Dark Deception

About

Dark Deception is a single player arcade role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by Glowstick Entertainment and was released on September 26, 2018. It received positive reviews from players.

A first-person horror game by indie developer Glowstick Games. The player must run through a maze of corridors, collecting shards and avoiding giant knife-wielding toy monkeys, in a decidedly Pac-Man-like fashion.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,304 reviews

story200 positive mentions

stability217 negative mentions

Dark Deception offers a unique blend of horror and arcade-style gameplay, reminiscent of Pac-Man, which keeps players engaged.
The game features impressive graphics, a captivating storyline, and well-designed characters that enhance the overall experience.
Many players find the game to be challenging yet rewarding, with a high replay value due to the S-rank system and various power-ups.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, particularly in later chapters, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Players have expressed dissatisfaction with the difficulty spikes, especially in boss fights, making some levels feel unfair and tedious.
The monetization model, requiring players to purchase each chapter separately, has been criticized as exploitative, especially given the game's incomplete state.

story
451 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
53%
3%
The story of "Dark Deception" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its intriguing and immersive narrative that unfolds through gameplay and cutscenes. While some find the plot engaging and filled with unique characters, others criticize it for being thin or predictable, with a few noting bugs that detract from the experience. Overall, the game combines horror elements with a compelling storyline, making it a notable entry in the genre, though opinions on its depth and execution vary.
- “The story is great, the character design is amazing, and it is overall a great, well-rounded experience.”
- “There's a deep, hard-hitting story behind it that really makes you want to keep playing to learn more.”
- “The story is intriguing, adding depth to the experience.”
- “The story is thin and uninspired.”
- “Jumpscares become predictable, level design feels unimaginative, and the story is ultimately forgettable.”
- “The main storyline between Bierce and Malak is also something that I personally want to explore.”
gameplay
444 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
59%
6%
The gameplay of "Dark Deception" is a fast-paced blend of horror and arcade mechanics, reminiscent of a 3D Pac-Man experience, where players navigate mazes while avoiding creatively designed monsters. While many players appreciate the unique mechanics and engaging level designs, some express frustration over repetitive gameplay, bugs, and crashes that can disrupt the experience. Overall, the game offers a thrilling challenge with a mix of fun and tension, though its execution can be inconsistent.
- “The mix of horror, strategy, and fast-paced gameplay makes it ridiculously fun and terrifying in equal measure.”
- “Dark Deception is a thrilling mix of horror and arcade-style gameplay that delivers a unique, pulse-pounding experience.”
- “Each level contains a unique mechanic that is special to said level, making every maze-running session just that bit different.”
- “The combination of trial-and-error gameplay and random enemy patterns leads to countless deaths that don’t feel earned.”
- “The gameplay is quite literally the same each time with some unique ways to defeat the new characters but not different enough for me to continue.”
- “The overall gameplay is really tedious and it gets boring and frustrating very easily.”
graphics
327 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
34%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many users praising their high quality, detailed textures, and immersive atmosphere that enhance the horror experience. Players appreciate the bold and creepy visuals, which contribute significantly to the game's tension and overall enjoyment. However, some users have noted performance issues and the need for better optimization, particularly for those with lower-end PCs.
- “Each level cranks up the tension with creepy enemies, sharp visuals, and a soundtrack that keeps your heart racing.”
- “The graphics are incredible and the atmosphere is so well matching to the dark and ominous characteristics of this game.”
- “The graphics are amazing, the music design is amazing, the gameplay loop is amazing, the difficulty for each level isn't too easy, or too hard, and the story is also amazing.”
- “The graphics improvements, while making the game look better, also made it so a majority of people were locked out of being able to play the game due to the raised PC requirements.”
- “Very laggy even with the lowest graphics settings and a decent computer.”
- “The graphics are shiny, wet, plastic-like that don't do much to promote a creepy atmosphere.”
stability
217 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting persistent bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, particularly in recent chapters. Many users have experienced game freezes, soft locks, and issues with core mechanics like teleportation, leading to frustration and an overall impression of the game being unfinished. While some players still find enjoyment in the game despite these issues, the overwhelming consensus is that it requires urgent fixes to improve stability and playability.
- “This game is a buggy, broken mess that shambles along, barely holding itself together.”
- “Chapter 4 is buggy as hell and the overall game could use some polish but otherwise solid game.”
- “The game currently is an unfinished, rushed, poorly designed, buggy, and broken mess.”
music
133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
52%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and tension, with many reviewers highlighting its haunting quality and how it effectively signals the presence of enemies. Players appreciate the diverse soundtracks tailored to each level, contributing to the overall immersive experience, although some noted issues with repetitive tracks and audio glitches. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features, elevating the gameplay and emotional engagement throughout the game.
- “The haunting soundtrack further amplifies the tension, ensuring that players are constantly on edge as they navigate the treacherous landscape.”
- “The music is beautifully haunting, the levels are challenging and fun, and allow me to strategize with the powers.”
- “The music has a subtle creepiness as you explore, but it starts to amplify into a cacophony as the shambling monsters begin to close in on you.”
- “I've never played a game this bad: the music, the story, and the monkey model are all terrible.”
- “Like there are some glitches where it doesn’t play the music and it’s really annoying, especially if you're trying to S-rank a level.”
- “The soundtrack: this is more of a meh for me but in my opinion it takes way too many cues from other horror films and can also be a bit grating if you've heard it too many times.”
humor
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark comedy and absurdity, with players finding amusement in the quirky character designs and unexpected scenarios, such as a "funny monkey" chasing them. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to balance humor with horror, creating a unique experience that elicits both laughter and fear. However, some players note that the humor can become repetitive or lose its charm after extended play, particularly in response to the game's challenging mechanics and character interactions.
- “The power unlocks are cool, the atmosphere is weirdly fun, and the game leans into dark humor instead of gore.”
- “I love this game because it scares me and has funny moments.”
- “The horror is mild and the comedy is top-notch with their dark humor.”
- “Crashed two times after I got all the orbs; not funny :(”
- “The one-liners your lovely hotel concierge is spewing out every time you die are unfunny and stupefying.”
atmosphere
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
37%
5%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, enhanced by strong sound design and visuals that create a thrilling horror experience. Players appreciate the blend of dark humor and tension, although some note that the relentless gameplay can detract from the overall ambiance over time. While the game excels in creating a haunting environment, it is also recognized for its unique approach to fear, primarily driven by gameplay mechanics rather than traditional atmospheric horror.
- “The game's eerie atmosphere, voice acting, and soundtrack enhance the horror experience.”
- “With its atmospheric visuals, intense gameplay, and immersive storyline, it is a must-play for fans of the genre.”
- “Atmosphere is effective, enemies are terrifying, and the maze design of the levels will really make you panic when anticipating where they are, how close they are, and if you can find an available escape route if they do find you.”
- “The game's dark and foreboding atmosphere sets the stage for heart-stopping encounters at every turn.”
- “After a few replays, it starts to lose its atmosphere and overall ambiance, and it's replaced by frustration and constant boredom.”
- “Since then, the devs added a 'boss fight', which not only completely destroys any kind of atmosphere or horror, but just feels incredibly forced and poorly made.”
grinding
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
39%
58%
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is overwhelmingly tedious and frustrating, with many players expressing a strong dislike for the lives system that forces restarts after a few deaths. Bugs and oversights further exacerbate the grind, making achievements feel unattainable and the overall experience unenjoyable. While some players appreciate the game's potential, the consensus is that the grinding mechanics detract significantly from the enjoyment.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The game's first level is a poor representation of what the rest of the game is like, and after that, each level becomes more tedious, more frustrating, more infuriating, and more gimmicky.”
- “The overall gameplay is really tedious and it gets boring and frustrating very easily.”
- “It makes the game tedious and annoying as you have to reset levels and the entire game to fix it.”
replayability
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
47%
10%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its high replay value due to achievements, secrets, and multiple paths, while others criticize it for lacking variety and depth. Many enjoy the challenge of achieving higher ranks and unlocking new abilities, contributing to a fun experience, but some feel that certain elements, like boss fights, detract from the overall replayability. Overall, opinions vary from "infinitely replayable" to "moderate replay value," indicating a diverse range of player experiences.
- “The replay value is very high because you can try to get an S rank, every achievement, and find the lore, soundtrack, and posters in the secret room.”
- “There are many secrets to collect that get you nifty rewards, and going for the best ranking you can and perfecting each stage adds to the replayability a ton.”
- “Incredible gameplay, graphics, soundtrack, and very much replayable.”
- “Horrific and evil salad of empty and boring game design, and attempts at replayability and longevity to absolutely no avail.”
- “- there's not really much in terms of replayability.”
- “The largest problem with the boss fights is that they remove the element of replayability that was so heavily advertised through the first three levels and force the player to learn a goofy story that all of a sudden started taking itself seriously.”
optimization
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
64%
12%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting numerous bugs and performance issues that hinder gameplay, especially on lower-end systems. While some users noted improvements with specific mods or settings, the overall consensus is that the game requires further optimization to address stuttering, graphical issues, and level design flaws. Despite its charm and potential, the current state of optimization detracts from the overall experience, making it challenging for players to enjoy the game fully.
- “This game has exciting chase, but it does need a beefy computer to run it. If your computer is a potato, then you can download a mod to make fullbright; trust me, it increases performance by many percent.”
- “When the game is fully optimized, and some of the game-breaking bugs are fixed, this will be the best game ever.”
- “It's pretty well optimized and it looks great!”
- “That's not even bringing up the high amount of bugs and performance issues this game has for some reason.”
- “Performance stutters are rampant, and there are spots in the current final level with geometry directly in the middle of the path that looks like stairs but will actually get you stuck and holes you can fall into which will softlock you, which in a game about being chased by monsters with 1-hit-death is a big problem.”
- “The optimization isn't there, no quality of life options and the level design is just becoming more asinine with every update.”
monetization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
89%
The monetization model of the game has been heavily criticized, with many users feeling it has devolved into a cash grab after the initial chapters. Players express frustration over misleading marketing practices, equating the game to an advertisement for paid DLC rather than a complete product, and highlighting the prevalence of microtransactions and a lack of meaningful updates. Overall, the monetization strategy is seen as exploitative, detracting from the gaming experience and leaving players feeling cheated.
- “I want to give it a positive review, but there are so many issues that it makes the game feel like it became a cash grab after chapter three, and the developers simply don't want to fix anything.”
- “The purpose of this advertisement is to get you to shell out a whopping forty-one United States dollars on the full product... the shady marketing here is misleading and a huge problem.”
- “It's impossible for me to recommend this incorrectly published advertising spam to gamers; you deserve better than adverts.”
character development
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
29%
21%
Character development in the game is highlighted by diverse and imaginative character designs that enhance the overall experience, with many players praising the uniqueness and quality of each character. However, some critiques point out inconsistencies in design, particularly in cutscenes, and a disconnect between character aesthetics and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the combination of compelling narratives and distinct character traits contributes to a rich and engaging gaming experience.
- “The thrill is on point, the character design is fantastic, the music is beautifully haunting, the levels are challenging and fun and allow me to try and strategize with the powers, and I love that the protagonist isn't a typical Mr. Perfect.”
- “Character design - great, no two characters feel the same, the developer clearly found a way to put all the characters he's come up with over the years even with little similarity, model quality is also great.”
- “I like the game, the graphics are really good, jumpscares did throw me off my chair, cool story, good character development.”
- “Horrific character designs clash with simplistic, repetitive gameplay.”
- “That's another thing, the animation: chapter 4 really likes its cutscenes, and for as much as the animation is passable, the character designs that worked in-game don't work in cutscenes.”
- “Overall it was a fun little level, but probably my least favorite on character design.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find "Dark Deception" to be a deeply emotional experience, often eliciting strong feelings such as laughter and tears. While the game features impactful emotional moments, some technical issues can detract from these scenes, particularly towards the end. Overall, the game resonates with players, leading to memorable and heartfelt reactions.
- “This game made me cry 10/10”
- “I cried playing this game 10/10”
- “We expected a checkpoint because we have spent 24 hours trying to complete that level and we died, which was heartbreaking.”