Darkwood is a premium adventure game developed by Acid Wizard Studios. It is a top-down survival horror that features roguelike gameplay elements. Here, players must survive in a mysterious forest as they scavenge for food and resources during the day, and avoid its dangers when the night comes.

Similar to Limbo or Inside, Darkwood boasts a dark and atmospheric randomly generated world filled with unknown elements that players must carefully navigate as they try to survive their ordeal. Also, the actions and choices they make matter, and shape how the story and events unfold throughout their playthrough.

Day and night

Darkwood takes place somewhere in the middle of a dark and mysterious forest. You awaken in an abandoned house and soon come to know of an unknown sickness that has infected the majority of the population. You must navigate this world after the spread of the disease and do all that you can to survive whatever or whoever comes your way.

Your safety is not guaranteed, and you must fight to survive, starting with scavenging for resources to fortify your base against attacks that happen during the night. You'll also need to find weapons and tools to defend yourself from wild animals and mutated creatures. Over time, you will need to venture further out, and knowing how to balance your time and exploration is essential.

You'll also encounter fellow survivors along the way. Some will offer help, while others will have ulterior motives. Now, the game is not without its faults and shortcomings, though. The first is that the gameplay and story are confusing at the start, with no guide or assistance given. Second is the slow progression that can result in a grindy experience for some players.

Riveting yet perplexing

On one hand, Darkwood provides a compelling experience with its atmospheric gameplay that has you on the edge from start to finish. On the other, though, it completely leaves you in the dark to figure things out on your own. It's a polarizing game, to say the least, but if you're willing to learn things as you go along, this is worth checking out.