DarkWood

Horror games are pretty common among indie games, and that's why Darkwood had to be something different to stand out from the rest. Acid Wizard Studios brings a unique experience into the horror scene. Even though horror games were usually dominated by big names like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, the rise of indie games has given us some of the best titles in the genre. And even though the Resident Evil games seem to be getting back on track, in Darkwood is one of those hidden gems waiting to be found. Originally released in 2017, the game received adaptations for PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, we'll be focusing on the original PC version.

Step into the dark

Divided in a night and day cycle, once you get into the forest in Darkwood your main objective will be to leave. But the tough part about this is that you will have to survive while you're still trapped in there. Throughout the day you'll want to get as many resources as you can while trying to find and explore new areas. Once you gather resources you will be able to build better doors and windows, barricades, and even weapons, and don't forget to set traps. And through the night you best just hope to be able to see another day.

Darkwoods is a top-down horror survival where crafting, gathering resources and exploring are the only things you can do to stay alive. The resources are scarce and the nights are long, but taking things one step at a time is the way to go. The more you explore the world, the more you'll learn about what's lurking in the dark.

Gathering resources and survival are key elements in the game, however, this title is not all about staying alive through as many nights as you can. Nor is it about going through hordes of enemies that will get tougher night after night. You can play it like that though, but you'd be losing the terrific narrative and story of the game. It has amazing animated cinematics, optional dialogues and even decisions that will affect the development.

Review

A procedurally generated map makes room for hours of exploring, always surprising experiences and amazing replayability. The title takes clear inspiration from the Dark Souls series, David Lynch movies, and Silent Hill. Developers Acid Wizard did a great job to identify the best elements of each one and bring them to its most simple level.

It is not only a terrific horror game, but it is also an amazing experience that will catch you and won't let you go. One of the best atmospheres in a game ever since the old Silent Hill titles, the horror of dark wood is full of horrors. A confusing, dark and tough experience you'll have to go through to understand. Patience is definitely required to enjoy the game, but once you understand the title and its mechanics it gets even better. As simple as it is, it could very well be one of the best horror games of the last decade.

• Graphics and Visuals: The graphics are quite simple, but it's the art department that this game excels in. The terrifying atmosphere it builds up not only through those dark nights, but even with the sunlight shining bright. It is one of the most polished game designs in indie games out there.

• Gameplay: The gameplay is quite simple, at least the controls are, It is a tough-but-fair experience. Learning the basics of the game is not that hard, surviving the world and getting out there is the tough part.

• Sound: The sound is just as good as the art. It is also the main character of the game, just as the visuals are. It is highly recommended to play this game with headphones on, not only because of the soundtrack, but the sound mix is just perfect too.