Darkwood

 PC
Darkwood Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 162 Ratings

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  • Summary: Darkwood is a game about survival, exploration and fear, set in mysterious woods somewhere in the territory of the Soviet Bloc. It is a top-down, free-roam, surreal horror experience with a randomized world, taking cues from classic games, where oftentimes you had to figure things out forDarkwood is a game about survival, exploration and fear, set in mysterious woods somewhere in the territory of the Soviet Bloc. It is a top-down, free-roam, surreal horror experience with a randomized world, taking cues from classic games, where oftentimes you had to figure things out for yourself. 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 and the unknown will try to remain unseen, forcing you to watch your back. Your senses will be deceived, your sight fooled, your smell tricked 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.

    Looking for your weakness, your inner demons, only to devour you. Welcome to Darkwood.    … Expand

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Darkwood - Launch Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Ragequit.gr
    Sep 9, 2017
    94
    Due to its demanding nature and deliberate style of gameplay, Darkwood may not be up everyone's alley. Nonetheless, it's undeniably a survival horror done right case, entangling the player with its reverie-like ambience in a gnarled realm of mildew smells and ghastly aberrations.
  2. Meristation
    Sep 12, 2017
    85
    Darkwood is a thrilling survival game with tons of exploration, rich story background and enigmatic characters. The crude atmosphere has been build using a bright illumination system, visuals, music, sounds and silents. The forest, filled by darkness, is like another main character. Gameplay works fine, but the combat system isn't deep at all.
  3. 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.
  4. Games.cz
    Sep 18, 2017
    80
    An outstanding story-telling survival of a non-traditional style that plays with the unprecedented feeling and humor on a horror note. The fight does not have to suit everyone, but if games like this are not completely strange to you, the phenomenally tense atmosphere, great art style, and the gorgeous background story you must unravel yourself, will catch and hold you until the end.
  5. Eurogamer Italy
    Oct 13, 2017
    80
    Quotation forthcoming.
  6. 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]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Wccftech
    Oct 1, 2017
    60
    Darkwood is a fine open-world survival experience, and spins a good yarn, but doesn’t quite succeed as a horror game. The ominous veneer wears off quickly enough, and you’re left with a somewhat cumbersome Don’t Starve clone. Darkwood has its moments and will please a certain dedicated breed, but less masochistic general gaming audiences may find the title more tedious than terrifying. Don’t venture into these woods unless you’re prepared to rough it.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 45
  3. Negative: 5 out of 45
  1. petillo
    Sep 6, 2017
    10
    I'm actually amazed, that there are so few ratings. I got the game through their Piratebay Torrent, which in itself is so commend worthy, readI'm actually amazed, that there are so few ratings. I got the game through their Piratebay Torrent, which in itself is so commend worthy, read their ReadMe in it. I will however buy it on Steam aswell, because i think creative people deserve to be supported, otherwise we will all be force-fed tripple A crap all our lives.

    This game is simple, yet very very intense. You might think you can't get scared because it's top down, or a graphical style which you can't get familiar with. HOWEVER, playing it with one life only, is super intense. If you like psychological horror, don't even think about it, just do yourself a favour and play it.

    And just in case any of the devs read this review: You guys are amazing and i look forward to see what else you are developing next!    … Expand
  2. 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,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.    … Expand
  4. 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    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^)    … Expand
  5. Serpentarius31
    Feb 22, 2020
    9
    Este es un juego que me la hizo pasar bastante mal. Una obra que con sus gráficos me hizo sentir como un Silent hill y es mucho decir.Este es un juego que me la hizo pasar bastante mal. Una obra que con sus gráficos me hizo sentir como un Silent hill y es mucho decir. Completamente estresante , opresivo , paranoico. Sus sonidos son algo que te acosan todo el tiempo y sus noches son una pesadilla que pides por favor que terminen antes de que mueras. Quizás los controles son algo lentos pero eso es excelente. Provoca que nuestro personaje sea un poco torpe y realmente es como seria cualquiera de nosotros en esa situación. Espero un Darkwood 2.… Expand
  6. 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 HillThe 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
  7. 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 ofA great piece. Horror, anxiety, depression, this game brings them all in a very original and well thought fashion. Very low occurrences of jump-scares.… Expand
  8. 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 itThe 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… Expand

See all 45 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

76
#76 Best PC Game of 2017
61
#61 Most Discussed PC Game of 2017

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