Darwin Project

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 9,772 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • optimization
Darwin Project Game Cover
The Darwin Project is a fun experiment with some solid ideas, but doesn't quite feel fleshed out or feature-rich enough to entirely recommend without caveat.
View game
Get on Steam Get on Xbox Games Store

"The Darwin Project is a free-to-play, multiplayer, survival-based battle royale game set in a dystopian post-apocalyptic landscape. Players must gather resources, craft tools, and use their survival skills to be the last one standing in each round, all while navigating harsh weather conditions and manipulating the arena's elements to their advantage. A unique gameplay feature is the addition of a Show Director who can influence the match and create new challenges for the contestants."

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 9,772 reviews
gameplay366 positive mentions
stability41 negative mentions
  • gameplay892 mentions

    The gameplay of "Darwin Project" is characterized by its unique blend of survival mechanics and battle royale elements, offering fast-paced, skill-based combat with a focus on tracking and crafting. While many players appreciate the innovative mechanics, such as the "show director" role and the cold survival aspect, there are significant criticisms regarding the balance and execution of combat mechanics, particularly the knockback effects and the effectiveness of traps. Overall, the game provides an engaging experience, but its enjoyment can be hampered by issues like repetitive gameplay and unbalanced mechanics, leading to mixed reviews from the community.

    • “The ability to track opponents, set traps, and engage in intense one-on-one combat adds depth to the gameplay, creating tense and exhilarating moments that set it apart from its competitors.”
    • “The director mechanic, along with the very well done but not overbearing survival mechanics, made every game exciting and unique.”
    • “The gameplay is fast-paced and intense, with a focus on strategy and skill.”
    • “The gameplay loop is rather barebones.”
    • “The problem is that the main fight mechanic, the swinging of your axe, is broken and leads to battles consistently being won by unskilled players.”
    • “The knockback mechanic on receiving damage is absolutely dreadful.”
  • graphics306 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the colorful, cartoonish art style reminiscent of Fortnite, while others find them average or lacking depth. Some users highlight the game's ability to run smoothly on lower-end hardware, making it accessible, but there are also complaints about optimization issues and performance drops. Overall, the visuals are generally considered appealing and well-integrated with gameplay, though there is room for improvement in terms of detail and variety.

    • “From crafting tools and weapons to tracking opponents, the game artfully integrates its visuals with gameplay, creating a seamless and immersive experience.”
    • “With its stunning visuals, strategic innovations, and immersive mechanics, it creates an experience that's equal parts heart-pounding competition and edge-of-your-seat entertainment.”
    • “The game's art style is visually appealing, with a stylized and colorful aesthetic that contrasts well with the harsh and snowy environment.”
    • “The graphics of the game desperately need to be optimized; once you set the graphics to the lowest possible level, you will still have a sharp frame in the game's main screen!”
    • “Boring game, with mediocre graphics and gameplay.”
    • “Horrible performance for sub-par Fortnite quality graphics that should run on any toaster.”
  • optimization133 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly on higher-end setups, others experienced choppy gameplay and lag, indicating that further optimization is needed. Overall, the consensus suggests that while there are moments of good performance, the game still requires substantial improvements to its optimization to enhance the experience for a broader range of players.

    • “Developers also optimized the game and made it nicer.”
    • “One of the most well optimized games I have played in a very long time.”
    • “Graphics are pretty and pleasant, and overall the game is optimized fantastically, from my experience.”
    • “The game runs really poorly on a 2070-2700x setup, doesn't feel optimized. Not only that, but the game kicked me for 'anti-cheat' and I wasn't cheating or doing anything.”
    • “The only bad thing that I can think about this game is that it's poorly optimized.”
    • “Great concept, however, one of the biggest problems is the poor optimization.”
  • humor115 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying the comedic interactions facilitated by voice chat and the unique role of the director, which adds a layer of hilarity to gameplay. Many reviews highlight the fun and funny community, where players often engage in lighthearted banter, creating memorable and amusing moments. However, some mention that while the game can be entertaining, it also has a toxic side, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “The mic implementation in the game makes it easier to communicate with the other players and can end up with hilarious gameplay.”
    • “It's a hilarious and unique twist on the battle royale formula, and it's a shame that more games haven't tried something like this.”
    • “The choice of ten players per match mixed with in-lobby and in-game chat makes for some hilarious banter.”
  • story70 mentions

    The game's story revolves around a survival competition where inmates fight for their freedom, reminiscent of "The Hunger Games." While some players appreciate the underlying narrative and potential for deeper storytelling, many feel that the focus is primarily on gameplay rather than a cohesive story experience. Overall, the narrative is seen as convoluted but provides a basic framework for the game's competitive mechanics.

    • “The story... life changing.”
    • “There's an actual story behind why players fight each other.”
    • “There was so much potential to surround all of this with a storyline (which appeared in the first battle pass but never got continued) and make the game pop by keeping the individuality of fights and the customization of your own playstyle through different boots, cloaks, axes, arrows, and abilities - sadly this game made a 180 and turned into a robotic and futuristic disaster with shiny lamps that give you darwinium to level up your gadgets or your abilities and completely kicked the old resource leather out of the game.”
    • “The 'story' behind the game is a bit convoluted, but it still works, and the basic mechanics are quite simple, but still require both strategy and skill.”
    • “Playing as a prisoner in this hexagonal post-apocalyptic winter arena gives me that Hunger Games vibe, except it's more focused on gameplay than story, of course.”
  • stability54 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting significant bugs and frequent crashes, particularly during matchmaking and gameplay. However, others have noted that the game runs smoothly on average PCs with minimal issues, suggesting that experiences may vary widely. Overall, while many acknowledge the presence of glitches, some players still find the game enjoyable and relatively polished for an early access title.

    • “Excited for more updates to come, not really buggy at all which is nice.”
    • “It has such a great atmosphere and vibe to it, and is really a quality product - it's not too buggy and is well polished from my experience with it so far.”
    • “This game was only released a couple of weeks ago and it runs amazing... no bugs, no glitches.”
    • “This game is a buggy unbalanced mess of a cash grab, do not recommend.”
    • “It's a broken buggy game, but if you're okay with that then sure, go ahead and play it, but it's not for me.”
    • “Game freezes every single match 10-20 minutes into the game.”
  • grinding42 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the balance between farming and combat, while others find it tedious and time-consuming. Although recent updates have reduced the grind and shifted focus towards skill-based gameplay, many older players feel nostalgic for the more resource-intensive mechanics of earlier versions. Overall, while grinding is necessary for progression, it can detract from the enjoyment for some, especially in a game that is meant to be fast-paced.

    • “It can be grindy at times, but it adds to the overall experience.”
    • “Farming is a significant part of the game, providing a sense of progression.”
    • “While it can be grindy, the rewards make it worthwhile.”
    • “I hated the old arrow types, cloaks, shoes, arrows, and a million things to upgrade, spending 80% of the game looting, farming, and crafting to finally get into a fight and maybe die and have to do it all over again.”
    • “People rarely play as the game deteriorates because overtime it becomes tedious and a little boring.”
    • “The whole gameplay felt tedious and lacking even though the matches are much shorter than other battle royales.”
  • monetization40 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing concerns about its reliance on microtransactions, particularly during early access. While some appreciate that the game is free-to-play with only cosmetic purchases, others criticize it as a cash grab and emphasize the need for better advertising to attract a larger player base. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the monetization model is not overly aggressive, the game's success hinges on improved marketing and player engagement.

    • “Would highly recommend this with it being free, and in-game purchases not at all necessary.”
    • “Considering this game is free, and considering its microtransactions are completely cosmetic, I love this.”
    • “All in all, very good game, especially considering it's free-to-play and offers only cosmetic microtransactions.”
    • “This game is a buggy unbalanced mess of a cash grab, do not recommend.”
    • “Not to mention the fact that the devs pulled a risky one by going free-to-play to rake in money with microtransactions via skins.”
    • “Just another cash grab at a terrible game genre.”
  • music40 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its unique and adrenaline-pumping qualities, while others find it bland, forgettable, or overly loud. Many users note that the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, but there are complaints about the lack of options to adjust music volume separately from game audio. Additionally, the presence of mic-spamming players can detract from the overall enjoyment of the music.

    • “I love the concept of controlling an arena; this could be for those who are not big PvP players or just want a break. Also, the soundtrack is different in a good way.”
    • “The music in the game makes the game even better.”
    • “The soundtracks are there just to fill you with excitement and adrenaline.”
    • “I hate the music.”
    • “The music is very bland and forgettable.”
    • “Alright game but the startup has really loud, ear-bleeding music.”
  • replayability20 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it enjoyable with unique mechanics and varied gameplay that keeps matches fresh, others feel it lacks depth and novelty after a few hours. Suggestions for improvements, such as adding ranked modes, indicate a desire for more structured competition to enhance replay value. Despite these critiques, many players still appreciate the fun factor and potential for replayability, especially with different loadouts and items.

    • “Speaking of gameplay, the game runs smooth and the replayability feels endless because every match is different than the previous one.”
    • “Lots of replay value with different items and loadouts to equip.”
    • “It's loads of fun and has lots of replayability.”
    • “The game you guys have created is great, but it lacks replayability.”
    • “The replayability isn't amazing and the novelty wears off after a few hours, but it's still a unique spin on the battle royale genre and is worth trying out as long as it stays free.”
    • “Very enjoyable, I've struggled to find a lot of replayability but the many times I've had a game or two have been a blast.”
  • atmosphere18 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, with many players highlighting the stunning graphics and dynamic day-night cycle that enhance the experience. Reviewers appreciate the game's ability to create a captivating environment that encourages exploration and interaction, making it stand out among battle royale titles. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a key strength, contributing significantly to the enjoyment of gameplay.

    • “The atmosphere is just jaw-dropping; at times I catch myself not even playing but just sitting and admiring the different scenery.”
    • “Amazing game with a beautiful atmosphere and fast-paced action combat.”
    • “It has such a great atmosphere and vibe to it, and is really a quality product - it's not too buggy and is well polished from my experience with it so far.”
    • “Atmosphere 4/10”
    • “What PUBG and Fortnite would naturally lead to; hopefully, a player base gets enough behind this, as it could really change the battle royale atmosphere.”
    • “First off, I just need to say that directors are there to improve the overall feeling of the game and atmosphere. They are there to spice things up and make what is otherwise a standard battle royale into an interactive and fun environment.”
  • emotional11 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its supportive community and moments of genuine joy, despite some frustrations. The game evokes feelings of nostalgia and heartache, particularly regarding its potential and personal experiences, with some players finding solace and comfort in their interactions and gameplay. Overall, the emotional responses range from deep appreciation to disappointment, reflecting a complex relationship with the game's development and community.

    • “What happened to this game makes me want to cry.”
    • “Best game ever dude, no cap bruh, like on god and my momma this game made me feel better about not having a daddy.”
    • “And a dad with his son, whose names I sadly forgot, which I encountered about a handful of times, who genuinely were some of the sweetest and most wholesome teammates you could imagine.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the charm of the simple designs and impactful visual effects during combat, while others criticize the character designs and animations as unappealing and poorly executed. Overall, there is a desire for more variety in character designs and maps to enhance the experience.

    • “The character designs, although relatively simple, have their charm, and the visual effects during combat add impact to the action.”
    • “The in-game character designs and animations are awful.”
    • “I don't know what planet they came from if they thought it would be appealing in any way... (probably planet sheen if I had to guess) but whoever gave the greenlight to these character designs really shouldn't be making those kinds of decisions.”
    • “A fun game with a cool Hunger Games feel; however, it would be nice to see different maps and different character designs.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

68% average critic score

Buy Darwin Project

Play time

16hMedian play time
55hAverage play time
5-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 39 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News