Our Darker Purpose

About

"Our Darker Purpose" is a dark, atmospheric platformer with puzzle elements. As a child soldier in a twisted science facility, you'll need to navigate treacherous environments, avoid deadly traps, and fight nightmarish creatures to uncover the truth and escape. With its unique blend of horror and strategy, this game offers a challenging and immersive experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 529 reviews

gameplay57 positive mentions

grinding17 negative mentions

The game features a unique gothic art style and a haunting soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.
The gameplay includes a leveling system that allows players to choose between different perks, adding a strategic element to each run.
The lore and story are engaging, with humorous and dark elements that keep players intrigued as they progress.

The hitboxes can be inconsistent, leading to frustrating moments where attacks seem to miss or hit unexpectedly.
The game can feel overly punishing, with some bosses and enemies being excessively difficult, especially for new players.
There is a lack of variety in items and power-ups, which can make runs feel repetitive and less rewarding.

gameplay
216 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
70%
3%
The gameplay of "Our Darker Purpose" draws heavily from "The Binding of Isaac," featuring similar mechanics such as randomized rooms and item pickups, but introduces unique elements like a leveling system and a dodge roll mechanic that adds depth to combat. While the game is praised for its atmospheric art and engaging story, many players find the gameplay to be slower-paced and occasionally frustrating due to clunky controls and a lack of variety in items. Overall, it offers a challenging experience that may appeal to fans of roguelikes, though it may not reach the same level of polish or fluidity as its inspiration.
- “The gameplay of this game is incredibly fun and while its difficulty can be frustrating at times, like many games in the roguelike genre, it's incredibly rewarding when you finally manage to beat whatever you might have gotten stuck on before.”
- “Despite these glitches, Our Darker Purpose offers a great selection of lore, gameplay, and mechanics that anyone looking for a good challenge will appreciate.”
- “The gameplay is fast and frantic, with the story being interesting, the graphics really nice, and the soundtrack amazing.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay is not.”
- “Attacks are bland, enemies show little sign of taking damage when hurt and die in tiny puffs of smoke, movement is slow, items can be near-useless, leveling up isn't exciting, bosses are either boring and tedious or ridiculously difficult, traps are hard to dodge or are so easy to avoid they don't even have a purpose of being there, and overall it's just not fun to experience.”
- “The gameplay is fast and frantic.”
graphics
161 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
56%
2%
The graphics of "Our Darker Purpose" are widely praised for their unique gothic art style, reminiscent of Tim Burton and "Don't Starve," which effectively enhances the game's dark atmosphere and storytelling. While many players appreciate the beautiful hand-drawn visuals and atmospheric soundtrack, some note that the clarity of gameplay can be compromised by the art style's darkness and occasional technical issues. Overall, the aesthetic is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal within the roguelike genre.
- “The art style is gorgeous, the writing is top-notch, and the gameplay is a loop that had me always saying 'I can make it - just one more run.' It isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I would still argue that this is an overlooked and underappreciated gem in the roguelike genre.”
- “The gothic art style is a good choice, and was no doubt influenced by Edward Gorey, a personal favorite of mine, as well as more recent expressions of the genre, such as 'Don't Starve.'”
- “The graphics and music are a delight to behold, and assist in the immersion of the game.”
- “It's the graphic style which, whilst very coherent and atmospheric, sometimes disrupts the clarity of the gameplay.”
- “The enemies and graphics quickly become repetitive (there's almost no color whatsoever), and the game's overall darkness also makes it less fun than it should be.”
- “From a strategy point of view, there's also no delay whatsoever from the moment you walk through a door to the moment the enemies attack, not even a split second to assess your surroundings (which are insanely dark, a flaw that takes away from the art style instead of enhancing it) and plan your moves.”
story
157 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
64%
2%
The story of "Our Darker Purpose" is a compelling and dark narrative set in a gothic boarding school, where players uncover lore and backstory through item descriptions, boss encounters, and environmental storytelling. While the narrative is intriguing and atmospheric, some players feel it lacks closure and refinement, particularly in the ending, leaving them wanting more from the overall experience. Despite its procedural nature, the game offers a rich tapestry of lore that enhances the gameplay, making it a standout in the rogue-like genre.
- “The lore, story, aesthetic, and premise were super compelling!”
- “It tells an incredibly unique, although cryptic, story which on its own makes this game completely amazing.”
- “The story is mysterious, and you will unlock more of it as you play, along with unlocking upgrades for future plays.”
- “The final boss fight is there and you can finish the story, but it needed a lot of refinement, and one day the developers simply vanished.”
- “I think what the game needs is some extra content, whether in a paid DLC or just a free update, that actually gives some sense of closure to the story.”
- “There is no dialogue (at least not as far as I've gotten), the story is told completely through tooltips on items and notes on the bosses you defeat, as well as the occasional conversation between two pieces of furniture.”
music
125 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its haunting and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall experience. Composed by Nathan Smith, the soundtrack is described as both beautiful and fitting, effectively complementing the game's gothic art style and narrative. While some players noted minor issues with sound effects and gameplay synchronization, the overwhelming sentiment is that the music is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere.
- “The music is gorgeous, I adore the soundtrack to this and honestly, despite not liking the game, I would buy the soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack particularly stood out to me as I am an audio engineer and I really appreciate how the music absolutely nails the mood of the game.”
- “The atmosphere is awesome, the soundtrack is perfect, the character designs are flawless.”
- “While the art is a little rough looking and the music is mostly forgettable, this game provides an intensely interesting lore along with a solid gameplay experience.”
- “And the in-game music doesn't match the gameplay; it's more appropriate for a walking simulator genre.”
- “Look at some art of it and listen to the music, maybe read the lore; these things are good, but the game at its core is not.”
atmosphere
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
41%
5%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, gothic style, reminiscent of Tim Burton's work, complemented by a compelling soundtrack and intriguing story elements. While the graphics and art design create a coherent and immersive environment, some players note that it can occasionally hinder gameplay clarity. Overall, the game's unique atmosphere is considered its strongest feature, enhancing the experience and drawing players into its mysterious world.
- “The game has an amazing, dark atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere feels great and the difficulty rising while progressing upwards feels natural and doesn't spike too much.”
- “The first thing I noticed about the game was the atmosphere: the dark, gothic visuals juxtaposed with the brooding, orchestral soundtrack and the cynical humor parceled throughout the game made for a wonderfully melancholy environment that I just loved.”
- “All in all it looks like a 13-year-old A Series of Unfortunate Events fan's failed DeviantArt page, with very little that's truly original in design, not to mention the framerate for pretty much all character animations are stiff and awful, and not in an intentional way designed to add to the atmosphere.”
- “I seriously had to push myself to play it, saying to myself that I probably just didn't get far enough into it for it to grab me, but that's pretty poor reasoning, as a roguelike it should be most grabbing on first run since it's your first time stepping into the game's atmosphere and mechanics; it should fill you with excitement for a new experience, not make you catatonic within three hours of playing.”
humor
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a dark, dry wit that complements its gothic atmosphere, often blending macabre themes with clever, engaging writing. Players appreciate the absence of crude humor, instead enjoying sharp dialogue and amusing item descriptions that enhance the overall experience. The humor is described as both charming and unsettling, effectively contrasting with the game's darker elements while maintaining a captivating narrative.
- “The writing is humorous and dark.”
- “Its concepts are gruesome, but presented in a humorous, light-hearted manner.”
- “The humor and art owe a bit to Tim Burton and a great deal to Edward Gorey.”
replayability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
62%
12%
The game boasts significant replayability, driven by its high difficulty, diverse characters, numerous items, and random elements that ensure each playthrough feels unique. Players appreciate the challenge and variety, with many noting that the rogue-like mechanics and multiple pathways enhance the overall experience. Overall, it is highly recommended for those who enjoy games with substantial replay value and engaging gameplay.
- “Over all it's a good game to play for several hours in a row or just half an hour, and it's easy to sink at least 30 hours into the game (for those who care about replayability).”
- “The difficulty cap is ultimately set quite high, thus making it replayable as much as it is rewarding for reaching ever further, while, quite admittedly, it may be off-putting at times.”
- “The multiple pathways and plethora of items to collect guarantee replayability, and each playthrough will provide more details and more background to why Edgewood is the way it is.”
- “So as you see there is a lot of luck and random elements to assure replay value but also the possibility for some own choices to adjust the game to your liking.”
grinding
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a mixed experience, with some players finding it tedious and unfulfilling due to slow combat, clunky controls, and monotonous item upgrades. While some appreciate the need for grinding to overcome challenging bosses, many feel that the grind detracts from overall enjoyment, making the gameplay feel like a slog rather than a rewarding experience. Overall, the grinding aspect is criticized for being either overly tedious or insufficiently rewarding, leading to frustration rather than motivation.
- “I beat the game once, and don't really feel the need to continue grinding to find more items with how monotone they've all been so far.”
- “Many rooms require far more patience than actual skill, at times making the game a tedious slog.”
- “The combat is so incredibly tedious and slow it's insane.”
stability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
89%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing bugs and occasional freezing, while others report a smooth experience without significant issues. Although there are glitches, such as unexpected teleportation and graphical loading delays, frequent updates suggest ongoing improvements. Overall, while stability may not be perfect, many players still find the game enjoyable and engaging.
- “Not buggy, with a constant flow of content to unlock and an aesthetic that is unique and entertaining.”
- “Kinda buggy and unpolished compared to other games of this genre, I enjoy it though.”
- “I am not sure what issue this is causing on my machine, but every so often the game freezes, waits to load graphically, then continues.”
- “Sometimes the game freezes for 5-15 seconds, which is kind of weird and annoying, but that might just be my PC.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
Character development in the game is praised for its meaningful choices and engaging lore, enhancing the overall experience despite the game's challenging nature. Players appreciate the unique character designs and the atmospheric elements, though some feel that additional effort in character design could improve first impressions and replayability. Overall, the combination of character interactions and achievements contributes to a rich narrative experience.
- “While primarily an action game, it does manage to offer meaningful character development choices and interesting items.”
- “The atmosphere is awesome, the soundtrack is perfect, and the character designs are flawless.”
- “We can hunt down the bits of lore, delight in our achievements, giggle/sigh at the conversations between inanimate objects, wonder at the art and the music, and raise a very pointed eyebrow at some of the character design.”
- “A little more effort in the character design would go a long way and makes a huge difference both in first impressions and the replayability, but I'll look past that.”
- “We can hunt down the bits of lore, delight in our achievements (because, to us, they really are achievements), giggle/sigh at the conversations between inanimate objects, wonder at the art and the music, raise a very pointed eyebrow at some of the character design, and then get back to business because we are going to beat chapter 1 tonight, d@mmit!”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization of "Our Darker Purpose" is primarily focused on its keyboard controls, which are designed for efficiency and comfort, although players cannot customize them. While the game offers a rewarding achievement system, the overall graphics are considered basic, and noticeable improvements in combat performance are limited to specific stats like rate of fire rather than a broader optimization of gameplay.
- “Our darker purpose is a very entertaining entry in the controller-optimized action roguelite; it's more like Isaac with directional keys for shooting than Enter the Gungeon or Nuclear Throne with mouse aiming.”
- “However, the keyboard controls are optimized to be an efficient and comfortable system, which is a good thing because you cannot change them, and getting the achievements truly rewards you well.”
- “Now, after mentioning that the graphics look really basic, how was this game optimized, if at all?”
- “The only time I actually saw a slight change in combat performance was with the rate of fire, and that was only because I've leveled this stat with basically every level up and item that have dropped from mini-bosses.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, often feeling heartbroken after losing a run due to challenging boss fights or unfortunate mistakes. The complexity of hitboxes and environmental interactions adds to the frustration, making each loss feel particularly poignant as players grapple with the unpredictability of their choices and the game's mechanics.
- “It's heartbreaking to lose because of an unlucky boss fight; perhaps you picked a few things that were bad against that one specific boss, or you just made a mistake (some bosses can hit hard, so one mistake is enough), and lost a run that had potential.”