Darklands

About

Darklands is a single player role playing game with fantasy and historical themes. It was developed by MicroProse and was released on October 17, 2014. It received positive reviews from players.

Deep in the twilight of the Black Forest, you and your companions crouch before the robber-knight's tower. Hans, the alchemist, places his mysterious potion by the door. Ebhard the friar implores Saint Dunstan to bless your weapons and armor. And you and Gretchen grip naked long swords, praying your plate mail won't squeak.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 340 reviews

story14 positive mentions

graphics22 negative mentions

Darklands offers a unique and immersive RPG experience set in a detailed historical context, allowing players to explore a richly crafted world based on 15th century Germany.
The character creation system is highly intricate and rewarding, providing players with a deep level of customization and strategic planning for their party.
Despite its age, the game remains engaging and challenging, appealing to fans of old-school RPGs who appreciate complex mechanics and a non-linear gameplay style.

The graphics and user interface are severely outdated, making it difficult for modern players to enjoy the visual aspects of the game.
The game has a steep learning curve and lacks hand-holding, which can be frustrating for new players who may struggle to understand its mechanics without extensive manual reading.
Technical issues such as bugs, crashes, and cumbersome controls can detract from the overall experience, making it less enjoyable for those unfamiliar with DOS-era games.

graphics
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
63%
19%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated and primitive, reflecting its 1992 release, which may deter some players. However, many reviewers appreciate the nostalgic charm and beautiful watercolor artwork that was impressive for its time, suggesting that those focused on gameplay rather than visuals will still find enjoyment. There is a strong desire among players for a modern remake that could enhance the graphics while preserving the game's core experience.
- “The watercolor artwork is fantastic and the character generation is 20 years ahead of its time.”
- “Such a great game, just remember it is old and the graphics will reflect that as you can see, but do not let that discourage you because the art is still amazing for its time.”
- “It has detailed locations and text-based descriptions, accompanied by beautiful early graphics; depicting places such as churches, town squares, and taverns.”
- “The graphics went past dated and right into painful to look at, and I have to read everything twice to make sure I got it.”
- “Just to get this out of the way, in terms of graphics the game hasn't aged well.”
- “Graphics - these were bad even in 1992.”
story
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
75%
6%
The game's story is rich and complex, set in 15th century Germany, with a non-linear structure that allows for unique character development and exploration. While the writing is praised for its depth and biblical themes, players note the lack of quest tracking and the need for grinding early on, which can detract from the overall narrative experience. Despite some repetition and dated graphics, the game offers a detailed sandbox environment filled with intriguing quests and a focus on reputation-building within a politically charged setting.
- “However, the writing is amazing, the story itself is biblical, and rather than magic, you have the skill of alchemy (why throw a fireball when you can throw the precursor of a molotov cocktail at a bunch of bandits?), and the power of prayer (need some extra skill in picking a pocket or a lock? Why not a prayer to the patron saint of thieves - Saint Nicholas?).”
- “Bottom line, this is an excellent first-generation sandbox RPG with a great storyline that takes you right into the heart of 15th century Christian Germania and will teach you a lot about HRE politics, economics, socio-political structure, and the concept of what truly is good and what is evil.”
- “A subtle and mysterious story, which requires the party to pay attention to small details, investigate, intrigue, and fight their way through.”
- “There is no story, but rather a quest to gain fame and fortune, kind of like Mount & Blade.”
- “After you've spent some time in your party's starting city killing bandits and building up their reputation and skills, you're ready to head out into the wide-open world of medieval Germany and pick any random direction and begin traveling, fighting bandits, raubritters (robber knights), and witches and devils left, right, and center, with hardly any story.”
- “This great game probably is not for everyone - tons of text to read, graphics resolution worse than on today's mobile, no quest management system, barely any music and sound.”
gameplay
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
78%
6%
The gameplay of Darklands is characterized by its complexity and depth, featuring an innovative character creation system and a semi-real-time tactical combat style that offers a unique RPG experience. While the graphics are dated and some players note issues like bugs and slow pacing, those who prioritize immersive mechanics and rich storytelling may find it rewarding, with many hours of engaging content available. Overall, it presents a challenging yet captivating gameplay experience that appeals to fans of detailed and open-ended RPGs.
- “If gameplay and role-playing are more exciting to you than graphics, this is the game for you!”
- “Darklands was a game ahead of its time in many ways, with an innovative character creation system, a vast, detailed historic setting to explore, and even some fresh gameplay elements like semi-real-time tactical combat.”
- “To be honest, there's a lot of repetition, grinding, and occasionally overpowered enemies... but, for the subset of players who want immersive and well-thought-out gameplay, Darklands offers something that, as far as I know, has yet to be fully duplicated.”
- “From poor controls to extremely slow gameplay, this is not a fun walk down memory lane.”
- “The graphics are dated now, and the gameplay is unforgiving; but in the early to mid-nineties, Darklands consumed so much of my time and focus because it is so richly detailed, and the story is both enormously open and dazzlingly focused.”
- “If you think you'd like a semi-historical RPG that's part text-based, part overworld traveling with really janky battle mechanics, give it a shot!”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
80%
10%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and convey situational cues, while others find it irritating or lacking in variety. Despite being primarily in MIDI format, the soundtrack is considered a highlight by some players, evoking nostalgia and inspiring interest in medieval music. However, the overall consensus suggests that the music may not appeal to everyone, with some recommending turning it off entirely.
- “This game is worth it for the soundtrack alone.”
- “For example, if you're near a dragon's lair, the music becomes creepy and ominous.”
- “In towns, the music gives off a sense of peace.”
- “A DOS game with the irritating music, the painful graphics of the first ages.”
- “[*] The music will make your ears bleed, turn it off.”
- “This great game probably is not for everyone - tons of text to read, graphics resolution worse than on today's mobile, no quest management system, barely any music and sound.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features significant grinding, especially at the beginning, which can lead to repetitive gameplay and encounters with overpowered enemies. However, players who appreciate immersive RPG experiences may find the effort rewarding as the storyline intensifies and the grinding diminishes over time. While the graphics reflect its 1992 release, the game offers a nostalgic challenge for dedicated fans of the genre.
- “It's quite ambitious in the amount of ground it tries to cover, but the underlying design is pure RPG goodness, even if it gets repetitive with copious amounts of grinding.”
- “To be honest, there's a lot of repetition, grinding, and occasionally overpowered enemies... but, for the subset of players who want immersive and well thought out gameplay, Darklands offers something that, as far as I know, has yet to be fully duplicated.”
- “The game can be grindy at times and the graphics are pretty poor, though that's down to the game being released in 1992.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
49%
38%
Character development in the game is noted for its complexity and depth, drawing comparisons to Chaosium's system and setting a high standard akin to Darklands. Players appreciate the opportunities for exploration, battles, and the overarching goal of building a legacy, which enhances the RPG experience.
- “Character development: you have one real goal in the game, build a legacy.”
- “Character development is somewhat similar to Chaosium's system.”
- “Classic RPG with complex character development.”
- “Darklands set my personal standard of character development, opportunities to explore, battles, and survival.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is criticized for being poor, with numerous bugs that hinder enjoyment, particularly in the Steam port. While some players appreciate its nostalgic charm, the outdated code from 1992 contributes to a frustrating experience.
- “This port wasn't handled well and the game on Steam is too buggy to enjoy.”
- “Not just that this is from 1992 and not forgiving of mistakes, but the code is from 1992 and buggy.”
- “Ahhh the broken, buggy, and yet masterfully crafted game I love.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization is crucial, as poorly optimized parties can lead to quick defeats, emphasizing the importance of strategic character creation. However, the character creation process is lengthy, which may frustrate players looking for a more streamlined experience.
- “Character creation takes a long time, and there's a good chance your party gets turned into dog food by a group of local thugs if your party isn't optimized.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its blend of historical and fantasy elements, contributing to an immersive experience that enhances the overall enjoyment. Players appreciate the freedom of open-world exploration and the diverse ways to engage with quests, which further enrich the game's ambiance.
- “This game offers a captivating atmosphere that beautifully blends historical and fantasy elements, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “The immersive atmosphere of the game draws you in, making every moment feel alive and engaging.”
- “The game's atmosphere is enriched by its detailed environments and dynamic sound design, creating a truly memorable experience.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the potential for a modernized experience through updates to sound, music, graphics, and interface, suggesting that these elements significantly contribute to the game's emotional impact.
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the absurdity of accusing village leaders of satanic practices, with outcomes that can be both true and false, adding a layer of unpredictability and comedic value to player interactions.
- “One hilarious aspect was walking into a village and having the option to accuse the town leaders of satanic practices, which in some cases could turn out to be true or not.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players praise the game's high replayability due to its extensive customization options, open-world exploration, diverse character skills, and multiple quest-solving approaches, all set within a rich historical and fantasy environment.
- “This game is fantastic for its customization options, free open world roaming, character skills, different ways to solve quests, historical and fantasy setting, replayability, and overall good atmosphere.”