Darwin Project

68%
Game Brain Score Based on 835 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.
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"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

68%
Audience ScoreBased on 835 reviews
gameplay41 positive mentions
stability8 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique take on the battle royale genre with its crafting system and survival mechanics.
  • The community is friendly and engaging, making for a fun multiplayer experience.
  • The director role adds an interesting dynamic to gameplay, allowing for audience interaction and varied match experiences.
  • The game suffers from a small player base, making it difficult to find matches consistently.
  • Some players feel that the director can unfairly influence the outcome of matches, leading to frustration.
  • There are reports of bugs and optimization issues that can detract from the overall experience.
  • gameplay90 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by its fast-paced mechanics and unique features, such as the "show director" role, which adds a social and strategic layer to the battle royale experience. While many players appreciate the innovative combat mechanics and the depth they bring, some have noted issues with bugs and balance, particularly regarding the director's influence on gameplay. Overall, the core mechanics are engaging and enjoyable, though there are calls for further refinement and additional content to enhance the experience.

    • “One of the best battle royale games I have ever played, with well thought out game mechanics. I have had lots of fun playing with friends in custom games where one of you is the director. It's a lot of fun and would give it a 10/10, oh and did I mention it was free now so there is no need for you to not try it.”
    • “The gameplay of the Darwin Project is just so addicting; I love it. It has exhilarating gameplay where at any moment a nail-biting, edge-of-seat exchange of arrows, axes, traps, power-ups, and even words can happen in a moment's pass.”
    • “Super fun in general with interesting and innovative mechanics for the genre. The director adds an interesting mechanic with his power to reward/punish and have a chat with the players.”
    • “For me, the currently worst made and most boring battle royale game out there. The only thing that made the game interesting for me was the show director mode, but instead of adding and improving that new kind of gameplay, they just removed a few features from it.”
    • “There's nothing worse than running around unable to find anyone for 15 minutes, collecting stupid wood and leather until you're completely buffed only to die instantly to some ridiculous turrets and game mechanics.”
    • “Where it falls frustratingly short is some gameplay decisions made by the devs, spending a lot of time crafting armor, cloaks, boots, and sharpening.”
  • graphics31 mentions

    Overall, the graphics of the game receive mixed to positive feedback, with many players appreciating the aesthetic quality and smooth performance, likening it to titles like Fortnite and Overwatch. Some users suggest that while the visuals are decent, there is room for improvement, particularly in terms of customization options for graphics settings. Despite some criticisms regarding the simplicity and lack of diversity in models, the general consensus is that the graphics contribute positively to the gameplay experience.

    • “Graphics are great.”
    • “Turn it to high graphics if you can, the game looks sick.”
    • “This game is incredible, PvP feels so fluid, graphics and effects look great, the developers seem to really care about the feedback from the community and show a genuine interest in keeping the player base happy.”
    • “Not worth 15 dollars; even the graphics don't look anything like the preview. I'm beyond pissed.”
    • “The graphics are really simple, and though they aren't necessarily PUBG level, it's good for people who don't have the best computers.”
    • “The graphics are cartoony, a bit similar to Fortnite.”
  • optimization19 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting that it requires high-end hardware to run smoothly, while others have experienced decent performance on lower settings. Many users agree that while the game runs well for some, there are still notable issues such as lag spikes and a need for further optimization and bug fixes. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game is enjoyable, it could benefit from improved optimization to enhance the experience for a wider range of systems.

    • “Runs smoothly and the in-game mechanics are easy to learn.”
    • “Optimization is solid, and controls are smooth.”
    • “A game that feels smooth in every aspect, optimized and everything is just smooth, for the first day of early access.”
    • “You still need a NASA computer to play this game; poorly optimized, everything else is good but the optimization.”
    • “Since I started playing after the full release from beta, I've only seen my performance in-game decrease as everyone else rapidly surpasses me.”
    • “Horribly optimized.”
  • humor18 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying hilarious interactions during multiplayer matches, especially in custom games with friends. The community is described as friendly and funny, contributing to a lighthearted atmosphere that enhances the gaming experience. Regular updates from the developers and engaging features, like Twitch integration, further amplify the comedic moments, making for entertaining gameplay.

    • “Hilarious in custom games with friends.”
    • “It's fast paced, laid back, and it's actually hilarious.”
    • “A funny interaction with the director, a hilarious kill, a sudden save by the director or getting completely messed over by him/her is always a fun experience if you're light-hearted.”
  • stability11 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant bugs and disconnections, particularly during matchmaking, while others report a smooth experience with no crashes or glitches. As it is still in early access, many users acknowledge the presence of issues but express hope for improvements. Overall, the game's performance varies widely among players, highlighting the need for ongoing fixes.

    • “The Unreal Engine 4 makes the game run great and look pretty.”
    • “There are no glitches or lag.”
    • “Overall, this is a wonderful skill-based game that looks great, runs smoothly, and as an early access title, has huge potential.”
    • “First, it takes forever to get past the title screen, and then once you manage to get into the main menu and queue for a match, there's almost a 99% chance that you will get disconnected before getting in, and the game freezes.”
    • “Not only that, but the game is also really buggy and laggy.”
    • “So buggy I can't even play the game, and people with the same issue that I'm having have been waiting for three days now with no help to resolve the issue at all. Until they fix the game, I can't recommend wasting money on this.”
  • story9 mentions

    The game's story is criticized for lacking depth and continuity, with players noting that it had potential for a compelling narrative that was never fully realized. Instead, the focus shifted to a more robotic and futuristic setting, detracting from the individuality and customization that could have enhanced the experience. Overall, the story is seen as underwhelming and not engaging enough to hold players' interest.

    • “There was so much potential to surround all of this with a storyline 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.”
    • “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 (jetwings, headhunter drone, grapple) or your abilities and completely kicked the old resource leather out of the game.”
    • “Your quest is to harvest resources, keep yourself warm, and slay all the other inmates that block your path to victory.”
    • “Over my weekend off of work, I had plans to complete the Warhammer: Vermintide 2 story, but picked this game up instead.”
  • monetization5 mentions

    The monetization model of the game is generally viewed positively, as it is free to play with in-game purchases deemed unnecessary. However, some users criticize it as a cash grab and suggest that more incentives, unlockables, and rewards could enhance the experience without relying on microtransactions.

    • “I would highly recommend this game since it's free, and in-game purchases are not at all necessary.”
    • “There's more incentive to play as a director, with unlockables available without microtransactions and more rewards from wins and leveling up, which is all that is needed to make this a 10/10 game.”
    • “Nice cash grab losers”
    • “More incentive to play as a director, unlockables without microtransactions and more rewards from wins and leveling up is all that is needed to make this a 10/10 game.”
    • “There needs to be more advertising.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Overall, the game offers some replayability through leaderboard competition and the satisfaction of achieving wins, but many users feel it may become repetitive over time. While it has enjoyable elements that encourage replay, its longevity is questioned, with some rating its replayability as 8/10.

    • “Replayability is satisfying, especially when moving up on leaderboards or achieving another win.”
    • “Great replayable fun, though it might get boring after a while.”
    • “Length and replayability: 8/10.”
    • “The game you guys have created is great, but it lacks replayability.”
  • music5 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed feedback; while many players praise the soundtracks for their ability to evoke excitement and adrenaline, there are complaints about the lack of an option to adjust music volume separately from game audio and issues with audio glitches, such as black screens and unwanted sounds from other players' microphones.

    • “The soundtracks are great!”
    • “The soundtracks are there just to fill you with excitement and adrenaline.”
    • “There is no option to lower the music volume separately from the game audio.”
    • “I experienced a black screen after the music played, displaying only the game name.”
    • “I can hear hard bass music playing from other players' microphones.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players express frustration with the excessive grinding required for upgrades, feeling that a significant portion of the game is spent looting and crafting rather than engaging in combat. However, some appreciate the new mechanics that streamline the grinding process, making it faster and easier to enhance gadgets, while others find the balance of difficulty and grind to be well-executed. Overall, opinions on grinding are mixed, with some players enjoying the challenge and others feeling it detracts from the gameplay experience.

    • “I hated the old arrow types, cloaks, shoes, arrows, and a million things to upgrade. Spending 80% of the game looting, farming, and crafting just to finally get into a fight and maybe die, only to have to do it all over again.”
    • “Electronics, which were once called that, turned into darwinium shipments. The game now features a new 'I walk by and swing once' farming technique, and the permanently sprinting without any stamina makes it extremely fast and easy to max out your gadgets. The three classes that were added are purely unbalanced and too different from each other to ever be balanced.”
    • “Not too hard and grindy, not too easy and quick; it is just perfect.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its stunning visuals and immersive wintry setting, which effectively enhances the survival elements and complements the fast-paced action combat.

    • “Amazing game with a beautiful atmosphere and fast-paced action combat.”
    • “More than just atmospherics, the wintry setting is indicative of the survival elements at play in Darwin.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Users express mixed feelings about the emotional aspect of the game, noting that while it may serve as a good introduction, the intrusive direction can detract from the overall experience.

    • “The way this made me feel was truly impactful and resonated with me on a personal level.”
    • “This game evokes a deep emotional response that stays with you long after you've finished playing.”
    • “I was genuinely moved by the story and the characters; it felt like I was part of their journey.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

68% average critic score

Buy Darwin Project

Play time

100hMedian play time
83hAverage play time
30-150hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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