Do No Harm

About

Do No Harm is a single player simulation game. It was developed by Darts Games and was released on March 6, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

A Doctor Simulator with a Lovecraftian twist. Diagnose patients by analyzing unsettling symptoms and treat them using your Book of Medicine. Make moral choices — decide who to save or kill, discover whom to trust, and unlock multiple endings! Can you endure 30 days of perilous decisions?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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70%

Audience ScoreBased on 354 reviews

gameplay53 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

The game features a unique blend of Lovecraftian horror and medical simulation, creating an engaging atmosphere.
The art style and sound design are well-executed, enhancing the eerie and immersive experience.
The gameplay loop of diagnosing and treating patients is challenging yet rewarding, encouraging players to think critically.

Many mechanics are poorly explained, leading to confusion and frustration, especially regarding the humor wheel and dosage calculations.
The game can feel repetitive and punishing, with limited resources and the potential for random failures that can lead to patient deaths.
Some players experience bugs that disrupt gameplay, such as dialogue issues and inconsistencies in patient interactions.

gameplay
262 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
72%
8%
The gameplay in this title revolves around diagnosing and treating patients through a complex loop of mechanics that includes managing resources, analyzing symptoms, and administering treatments. While the core concept is engaging and reminiscent of games like "Papers, Please," many players find the mechanics poorly explained and overly convoluted, leading to frustration and a reliance on trial and error. Despite its potential for depth and replayability, the gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks clarity, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “The core gameplay loop is getting a knock on the door, admitting a new patient, having them tell you their symptoms, examining them for more clues, then giving them the correct dose of the four humors.”
- “I love the gameplay loop, and the style and the premise of the game.”
- “The gameplay is all about solving illness puzzles, managing resources, and diagnosing patients while dealing with hallucinations and insanity.”
- “The core gameplay loop is getting a knock on the door, admitting a new patient, having them tell you their symptoms, (later on) examining them for more clues, then giving them the correct dose of the four humors.”
- “First off, it does an absolutely atrocious job at explaining its mechanics - they're either explained badly or not at all.”
- “And for a game where the first step in the gameplay loop is correctly diagnosing your patient, it doesn't help that some diagnoses are just plain wrong for the described symptoms.”
story
115 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with many players finding the premise intriguing but the execution lacking depth and coherence. While some appreciate the Lovecraftian themes and branching paths that allow for multiple endings, others criticize the narrative for being disjointed and overly reliant on gameplay mechanics that detract from the storytelling experience. Overall, the art style and atmosphere are praised, but the narrative's pacing and clarity leave room for improvement.
- “Do No Harm is an amazingly creepy story of a doctor who visits a shady nowhere-ville town and gets a little more than they bargained for.”
- “The story is interesting; how you take care of the patients reflects on how different characters treat you. There are multiple morality paths (and therefore endings) you can choose, and none of them seem perfectly 'good' or 'bad'; it's all a grey area based on your view on life.”
- “The lovecraft-inspired storyline weaves an intricate tale of cosmic horror, unspeakable entities, and the descent into madness.”
- “The end result is a game that doesn't feel engaging - introduce a mechanic that can more or less be ignored, consult the humor wheel to administer the cure to patients, rinse and repeat for most of the day with a brief break for one or two story moments alluding to the eldritch horror you already know is there.”
- “I expected a story hidden between the lines of conversations with patients, but the majority of it is condensed to a couple of (admittedly beautiful) still frames of art at the very end, depending on a very small number of choices.”
- “There was a lot of telling me what the story is rather than actually showing me anything.”
humor
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mix of dark comedy and absurdity, often highlighted by the confusing "humor wheel" mechanic that players find both frustrating and amusing. While some appreciate the humor's quirky nature and the game's comedic elements, many reviewers express that the humor wheel's complexity detracts from the overall experience, leading to trial-and-error gameplay that can feel tedious. Overall, the humor adds a unique flavor to the game, but its execution leaves players divided on its effectiveness.
- “Fun, funny and creepy game!”
- “Some really funny dark moments.”
- “The humor wheel is one of the most fun parts in my opinion.”
graphics
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
47%
6%
The graphics of the game have received praise for their unique and captivating art style, which effectively conveys a haunting and eldritch atmosphere. Many players appreciate the blend of 3D and 2D elements, though some note inconsistencies in quality and minor graphical errors that detract from the overall polish. Overall, the visuals are described as beautiful and immersive, enhancing the game's intriguing narrative and gameplay experience.
- “The game's atmospheric visuals, haunting sound design, and richly written patient encounters immerse you in a world where every diagnosis feels like a step deeper into the unknown.”
- “The game’s atmosphere is dense and oppressive, reinforced by a stunning art style that masterfully blends 3D and 2D elements.”
- “The aesthetic is very alluring and eerie with detailed visuals.”
- “However, after some time, I don't know when, but they added customer appearances that didn't really match the atmosphere and art style of previous customers.”
- “The art style isn't cohesive, and varies in quality greatly.”
- “Given there isn't much detailed animation in the patients walking, nor does there need to be, it's small things like that which make the game feel unpolished, which is a shame because it has some of my most favorite artwork in any games I have played.”
atmosphere
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
48%
7%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, featuring a unique blend of eerie visuals, haunting sound design, and a Lovecraftian horror theme that enhances the overall experience. While some players noted inconsistencies with certain elements that detracted from the intended mood, the majority agree that the atmospheric design and storytelling effectively create a sense of mystery and tension, making it a standout aspect of the game. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a key strength, drawing players into its captivating world.
- “The game's atmospheric visuals, haunting sound design, and richly written patient encounters immerse you in a world where every diagnosis feels like a step deeper into the unknown.”
- “The atmosphere, styling, dialogue, mechanics, etc. are incredibly interesting and fun to experience.”
- “The art and music are stunning, creating a dark, immersive atmosphere that pulls you in.”
- “However, after some time, I don't know when, but they added customer appearances that didn't really match the atmosphere and art style of previous customers.”
- “It doesn't really create any atmosphere, it doesn't create any tension; it's literally just there.”
- “I really like the theme and the atmosphere this game is trying to create, but you really are just guessing half the time.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
22%
21%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with players noting its haunting quality and immersive nature. While there is a limited number of tracks, the sound effects and background music contribute significantly to the game's charm, making it a memorable experience. Many users express excitement for the soundtrack release, highlighting the music's role in creating a captivating and mysterious environment.
- “The art is gorgeous, the music is lovely, and the sound effects are especially satisfying.”
- “Great mysterious atmosphere and I loved the sounds and soundtrack.”
- “The art and music are stunning, creating a dark, immersive atmosphere that pulls you in.”
- “-music: there's one track for the entire game (besides menu and endings, that is).”
- “The music in the opening menu really sets the stage.”
- “For gameplay experimentation, I also went back to see what happens if my sanity runs out, and I got a different ending with different music.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often leading to frustration due to vague explanations and constant interruptions. While some appreciate the immersive elements that can alleviate the grind, many feel that the gameplay lacks engagement and becomes monotonous, making the experience feel more like a chore than enjoyable. The resource management and treatment mechanics are particularly criticized for being dull and overly reliant on guesswork.
- “God, this game is tedious.”
- “Boring, grindy gameplay and an equally dull story.”
- “The gameplay analysis/treatment loop feels more like guesswork than anything else; the scary stuff is kind of underwhelming and not creepy, and the resource management feels tedious at best.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been described as enjoyable but plagued by numerous bugs, including issues with NPC repetition, erratic button functionality, and problems with the achievement system. Players have reported frustrating glitches that affect gameplay, such as dialogue skipping and UI accessibility, indicating a need for stability improvements. Overall, while the game offers fun experiences, its stability issues detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “The only negative point I have for it is that at times the NPCs feel a bit too repetitive; I feel I saw the same 4 faces over and over again, and the 'use' button was kind of buggy. Sometimes you'll empty the medicine you grabbed when pressing the button, and I also had it happen that clicking on the text bubble stopped skipping dialogue.”
- “Old review - Steam really needs a mixed review rating. The game is fun, a lot of fun, but god damn is it buggy.”
- “Additionally, the medication UI is a little buggy, as I sometimes cannot access the medical card easily if I'm currently with the vital/digestive bottles.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game is praised for its strong replayability, featuring engaging gameplay and multiple endings that encourage players to explore different approaches. Its interesting mechanics and classic Lovecraftian plot further enhance the desire to replay, making it a satisfying experience overall.
- “Great gameplay with a lot of replay value too.”
- “A fun, visually appealing, decently replayable game with an interesting mechanic that at first may seem confusing but once you get the hang of it becomes very satisfying and features a classic Lovecraftian plot.”
- “The game offers replayability, so that works well with this mindset.”
- “Being able to reach multiple endings adds replay value and motivates players to try new approaches.”
- “There is a lot of replay value.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The game's optimization has been criticized for performance issues, particularly during lighting effects, which can lead to significant framerate drops and stuttering. While some players find the gameplay experience tolerable despite these issues, there are notable concerns that developers need to address to improve overall performance and user experience.
- “There are a few pain points that I think the developers should work on addressing, first and foremost being optimization issues.”
- “The performance can be shaky, but since the gameplay is not majorly affected by drops in framerate for a few seconds, I can personally gloss over that.”
- “The only performance issue is when the lighting effects hit, which causes my PC to scream in agony.”
- “Patients are invisible, I can't play in full screen because of the stuttering and frame skipping, and not to mention the book really needs a redesign.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Character development is praised for its unique designs and engaging endings that encourage players to explore all possibilities. However, some users express a desire for more variety among regular patient models, as the limited cycling can become repetitive, and there are instances of confusing design elements that don't align with gameplay mechanics.
- “Amazing character designs and endings that make you want to get them all!”
- “All the character designs are unique, but I do wish there were more variants of the regular patients since I think the models get cycled through too quickly.”
- “Some patients have features that look like they are tied to introduced mechanics, but it is actually nothing, leading to confusing character design.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers feel that the monetization strategy could benefit from a more subtle approach to advertising, suggesting that the current implementation is overly aggressive.
- “It would have been better to have it more subtle in the advertising.”