Darkwood

Incredibly detailed atmosphere. Wish I had used my stockpile of guns and ammo more often, fell into the trap of "I'll save it for a more difficult fight." Turns out all the difficult fights are in dream sequences where your inventory is removed. Didn't seem like there was much of a point scavenging the whole time if you're never really tested. More horror than survival, so usually the game builds a facade of fear with spooky noises, instead of any real threat. The story gives no answers and spending extra time searching through the context clues provides only a vague understanding to piece together the strange plot. Worth a playthrough of this odd polish game.

It's creepy and challenging. It has an amazing atmosphere, full of mystery

This game is so terrifying and well made, I can only play a day or two at a time. Definitely recommend

Amazing survival horror experience. No jumpscares but the sound and visual design keeps on your toes every second of the game. Highly recommended

scariest topdown ive ever fukin played lol, also interesting af story i love weird eldrich shit and anomalous nonsense like dark forests that dont let anyone leave (but when it gets dark shit gets wild)

Long, long overdue review but apparently I can't recommend this game to a friend without reviewing it first so here's the review. I hated 2D games until I found Darkwood. Cannot believe these legends made this on Unity, dropped it on us and then just disappeared. I hope they will come back and give us Darkwood 2. Instabuy.

Leaving a review about 6 months post playing -I still think about this game. Thoroughly engaging story, in a way I long for from most Horror. You will be stressed to hell through the night, hoping your thoroughly strategized traps work out, trying to figure out what in the world happened in this bizarre place. I thought it looked weird on the store page, and only played it because my wife wanted me to -so very glad I did. 10/10

Too terrifying to continue playing, too good stop playing
(TL;DR at the end)

Darkwooding muh wood straight darkwooding muh shi, Bouncing on my darkwood till I succum to my bed till I perish, Darkwooding muh wood till da bark tear off and peel in on itself, Darkwooding till I loose my wood, Would darkwood till I wood all over my roots till I blossom.~ Peak vide gam

An excellent Top Down Survival Horror game with slightly randomized elements. I do wish that the event or tasks that you do in the game could be randomized to enhance the replay value but not every game needs to an infinite replay time some just need to be a good time for a little while. Elsewise, there is so much to like about this game; the lore that vast and deeply rooted in Slavic Folklore, the randomized Nightly events that can make the night feel unyielding and a death trap even fully prepared, the artwork that adds to the atmosphere of despair and loss. I recommend playing this game as blindly as possible to get the full experience, being lost and all.

Darkwood has a phenomenal horror atmosphere that doesn't rely on cheap jumpscares and a great story that will haunts your mind. The combat and fog of war mechanic may feel clunky and frustrated at times but that's just what happen when you actually fight an oversized dog I guess.

9/10.
Excellent atmosphere and sound design make it very immersive. The game play has a surprising amount of depth and I was still learning new things even up until the end of the game. The story is more of a mystery but it was a pleasant and anxiety inducing ride the whole way. Once you know all the tricks the game kind of plays like what a horror-themed version of Home Alone would play like.

The dark of the wood hides terrors both real and imagined. The horror you can see becomes an odd solace against the horrors you can not, and as the night creeps close, you might be tempted to wonder if you are just too far away to return home, and every single step you take towards safety you may see as a sort of gift given to you as you pray for another and another and another... Every face you see is not your friend, even potentially your own, but the one true conquering, if you are to have any victory at all, it would be that against the odds, you have escaped a nightware that has tried so hard to keep you imprisoned by your own fear.

Honestly, this game is one of my favorite horror games of all time. I have yet to play another horror game that quite captures the exact feeling this game has you feeling at almost all times. Everything is so uncomfortable and scary but in the best ways, the tone is absolutely perfect, you just can't help but wanna play more to learn more about the world that is being built, like your curiosity getting the better of you, even though you know something is deeply wrong, leaving each part of the story with more questions than answers. The top-down view is an interesting pick for a survival horror genre, since you can't have jump scares or anything like that, but the way they pulled it off makes it so good and unnerving anyways, from the way your vision works, to how difficult it is to master the combat against the different enemies. If you enjoy any survival horror with an underlying very interesting story, play this, everything is so interesting and you won't find another horror experience like this!

Lots of fun coming from someone who doesnt like top down games or jump scares so I think this is a fantastic horror game!

I recommend this game very highly. After many hours in the game and multiple playthroughs I have found that this is one of the scariest and most creative games I have ever played from a story perspective. If you are a fan of story games or horror games then this is most likely a great choice. The combat and game-play is also strong in my opinion, with very many ways to go about any given scenario, you have so many options to handle encounters however you want and the tools at your disposal allow you to implement many different play-styles. From both a story and game-play perspective I highly recommend this game for any and all horror fans out there.

The horror and survival aspects are quite impressive, partly due to the fact that you have limited "lives" (only one on the hardest mode, which I highly recommend if you have the time and patience for a few restarts). This limitation made me feel every threat (both real and imagined), adding immensely to the already deep atmosphere. It also forced me to restore and engage my brain activity, which had been dulled by endless F5-F9 games =) by making me plan approaches to different encounters, prepare escape routes, etc

There's also a strong mystery element hanging in the air, so I would describe this game as more of a top-down adventure/mystery/horror experience, with medium survival/action elements and minor RPG mechanics. The crafting system is also quite nice.

However, some mechanics feel overused in my opinion. I would remove them after a couple of hours of gameplay, as they begin to feel more like a chore than a challenge at that point.

TL DR i recommend this game for horror and mystery enjoyers. Only for patient, slow-paced atmosphere-embracing approach, maybe for multiple short to medium sessions, otherwise it can become really annoying if you are trying to rush things.

I have never before been so intrigued and repulsed by a game to such an extent, simultaneously.

This game requires a certain mindset.

It starts with Fear.

Let's sidestep that for a little while, congratulations. Having reached this review, you already have taken your first steps. You've seen the game's title, you've seen some screenshots, a trailer or two, likely purchased it, maybe booted the title, or even played the first hour of the game, including the small intro perhaps. Now what?

It all starts with your thoughts. You've already formed a preconception, a ghost-projection about this game. Based on the evidence you've seen so far, you might think many things about this game. Throw all of that away. There is an important distinction to make - this game does not hold your hand, as it has said, however, when it tells you something - it means it. Listen to the cryptic advice you receive. Do not disregard it, and do not doubt it. It can lead you astray, but for now, any information is crucial.

Secondly, immerse yourself in the world and your circumstance. The only thoughts you need to have are of Survival first and foremost, and Fear second. Disregard everything else.

Thirdly, this is the only time I believe a "spoiler" will be necessary, and it's not a shocker at all - night will come. The Night is dangerous and you should rightfully be paranoid about it. Time progresses at a steady pace, you have exactly 20 minutes each day. How long the night takes to pass, you'll figure out. Search your immediate surroundings with care, but also with intent. Do not dawdle too much, and once you open your map, there you have it, your first immediate objective.

Search that place, get everything you need. And what you need, first of all, is a weapon. Conflict can be avoided, but not when it's breaking down your door. A hint - if you cannot find a reliable weapon on your first day, have a good look in the workbench crafting selection. There might be something there at your disposal. Use it.

Before night sets in, you get a very visible warning - the sunset. Be prepared. Listen to Survival and Fear. They mean you well.

Depending on your actions during your first night, you may now have an idea of what to do. You've listened to Survival and Fear, and chose to confide in one of them. Prepare for what is to come, get your bearings. You have an inordinate amount of time at your disposal now, make use of it. Invite Survival and Fear back to your table, and discuss the plans you'll undertake. And if things don't go according to your plan, it's perfectly fine to let either of them take over. They will try their best.

Now go, explore. The world is not as dangerous as it may seem, and you are more cunning than you think. At least, for now.

Honestly, one of the most anxiety infusing games and it does that by being 2D. The fact that you have a limiting point of view creates a state of constant alertness as well as the passing of time that makes you rush all the time. Although nothing should be done with rush in this game as you must always be cautious and well prepared when you enter a new area or just exploring. The whole story and the characters fit the name of the studio, as they seem to have been written by some wizard constantly on acid and mushrooms.

Patience yields you an intricate world with one of the most unique aesthetics you will find in a horror game. I have not felt as much tension playing a videogame as i have felt surviving some of the nights in Darkwood. It can be frustrating at times but from the very first loading screen the game tells you itself that it wont hold your hand, and if you put a little effort into it, it really makes it worth your while.

9/10 Game!
It grows on you if ever the first playthrough didn't catch you much.
I saw this game long ago through markiplier and decided to get it, but didn't get a chance to play for a few years. But now I finished the game.
Truly a unique horror experience that you wouldn't see much in today's games.

Im really bad at this game sure. However the vibes, quality, and effort that is put lovingly into this game has not gone unnoticed by me. IF i wasnt so shit i would progress further and see more amazing quality. Get darkwood, its worth it.

This game is a masterpiece!

I've always been too scared to play horror games in the past, and have never enjoyed the experience when I have... but Darkwood is a worthy exception. It is genuinely terrifying don't get me wrong, but everything about it is just so well executed, and so engaging that it always feels worth the torment it puts you through.

Hotline Miami for big adults -> lovecraftian horror at its best.

This is probalby one of the best horror games out there. I never really felt fear in any other horror games, just tension in the atmosphere. In this game that pretty much changed. Now I would pay to forget all its contents to play it again without knowing what to expect (I have much more hours then shown on steam because I owned it on Epic before). I have actually no complains about this game except maybe for how unfair it sometimes gets but that is the whole point of the game. There are SO many options that matter and change small details later in the game. I also had a streak of revelations about many bits of content I missed after many hours playing it and thinking I knew everything. There were many so situations I found out new usages for some items or actually finding out that there is unique item I missed. There is no other horror game I would reccomand more then this one. Do not get demotivated to play it because of its top down view perspective. It actually adds to the atmosphere once you get it.

Darkwood is simply phenomenal. Every aspect of its storytelling is amazing. The combat feels like fighting for your life at almost every moment. The visuals are astoundingly beautiful, creepy, and stylistic. I was unsettled and disturbed by pretty much everything in this game, in a good way.

Some might want to play the game on nightmare or atleast hard, your first death on normal will remove alot of the tension. Good game, a great addition to anyones library who fancy cosmic horror

still so spooky and creepy, one of my very first and favorite indie horror games <3 story and its concepts and world building are still all solid. 10/10

Going into Darkwood I had a very hard time believing that a top-down game could be scary. I initially dismissed it as gamers overrating as they sometimes do with indies - I was very wrong.

It is very much a horror game. It won't give you a heart attack or anything and there aren't jumpscares - it accomplishes its horror by way of a very grim art style and an oppressive atmosphere, excellent sound design that will have you on edge constantly as well as a layer of seemingly impregnable mystery that pervades the entirety of the game. All those elements paired with the fairly challenging gameplay blend together to create an amazing experience.

The soundtrack is also wonderful, not in the way soundtracks tend to be in their classic sense ie. catchy stuff to hype you up, stuff that you listen to out of the game etc. but in a way that perfectly supports the atmosphere, gameplay, sound design etc. - you'll grow to appreciate the "dawn is approaching" sound zinger and the very comforting "New Dawn" soundtrack after every agonizing night. Also, I absolutely love the main title theme, it has a very beautiful Laura Palmer's Theme (Twin Peaks) feel to it.

I'd rate this at 4/5 and the only reason it is missing the one point is because I wanted more content out of it and a dedicated sandbox mode.

Story: 10
Sound/atmosphere: 10
Art direction: 10
Gameplay: 10
Fear level: 10

Overall score: Darkwood/Darkwood

An exceptional survival game with heavy horror elements, Darkwood is a unique experience from beginning to end, and one that still remains entertaining far after you have finished it for the first time. Going in with further information is likely at your own disservice, as Darkwood thrives on your uncertainty and fear.

As someone who has every achievement on two platforms, and who considers Darkwood as one of their favorite games ever made, I believe myself experienced enough to give that opinion. My only complaint is how some of the updates changed the controller scheme I liked most, but as controller players seem to be a minority, this isn't a big deal.

poland is scarier in real life. but great game
edit (to elaborate) - theres a furry, polish elon musk, psychedelic granny, wise mystical tree etc. amazing cast + impactful lynchian story + genuine horror + you can pet the dog so actual 10/10

Darkwood is an okay horror experience, the atmosphere and audio really sell the game. To me the game-play loop became a slog I didn't particularly enjoy.

General Combat/Items:
Combat isn't deep (either hit or get hit) and Resources are entirely Infinite over a period of time as you get free money each new Day (increasing per location) which allows you to buy from a Merchant who's shop also refreshes day to day. All enemies are easily taken care of with either 1 Pistol Clip, 1 Molotov, 1 Shotgun blast, 1 Hunting Rifle shot, etc. If the Ax is fully upgraded even that can take care of most enemies in one to two swings. Enemies are rather easy to kite around and dodge their melee attacks, only a few with ranged attacks that can be easily dodged as well. There's a single defensive item in the game (Armor) which helps tank attacks until it breaks. You will absolutely hit a point where you can buy up all the Merchant items and easily craft a plethora of items. Once you clear the map of enemies they don't respawn which allows you to build surplus to use at Night if it's even needed. No Tripwire Traps and the lack of Potato to Vodka/Alcohol feel like oversights. Glass Bottle + Potato at a Distillery (which you do find at a point in the game). Rope + Broken Glass or Gas Canister/Explosive Barrel could've made easy Tripwire Traps.

The Night:
The Night Sections are horrid. Run back to your cabin or die, specifically because the game has mechanics that WILL 100% kill you if you aren't near a Lamp or with Hideout Protection Buff. Outside of the specific events there's no real reason to be stuck in the Hideout at Night and to circumvent this *those* mechanics were created. In a lot of Nights I'd simply LEAVE the Hideout because it was worse being in a cramped hallway or room. I'd go on the offense to kill enemy spawns and return to the Lamps if needed. What would've done wonders is if you could either:

1) Upgrade the Hideout enough to potentially avoid Night Events (Sleep Option you pay Mats for)

2) If within ~2HR to Night, SKIP to start of Night.

There's not much you can do if it's 1700 and you're sitting in the Hideout just waiting for it to be over so you can go back out and continue exploring.


Night Events:
The larger issue that the Night has is that there's not nearly enough different events to keep you entertained. In the first few Nights I'd bet MOST people experienced repeat events which gets worse and worse as the game continues. Knowing what is happening is the absolute worst thing for a game of this type, when you want to be shocked or confused to what's going on. I was at about 21 days and was so tired of the event antics, I can't imagine replaying the game. Defenses during this time are generally useless. Hide in a corner where you can see all the entry-points and wait. If you hear something then jump out and get to the enemy first because the AI doesn't respond too well to you being offensive. Barricading windows can help with this as they'll attack the window first instead of you. Some enemies will avoid traps but placing them inside of windows can guarantee a free kill/hit if you're willing to burn the 3 Scrap Metal per Trap (which generally isn't worth it considering one to two swings of a melee weapon guarantees the kill anyways for far less resources). These events absolutely could have been better if they hit back to back and had more variety. It's just not good if a lot of the events are: Dog attacks, Wild-men attacks, Scorpion attacks, Chomper attacks. Those are all the same thing, which are filler and should have just simply been included with more major events. But at the same time I understand it's hard to do extremely different styled events when you've built half the game around trying to keep Players inside the house next to a Lamp.


Travel:
Most of the issue comes from the lack of travel options. If a Bike had been available at some point in the game it would've been a massive boon to the overall tone. I don't get how it made sense to create a path that reduces Stamina usage while on the path instead of just giving the Player a rideable bike they can use to do the same thing but go to more locations. I swear I spent a majority of the game running back and forth farming resources for hours and sitting in my base waiting for it to be dawn so I can run all the way back to the same house and finish looting it. It gets way worse when you get to the swamp and are trying to make your way across the map that's littered with trees blocking your path and tons of Swamp-zones that take double stamina to sprint.


Chapter 2:
The Inventory Reset in Chapter 2 is an absolute waste. It's not to say I'm frustrated or upset by it, but that materials are so abundant that my entire Storage was overflowing the second I got to Chapter 2 anyways. It's like the game gave me a soft set-back that I had to re-farm into for no particular reason. I don't believe having extra materials going into Chapter 2 would've change the flow of the game very much as I spent every second trying to sprint to the ending. As it is with how Weapons work^ in the previous section, a full inventory can mass slaughter nearly every enemy going into Chapter 2. You'd have to entirely PURGE the Player's Inventory if you didn't want this to be the case. I will say the last section of the game needing the Oxygen Canisters and the Compressor was super annoying searching for them because I so desperately wanted to end the game. One final thought is that the Crafting Bench cannot be upgraded to obtain the Ax or Hunting Rifle until this point in the game HOWEVER you can obtain both for free prior to this point which makes little sense to have them obtainable through crafting afterwards.


The Plot:
Darkwood is a fairly basic horror premise however since it was the main drive that got me to finish the game I won't reveal anything here. There's a lot given to shown but not told, The Wolf has more to his story than is told and the discussion around him is interesting however it's something that will pass over most people not reading a Wiki which leaves what we ARE told feel severely lacking. I think there could've been a middle-ground of an interesting quest plot while at the same time keeping his environmental plot that goes unsaid. And this is true of MORE characters in the game not just The Wolf.

Don't let the POV fool you - this game is scary. The use of sound and atmosphere is masterful, and the survival mechanics can be really challenging. Every night induces a feeling of dread, which is all I could ever ask for

Darkwood's design is incredible, area design (both whole areas and buildings) is amazing, story is great, and it's the only game to leave me genuinely unnerved and on edge at all times.

The base defence is really well done, night is both stressful and manageable, combat is challenging yet fair, and the enemy design is unparalleled, especially in Chapter 2.

The only thing that could be even remotely a complaint is that I'm fucking terrified of exploring in Chapter 2 because I tried once and the things I've seen still haunt me. Don't want to leave my base without more resources, can't get more resources without leaving. Worst dilemma ever, best game to have it in. 10/10.

It says I have four hours, but most of my gameplay was on console. The game is good enough to be bought twice. If you are the type of person that does not get afraid in horror games like myself, play this game and you will feel fear.

I love this game. I hope there will be a follow up. The world is so interesting, the art style and lighting mechanics are unique. I highly recommend if you enjoy horror games.

Rarely are games actually scary.
Few imbue a constant sense of dread and panic.

Darkwood is one of the weirdest, frightening and saddest games I've ever played, all while being a 'simple' 2-D top down world. You are warned beforehand by the game itself, but you are NOT held by the hand at any point, and the game is as it describes itself - "unforgiving" and "challenging".

The difficulty of the game will put off a large majority of players, as evidenced by having less than 15% of people who own the game (on Steam) make it to chapter 2. I imagine this is mostly due to frustration, but for those who get passed this you will be rewarded with a rich, twisted, psychedelic, lore dense, horrible (in the true sense of the word) adventure.

Only negative I have is I hate it when developers lock stuff away in second playthroughs.
Narratively - yeah I get it, I get why you did that, but I'm not playing this over again to see the extra bits of your story.

If you're bored of the same cookie cutter sh*t and want to experience something unique and interesting then you kinda have to buy this. I probably only uncovered like 50% of the plot-lines and lore after spending over 20 hours on it.

I absolutely love this game, bought it on both PC & my Switch.

It's one of the best horror games out there. I always disliked cheesy jump scares and half assed plots. This game I find, has a very engaging story, with multiple paths/endings/ways to play. It has so much replay value, between both platforms, I've probably put in over 100 hours into Darkwood.

It's a game that uses sound and atmosphere to keep you on edge. I love the nightly, spooky, events that occur and the multiple ones that can occur. Still when I play, those 5 minutes of nightfall keep me on edge. I adore atmospheric horror. I love the different ways you can play at your bases too.

You can play like a coward, like me, bear traps at every entrance/exit, boarding up everything and avoiding conflict like the scared little sh*t I am. In the 3rd base, I would often keep the generator off and use flares/lanterns to keep me safe, while every line of the halls was littered with bear traps.

Or you can go balls to the wall, guns/shovels/axes a blazing. Lights on, barely any defense. Fighting anything that attempts to pester you.

Or you can play a mix of both. Whatever suits your interest.

* As an artist, I absolutely adore the art style and choices here *

Each character has such wonderful details and thought put into their design and personalities. I love the dreary feel of each character, including the main character. I love the uneasy art too, such as the pig on the tree before the village entrance.

My only complaint, is there's not more Darkwood, I need another game like this. Or similar at least.

Better late than never to leave this review. This game is a 'rite of passage' for horror enthusiasts! Certainly judging from the achievement statistics. It seems a lot of folks are literately too afraid to finish this game (or they have withering attention spans, but I digress).

Darkwood is a 2D top-down survival horror game that formulates a strange and forbidding world. The horror elements in the game are not to be understated and they effectuate exceptionally well. It never relies on unnecessary and cheap jump scares to set its bleak and oppressive atmosphere. The constant feeling of uncertainty attained by the narrowed visibility, sound design, and soundtrack is remarkable. The story is enveloped in mystery that can go in different directions, and the dark sepia color scheme appends to the sense of fear. An ideal combination of coherency and perplexity, Darkwood delivers a unique and thrilling experience, even with a small number of bugs and glitches.

Takes a bit to get used to - but it's really fun once you get the hang of it - trial and error and explore - 9/10

Peak Gameplay.. Love all the designs and especially the eerie music and sound effects which made me goosebumps to the wall.. LOVE ALL THE NPCS especially ELON MUSK.. Very recommended for them psycho minded people who needs the thrilling horror and disturbing vibes.. LOVE LOVE !!

Darkwood is an atmospheric top-down survival horror game set in an eerie world reclaimed by nature and inhabited by sadistic creatures. The game slowly unfolds as you venture out from the safety of your hideout. You're equipped with a torch that limits your field of vision and some hefty sound design that adds to the atmosphere, you are aware of every creak and rustle from the encircled wood, foreshadowing the horrors which come at night.

Graphics and soundtrack

Darkwood’s top-down view is uncommon in horror games, but it’s executed to maximize tension. Players can only see what’s within their limited cone of vision, even though they’re in a top-down view.

The sound design goes a long way to creating the creepy unsettling atmosphere in Darkwood. However, the horror aspects feel underwhelming when they finally arrive. Since Darkwood lacks jump scares and avoids the traditional survival horror tropes, its soundscape is essential for immersing players in its unsettling world.

Mechanics and gameplay

The game's mechanics use physics to move objects including seats, wardrobes, and lamps. These can be used to block up windows and doors to prevent any beasties from getting you. You can interact with objects even if you can't use them for anything and usually, you'll get a hint if that object can be used later. The environments are procedurally generated on each play-through, which subtly changes the layout of the hideout and surrounding buildings, for example, the generator or the bedroom might be in a different location.

During the day it's quite easy to get killed by random stray dogs, or worse while you're running around desperately trying to collect resources to barricade the hideout. When you die you lose some of your inventory items and have to hunt for them again, this includes ammunition, maps, and quest items, but apart from the occasional lucky item that you might pick up, nothing is easy in Darkwood, and there is a big emphasis on persistence and patience when playing.

Ease of use and design

With a mouse and keyboard, Darkwood feels more like a point-n-click adventure. It suffers from some clunky controls as you have to use the cursor keys to navigate the player and the mouse to rotate the body in the correct direction unless you want to do a funky side step that pivots your body like a contortionist. Adding items to your inventory using a mouse is also much more intuitive than with a controller as you drag and drop them. However, with a controller, It's not always obvious what you've selected, which is a minor niggle, but one that can be quite costly if you need something quickly.

Darkwood - Prologue

At first, Darkwood feels more like a spooky resource management game than a horror. A mixture of "Subterrain" and "The Forest" diluted into something that feels tense but underwhelming; until night falls when you have to board up the windows and hunker down for the night. This is where Darkwood changes gear from resource management to psychological horror, but you have to endure prolonged moments of waiting and clunky combat mechanics to fully enjoy the payoff of surviving the night.

Innovation

Clusters of poisonous mushrooms spawn as you hunker down by lamplight. The darkness claws at the edges of your vision, footsteps, and voices entice you to join them, Blood oozes through the floor boards, and Poltergeists move furniture. This is the reoccurring ordeal you face each night and it is tense, but it soon becomes boring as you rinse and repeat. Darkwood makes good use of sound and ambient music to create truly unsettling moments and each area has different enemies that spawn.

If you haven't played the game before it's recommended that you don't skip the prologue which acts as the game's tutorial. It teaches some basic gameplay mechanics and how to start crafting weapons and supplies that you need to survive. Eventually, you'll need to travel further from your hideout to scavenge but, once night falls you are at the mercy of lots of things that go bump in the night but, unfortunately not much else!

Darkwood - Examine objects

The game emphasises survival and crafting over everything else, even the horror aspect feels secondary, a biproduct of efficient resource manegement. If you don't manage your resources properly, then you wont make it through the night. In fact, I would call Darkwood a horror game it's more like a quasi resource manegment game with some pycological aspects thrown in for good measure.

In normal mode, there's no permadeath but as mentioned you will lose some inventory which will cost you daylight hours to find it. Horror is a difficult thing to get right, and I admit despite Darkwoods strong atmospherics, I found it hard to have any emotional investment. However, I do appreciate Darkwoods unique take on the horror genre. It tries to be more psychological and atmospheric than axe touting dismemberment, although there are some disturbing scenes, for me, it was about as scary as Madonna's latest facelift.

Darkwood tries to straddle the line between two gameplay mechanics; resource management and a horror RPG. It doesn't always get it right. However, the branching narrative, bizarre story, and creative characters are worth engaging with. The graphics, animation, and sound design also create a tangible atmosphere, which is easily the best part of the game. But the day and night cycles soon become boring with not enough to do during the night time hours.

one of the best experiences ive had in gaming in while,
pain perfectly combined with reward leading to a very awesome, rememberable game
9/10

Fantastic from start to finish.
Unforgiving but rewarding. A game that grabs you with its tense atmosphere and doesn't let go until the very end.

Phenomenal! This game is just killer from beginning to end.

The gameplay is mainly segmented into exploration and scavenging during the day and trying to hold out against the local populace during the night. Meanwhile you are trying to find a way out of the forest that just seems to swallow everything inside it.

The artstyle, the sound-design, the music, the atmosphere, the gameplay; It's all superb.

Highly recommended to any horror-fans!

I absolutely love this game. i definitely recommend it to others. from the first moment of the game, you dive head first into a maze of craziness and utter horror. I don't play a ton of games but i definitely say this is one i'm glad to have chosen in my gaming lifetime!

a classic brothers grimm esque story, but in game.

its a very very good game that doesnt rely on jumpscares, but instead genuine horror.

This is 10/10 atmosphere. This game made me so anxious and full of dread in all the best ways possible, it has a cool art style and unique top down perspective with a limited cone of vision that really scratched that itch of feeling watched all the time in the darkwood. Some funny moments of dark humor mixed into the brutal rot of your surroundings made for a fun, albeit, messed up experience.

wow! I went in blind thinking it would be a spooky game with some scares here and there. Luckily I was wrong; I found the pacing amazing, I am a fan of suspense though! Also it feels like a survival game with rpg elements, looting and pretty good combat; two attacks and a dodge jump. The soundscape and the interactivity really got me immersed in a soothing way. I've only played on nightmare mode and I only got to the second zone (day6).
All I can say is that I got hooked in my first sitting and did 7h, so I give it a 7/24 and that's really good! ;D