Dap

About

Dap is a single player shooter game with horror, fantasy and science fiction themes. It was developed by meltingparrot and was released on September 29, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Dap" is a horror-action-adventure game where you guide a group of delicate creatures called Daps through a corrupted, otherworldly forest. Fight off threats, solve puzzles, and avoid the infection that transforms your companions into something alien and terrifying. The goal is to lead them to safety and find a way back home in this eerie and beautiful world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+10

Skip User Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 182 reviews

graphics42 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and a unique art style that perfectly complements its eerie atmosphere.
Gameplay is engaging and offers a mix of cute and dark elements, with moments of challenge that feel rewarding to overcome.
The sound design and music enhance the overall experience, creating a captivating and immersive environment.

The game suffers from frustrating difficulty spikes and a lack of accessibility options, making it challenging for some players.
There are issues with letterboxing on smaller screens, which detracts from the experience, especially on devices like the Steam Deck.
The save system can be punishing, as missing collectibles can force players to restart the entire game to achieve the good ending.

graphics
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
34%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and captivating art style, which effectively complements the story and atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the stunning pixel art, eerie yet beautiful visuals, and the immersive sound design that together create a surreal and intense experience. While some note that the visuals can occasionally hinder gameplay clarity, the overall aesthetic is considered a standout feature that enhances the game's appeal.
- “One of the most beautiful games I've played recently, visuals and atmosphere are simply outstanding and very unique as well.”
- “Its graphics are gorgeous, very hi-def and lo-fi at the same time; even in the morass of pixelated indie games, it's got a very distinctive look.”
- “The visuals and art style are absolutely outstanding and I would recommend playing just for that alone.”
- “The game has disarmingly cute graphics, but the environment's monstrous food chain and the atmospheric music make for a surreal, foreboding experience.”
- “For someone like me, the quality and beauty of the art style is enough to draw attention away from it, but it can be a valid complaint for some people.”
- “I personally love the weird glitchy bismuth pattern art style and creepy ghost baby aesthetic it has going, but that will probably be the make or break decision you have when evaluating the game.”
gameplay
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
41%
6%
The gameplay of Dap is characterized by its unique mechanics and atmospheric design, blending exploration with action elements that can be both engaging and challenging. While some players found the gameplay to be simple and occasionally repetitive, many appreciated the intriguing mechanics, such as gathering followers and crafting, despite feeling they were underdeveloped. Overall, the game offers a visually stunning experience with a mix of tension and discovery, appealing to those who enjoy atmospheric environments and minimalistic mechanics.
- “The gameplay is tough but I never felt like I couldn't make it through, and the daps really grew on me over time.”
- “It has phenomenal art style, amazing atmosphere, heavenly music, and enjoyable gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is fun and tense, and I enjoyed it all the way through.”
- “Gameplay itself gave me somewhat mixed feelings.”
- “The gameplay can feel a little repetitive at times, but the game ends right before it becomes an annoyance.”
- “Gameplay has a flaw because it's not very engaging.”
atmosphere
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
36%
5%
The atmosphere in "Dap" is widely praised for its unique blend of cute graphics and eerie, foreboding elements, creating a captivating and surreal experience. Reviewers highlight the game's outstanding art direction, atmospheric sound design, and the emotional intensity that fluctuates between relaxation and tension. Overall, the game's environment and ambiance are considered integral to its appeal, making it a standout in the indie horror genre.
- “The game has disarmingly cute graphics, but the environment's monstrous food-chain and the atmospheric music make for a surreal, foreboding experience.”
- “Dap is a masterpiece of indie 'alternative' horror, with a fantastic art design, soundtrack, setting, and atmosphere.”
- “The atmospheric visuals and sounds of this game are extremely well done, the soundtrack is also outstanding, and the gameplay is very unique and fun.”
- “An optional difficulty setting might be a boon, although I feel like playing it at a low difficulty would detract quite a bit from the high-stakes atmosphere.”
- “The lynchian atmosphere is terrifying at times and really helps motivate you through the story.”
- “This thing drips with an alien atmosphere I have never felt before in a game!”
story
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
48%
7%
The story of the game is described as dark yet hopeful, weaving a messianic fantasy with sinister undertones that create an atmospheric exploration experience. While some players found the narrative occasionally confusing and felt that clearer dialogue could enhance the experience, many appreciated the immersive and mysterious plot, complemented by excellent sound design and stunning visuals. Overall, the story is engaging and serves as a significant motivator for continued gameplay.
- “Its story is dark but filled with hope.”
- “This is one of those games where discovering the story and mechanics as you play is a big part of the experience, so I won't go into too much detail about them, but suffice it to say the game is a very atmospheric exploration fest that has occasional instances of becoming absolutely frantic before it goes back to dread and tension.”
- “Art style is amazing, story is immersive, while not fully a horror, definitely touches the vibe of it just right, gameplay is fluid and good, definitely recommended.”
- “I often found myself losing my way throughout the storytelling of the game.”
- “Maybe the game could've benefited from a little bit more obscure dialogues - as it is, the game characters pretty much explain the story and what it's about to the player, and that kind of detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The story itself is still okay, though.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
26%
12%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience with a captivating and intense soundtrack that complements the unique art style. Reviewers highlight the sound design as top-notch, contributing to both the relaxing and oppressive moods of the game. Overall, the combination of great music and sound design is seen as a key element that elevates the game's indie horror experience.
- “I really love the sound design, everything from the enemies exploding to the daps communicating to the calm & intense soundtrack, all top-notch!”
- “The game has disarmingly cute graphics, but the environment's monstrous food-chain and the atmospheric music make for a surreal, foreboding experience.”
- “The art direction is outstanding, the peculiar visuals and the sound/music create a very intense and captivating atmosphere, both on the relaxing and oppressive ends.”
- “The art style is really unique and fits the world and mood very well, as does the sound and music.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be unnecessarily tedious, particularly due to the inability to skip cutscenes on subsequent playthroughs. While some express satisfaction in pushing through the grind, many feel that the tediousness detracts from the overall experience and recommend improvements to alleviate this issue.
- “And as you cannot skip cutscenes even on a second playthrough, it just feels...unnecessarily tedious.”
- “Were this tediousness removed or mitigated, I would gladly recommend it.”
- “This is annoying because you can easily miss things if you don't fully explore them, which becomes kind of tedious after a while.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game demonstrates excellent stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, with users reporting no bugs or glitches during gameplay.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching story, which resonates deeply with players.
- “The story is incredibly touching and resonates deeply with the players.”
- “I was moved by the emotional depth of the narrative.”
- “The game delivers a profoundly touching experience that stays with you long after playing.”