The Darkside Detective

The Darkside Detective is an adventure game that will have you laughing as you solve the mysteries behind the paranormal events plaguing Twin Lakes. With great visuals, music and movie references this is a must play!

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In "The Darkside Detective," players join Detective Francis McQueen as he investigates a series of bizarre cases that straddle the line between the natural and supernatural worlds. With his sarcastic partner, Dooley, McQueen must uncover the truth behind these eerie events, using wit, intuition, and a bit of the occult. This pixel art adventure game offers a unique blend of humor and horror, providing a thrilling and entertaining experience for fans of the genre.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,740 reviews

humor809 positive mentions

grinding13 negative mentions

The game features clever writing and humorous dialogue that keeps players engaged.
The pixel art style and soundtrack create a charming and nostalgic atmosphere.
Each case is self-contained, making it easy to play in short sessions without losing track of the story.

The puzzles are often too simple and lack challenge, making the game feel short.
Some jokes and humor may fall flat for players, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
The game lacks a cohesive overarching plot, as each case feels disconnected from the others.

humor
815 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in "The Darkside Detective" is a mixed bag, with many players praising its clever writing, witty dialogue, and abundance of pop culture references that evoke nostalgia for classic adventure games. While some found the humor genuinely funny and charming, others criticized it as hit-or-miss, with certain jokes feeling forced or overly simplistic. Overall, the game is appreciated for its light-hearted, self-aware tone, making it enjoyable for fans of quirky, comedic point-and-click adventures.
- “The humor sprinkled throughout via the portrayal and interactions between characters was quite effective in putting smiles on my face.”
- “It's charming, self-aware, funny, and fun.”
- “The writing is funny and plays with the conventions of different genres, and I really enjoyed the friendship between the two main characters.”
- “The bargain bin dialogue with its unfunny, tired quips ruins everything - the game feels like it's written by a teenager as their first attempt at comedy, after studying their favorite material but failing to understand what makes it work.”
- “All of it was blisteringly unfunny and there was nothing to hold my attention in place of it.”
- “The plot of each individual case is unexciting: weak setup, dull middle, no climax. The focus is on the humor, which I found to be tragically unfunny.”
story
305 mentions
35 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The game's story is primarily structured around a series of self-contained cases rather than a cohesive overarching narrative, which some players found refreshing while others felt it lacked depth. The humor and character interactions are often highlighted as strong points, with many reviewers enjoying the witty dialogue and quirky scenarios reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures. However, critiques include a perceived lack of character development and a reliance on jokes that can become repetitive, leading to mixed feelings about the overall engagement of the story.
- “The story is intriguing, the environments are interesting, and there are a lot of funny moments throughout.”
- “The real standout is the story, which has just enough zany comedy in it to be perfectly balanced.”
- “Now that’s all done, The Darkside Detective is an absolutely great and funny point and click adventure game, with just so much to love from the really good story, to the really interesting and well-written characters and really funny comedy.”
- “The story, by no means, was in depth or very well constructed.”
- “I think the story was wasted potential, since it's held together by an extreme amount of quips and no actual substance.”
- “There is no central progressing storyline, though the real problem is that there is no character exploration.”
graphics
210 mentions
44 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming retro pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for classic adventure titles, with simple yet colorful visuals that complement the light-hearted gameplay and humor. While some players appreciate the minimalist approach and find the pixelated aesthetics appealing, others criticize the lack of detail and animation, noting that the graphics may feel overly simplistic or dated. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received for their ability to create an engaging atmosphere, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack.
- “The retro style brings back memories of old titles like Simon the Sorcerer, The Secret of Monkey Island, or even the King's Quest series, with charming and colorful visuals.”
- “The pixel art style is lovely, and the graphics are simple but charming and cute, matching the campy nature of the game itself.”
- “Darkside Detective has really lovely pixel graphics—some of the best I've personally seen lately—and the soundtrack is wonderful.”
- “A very bare-bones point-and-click adventure with unappealing visuals and lazy puzzle design, but with a great soundtrack.”
- “The graphics are as basic as it's possible to get without actually being classified as cave paintings and there's no character animations.”
- “The graphics could use a bit more resolution (and this is coming from someone that loves classic retro pixel adventure games), but they are serviceable.”
music
203 mentions
70 % positive mentions
28 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the spooky and quirky tone of the gameplay. Composed by Ben Prunty, the soundtrack is noted for its catchy and engaging tunes that complement the visuals and humor, making it a standout feature that many players enjoy even outside of the game. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's charm and immersive experience, with many reviewers expressing a desire to listen to it on repeat.
- “The music grants some gravitas to the game, creating a spooky atmosphere that is inspired by horror classics and can give a certain air of mystery and tension without being overbearing, complementing the visuals along with the story.”
- “The music is great and fits the vibe perfectly.”
- “The soundtrack is phenomenal, atmospheric yet catchy enough to be a tune you'd hum to yourself all day.”
- “The background music is atmospheric but not anything special, which is surprising since it was composed by Ben Prunty, the same composer of the music from FTL.”
- “I don't like its pixel art and music.”
- “The music is decent, and the artwork is only passable, but this is a game that plays to its strengths.”
gameplay
116 mentions
26 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a straightforward point-and-click experience, featuring simple mechanics and a focus on humor, which many players find enjoyable. While some reviews praise its charm and light-hearted puzzles, others criticize it for being overly simplistic and lacking depth, resulting in a relatively short playtime of around 4-6 hours. Overall, the game appeals to fans of classic adventure games but may not satisfy those seeking more complex gameplay.
- “The gameplay is solid and easy enough for people with all levels of experience with the genre.”
- “The gameplay is pretty fun; it's a standard point-and-click game but it has a lot of great mini-games to play that help spice the game up.”
- “What we're left with is a delightful fusion of the tone, aesthetics, and gameplay of classic adventure games and the most important innovation of modern gaming: respecting the player's time.”
- “Maybe it is because I had high expectations to begin with, but I was disappointed by the tedious, chore-like puzzles and unimaginative gameplay.”
- “Mechanically, this game is voluntarily primitive - even for a point-and-click adventure game, it's very no-frills - the characters are static in every scene, there are no walk cycles, no voice acting, and very few special effects.”
- “What could offset the pedestrian gameplay is the story and characters, of course, but the game falls terribly flat here, providing a pre-teen level of storytelling and characterization, not to mention the insufferable forcing of continuously uninspired humor.”
atmosphere
75 mentions
71 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its blend of spooky, quirky, and humorous elements, enhanced by a standout soundtrack and charming visuals. Reviewers appreciate the immersive settings and engaging character interactions, which create a captivating experience that balances lightheartedness with a touch of mystery. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as both enjoyable and memorable, making it a key highlight for players.
- “The music grants some gravitas to the game, creating a spooky atmosphere that is inspired by horror classics and can give a certain air of mystery and tension without being overbearing and complementing the visuals along with the story.”
- “The amazing soundtrack and background art really perfected that quirky-creepy atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is gently creepy and Lovecraft-cozy, without any jump scares or actual horror.”
- “Usually games that involve the supernatural are considered quite hard to penetrate because of their shocking images, dense plot, and oppressive atmosphere that might not be everyone’s cup of tea.”
- “There's no creepy atmosphere and ambiance here, only several jokes, and plenty of style.”
- “Despite having probably too-simple-too-few puzzles and lack of what-the-f**kness a la Lucas Arts, the Darkside Detective is a big thumbs up for its art style, its atmosphere and its humour.”
grinding
14 mentions
21 % positive mentions
-14 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
Reviews of the game's grinding aspect highlight a mixed experience; while some players find the puzzle-solving tedious and chore-like, others appreciate the humor and variety in difficulty. The repetitive nature of certain tasks, such as item collection and clue searching, can detract from enjoyment, but some players feel that the overall gameplay remains engaging and avoids becoming overly grindy. Overall, the balance between tedious elements and entertaining gameplay varies among players.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
- “The grind is satisfying, with each level-up feeling like a significant achievement.”
- “I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels tedious and always offers something new to strive for.”
- “This game was tedious and the lack of character and world building made the puzzle solving devoid of meaning.”
- “Maybe it is because I had high expectations to begin with, but I was disappointed by the tedious, chore-like puzzles and unimaginative gameplay.”
- “Some of the clicking around for useful items, or trying to combine items can be a bit tedious, especially if you miss the clue or hint.”
replayability
12 mentions
25 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, primarily due to its short length and straightforward puzzles typical of point-and-click adventures. While some players appreciate the hidden achievements and enjoyable humor that may encourage a second playthrough, many agree that the lack of significant content variation diminishes the incentive to replay.
- “Fun point-and-click adventure, with hidden achievements that add to the replay value.”
- “Characters are great, jokes are fun, and the story is well written while ensuring replayability.”
- “Hence, the game has some replayability value; however, it's a bit short.”
- “There's not much replay value.”
- “I beat the game in about 3 hours and there's not really any replayability here.”
- “Replayability is fairly limited although I am tempted to go back and look for the last few hidden achievements.”
emotional
9 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game evokes a mix of humor and warmth, highlighted by the heartwarming buddy cop dynamic between the protagonists, which creates genuine emotional moments. While it features charming pixel art and clever puzzles, some players feel it lacks depth and emotional engagement over time. Overall, it leaves a lasting impression of wholesome fun and anticipation for future adventures.
- “This is a brilliant pixel art game, with mostly colorful NPCs and places, weird but accessible riddles, a nerdy sense of humor, and touching moments at times.”
- “The game is carried by the probably-platonic, genuinely heartwarming buddy cop dynamic between protagonist McQueen and his indefatigable, much-weirder sidekick Doolie, as the two of them contend with a variety of cases involving a dark world-style alternate universe known as the Darkside, where politicians are honest, loading times are short, and the economy is booming.”
- “There are genuine heartwarming moments that you would not expect in a game like this.”
character development
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is mixed; while some players appreciate the charm of the classic 8-bit character designs, others criticize the lack of a cohesive story and meaningful character growth. However, there are instances of character development and world-building across the semi-disconnected episodes, suggesting that some depth exists despite the overall shortcomings.
- “[i]dd[/i] is a case study in effective character design.”
- “Character design is a strong point of the game.”
- “There was no character development or any semblance of a story to keep me interested either.”
- “Further, even among the 9 semi-disconnected episodes, there's enough overlap for character development and world-building.”
stability
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a mixed experience with stability; while some found the game to run smoothly without bugs or lag, others encountered persistent issues that hindered gameplay, particularly on older versions. The controls are generally intuitive, but players are advised to consult the guide for a better experience.
- “Runs great, no bugs found, no hiccups of any kind.”
- “Runs great on Linux.”
- “Unfortunately, I couldn't assess the quality of the game since when I initially bought it (1-2 years ago), it had a bug that prevented me from playing it, and when I tried again now, it's still buggy.”