Endless Dark

99%
Game Brain Score Based on 69 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
Endless Dark Game Cover
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Endless Dark is a narrative-driven, space exploration game where you manage a crew of survivors on a mysterious derelict ship. Uncover the ship's dark secrets and past through detailed interactions, while balancing resources and repairing critical systems to ensure your crew's survival. With a focus on character development, player choice, and atmospheric tension, Endless Dark offers a unique and immersive sci-fi experience.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

99%
Audience ScoreBased on 69 reviews
story10 positive mentions
graphics3 negative mentions
  • Endless Dark offers a unique and engaging narrative that explores themes of existential horror and the psychological toll of isolation, making players empathize with the custodian robot.
  • The game features well-written events and choices that create a sense of tension and challenge, with a strong emphasis on resource management and decision-making.
  • The atmosphere is immersive, with a blend of charming graphics and a haunting soundtrack that enhances the feeling of loneliness and dread in space.
  • Some players find the gameplay repetitive and feel that the balance of difficulty can be inconsistent, leading to experiences that can feel either too easy or frustratingly hard.
  • The pacing can be slow, with some players expressing that the time taken to progress through the story and events can feel excessive and detracts from the overall experience.
  • There are concerns about the lack of clear guidance on mechanics and the randomness of events, which can lead to confusion and a feeling of helplessness in managing outcomes.
  • story29 mentions

    The game's story has received mixed feedback, with some players finding it engaging and well-written, while others feel it is detached from the gameplay. Many reviewers appreciate the depth of the narrative and character development, particularly how decisions impact the unfolding story, while others note that the pacing can be slow at times. Overall, the story is praised for its impressive writing and integration with gameplay, making it a highlight for those who enjoy narrative-driven experiences.

    • “Incredible story told in an incredible way!”
    • “The writing is stellar, the themes and story arcs (which serve to offer new challenges and equipment to use) are fantastic with their conclusions.”
    • “The game's (exceptionally written) story really ties in with the gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay and story felt very detached, and I wasn't invested in what actually happened to the ship, custodian, or passengers.”
    • “While you are facing random event after random event, certain plot triggers will happen. These will unlock hidden lore and advance the meta story... where is the ship going, why is it going there, who are these people in cryo... why is the ship in the condition that it's in.”
    • “There are a few issues, like with some of the turns post-story arc can be... a little slow or tedious with how you'll have to go from one end of the ship to the other; however, it does certainly add to the feeling of insanity the game seems to be aiming for, which can be good or bad depending on your stance.”
  • gameplay11 mentions

    The gameplay is a blend of basic mechanics involving exploration, ship management, and decision-making that creates a cascading effect on the game's outcome, enhancing the overall experience. While some players appreciate the story-rich narrative and rogue-like elements that add depth to each voyage, others find the gameplay can feel demotivating and less compelling when progress stalls. Overall, the gameplay effectively complements the narrative, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate both story and engaging mechanics.

    • “Scratches an itch I didn't even know I had, and has mechanics in it I wish were in every other rogue-like adventure game (looking at you, memorizing effects of events).”
    • “The rogue-like mechanics make each voyage interesting and meaningful.”
    • “The gameplay and the story complement each other very well.”
    • “The gameplay on a surface level is pretty basic - you're able to navigate around the ship, fix things that break, complete story missions via exploration and investigating, and manage your FSP meters (fatigue, stress, psychosis) etc. The difficulty arrives when your ship and/or yourself begin to fall apart (this happens rather quickly) and every event that happens then is a cascading effect of either poor or good decisions that'll decide whether or not the ship reaches its destination - it's a blast, and on top of that, the overarching narrative and the overall writing has been a real treat.”
    • “Its a fun game, controls are simple, learning the core gameplay loop is not difficult and seeing how miserable a robot can get before it decides its creators need to suffer the baptism of the void for the sin of creating it is entertaining on a fundamental level.”
    • “A wonderful story-rich short experience for those players that are more into story over game mechanics.”
  • atmosphere11 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is described as both oddly relaxing and stressful, effectively immersing players in a tense environment that enhances decision-making. With minimal graphics, it relies on strong music, ambience, and writing to create a sense of horror and isolation, drawing players into the experience. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its depth and ability to evoke strong emotions, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “This is truly a game of hard choices and an atmosphere which will drive you towards decisions you never would've otherwise made.”
    • “Endless Dark is heavily atmospheric; the music, ambience, and general perspective bring the player in close enough to the character to feel the tension and somewhat cramped and isolated nature of the ship, while giving just enough of a view to allow the player hints at corners filled with darkness, or the very edge of rooms and interiors.”
    • “An simultaneously oddly relaxing and oddly stressful experience that doesn't need much in the way of graphics to express its atmosphere.”
    • “This is truly a game of hard choices and an atmosphere which will drive you towards decisions you never would have otherwise made.”
    • “The interface is intuitive, the atmosphere really pulls you in, and the writing is really good.”
  • graphics4 mentions

    The graphics feature a classic, cutesy art style that evokes nostalgia, which some players may find off-putting, yet it effectively complements the game's themes and atmosphere. While the visuals are generally well-received, they are noted to be simple and not the primary focus, allowing the game's complex and engaging narrative to shine through. Overall, the graphics contribute to a unique experience that balances relaxation and challenge.

    • “The visuals are nice, and while the OST can be repetitive at times, you should pick this up for the very engaging story so far.”
    • “Don't be fooled by the classic and cutesy graphics giving a nostalgic nod to games of the past, as this little gem has a quiet complexity and rogue-like characteristics that will challenge you and your grasp of sanity as you ponder the meaning of life, the universe, and everything.”
    • “The art style can be a turn-off for some people, but I think it lends well to the nature of the game and its themes.”
    • “The visuals are nice, but the OST can be repetitive at times; besides all that, you should pick this up for the very engaging story so far.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music in the game is described as laid back and atmospheric, effectively enhancing the immersive experience and tension within the game's environment. While some users find the soundtrack to be occasionally repetitive, it generally complements the visuals and contributes to the overall engagement of the story. The shift from ambient sounds to musical tracks adds a surprising and enjoyable element to the gameplay.

    • “The OST is pretty laid back and relaxing.”
    • “Endless Dark is heavily atmospheric; the music, ambience, and general perspective bring the player in close enough to the character to feel the tension and somewhat cramped and isolated nature of the ship.”
    • “The music is on point, and I started cracking up when I began to hear songs being played instead of the normal ship sounds.”
    • “The visuals are nice, but the OST can be repetitive at times.”
    • “The music, ambience, and general perspective bring the player in close enough to feel the tension and somewhat cramped and isolated nature of the ship.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized as original and insightful, effectively blending comedic elements with the tension of decision-making. Players find themselves laughing at the escalating absurdity of situations while also being drawn into optional storylines that enhance the experience. Overall, the humor adds a unique layer to the gameplay, keeping players engaged and entertained.

    • “Nice, insightful, funny, original.”
    • “It is pretty funny though.”
    • “The severity of actions and the decisions you have to make when presented with a blue screen (or five) at the start of each powerup/day will have you on your edge worrying as to whether you saved enough content last round, laughing as it all keeps getting worse and worse, or simply becoming more and more interested in the various story plots which are completely optional, but do provide benefits to engaging if you are able.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding in the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly during post-story segments that require extensive backtracking across the ship. While this can feel slow and frustrating, it also contributes to the game's intended atmosphere of insanity, which may be viewed positively or negatively depending on individual preferences.

    • “The grinding in this game feels excessively tedious, especially when you have to traverse the same areas repeatedly just to progress.”
    • “After the main story, the game turns into a monotonous grind that detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged, as it often feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Players highlight the strong replayability of the game, noting the ability to increase difficulty and the freedom to choose different approaches to gameplay, which encourages multiple playthroughs.

    • “There is definitely a lot of replay value, especially since you can increase the difficulty and choose how to approach different situations.”
    • “The game offers multiple paths and choices, making each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
    • “With various difficulty levels and decision-making options, the replayability keeps the experience fresh and exciting.”
    • “There is definitely lots of replay value, especially since you can increase the difficulty and choose how to approach different situations.”
    • “The game lacks significant replayability; once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to return.”
    • “While the initial playthrough is enjoyable, the lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying feel tedious.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization is effectively tied to its horror theme, as it mirrors the relatable struggle of sacrificing personal health for job performance, enhancing the overall immersive experience.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
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Negative mentions (%)Negative

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