From The Darkness
- March 30, 2021
- N4bA
- 1h median play time
Get on Steam"From the Darkness" is a frightening first-person horror game, where you must navigate your deceased grandfather's dark, abandoned apartment to find an old family album. As you explore, you'll encounter supernatural occurrences and must eventually confront the mysterious inhabitant of darkness to escape. The game is short, lasting around an hour, but makes for a tense, nerve-wracking experience. However, be warned as the game contains flashes of light that can trigger epileptic seizures.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Incredibly scary atmosphere that keeps players on edge throughout the game.
- Well-timed jump scares that are not overused, enhancing the horror experience.
- Short but effective gameplay, making it a great option for a quick horror experience.
- Lacks a clear story, leaving players confused about the narrative.
- Gameplay can feel tedious at times, with some puzzles being frustratingly vague.
- The game is very short, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- atmosphere298 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its intense, immersive, and unsettling qualities, effectively creating a sense of dread and psychological horror throughout the experience. Players appreciate the well-timed scares that enhance the overall tension without relying heavily on cheap jump scares, making the atmosphere a standout feature. Despite some criticisms regarding the story and pacing, the game's ability to evoke fear through its sound design, visuals, and environmental details is consistently highlighted as a major strength.
“This game chooses to focus its strengths in atmospheric and psychological horror, and boy does it do it well.”
“The atmosphere in this game is so intense and immersive, I was genuinely terrified the entire time once we got started, lulled into a sense of security by nothing happening and then it slowly becomes a literal nightmare.”
“The atmosphere is thick with tension as you delve deeper into the shadows, each creak and whisper pulling you further into the narrative's unsettling embrace.”
“The game excels in creating a consistently creepy atmosphere that keeps players on edge throughout most of the gameplay.”
“The atmosphere was suffocating and the slow build-up made this game what it was.”
- story184 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely criticized for being minimal or nonexistent, with many players noting a lack of depth and clarity. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and jump scares, they feel the narrative is poorly developed, often relying on vague environmental storytelling and scattered notes rather than a cohesive plot. Overall, players express a desire for a more fleshed-out backstory to enhance the experience.
“The captivating storytelling, atmospheric environments, and immersive gameplay mechanics all contribute to an unforgettable experience.”
“For the length of the game, only being about an hour, I think it has a great balance between the scares, atmosphere, and story and do not regret this purchase and plan to play it through at least once more.”
“This game was very scary, I would recommend it to anyone who wants to spend an hour or two getting scared. Fun gameplay, didn't rely much on jump scares, creepy atmosphere, cool story; I just wish it was a longer game.”
“Speaking of story, it's nonexistent.”
“Sure, there is a silhouette of a story, a rough sketch with some ideas, but it's not fleshed out in any way.”
“There is almost no story other than: 'you need to retrieve the photo album from your deceased grandfather's apartment.' No details about who, what, when, how... that would indeed enrich the gameplay experience, but these details are never revealed; almost nothing that happens in the game is explained in any way.”
- gameplay136 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "From the Darkness" is characterized by its minimalistic yet intuitive mechanics, focusing heavily on exploration and atmosphere rather than a deep narrative. While the sound design and horror elements are praised for creating a creepy ambiance, many players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in engaging puzzles, with some mechanics feeling underutilized. Overall, the experience is described as a short thrill ride, with gameplay lasting around 50-70 minutes, making it a mixed bag of enjoyment and frustration.
“Gameplay is minimalistic but intuitive, and there's not much plot to speak of: the focus is purely on the experience, and it executes pretty masterfully in creating a fun thrill ride for the player.”
“The sound design is phenomenal as well; there are a few points where what you hear is vital to the gameplay, and it's horrifying on an instinctual level.”
“The game excels in creating a consistently creepy atmosphere that keeps players on edge throughout most of the gameplay.”
“I didn't feel any sense of horror during my gameplay besides the first jump scare with the doll, but it was just that, a jump scare.”
“Gameplay is trash, with uninspiring puzzles, clunky and slow movement, and horrid motion blur that you can't turn off.”
“There are mechanics that are not fully leveraged; some things are introduced as gameplay features and then simply never used.”
- graphics118 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their quality and ability to enhance the horror atmosphere, with many reviewers noting impressive visual fidelity, good lighting, and effective use of space. However, some players expressed a desire for more graphics settings to accommodate lower-end hardware, and a few mentioned that while the visuals are strong, they do not significantly contribute to the storytelling. Overall, the game is recognized for its stunning visuals and immersive experience, making it a standout in the indie horror genre.
“The graphics are gorgeous and the scares are eerie, well-placed and creative.”
“The visuals are stunning, the puzzles are challenging yet satisfying, and the haunting soundtrack adds an extra layer of intensity.”
“This game is all around great, the audio perfectly matches the game atmosphere, the graphics are fantastic, the story is well delivered, the puzzles are smartly placed, lots of small details.”
“Graphics are very old and basic.”
“However, there are no graphics settings, which limits the accessibility of the game to only those who can run it on the predetermined settings.”
“First of all, this game gives you very little options as far as graphics, sound, etc., but that honestly doesn't matter.”
- music40 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as atmospheric and intense, effectively enhancing the overall creepy ambiance. While some players noted that the soundtrack was sparse, those moments of musical accompaniment were praised for their brilliance and ability to build tension. Overall, the sound design contributes significantly to the game's unsettling experience, reminiscent of classic horror titles like Silent Hill.
“The liminal feeling is nice combined with the eerie background music.”
“The soundtrack really adds to the creepy atmosphere.”
“The visuals are stunning, the puzzles are challenging yet satisfying, and the haunting soundtrack adds an extra layer of intensity.”
“I don't recall there being any music in FDD, but that could be attributed to just (I take it) one person in charge of the whole game.”
“But there wasn’t a lot in terms of soundtrack.”
“But moments with musical track accompaniment were sparse.”
- humor22 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is a standout feature, blending dark comedy with lighthearted elements, making it enjoyable for both kids and adults. Players appreciate the cartoony character design and find humor in unexpected moments, such as jumpscares that elicit laughter rather than fear. Overall, the mix of genuinely creepy moments and comedic undertones creates a unique and entertaining experience.
“The only jumpscare made me laugh out loud.”
“Cartoony character design makes this game funny rather than scary.”
“A very funny game, great for the kids!”
- grinding18 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious, especially when stuck on frustrating puzzles and controls, such as hitting light switches and door knobs. Many reviewers noted that the experience can become monotonous, particularly in the latter stages of the game, leading to a desire for it to end. While some appreciate the horror elements, the overall sentiment is that the game could benefit from improved mechanics to alleviate the grind.
“Like one of the other reviewers, once I got to about 3/4 of the way through, I kinda just wanted it to be over because the lighting was frustrating and tasks became a little tedious.”
“The amount of puzzles and ambiguity that surrounds the game, some portions can be tedious.”
“Beware though, there is some tedious downtime.”
- emotional18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game elicits a powerful emotional response, with players reporting intense feelings ranging from heartwarming joy to genuine fear and unease. The combination of music, environmental tension, and immersive techniques creates a deeply engaging experience that can lead to tears and a sense of being trapped in a nightmare. However, some players also note discomfort due to flashing lights and unsettling moments.
“I cried.”
“I can't even describe in words how this game made me feel.”
“10/10 heartwarming game.”
- replayability16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered very low, with many users noting that it can be completed in about an hour and lacks significant incentives to play again. While some found it enjoyable for its short duration and low cost, the predictability of scares diminishes the experience upon subsequent playthroughs.
“Replay value is low and the game is short, but for the cost, it's a fun ride worth taking.”
“Early and midgame spooked the living heck out of me, but even though it was more disturbing towards the end, it was more playable after the main mechanics got established.”
“Infinitely replayable (or almost).”
“The whole thing can be finished in about an hour, and there's not much replay value, which may be a tough ask for $7.”
“Literally no replayability.”
“The game also offers no replayability.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing glitches and performance issues, including low frame rates and visual inconsistencies. However, others report a smooth experience without bugs, suggesting that performance may vary significantly between different setups. Overall, while the game offers original content, improvements in optimization are needed.
“I would for sure recommend it because it offers some original content and the performance was totally fine for me.”
“Runs smoothly, didn't encounter any bugs.”
“Performance is ok but it still looks like 20 fps a lot of the time, something weird and jagged with this engine.”
“But game optimization should be better because I encountered glitches and bugs while playing the game.”
“Performance is okay, but it still looks like 20 fps a lot of the time; something weird and jagged with this engine.”
“But game optimization should be better because I encountered glitches and bugs while playing the game.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a mixed perception of the game's monetization, with some players appreciating its compact and intense experience, while others criticize it as a polished cash grab lacking depth and sufficient marketing. Overall, the monetization strategy seems to be viewed as inadequate, with calls for better advertising and a more substantial game offering.
“The game was mediocre at best; I would consider it a more polished cash grab.”
“This is what a short game should be: not an asset flip, not a cash grab, but a well-made compact and intense experience.”
“Needs more advertising/media.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting significant glitches and game-breaking bugs, while others have experienced a smooth gameplay experience without issues. Overall, there is a consensus that game optimization needs improvement to enhance stability.
“But game optimization should be better because I encountered glitches and bugs while playing the game.”
“Buggy mess, some game-breaking issues.”
“But game optimization should be better because I encountered glitches and bugs while playing the game.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is characterized by a cartoony design that adds a humorous tone, detracting from any potential for fear or seriousness. This approach creates a lighthearted atmosphere, influencing players' emotional engagement with the characters.
