The Secret Of Darkwoods

About

The Secret Of Darkwoods is a single player open world role playing game. It was developed by rap2h and was released on March 27, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

Open-world procedural illustrated text-based RPG

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 85 reviews

story13 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic choose-your-own-adventure books, providing a fun and engaging narrative.
The AI-generated art and music enhance the atmosphere, making the game visually appealing and immersive.
It's a free game that delivers a surprising amount of content and depth, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of text-based RPGs.

The gameplay can feel overly simplistic and repetitive, with many quests resembling fetch quests and lacking meaningful choices.
Combat mechanics can be frustrating due to RNG elements, leading to a reliance on save scumming to progress.
The story and dialogue often lack depth, making the overall experience feel bland and lifeless at times.

story
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
64%
7%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its engaging narrative and art style, while others criticize it for being overly simplistic and relying on common tropes like amnesia. Many users expressed a desire for more meaningful quests and deeper storytelling, as well as a greater variety of side quests to enhance replayability. Overall, while the main story and side quests can be enjoyable, they often lack depth and complexity, leaving players wanting more.
- “I absolutely love the style the story is told, like reading a book. The pictures are really fitting and add a lot to the atmosphere, the music is nice... the texts are well written and a joy to read. I was often surprised by how different a story turned out or what the options to act were.”
- “The first hours will get you hooked and engaged with the stories, the characters, and the world you can slowly discover, quest after quest.”
- “It perfectly captures the essence of the beloved series, with its captivating storytelling, immersive narration, and the rich, open world filled with engaging quests.”
- “I wish the game wasn't so simplified and had more meaningful quests which provoked an emotional response from the player.”
- “Although, I can see why some didn't like the story as the story is basically about a guy who has amnesia, finds out that he's the chosen one, and must save the world from an 'evil king'.”
- “It's mainly a bunch of side-quest dialogue; even the main quest plays like a side-quest dialogue simulator.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its immersive quality and thematic appropriateness, enhancing the overall atmosphere and engagement with the setting. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack complements the story and visuals effectively, making it a standout feature that enriches the gameplay experience. Overall, the music is described as impressive, fitting, and a significant contributor to the game's appeal.
- “The music is amazing and perfect for each area.”
- “Can't forget to mention the lovely ambient music which feels very thematically appropriate and really sells the atmosphere.”
- “The music is truly impressive, matching the classic style and complementing the overall experience.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful art style and well-executed visuals, contributing to an engaging atmosphere reminiscent of an adventure book. However, some players noted issues with repetitive NPC designs and expressed mixed feelings about the use of AI-generated images. Overall, the artwork and interface received positive feedback, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- “Beautiful art style; the story is good.”
- “Like an old-fashioned adventure book game; I like the artwork.”
- “The artwork is well done, and I like the interface.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The gameplay is generally well-received, featuring a compelling story and familiar mechanics that enhance the experience, supported by strong music and art. While some players find it overly simplistic and note that the writing has its flaws, others appreciate the relaxing nature of the gameplay mixed with challenging moments. Overall, it garners a positive rating, with potential for improvement through additional mechanics and customization options.
- “There was a good story, the mechanics were both interesting and familiar, and the music and art really helped paint the picture along with the story and dialogue.”
- “Even without additionally added mechanics and possible customization (which would make it even better - typical RPG crafting/perk systems, thievery, companions, duels, etc.), I'd 100% buy the game.”
- “The gameplay is relaxing, but with some tough challenges along the way.”
- “The gameplay is overly simplistic; the writing is so-so with a few hilarious misses.”
- “Even without additional mechanics and possible customization (which would make it even better - typical RPG crafting/perk systems, thievery, companions, duels, etc.), I'd 100% buy the game.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players feel that the game lacks depth in its quests, resulting in a diminished emotional impact and a desire for more meaningful experiences that could evoke stronger feelings.
- “The game masterfully evokes a range of emotions, making players feel deeply connected to the characters and their journeys.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the story; it left a lasting impact on my heart and mind.”
- “The emotional depth of the narrative truly sets this game apart, allowing players to experience joy, sorrow, and everything in between.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect, noting that the game is not designed for it, yet they find themselves needing to grind to accumulate funds for skill development. This creates a disconnect between the game's intended flow and the necessity of repetitive tasks to progress.
- “I found myself constantly short on funds to build up my skills, which meant I had to figure out ways to grind in a game that really isn't designed for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels tedious and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
- “I spent hours grinding for resources, only to realize that the rewards weren't worth the time invested.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by its lovely ambient music, thematically appropriate visuals, and well-written texts that create an immersive storytelling experience. Players appreciate how the artistic style and narrative choices contribute to a captivating and engaging environment.
- “Can't forget to mention the lovely ambient music, which feels very thematically appropriate and really enhances the atmosphere.”
- “I absolutely love the style in which the story is told; it's like reading a book. The visuals are really fitting and add a lot to the atmosphere. The music is nice, and the texts are well written and a joy to read. I was often surprised by how different the story turned out or what the options to act were.”
- “The ambient music is lovely and thematically appropriate, really enhancing the atmosphere.”
- “The game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, making it hard to immerse myself in the experience.”
- “While the visuals are decent, the overall atmosphere feels flat and uninspired.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game has limited replayability, with a score of 2/10, as players feel that while the story is enjoyable, there isn't much incentive to explore further after the initial playthrough. However, it is noted that the experience is more engaging than expected for a free game.
- “It's way more playable for a free game than I thought.”
- “Replay value: 2/10: the story is fun, but there doesn't feel like there was a whole lot more to explore after my first playthrough.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is hit-or-miss, with some side quests offering absurdly funny scenarios, such as a father requesting the player's help to deal with his zombie son. However, the overall writing quality is inconsistent, leading to a mix of simplistic gameplay and occasional comedic moments.
- “Some of the side quests are hilariously stupid, like the guy who forgot to feed his son and then asked me to kill him because the dead son became a zombie and was making a mess.”
- “The gameplay is overly simplistic, but the writing has a few hilarious moments that stand out.”