Dark Arcana: The Carnival

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 179 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Dark Arcana: The Carnival Game Cover
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"In Dark Arcana: The Carnival, explore two intricately designed worlds to uncover the mystery of the Evil One and prevent its invasion of your reality. Solve hidden object puzzles and minigames, aided by a charming monkey companion, across a breathtaking and twisting storyline. This Collector's Edition includes a bonus chapter for additional gameplay."

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 179 reviews
story55 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • Engaging story with unexpected twists and a dark carnival theme that adds to the atmosphere.
  • High-quality artwork and voice acting, creating an immersive experience.
  • Variety of puzzles and hidden object scenes, with the option to play an alternative mini-game (Monaco) instead.
  • Repetitive hidden object scenes and some puzzles, leading to a lack of challenge and engagement.
  • Short gameplay length, requiring multiple playthroughs to unlock all achievements.
  • Some translation errors and mislabeling of items in hidden object scenes, causing confusion.
  • story134 mentions

    The story in this hidden object game is generally well-received, featuring a mix of supernatural elements and a love story set against a carnival backdrop, with some engaging plot twists. While some players found the narrative predictable or lacking depth, many appreciated the intriguing character dynamics and the bonus chapter that provided closure. Overall, the story is considered above average for the genre, with a decent atmosphere and enjoyable gameplay, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and coherence.

    • “The extra chapter also has a good story and some background lore on the main story's happenings.”
    • “The story is well-written and full of twists.”
    • “I thoroughly enjoyed this one, probably one of my favorite Artifex Mundi games when it comes to story.”
    • “The story is awful, even more so than usual.”
    • “The story was not my cup of tea, no interesting twists and turns, no additional challenges, no excitement.”
    • “The story only served as a transition between puzzles.”
  • graphics38 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the beautiful artwork and well-made backgrounds, while others criticize the dated visuals and lack of detail. Many players appreciate the creative hand-drawn art and the atmospheric design, particularly in the horror genre, but note that those seeking modern, high-resolution graphics may be disappointed. Overall, the visuals are considered decent for the game's style, though they may not impress those accustomed to more contemporary graphics.

    • “Artwork was fantastic!”
    • “The graphics are wonderful all through the game and has a great and easy to follow storyline.”
    • “Excellent detailed artwork, fun puzzles strung together with a reasonable story.”
    • “If you love being 'wowed' by detailed colorful graphics, look elsewhere; this game will underwhelm you.”
    • “If you can't tolerate old graphics and old resolution, then don't play.”
    • “Graphics are a bit dated but overall, the game looks decent.”
  • music29 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, praised for its eerie and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall experience, particularly in creating a spooky ambiance. However, some players noted that certain tracks can become repetitive or annoying over time, and there were instances where the music overshadowed dialogue. Overall, the soundtrack complements the game's themes effectively, with additional content like downloadable wallpapers and soundtracks adding value.

    • “The music is very fitting: eerie, atmospheric, and chilling.”
    • “Great voice acting, decent story, excellent music, and excellent animation.”
    • “I liked the spooky-circus-themed music and the art is very good.”
    • “Music was a background noise for me.”
    • “Sounds are really good, but parts of the music might become annoying after some time.”
    • “They used the same exact music over and over in the background.”
  • gameplay26 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a mix of traditional hidden object mechanics and puzzle-solving, offering a solid experience with logical challenges, though it can feel repetitive due to recycled mechanics. While the game provides a relaxing few hours of entertainment, it lacks depth and challenge, making it more suitable for casual players rather than those seeking a rigorous gaming experience. Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable but may not justify its price unless purchased on sale.

    • “Gameplay here is solid and the puzzles are logical, as long as you're paying attention to the surrounding clues.”
    • “Good scenes, good gameplay variety; the only thing missing is a fast travel option.”
    • “The gameplay itself is not too hard, not even on advanced mode, so it is pretty easy to get all achievements in just 2 runs.”
    • “Like all hidden object games, the gameplay is simply a matter of pointing and clicking on static images.”
    • “The gameplay itself was quite easy though, so if you're looking for a challenge this probably isn't the game for you.”
    • “Gameplay and storyline were not cohesive.”
  • atmosphere13 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, enhanced by moody background music and chilling sound effects. Players appreciate the creepy ambiance, particularly in the haunted carnival setting, which effectively contributes to the overall enjoyment of the story and puzzles. While some note the game’s brevity, the captivating atmosphere and visuals leave a lasting impression.

    • “Everything about it, from the eerie atmosphere to the creepy music to the puzzles was enjoyable.”
    • “The music is very fitting: eerie, atmospheric, and chilling.”
    • “The carnival setting was interesting and atmospheric with some darker imagery sprinkled throughout.”
    • “The atmosphere was a little creepy (it is a haunted carnival after all) and the music/art is not bad.”
    • “The game seems a little on the short side, but the story and the well done eerie atmosphere does tend to make up for it.”
    • “It had some jump-scare moments and lots of creepy music and atmosphere.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mix of entertaining and tedious, with some noting that replaying for achievements can become monotonous. While the gameplay is generally acceptable, certain elements, like navigating the map and unusual object names, contribute to a sense of tedium. Despite these issues, fans of the genre may still enjoy the experience.

    • “Can get tedious.”
    • “Replay (to win all the Steam achievements) gets tedious, but overall fine.”
    • “As the last word, Dark Arcana: The Carnival is an okay HOG with a nice little story, enchanting setting, and somewhat tedious gameplay.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game has minimal replayability, with users indicating that it offers little incentive to play again after the initial experience.

    • “Almost no replay value.”
    • “The replay value for the game is low.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a bonus chapter that provides significant closure and evokes feelings, while the overall narrative evolves from a simple premise to a more complex and emotionally engaging experience as it progresses.

    • “The bonus chapter provides great closure, and it's even a little emotional.”
    • “It started off just plain weird and basic, but became more complex and emotional as the story unfolded.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users praising its smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others report issues such as frame rate drops and long loading times. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary significantly across different hardware configurations.

  • stability1 mentions

    The game demonstrates excellent stability, with users reporting no glitches, lag, or crashes during gameplay.

    • “The game ran smoothly, with no glitches, lag, or crashes.”
    • “I experienced consistent performance throughout my playtime.”
    • “The stability of the game allowed me to fully immerse myself without interruptions.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is appreciated for providing a refreshing alternative within its genre, adding a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.

    • “Funny as it may seem, it's nice having another option (in this case, 'Monaco' - a card match game) in these types of games.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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