Darkarta: A Broken Heart's Quest

About

In Darkarta: A Broken Heart's Quest, players assume the role of a heroine on a mission to save children who have been kidnapped by the dark sorcerer Darkarta. The game is a hidden object puzzle adventure, where players must search for items, solve puzzles, and unlock secrets to progress through the story. With stunning graphics and immersive gameplay, Darkarta offers a captivating experience as players race against time to rescue the children and defeat the evil sorcerer.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Darkarta: A Broken Heart's Quest screenshot

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 690 reviews

story310 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Stunning graphics and beautiful artwork that enhance the immersive experience.
Engaging storyline that intertwines Indian mythology with a mother's quest to save her daughter.
Variety of puzzles and hidden object scenes that are both challenging and enjoyable.

Some voice acting, particularly for the child character, is considered annoying and unrealistic.
The story can be confusing at times, with some plot points feeling disjointed or underdeveloped.
Technical issues such as crashes and bugs that can disrupt gameplay.

story
700 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
51%
5%
The story of "Darkarta: A Broken Heart's Quest" is a blend of emotional themes centered around motherhood, love, and sacrifice, intertwined with Indian mythology and a tragic tale of two lovers separated by jealousy. While many players found the narrative engaging and visually appealing, some criticized it for being disjointed or overly simplistic, with a few plot holes and underdeveloped characters. Overall, the game offers a captivating experience, though opinions vary on the depth and execution of its storyline.
- “Long game, learning curve for people new to gaming, fascinating story with a sad twist of love and loss from two time periods interlinked by betrayal and sorcery.”
- “The story is well written and the art is nice.”
- “The story tells a tragic tale of two lovers from ancient India who got separated by jealousy and plotting of their kin, and intertwines with the present where a mother searches for her abducted daughter.”
- “Somehow, though, the story never really gripped me.”
- “The story is a bit shaky and the daughter we chase after the whole game does not look like a human being, but other than that, this is a visually solid hidden object game with a few new ideas and a satisfying execution.”
- “Worst part is the story, so soppy, full of bad clichés and predictable that it borders on annoying.”
graphics
324 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
26%
1%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beauty and detail, with many reviewers highlighting the stunning artwork, vibrant colors, and immersive animations that enhance the overall experience. While some noted minor issues with character designs and cutscene clarity, the majority found the visuals to be exceptional, contributing significantly to the game's engaging storyline and atmosphere. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, elevating the game within the hidden object genre.
- “The graphics in the game were amazing!”
- “The visuals are extraordinary, the quality of the graphics is impressive, the special effects are superb, all with appropriate and lyrical musical scores.”
- “Beautiful graphics, awesome and amazing voice-overs (which for me can make or break a game), and a very unique and engaging story line.”
- “The voices and graphics, however, could be cleaner in cutscenes, but they are still good enough.”
- “The story is a bit vague, graphics are not so fresh, but hidden object game parts are decent and it is not too buggy overall.”
- “Hard-core hidden object fans, yeah you can cope with all the bad things this game has - bad translation, annoying kid factor, bad character artwork (scenery is beautiful and colorful, but characters are not), very bad narrative.”
music
192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
40%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its beauty and fittingness, enhancing the overall experience with calming and evocative soundtracks that complement the storyline and visuals. Many players noted the soundtrack's cinematic quality and its ability to create an immersive atmosphere, although some mentioned occasional repetitiveness. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The developers deeply cared about the game and made everything look gorgeous; the music is beautiful and you even learn about the characters!”
- “The music in the game was so peaceful... it truly was beautiful to listen to.”
- “A special mention for the soundtrack, where both incidental sounds/effects and background music are of cinematic feel and quality.”
- “The music is, at times, repetitive.”
- “Music is unremarkable but also unobtrusive and relaxing.”
- “The music and soundtrack are well-designed.”
gameplay
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
59%
4%
The gameplay is generally well-designed and engaging, featuring a mix of point-and-click mechanics, inventory puzzles, and various mini-games that enhance the experience. While some players found the gameplay to be typical of the genre, others praised its innovative mechanics and smooth controls, contributing to a satisfying adventure. However, a few users noted minor flaws, such as issues with click registration and a lack of emotional connection to the characters, which may affect long-term enjoyment.
- “Where the game really shines is in the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is challenging without being borderline impossible.”
- “Great gameplay with innovative and challenging puzzles, unusual and fun hidden object scenes, and some clever adventure steps.”
- “An adventure/hidden object game with passable gameplay and 'uncanny valley' characters that I found it very hard to care about.”
- “It's either an anti-spam mechanic against clicking too many times in a row or this game just has so many janky controls that it won't register over half of my mouse clicks.”
- “I’m all for having to figure things out (and stubborn as heck, of course), but in a number of cases the hardest and longest part was trying to figure out the mini-game mechanics (not the puzzle).”
emotional
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
8%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching narrative centered around a mother's desperate quest to rescue her kidnapped daughter, resonating deeply with parental instincts. While the story is beautifully illustrated and enriched with cultural elements, some reviews note that character motivations can feel underdeveloped, leading to moments of emotional confusion. Overall, the game successfully evokes strong feelings, particularly through its heart-wrenching moments and stunning visuals.
- “This mother goes through so much to be with her little girl, and as a father, I could easily feel what the mother was feeling. The little girl's crying words for her mother are sometimes very heartbreaking and very touching.”
- “Borrowing from India's rich mythological background and traditions, Darkarta spins a charming, touching tale with dark supernatural overtones, beautifully illustrated with vivid colors and elaborate designs that reflect its intriguing amalgam of cultural elements and references.”
- “The story behind the game is an emotional adventure - a heart-wrenching trek for a mother who overcomes all obstacles to locate her kidnapped daughter.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
88%
13%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and beautiful artwork, which enhances the overall enjoyment of the experience. While some animations may fall short, the combination of atmospheric music, engaging storytelling, and well-timed cliffhangers creates a captivating and immersive environment. Overall, players find the fantastical atmosphere and exotic imagery contribute significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The art and atmosphere heightened the enjoyment I would have gotten from simple non-puzzles.”
- “Fantastical atmosphere.”
- “Still, I hung in there for the fun-factor, atmospheric music, and exotic imagery, and it certainly turned into an enjoyable ride.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
50%
38%
The game offers minimal replayability, with some players noting the presence of collectibles like memories and hidden shapeshifting statues that may appeal to achievement hunters. However, overall, the consensus is that the replay value is quite low.
- “There are a ton of random collectibles called memories of the main character's kid, and hidden 'shapeshifting' statues to look out for, which gives a little replay value if you're an achievement hunter.”
- “Minimal replay value”
- “As far as replayability, there really isn't much of any.”
- “The replay value for the game is low.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players report a generally smooth experience with minimal bugs, some have encountered game-breaking glitches, particularly during save loading. Users advise patience, as rushing through the game may lead to frustrating issues.
- “The game has decent hog parts and is not too buggy overall.”
- “The game has bugs and glitches, so if you're impatient or just fast, be ready to get stuck and encounter game-breaking bugs or crashes when loading saves.”
- “The game has numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, especially for those who play quickly or without patience.”
- “There are significant stability issues, including game-breaking bugs that can occur during save loading.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as inconsistent, with some players finding it unintentionally hilarious due to cringe-worthy writing and voice acting that feels juvenile. While the absurdity of the premise can lead to laughs, the overall execution leaves much to be desired, often falling flat rather than delivering intentional comedy.
- “I don't expect too much realism in hogs, but this was getting hilarious by the third time or so.”
- “The writing seemed like it was done by an 11-year-old girl, and the voice acting, well, it just made me laugh sometimes.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that while the main game is enjoyable and features challenging puzzles, the bonus game is considered tedious and unsatisfactory. Additionally, some voiceovers and certain pair-matching puzzles contribute to a sense of grind, although players can skip through them. Overall, the grinding aspect detracts from the overall experience, particularly in the bonus content.
- “Falls short of giving it top rating because the bonus game was truly awful, tedious, and short; don't bother with that and enjoy the main game for its excellence alone.”
- “The voice overs were tedious, as with most of the hidden object puzzles, but you can click through, so it's tolerable.”
- “The puzzles are challenging and interesting, except for a few of the pair matching games that were a bit tedious.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
Reviewers praise the character development in "Darkarta" for its impressive and detailed art, highlighting the quality of character designs and concept art. The graphics contribute significantly to the overall aesthetic, showcasing a high level of craftsmanship in character portrayal.
- “The character design, concept art, and graphics are obviously detailed and well-crafted.”
- “The art of Darkarta is intricate, and the character designs are truly impressive.”
- “The character design and graphics showcase a high level of detail and creativity.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's optimization is largely positive, with 99% of gameplay running smoothly and impressive graphics in many areas. Some users noted slight lags in mini games and a minor bug during the end credits, but these issues do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “I only saw a bug at the end credits, otherwise the game runs smoothly.”
- “Very nice action and movie scenes, slight lags in some of the mini games but nothing that will stop me from playing. I love the variety of the mini games and search areas; the graphics are cool in some areas. Definitely worth the money; 99 percent of the game runs smoothly.”