2Dark

65%
Game Brain Score Based on 223 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
2Dark Game Cover
An interesting storyline, clever game and level design are all defining features of 2Dark, but it falls short when it comes to offering a challenge worthy of a survival-horror game that was anticipated with Frédérick Raynal's return to the genre.
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"2Dark is a single-player horror shooter game with an intriguing story, created by Frédérick Raynal, the pioneer of survival-horror. As former detective Mr. Smith, you'll navigate through the grim, deranged city of Gloomywood to rescue abducted children and bring their captors to justice. With good game mechanics, pretty visuals, and a very atmospheric setting, this stealth-horror adventure will keep you on your toes as you uncover the secrets of the corrupt and dangerous city."

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

65%
Audience ScoreBased on 223 reviews
story54 positive mentions
stability12 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and dark storyline that tackles taboo subjects, providing a gripping narrative experience.
  • The art style and atmosphere are praised for their creepy and unsettling qualities, effectively enhancing the horror elements.
  • Gameplay offers a mix of stealth and puzzle-solving mechanics, rewarding players for clever strategies and exploration.
  • The controls and inventory management are often described as clunky and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.
  • Many players report issues with the AI and bugs that can lead to unfair deaths or hinder progress, making the game feel unpolished.
  • The game is criticized for being too dark, both in terms of visuals and thematic content, which can make navigation and gameplay challenging.
  • story131 mentions

    The story of the game is a dark and engaging narrative centered around a detective's quest to solve missing children cases, tackling heavy themes such as child abuse and trafficking. While the unique art style juxtaposes cutesy designs with grim subject matter, many players find the storytelling compelling, with twists that evoke strong emotional responses. However, the gameplay mechanics often detract from the experience, leading to mixed feelings about the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “The story is incredible and had me digging deeper with a twist revealed toward the end that should be any parent's worst nightmare.”
    • “The story is the strongest part of the game; it is very dark, unconventional, unique, taboo, and engaging, dealing with child abuse and cruelty.”
    • “2dark has an interesting story that keeps you invested as you progress through each level.”
    • “I am sorry but this game is legit bad with brain dead AI and a story that blows. Oh, don't kill anyone!”
    • “The story is the strongest part of the game; it is very dark, unconventional, unique, taboo, and engaging. It deals with child abuse and cruelty.”
    • “Sadly, I kinda saw how parts of the story would unveil itself, and that made it a bit lackluster in that part.”
  • gameplay116 mentions

    The gameplay of "2dark" is characterized by a blend of top-down action-adventure and stealth mechanics, often compared to titles like "Hitman" and "Hotline Miami." While it offers a unique atmosphere and encourages creative problem-solving, many players find the controls clunky, the AI lacking, and the gameplay reliant on trial and error, leading to frustration. Overall, the execution of its mechanics is seen as inconsistent, making it a mixed experience for players, particularly those who are not fans of stealth gameplay.

    • “While this has a more horror-style emphasis on stealth, the gameplay is somewhat reminiscent of Hotline Miami in that you should expect to get killed and screw up for each level. It rewards good reactions and memorization, giving a lot of freedom for how you want to get around it and rewarding clever tricks and ideas on your part while having maps that are just open enough to let you try these ideas out but still have clear goals.”
    • “The gameplay is fun; I enjoy a lot of puzzle games, and adding mystery/horror to it was a very fun experience!”
    • “Mechanically, I can't think of a game that plays identically. The best way to sum it up is to think of a combination of Hitman (with its stealth emphasis and context-based kills) and Condemned: Criminal Origins (with the whole sneaking around dark buildings fighting psychopaths, whilst trying not to cry) but with an isometric point of view.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game's mechanics kept me annoyed most of those two and a half hours or so.”
    • “Story is alright, atmosphere and tension is there but I really dislike the gameplay mechanics, the pointless traps, enemy placements which are sometimes almost impossible to sneak past without killing them (the game rewards you for completing levels without killing anyone which in my opinion is dull), in addition saving is manual so when you fall prey to a dark hole that blends in with the floor and you haven't saved in a while you have to do the whole thing again and all this makes for a really frustrating experience.”
    • “I wanted to like this game, I wanted to be able to tell my friends that 'this is horror done right!', but ultimately all I can say is that it's stealth done horribly wrong, and since most of the gameplay here relies on stealth mechanics (and a few puzzles, which I'm not a fan of), most of the game ends up being a messy and thoroughly unpleasant ride.”
  • graphics76 mentions

    The game's graphics have received mixed reviews, with some praising its unique and stylized art reminiscent of retro games, while others criticize the voxel art and pixelated visuals as lacking detail and clarity. The atmosphere is often highlighted as effective, enhancing the horror elements, but inconsistencies in artwork quality and poor item differentiation can lead to frustration. Overall, the graphics contribute to a dark and quirky aesthetic that aligns with the game's heavy themes, though opinions on their execution vary widely.

    • “The art style and mood are freakin' fantastic.”
    • “The presentation here is top-notch with detailed SNES-hewn graphics that showcase a cartoonish style mixed with a tragic layer of almost VHS grime and shadows covering nearly every inch of your journey.”
    • “Artistically, however, the game holds water: its graphics help bring to life its nasty environments and the music builds a strong atmosphere while also knowing when to take a step back and letting you listen to your surroundings.”
    • “Crappy voxel-art style.”
    • “Tiny pixelated graphics with a shroud of darkness around you at all times, just terrible.”
    • “Poor differentiation of items on the screen due to the art style causes unneeded annoyance.”
  • atmosphere36 mentions

    The atmosphere in 2dark is consistently praised for its dark, gritty, and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the game's horror elements through strong sound design, music, and artistic visuals. However, some players feel that the lack of voice acting and certain gameplay mechanics detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration despite the game's tense and creepy ambiance. Overall, while the atmosphere is a standout feature, it may not resonate with everyone, particularly those sensitive to its mature themes.

    • “I find it a very original game that succeeds in creating a dark and gloomy atmosphere.”
    • “Artistically, the game holds water: its graphics help bring to life its nasty environments and the music builds a strong atmosphere while also knowing when to take a step back and let you listen to your surroundings, which you'll need to do as 2dark is more than happy to plunge you into complete darkness on more than one occasion.”
    • “If you are looking for an indie horror game with an extremely dark story that does a good job of creating a creepy atmosphere, then give this a go.”
    • “Lacks the atmosphere some of the scary props deserve.”
    • “It also feels like the developers ran out of budget so skipped on getting voice actors, the enemies just have text above their head that you have to read, and it really ruins the atmosphere.”
    • “[misses out with cutscenes/animations to add to the atmosphere, minimal challenge for hardcore survival horror fans]”
  • music20 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, contributing positively to the atmosphere and storytelling, though some reviewers find it unremarkable or clumsy. While the soundtrack is praised for enhancing the game's environments, there are mixed feelings about the balance of sound design, with some noting a lack of variety in sound effects. Overall, the music is considered decent and effective in building tension, despite some criticisms regarding its execution.

    • “Artistically however, the game holds water: its graphics help bring to life its nasty environments and the music builds a strong atmosphere while also knowing when to take a step back and letting you listen to your surroundings, which you'll need to do as 2dark is more than happy to plunge you in complete darkness on more than one occasion.”
    • “Great sound effects and music add to the atmospheric storyline and locations.”
    • “Now for the DLC, the art book is nice, a little short but still good, and the official soundtrack of the game is good too.”
    • “Music is really not interesting and feels clumsy; I can't believe half of the credits were dedicated to the musicians. We French people need to learn balance.”
    • “The AI isn't exactly all that smooth, and at the end, when I reloaded, I could still hear the credit music.”
    • “There are not many sounds in the game, but the music is decent.”
  • stability12 mentions

    The game is frequently criticized for its stability, with users reporting numerous bugs and janky controls that hinder gameplay. While some features, like the item toggle, are appreciated, they are also described as buggy. Overall, the game is seen as needing significant troubleshooting to improve its stability.

    • “But the gameplay is janky and buggy as hell.”
    • “It has a fairly down on the luck, gum on its shoe reputation, but 2Dark was a fun, messed up experience despite the fact that it could use a fair amount of troubleshooting in the 'bugs' department.”
    • “It's pretty short, a little buggy in parts and doesn't make your objectives all too clear.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The game is praised for its vibrant and quirky characters, along with a wholesome story that evokes joy in players. However, some gameplay elements, such as hidden hazards, can lead to frustration, contrasting with the overall emotional experience.

    • “This game is a joy to play, full of vibrant, quirky, charming characters and has a wonderfully wholesome story.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game's optimization is criticized, with users noting that it struggles to run smoothly even on capable hardware, suggesting it is poorly optimized. While not completely broken, the game's performance issues lead to doubts about its value at the $25 price point, even if improvements were made.

    • “The game isn't a total mess, but it probably wouldn't be worth the $25 price tag even if it was ironed out, optimized, and lived up to its potential.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often requiring trial and error due to clunky mechanics and awkward inventory management. The combat system is also criticized, contributing to an overall sense of dissatisfaction with the grinding experience.

    • “The mechanics of the game for this exceedingly more difficult route are rather clunky and tedious, and you have to use them perfectly to finish this specific route.”
    • “[tedious, trial and error stealth, awkward inventory management, rubbish combat]”
    • “The grinding in this game feels excessively repetitive and lacks any meaningful rewards.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as dark and absurd, reminiscent of a surreal scenario where cheerful characters engage in violent antics, creating a jarring yet entertaining contrast. This blend of lightheartedness and chaos contributes to a unique comedic experience that keeps players both amused and unsettled.

    • “It's like watching the Muppets pull out knives and attack the audience, rolling around in the blood while still smiling and laughing as if it were a normal show.”
    • “The humor is so absurd that it feels like a twisted puppet show where chaos reigns but everyone is still having a great time.”
    • “The game blends dark humor with lightheartedness, creating a unique experience that keeps you laughing even in the most outrageous situations.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game offers a short experience, but players note the presence of multiple endings, which enhances its replayability.

    • “Short but it seems there are different endings, so there is replay value.”
    • “Short but it seems there are different endings, so there is replay value.”
    • “The game is short, but it seems there are different endings, so there is some replay value.”
    • “The game is short, but it seems there are different endings, so there is some replay value.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

60% average critic score

Buy 2Dark

Play time

12hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
12-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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