Dark Matter

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In Dark Matter, you play as a space engineer named Enzo, who wakes up on a derelict spaceship with no memory of how he got there. As you explore the ship, you'll encounter dangerous alien creatures, avoid environmental hazards, and uncover the crew's dark secrets. With a focus on survival and exploration, Dark Matter features a variety of weapons and upgrades to help you navigate through the darkness.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

42%

Audience ScoreBased on 142 reviews

story27 positive mentions

stability17 negative mentions

Great atmosphere and engaging story that draws players in.
Interesting mechanics involving light-sensitive enemies and crafting.
Visually appealing with decent graphics and sound design.

The game is unfinished, with an abrupt ending and many unresolved plot points.
Numerous bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, including issues with controls and save points.
Repetitive gameplay and lack of enemy variety lead to a tedious experience.

story
63 mentions
43 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally described as interesting and engaging, with a well-crafted atmosphere and compelling elements that draw players in. However, many reviewers note that the narrative feels incomplete, with abrupt endings and a lack of development that leaves players wanting more. While some appreciate the AI's dialogue and the exploration aspect, others criticize the tediousness of uncovering the story and the presence of bugs that hinder the overall experience.
- “The story was actually pretty good; the AI really sells it with its dialogue.”
- “The main draw of it is the story; it is a very well put together world, and I got lost in the story easily.”
- “This game was fun to play, and had a very interesting story to tell.”
- “The story is what makes this game playable, but you need to explore the whole map to get all the story, which is just tedious.”
- “The storyline is not developed enough to grip you or be memorable.”
- “The game ends abruptly with an artistic scene of panels in a storyboard fashion, but oddly the art did not quite seem the same as the rest of the game.”
gameplay
35 mentions
31 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its interesting mechanics and atmosphere, while others criticize it for being repetitive, clunky, and lacking depth. Many noted that the combat feels imprecise and the crafting system is underdeveloped, leading to a sense of frustration and a lack of progression. Overall, while the game has potential and an engaging storyline, its execution leaves much to be desired, resulting in a gameplay experience that feels incomplete and at times tedious.
- “Fun gameplay and an engaging storyline.”
- “The mechanics of how the aliens react to light is cool.”
- “Gameplay is fun as well, so if you like atmospheric sci-fi games, I recommend you give this one a try.”
- “Probably a few hours of gameplay, but it is always the same repetitive combat with a zoomed-in camera, somewhat imprecise aim, and enemies that tank quite a bit and almost always get in range to hit you before dying.”
- “However, the game suffers from limited gameplay, lack of clear progression, and a half-baked crafting system that looks as if it is an abandoned feature left in the game.”
- “Clunky controls, poor animations, and repetitive gameplay make this a very hard sell.”
graphics
26 mentions
58 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the immersive visuals and good design aesthetics, while others criticize the dark environments and graphical glitches that detract from the experience. Although many appreciate the lighting effects and overall polish, there are complaints about the graphics feeling outdated or inconsistent, particularly in comparison to modern standards. Overall, while the visuals contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, technical issues and darkness in certain areas hinder the overall graphical experience.
- “The visuals are gorgeous.”
- “Graphics - I felt the graphics were good for this game as it helped sell the immersion of the game.”
- “Dark matter starts out promising, a 2.5D Metroid-like platformer with good looking visuals and a Dead Space kind of story and atmosphere.”
- “So to start off, I said the graphics and levels were okay, but they would be even better if the game was not so dark. I mean, some places we see are just too dark, and the flashlight didn't help that much.”
- “Graphics were glitchy enough to bluescreen my poor old Nvidia 8800 GT.”
- “Mostly crap, overpriced, has graphics bugs on Linux.”
atmosphere
24 mentions
83 % positive mentions
4 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its dark, immersive environments and clever use of light, enhancing both the setting and gameplay. While some players note that the atmosphere can diminish over time and the game feels short, many appreciate its ability to create tension and engagement, making it a standout feature despite some dated models and abrupt endings. Overall, it successfully combines elements of exploration and storytelling within a compelling atmospheric framework.
- “The almost pitch black environments are atmospheric for the setting and story, but it is also a nicely utilized gameplay feature.”
- “The theme, most of the art, and the basic gameplay elements work pretty well together and the atmosphere does well in the dark.”
- “The atmosphere is nice, dark, and foreboding.”
- “Ensign just stays blocked while doing such actions, a little atmosphere killer!”
- “Nice, not great, but still a pleasure to play, primarily for the atmosphere in it.”
- “Some clever use of light-activated puzzles and enemies fits the ambience of the atmosphere.”
stability
17 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous players reporting a wide range of glitches and bugs that significantly hinder gameplay, making it unwinnable in some cases. Many describe the experience as frustratingly clunky and unfinished, with issues such as characters falling through floors and erratic movement. Overall, the lack of polish and pervasive technical problems detract from what could have been an enjoyable experience.
- “Unfortunately, the game quickly falls apart with a host of glitches and bugs.”
- “The first parts of the game were awesome, but it quickly became buggy in rather unforgivable ways.”
- “First off, it's very buggy, so that makes the awful counterintuitive puzzle elements even more annoying; then you add the frustrating uninspired combat system and you end up with one of the worst games I've played in a long time... really amateurish in the worst possible way.”
music
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with some reviewers noting it enhances the immersive experience and complements the dark, spooky environments. However, there are suggestions for improvement, particularly in adding more suspenseful tracks to elevate the tension. Overall, while the music is appreciated, it may not fully meet the expectations of all players.
- “I really wanted to like this game; the setup is there for a great space survival horror: dark and spooky environments, genuinely horrifying enemy creatures, and immersive music and sound effects.”
- “Graphics aren't the greatest, but they suit the game. Controls are easy to learn, the storyline is interesting, and the music is pretty good as well.”
- “Interesting story idea, good visuals, good music... it feels like Shadow Complex (X360) meets Alien Breed (the new version).”
- “The addition of some suspenseful music might help, but at this point, I wouldn't recommend buying it.”
- “In an age where most popular art forms seem to have more or less run their course, movies and music need to step up!”
- “No music (or at least none that is memorable).”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with clunky combat mechanics that require repetitive attempts to progress. While the story is engaging, the need to explore extensively to uncover it adds to the overall grind, making the experience feel more laborious than enjoyable.
- “Combat is clunky and tedious.”
- “While it has some good design aesthetics, the actual gameplay is basically a try/die/repeat cycle that is more tedious than fun.”
- “The story is what makes this game playable, but you need to explore the whole map to get all the story, which is just tedious.”
humor
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the quirky elements like the amusing door squishing of enemies, others find the overall experience lacking, especially given the game's incomplete state. The comedic aspects are overshadowed by frustration over the game's shortcomings, leading to a divide between those who enjoy the humor and those who feel misled by the game's release.
- “The atmosphere, exploration, and funny door squishing of enemies are holding my interest where the combat doesn't.”
- “I find it hilarious that all the people pointing out the game is incomplete and criticizing the devs bought this game for something like 2.50 euros and still come whining as if they had spent 60 bucks on it.”
- “It's the kind of desperate buck-passing that I might have found funny had I not paid to play it.”
optimization
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for not meeting expectations, with users noting technical issues despite decent graphics and stability. Offscreen animations are not effectively managed, leading to subpar overall performance and a lack of polish in gameplay execution.
- “But it's not what it ought to have been gameplay-wise, and is obviously a bit crooked technically (despite decent graphics, performance, and stability).”
- “Neither feel at all optimized or even fully executed.”
- “Obviously, the game isn't designed to stop offscreen animations, resulting in poor overall performance.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a cash grab, indicating that players feel the developers prioritize profit over player experience.
- “Sorry devs, hope you enjoy your cash grab party.”
- “The monetization system feels exploitative and takes away from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls.”
replayability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its low replayability, with users rating it just 1 out of 5, indicating a lack of incentive to play again after the initial experience.
- “The game has a 1/5 replay value.”
- “Once you finish the story, there's little incentive to play again.”
- “The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel pointless.”