Darkstone

Starting at $1.97Buy now

Darkstone is a fantasy role-playing game that allows for single-player and local multi-player experiences, supporting up to 2 players in co-op mode. Choose from 8 characters of four classes, each with unique features and combat styles, and fight your way through randomly generated dungeons, quests, and items across 32 environments. With adjustable difficulty levels, the game offers replayability and a challenging adventure against the fearsome Draak.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 263 reviews

graphics11 positive mentions

stability17 negative mentions

Darkstone is a nostalgic classic that many players fondly remember from their childhood, offering a unique blend of RPG elements and randomly generated dungeons.
The game features a variety of character classes and skills, allowing for different playstyles and replayability with its random quest selection.
Despite its age, the game still provides an enjoyable experience for fans of retro RPGs, with a charming atmosphere and engaging gameplay.

The game suffers from significant graphical issues on modern systems, including invisible characters and objects, making it difficult to play.
There is a lack of modern features such as customizable controls and resolution settings, which can frustrate players accustomed to contemporary gaming standards.
Many players have reported that the game is unplayable without extensive troubleshooting and fixes, leading to disappointment for those hoping for a straightforward experience.

graphics
71 mentions
15 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely criticized for being outdated and buggy, often described as reminiscent of the PS1 era, with many users reporting significant graphical issues that render the game unplayable on modern systems. While some players find charm in the retro aesthetic, the lack of resolution options and frequent graphical glitches detract from the overall experience. Overall, the consensus is that while the gameplay may be enjoyable, the graphics are a major downside that could deter potential players.
- “Although the graphics do seem to show their age, the game is really nice and worth picking up by any action RPG fan.”
- “The graphics are dated, but in a sort of endearing way, and have aged rather gracefully thanks to the cartoony style.”
- “It's a good game, just kind of old but still fun, and the art style is very nice.”
- “The graphics are dated, but that was expected and I didn't really see it as a problem.”
- “The fact that you cannot change the resolution of the game, and the graphical glitches just make the game much harder to play.”
- “Honestly, though, even if it didn't have these unplayably bad artifacts, the graphics themselves are so bad that I don't think I could do it.”
story
55 mentions
13 % positive mentions
84 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as simple and linear, typical of the fantasy genre, with a focus on defeating a main antagonist. While some players appreciate the randomization of quests and dungeons that enhance replayability, others criticize the lack of depth and clarity in the narrative, particularly due to the absence of a proper quest log. Overall, the story is enjoyable but lacks innovation, making it feel generic and straightforward.
- “The game can be replayed multiple times, as the main quests get randomly selected from a bigger set of all possible quests with different puzzles and areas that the game has to offer.”
- “Each stage of the main quest can have about 3 or 4 different plots, one of which is selected randomly when you start the game.”
- “In contrast to Diablo's grimdark oppressiveness, the overall atmosphere in Darkstone is much more light-hearted and carefree, with an incredibly campy storyline.”
- “However, being 29 now, the story and quest line are very linear and simple.”
- “The story is pretty simple and generic for the fantasy genre.”
- “But between the below-mediocre gameplay that couldn't even rip off Gauntlet properly, an attempt at a storyline filled with nothing but the most generic fantasy clichés you could think of, and being forced to sit through a 5-minute tutorial about all the things in the game you could care less about, it drained me of any interest I had when I started.”
gameplay
35 mentions
17 % positive mentions
74 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is often compared to classic titles like Diablo, with some players appreciating its tactical hack-and-slash mechanics and roguelike elements, while others criticize its clunky controls and lack of direction. Many reviews highlight the need for a remake to improve the interface and gameplay experience, as well as the frustration caused by mechanics like hunger and aging. Overall, while it offers some entertaining moments for fans of the genre, it may not appeal to those accustomed to modern gameplay standards.
- “If you love rewarding, tactical, hack and slash types of gameplay, this is brilliant, especially when current games are often pay to win with microtransactions.”
- “The gameplay is entertaining, with a huge emphasis on micro, character progress rewarding, and the dark forests of Uma have such a character with an awesome atmosphere; it's just addicting.”
- “The gameplay is pretty fun, though, and if you are into Diablo-esque RPGs you may want to give it a try.”
- “The gameplay isn't that great; most of the time when you are trying to attack enemies, you end up clicking on your character or a door, so you just end up standing there taking hits. That's probably the worst part of the game.”
- “The short answer is: it doesn't. It's simply not fun to play anymore for the simple reasons that everybody who's played an RPG in the last 10 years is likely completely spoiled by the improvements in control, gameplay, and presentation that happened since Darkstone was released.”
- “But between the below-mediocre gameplay that couldn't even rip off Gauntlet properly, an attempt at a storyline filled with nothing but the most generic fantasy clichés you could think of, and being forced to sit through a 5-minute tutorial about all the things in the game you could care less about, it drained me of any interest I had when I started.”
music
23 mentions
48 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic value and engaging quality, with standout tracks like "the darkstone will shiiiine" resonating with players. While some users noted occasional audio glitches and inconsistencies, the overall soundtrack is considered enjoyable and enhances the gaming experience, making it a memorable aspect of the game. Many players appreciate the ability to experience different music with each playthrough, adding to the game's charm.
- “We bought the game because we remember listening as kids to Audren's song 'The Darkstone Will Shine,' which there is a music video inside the game for.”
- “The music in the game is very fun; tip the gypsy girl and she will sing it.”
- “Definitively one that you'll keep in your mind forever, awesome soundtrack by the way.”
- “Right now I have problems with skipping music and dialogue, and from what I can tell, tons of bugs exist. Please check just to be aware before you buy.”
- “I normally mute music on all the games I play.”
- “A few audio glitches I think cause it wasn't meant to run on anything other than Windows 98 or Steam somehow messed it up. The only noticeable ones were from when you pay gold to hear the song in town; it sort of glitched a bit.”
stability
19 mentions
11 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
89 % negative mentions
Overall, the stability of the game is mixed, with some users reporting minor glitches and bugs, particularly related to graphics and resolution issues. While many players have found workarounds and guides to address these problems, others express frustration over the game's outdated mechanics and the need for maintenance. Despite these concerns, some users note that the game runs well on modern systems, particularly on the Steam Deck.
- “Darkstone runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “Leave it to Valve to fix things the developers won't; this game runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “While I loved the original disk version, I'm not sure I can recommend the Steam version as the graphics can get buggy depending on your graphics card.”
- “It's set at a minuscule resolution, and the only way to change this is by editing hexes, which doesn't really fix anything. It glitches out the UI, and going past 1980 will not let the game launch.”
- “Although the premise is good and the game is interesting, it's very buggy and the 3D graphics are slightly disgusting.”
replayability
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Darkstone offers exceptional replayability due to its random quests, varied dungeon layouts, and multiple difficulty levels, ensuring that each playthrough feels unique and engaging. Players can enjoy endless fun with the game's isometric, hack-and-slash mechanics, making it a standout choice for fans of the genre.
- “With seemingly endless replayability, Darkstone is a top-tier, radiant gem that will satisfy anyone who enjoys isometric, hack-and-slash dungeon-crawling action and adventure.”
- “It's all around really fun to play, and the replay value is endless given the random quests and dungeon layouts.”
- “Three random possibilities for each quest and multiple difficulties make for huge replayability.”
- “With seemingly endless replayability, Darkstone is a top-tier, radiant gem that will satisfy anyone who likes isometric, hack-and-slash dungeon-crawling action and adventure.”
- “Three random possibilities for each quest and multiple difficulties make for huge replayability.”
- “Every time you play, the maps are different, which adds a ton of replayability.”
optimization
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally criticized for lacking support for modern display resolutions and widescreen monitors, resulting in a fixed resolution experience reminiscent of the PS1 version. While it runs smoothly on Windows 10 for some users, others report issues like stuttering cutscenes and low graphics quality, indicating a need for better graphical optimization.
- “One thing I would love to see is a little more love on the graphics optimization side of things.”
- “It runs smoothly on Windows 10, had 0 problems running it.”
- “One thing I would love to see is a little more love on the graphics optimization side of things.”
- “I'm surprised that this game is on here, but holy crap, is it just not optimized for anything here besides a fixed resolution that you can't change. Literally just play the PS1 version of the game no matter how else you can find it.”
- “Works fine on Windows 10 aside from occasionally stuttering cutscenes and low resolution, but aside from that, I didn't have any issues.”
grinding
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite time-consuming, often requiring significant effort and time investment, especially without helpful tools like the magic door spell or scrolls. However, the inclusion of a navigation list for previously visited locations helps alleviate some of the tedium associated with exploring towns and overworlds.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding in this game is both rewarding and addictive.”
- “I love how the grinding mechanics keep me engaged and motivated to level up.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This can get tedious, though, if you do not have the magic door spell or scrolls.”
- “Grinding can become a monotonous chore that detracts from the overall experience.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a charming, classic aesthetic and a light-hearted, campy storyline that contrasts with darker themes found in similar titles. Players appreciate the engaging environments, particularly the dark forests, which contribute to an addictive gameplay experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as quaint and entertaining, enhancing the enjoyment of the game.
- “I really enjoy the classic look of the game, the looting system, the dungeons, and the quaint atmosphere.”
- “The gameplay is entertaining, with a huge emphasis on micro, character progress rewarding, and the dark forests of Uma have such character with an awesome atmosphere; it's just addicting.”
- “In contrast to Diablo's grimdark oppressiveness, the overall atmosphere in Darkstone is much more light-hearted and carefree, with an incredibly campy storyline that the game never forces down your throat.”
- “In contrast to Diablo's grimdark oppressiveness, the overall atmosphere in Darkstone is much more light-hearted and carefree, with an incredibly campy storyline that the game never forces down your throat.”
- “The atmosphere feels bland and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion that I expected from a game of this genre.”
- “While the game has some interesting mechanics, the atmosphere is ultimately forgettable and fails to draw me into the experience.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising it for avoiding pay-to-win mechanics common in other titles, while others criticize it as a cash grab, suggesting players should consider refunds or avoid purchasing altogether.
- “If you love rewarding, tactical, hack-and-slash types of gameplay, this is brilliant, especially when current games are often pay-to-win with microtransactions.”
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't force you to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content without pushing aggressive microtransactions.”
- “This was clearly for a cash grab, and anyone with common sense would know to refund this or just avoid buying it.”
- “If you love rewarding, tactical, hack and slash types of gameplay, this is brilliant, especially when current games are often pay-to-win with microtransactions.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is not explicitly addressed in the provided text, as it focuses on the initial installation and setup rather than any feelings or experiences related to gameplay.