Darkarta: A Broken Heart's Quest Standard Edition

About

In "Darkarta: A Broken Heart's Quest Standard Edition," play as a mother named Mary who is determined to save her kidnapped daughter, Sophia, from a dark and dangerous force. This game features an engaging story set in the enchanted valleys of the forgotten Indus civilization, and has received numerous international awards. With a focus on motherhood and true love, this is an emotional and thrilling quest to save Sophia and uncover Mary's own mysterious past.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Darkarta: A Broken Heart's Quest Standard Edition screenshot

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 52 reviews

story16 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful graphics and a variety of puzzles that keep the gameplay engaging.
The story, while cheesy, is intriguing and draws players in, providing a good mix of hidden object and puzzle mechanics.
Many players found the game to be addictive and enjoyable, making it a great choice for casual gaming sessions.

The Standard Edition lacks many features, including achievements and content that are only available in the Collector's Edition, leading to frustration among players.
The story can be convoluted and poorly executed, with some characters and dialogue being irritating or unconvincing.
There are technical issues, including crashes and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, making it difficult for some players to fully enjoy the experience.

story
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
6%
The story is a blend of South Asian mythology and modern themes, centering on a mother whose daughter is kidnapped, leading to an investigation that explores past lives and personal history. While some players appreciate the intricate plot and beautiful graphics, others find the narrative disjointed, cheesy, and lacking focus, with criticisms aimed at the voice acting and animation quality. Overall, the story elicits mixed reactions, with some enjoying its depth and others feeling it detracts from the gameplay experience.
- “The story is somewhat similar to Artifex Mundi titles... a mix of myth, folk tale, magic, past lives, etc... the base is the Indus civilization this time, South Asian mythology.”
- “I liked the deep, intricate story, even if it was a bit over the top, but that seems to be standard for these types of games.”
- “The story draws you in until the end, and the mini games are challenging without being unsolvable.”
- “The story is a little bit all over the place and the voice acting feels off... also, the animation kind of ruins the art style and can be visually displeasing at times... half animating still images by distorting them to make them talk pulls you out of the game when you want to be pulled in.”
- “The plot could be written by an 8-year-old, the ending leaves several major holes in the so-called 'story' and the puzzles are, more often than not, not even real puzzles, but rather just clicking until it solves itself.”
- “The story, however, is a real mess as it has too many twists and turns and a real lack of narrative focus.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
19%
13%
Overall, the graphics in the game are widely praised for their beauty and uniqueness, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and player engagement. While some users noted issues with animation that detracted from the art style, the majority found the visuals to be stunning and a highlight of the experience, enhancing both the storyline and gameplay. The combination of attractive graphics and effective sound design creates an immersive environment that captivates players.
- “They have succeeded in creating the ambience related to it using awesome graphics and lively sound effects.”
- “It's a package of extraordinary graphics and storyline!”
- “Gorgeous, often stunning graphics, good sound, good voicing.”
- “The story is a little bit all over the place and the voice acting feels off... also, the animation kind of ruins the art style and can be visually displeasing at times. Half-animating still images by distorting them to make them talk pulls you out of the game when you want to be pulled in.”
- “The level design and graphics of the hidden object scene are quite good and friendly.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
38%
38%
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality and emotional impact, enhancing the overall experience and mood. Players appreciate the relaxing background music, which exceeds expectations for a hidden object game, and contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere. Additionally, there are options to download music packs, although some players express a desire for more comprehensive content.
- “The background music and graphics are way better than my expectations of a hidden object game.”
- “The animations, backgrounds, and music are all top quality, and it really has the look and feel of an excellent game.”
- “The background music has an impact on controlling our emotions throughout the game.”
- “The game prompts you that you can download additional materials, but the only option on Steam for DLC is the music.”
- “When I first glanced at this page, I didn't see an actual CE, just the music pack, so in order for me to get the achievements - I got most of the ones available on expert mode - I need to buy the full CE.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The gameplay features a mix of hidden object mechanics, including word correspondence and silhouette challenges, alongside various puzzles, reminiscent of Artifex Mundi titles. While it doesn't offer anything particularly innovative, players find the gameplay enjoyable and engaging, complemented by a compelling story.
- “The story was compelling and the gameplay was fun.”
- “The gameplay is nothing remarkably different from any other similar game.”
- “Mechanics also resemble Artifex Mundi games quite a bit... you have hidden object parts with variations between word correspondence, silhouette type games, object parts, and then a bunch of puzzle games.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The optimization of the game is praised for its high-level performance, particularly in the areas of graphics and screenplay execution.
- “The movies and screenplay showcase a high level of performance.”
- “The optimization in gameplay ensures a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
- “The game's performance is finely tuned, allowing for seamless transitions and minimal lag.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the puzzles engaging overall, though a few are considered tedious, leading to some players losing interest in completing them.
- “The puzzles are generally good, but there are one or two that I found a bit tedious and couldn't be bothered to finish.”