The Darkest Island
- August 25, 2020
- Gamix Studios
Get on SteamThe Darkest Island is a psychological horror game in first person with moments of action and despair During air cargo transport between countries across the Atlantic Ocean, you and your team have an accident and fall on an inhabited island. You a survivor, do not find your team among the wreckage and start looking for them, with a compass it is necessary to look for first aid in villages. The ga…
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a tense atmosphere and engaging survival horror elements that can immerse players in its dark setting.
- Some players appreciate the minimalistic quests and the challenge of exploring the island without a map.
- The graphics and sound quality contribute to a sense of immersion, enhancing the overall experience for horror fans.
- The game is plagued by numerous technical issues, including a broken save feature and unreliable lighting systems.
- Enemy hit detection is poor, making combat frustrating and often unfair.
- The game feels empty and lacks meaningful content, with bland enemies and poorly designed objectives that can lead to confusion.
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The graphics in "The Darkest Island" are well-received, featuring a first-person art style that enhances immersion alongside quality sound design. Players appreciate the adjustable graphics settings and the game's ability to create a tense atmosphere with effective jump scares and a sinister narrative conveyed through its visuals.
“The graphics are good and the sound quality also makes immersion happen all the time.”
“Good graphics, f*@#ing good jump scares, there is some sinister lore that is told to you by its items, scenario, map, and monsters.”
“The darkest island is a survival game, using an art style similar to first-person game guru games.”
“The graphics in this game are reminiscent of early 2000s titles, lacking the polish and detail expected from modern games.”
“The art style feels outdated and doesn't do justice to the game's potential, making it hard to immerse myself in the experience.”
“The visual effects are underwhelming, and the overall aesthetic fails to create a captivating atmosphere.”
- story4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story begins with the protagonist awakening near a plane wreck, setting the stage for a rescue mission filled with exploration and resource gathering. While the narrative is engaging and worth experiencing, players desire a tighter storyline and more depth beyond merely collecting items.
“It is a story that is worth experiencing!”
“The game opens with the protagonist regaining consciousness near the plane wreckage surrounded by damaged cargo boxes that contain useful resources for the rescue mission.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere has been criticized for lacking depth and failing to create a compelling environment, with many reviewers noting that it does not effectively utilize darkness to enhance fear. However, some players appreciate the tense atmosphere created by the AI's unpredictable behavior, which adds a unique twist to the survival horror experience. Overall, the atmosphere is seen as a significant area needing improvement.
“The game's atmosphere is very tense; unless you are scouting, you can easily be caught out by approaching AI. I enjoyed that aspect of the survival horror, as it made a refreshing change from the usual hunter/hunted chase scenes that offer limited time to survive seen in other horror titles.”
“It is not creating any atmosphere; darkness in games amplifies the fear or atmosphere in a game. It can never be the atmosphere itself, and this is one of the few issues that need to be corrected in this game.”
“The game's atmosphere is very tense, as unless you are scouting, you can easily be caught out by approaching AI. Though I did enjoy that aspect of the survival horror, it made a refreshing change from the usual hunter/hunted chase scenes that offer limited time to survive seen in other horror titles.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its innovative ideas and overall execution, contributing to a positive gaming experience.
“The gameplay and idea are great.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the immersive environment of the game, noting that the scattered farming villages and atmospheric sounds enhance the grinding experience. However, the repetitive nature of grinding in such a setting may lead to a sense of monotony for some. Overall, the aesthetic elements contribute positively, but the grinding itself can feel tedious at times.
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The absence of music in the game shifts the focus to environmental sounds and the protagonist's physical cues, which can enhance the challenge but may leave some players feeling less engaged.
“The lack of music leaves you relying on the sounds around you for hints, but your protagonist's frequent grunting and breathless noises can make it an added challenge.”
“The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it easy to lose interest during gameplay.”
“The soundtrack feels disconnected from the game's atmosphere, failing to enhance the overall experience.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as potentially exploitative, with some users suggesting it feels like a cash grab, albeit with a low entry cost of $3.
“This game feels like a cash grab; it's all about squeezing money from players.”
“The monetization strategy is overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending.”
“I can't believe how many microtransactions are crammed into this game; it ruins the experience.”
