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

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,490 reviews

humor1,621 positive mentions

grinding26 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 short and self-contained, making it easy to play in bite-sized sessions.

The puzzles are often too simple and lack challenge, making the game feel short.
There is little to no overarching story connecting the cases, which may leave players wanting more depth.
Some jokes and humor may fall flat for certain players, leading to a less enjoyable experience.

humor
1,633 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in "The Darkside Detective" is a significant highlight, with many players praising its clever writing, witty dialogue, and a plethora of pop culture references that evoke nostalgia. While some found the humor to be hit-or-miss, with certain jokes falling flat or becoming repetitive, the overall consensus is that the game successfully blends lightheartedness with engaging storytelling, making it a charming and entertaining experience. The dynamic between the main characters, particularly their banter, adds to the game's comedic appeal, making it a recommended choice for fans of humorous point-and-click adventures.
- “I love the humor in this game.”
- “The humor sprinkled throughout via the portrayal and interactions between characters was quite effective in putting smiles on my face.”
- “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
611 mentions
35 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story in "Darkside Detective" is presented as a series of self-contained cases rather than a single overarching narrative, which some players find refreshing while others see it as a missed opportunity for deeper storytelling. The humor is a standout feature, with witty dialogue and pop culture references that keep the tone light and engaging, though the lack of character development and a compelling plot can leave some feeling disconnected. Overall, while the game offers entertaining and quirky narratives, it may not satisfy those seeking a more substantial or cohesive story experience.
- “The story is intriguing, the environments are interesting, and there are a lot of funny moments throughout.”
- “The darkside detective is an amazing game, with witty writing and a compelling story.”
- “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
421 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. While some players appreciate the aesthetic and find it endearing, others criticize the limited animations and blocky designs, suggesting that the graphics may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the pixelated artwork is generally well-received, enhancing the game's humor and atmosphere, despite some concerns about its simplicity and lack of detail.
- “The retro style can bring 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 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'n'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
410 mentions
71 % 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 humorous elements of the gameplay. Composed by Ben Prunty, the soundtrack is noted for its catchy, retro-inspired tunes that complement the pixel art and overall aesthetic, making it a standout feature that many players enjoy listening to repeatedly. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and immersive experience, despite some critiques regarding the simplicity of the gameplay.
- “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 music is great too, I don't mind listening to it on loop for a very long time.”
- “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
234 mentions
26 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is primarily a straightforward point-and-click experience, featuring simple mechanics and a focus on humor, which many players find enjoyable. While some appreciate the light-hearted puzzles and charming aesthetics, others criticize the gameplay for being overly simplistic and lacking depth, with a relatively short playtime of around 4-6 hours. Overall, the game is seen as a fun, casual experience, but it may not satisfy those seeking more complex or challenging gameplay.
- “No bubbles, no troubles: the gameplay is easygoing, with straightforward puzzles.”
- “The gameplay is solid and easy enough for people with all levels of experience with the genre.”
- “The gameplay never becomes frustrating or requires much guessing (which is important for a point-and-click game like this), and the dialogue is consistently funny.”
- “Maybe it is because I had high expectations to begin with, but I was disappointed by the tedious, chore-like puzzles and unimaginative gameplay.”
- “I suppose the gameplay's shortcomings could be overlooked if the story was compelling, but it's just a formulaic pastiche of tropes from supernatural television shows, horror movies, and other, better adventure games.”
- “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 characterisation, not to mention the insufferable forcing of continuously uninspired humour.”
atmosphere
150 mentions
71 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its blend of humor, engaging visuals, and a standout soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the charmingly eerie and quirky ambiance, which is complemented by well-crafted characters and intriguing settings, making it enjoyable for fans of supernatural themes and point-and-click adventures. While some note that the atmosphere can be overwhelming for sensitive players, the general consensus is that it successfully creates an immersive and entertaining environment.
- “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
28 mentions
0 % positive mentions
7 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a mixed experience with grinding in the game. While some players found the puzzle-solving and item collection tedious and chore-like, others appreciated the humor and variety in difficulty, noting that the game generally avoids the pitfalls of tedious gameplay. Overall, the enjoyment of the game seems to hinge on personal expectations and tolerance for repetitive tasks.
- “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
24 mentions
13 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has limited replayability, typical for point-and-click adventures, with most players completing it in a few hours. While challenging puzzles and hidden achievements may encourage some players to revisit, many feel that the experience is largely complete after the first playthrough. The enjoyable characters and humor provide some incentive to return, but the lack of substantial content for multiple runs is a common sentiment.
- “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 (don't take my playtime hours into account, I let the game run while I was attending to other tasks on my computer - I think I actively spent 6 hours or so on it).”
- “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
19 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartwarming buddy cop dynamic between the protagonists, McQueen and Doolie, which evokes genuine warmth and nostalgia. Players appreciate the blend of quirky humor and touching moments, although some feel the game lacks depth and emotional involvement overall. Despite minor criticisms, the charming and wholesome experience leaves players eager for more adventures in the future.
- “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 alter 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.”
- “I am already hyped for a sequel/new cases because I want to experience this homely and generally warm feeling this game made me feel, again.”
character development
10 mentions
20 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is mixed; while some players appreciate the character designs that become more appealing over time, many criticize the lack of substantial character growth or a cohesive story. However, there are instances of character development and world-building across the game's episodic structure, suggesting that some depth exists despite the overall sentiment.
- “[i]dd[/i] is a case study in effective character design.”
- “Character design+”
- “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
10 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Overall, user experiences with stability are mixed; while some players report smooth performance and no bugs, others have encountered persistent issues that hinder gameplay. Notably, the game runs well on Linux, but there are mentions of bugs that have remained unresolved for some users over time.
- “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.”
- “Even though the game has potential, it is plagued by bugs that significantly hinder the experience.”
- “The game is enjoyable, but the frequent crashes and glitches make it frustrating to play.”