open world. By blending RPG, roguelike and adventure elements together with a challenging difficulty, Darkwood aims to please players craving for a deep and rewarding experience. The fear of unknown is powerful. Your senses will be deceived by Darkwood's surreal terrors. No answer will be given to you for free, yet somewhere in the woods lies the truth, an explanation to what has happened in this godforsaken place. By day, explore the randomly generated woods, scavenge for materials and weapons, discover secrets, solve mysteries and talk, trade with or kill the various inhabitants of Darkwood. By night, return to your hideout, barricade, set up traps and hide or defend yourself from the horrors that lurk in the dark. Read less
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Release dates

  • Aug 17, 2017 (Full Release) (Worldwide) Linux, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)
  • May 14, 2019 (Full Release) (Worldwide) PlayStation 4
  • May 16, 2019 (Full Release) (Worldwide) Nintendo Switch
  • May 17, 2019 (Full Release) (Worldwide) Xbox One
  • Sep 07, 2021 (Full Release) (Worldwide) Google Stadia
  • Oct 28, 2022 (Full Release) (Worldwide) PlayStation 5
  • Dec 23, 2022 (Full Release) (Worldwide) Xbox Series X|S

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Rating distribution

5 stars
40
4 stars
81
3 stars
44
2 stars
26
1 star
6
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Community All Reviews Statuses

BurningKirby

Status BurningKirby Nov 27, 2024

I think I'm dropping this one. I don't feel like I've played enough to justify a full review, but I wanted to get some thoughts down after trying to get into it across a few sittings.

Darkwood is probably the scariest game I've played in a long time. The unusual top-down angle totally works in its favor, as it makes …

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I think I'm dropping this one. I don't feel like I've played enough to justify a full review, but I wanted to get some thoughts down after trying to get into it across a few sittings.

Darkwood is probably the scariest game I've played in a long time. The unusual top-down angle totally works in its favor, as it makes it so I'm seeing everything from a distance, which leaves the finer details up to my imagination to fill in. It's an effect you often see utilized in good horror movies and it works excellently here. The sound design complements it perfectly. It's visceral throughout and really elevates the shock at some of the things you'll stumble upon as you wander through the woods.

The thing is that Darkwood is nearly as much a survival game as it is a horror game. Gameplay works on a tight day/night cycle and you need to scrounge for supplies while it's bright out so you can hide away from the nighttime creatures after the sun goes down. I've often struggled to get into survival games and even though the elements here aren't too overbearing they just frustrate me. I want to spend my time exploring but I have to keep dropping what I'm doing to go hide at night and it simply interrupts the fun.

Fans of both horror and survival will probably find a lot to love there though.

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Jeslie

Status Jeslie Oct 1, 2024

I'm very interested in the concept of this game. Problem is, my spatial intelligence is crap. Trust me, I've got the dismal geometry grades to prove it.

So trying to navigate the world via building a mental map off a few landmarks, while on a timer...yeah, that's not a place where I'm going to excel, and this game quickly …

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I'm very interested in the concept of this game. Problem is, my spatial intelligence is crap. Trust me, I've got the dismal geometry grades to prove it.

So trying to navigate the world via building a mental map off a few landmarks, while on a timer...yeah, that's not a place where I'm going to excel, and this game quickly became more frustrating than enjoyable to me. Definitely one where I'd be interested in a mod or a cheat to change up some of the gameplay in order to let me enjoy the good stuff without trying to remember how far around this tree stump I have to rotate in order to find where I died...? (If that's even the right tree stump?)

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ggwilliams9

Status ggwilliams9 Sep 30, 2024

I have decided that I will not finish this game. Just couldn't keep my interest for more than a few hours. The tidbits of story being drip fed feel like it could end up being a compelling mystery. I've played enough to see why people hype this one up, but its just not for me. Oh and the games look …

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I have decided that I will not finish this game. Just couldn't keep my interest for more than a few hours. The tidbits of story being drip fed feel like it could end up being a compelling mystery. I've played enough to see why people hype this one up, but its just not for me. Oh and the games look unique in its art style and solidly spooky.

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ggwilliams9

Status ggwilliams9 Sep 1, 2024

I only a few days in but i am enjoying the experience so far. I am a little worried about some of the reviews saying that it becomes grind heavy in the later stages. Atmosphere and the art style are cool and exploring new areas feels exciting.

GigaDeathNullGolem

Status GigaDeathNullGolem Feb 17, 2024

Probably 70-80% through with this and abandoning it. Liked this okay but too grindy and tedious to play. Even when managing to cheat/hack it's still obtuse on solving some of these quests. The overall gameplay just isn't growing on me. I don't feel that the top down shooter genre lends itself so great to timed attacks and such precision in …

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Probably 70-80% through with this and abandoning it. Liked this okay but too grindy and tedious to play. Even when managing to cheat/hack it's still obtuse on solving some of these quests. The overall gameplay just isn't growing on me. I don't feel that the top down shooter genre lends itself so great to timed attacks and such precision in combat, coupled with stringent resource management and survival mechanics but that's just me, but even with better skills this is a bit too hard.

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Torgo

Status Torgo May 18, 2019

Darkwood is an absolute masterpiece, it's in my top 10 and might have been my favourite overall from 2018. It's on Switch now, def worth checking it out. One of the most terrifying and immersive things I've ever experienced.

Begbie

Status Begbie Jan 8, 2019

I really want to like it but its so hard to get into it, any tipps and advices are welcome....