Tokyo Dark

About

In "Tokyo Dark," you play as Detective Ito, investigating the disappearance of your partner in Tokyo's criminal underworld. Your choices impact Ito's mental state and the story's outcome, with a unique S.P.I.N system monitoring your decisions. This complex, dark narrative offers a branching path and multiple endings, accompanied by a digital soundtrack and art book in the Collector's Edition.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 768 reviews

story292 positive mentions

stability32 negative mentions

Engaging and thought-provoking story with multiple endings that matter.
Beautiful art style and atmospheric soundtrack that enhance the horror experience.
Unique SPIN system that tracks player choices and affects character interactions.

Major game-breaking bugs that can lead to lost progress and frustration.
Limited gameplay mechanics with few puzzles, making it feel more like a visual novel.
New Game+ mode lacks sufficient skip options for previously read dialogue, making replaying tedious.

story
734 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The story of "Tokyo Dark" is a dark and engaging detective narrative that intertwines elements of horror, mystery, and psychological themes, centering on detective Itō Ayami's quest to find her missing partner amidst supernatural occurrences. While many players appreciate the depth and atmosphere of the story, some criticize its linearity and the limited impact of choices on the overall narrative, leading to mixed feelings about replayability despite the presence of multiple endings. Overall, the game is praised for its compelling storytelling, art, and music, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of narrative-driven games.
- “This game has a dark, complex, and intriguing detective story about a troubled detective who lost her partner, a cursed mask, a missing girl who is involved in an ancient cult, prostitution and murders, and some supernatural elements.”
- “The story is engaging and you really feel for the protagonist as things unfold.”
- “Tokyo Dark is a storytelling masterpiece, featuring a compelling, anime noir story about the occult, supernatural, loss, revenge, and sanity.”
- “None of your choices make any real impact in the story except in the very end where you're given a handful of options for different endings.”
- “It started somehow intriguing enough for me to want to find out how it ends up, but the story never goes much deeper beyond what you're presented with at the very beginning.”
- “The whole dark/mask bearer plot was bad and underwhelming; even in the true ending where you put on the mask, it just cuts to the credits and... that's it, you put it on, the world is saved, the end.”
music
175 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
42%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting its effectiveness in creating tension and immersion. While some tracks are noted for being repetitive or mismatched with certain scenes, the overall soundtrack is described as beautiful, haunting, and fitting for the game's themes, contributing significantly to the player's experience. Despite occasional criticisms regarding volume and looping, the soundtrack is often regarded as one of the standout features of the game.
- “My joy associated with this game is linked primarily to the beautiful settings, and effective use of music and ambience to create a unique atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack is perfect; unnerving when it needs to be, calming when it needs to be, and most importantly, terrifying when it needs to be.”
- “The music and artwork is top notch.”
- “I do recommend this game with the caveat that this is truly very dark and even matched by discordant music in some areas.”
- “However, in some areas of the game the music was too overjoyed for said scenes and maybe a bit too loud, which in a way killed the mood of the main story.”
- “I understand that it was a Kickstarter-backed game, but the music loops after a while can get on your nerves.”
gameplay
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
76%
4%
The gameplay of "Tokyo Dark" primarily revolves around a point-and-click mechanic, which some players found simplistic and lacking in diversity, with minimal puzzles and a reliance on dialogue. While the spin system introduces an interesting concept of managing character stats that could influence the narrative, many reviewers felt it had little impact on gameplay. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging story and atmosphere, but criticized for its limited gameplay depth and the presence of bugs that can disrupt the experience.
- “The gameplay and the concept of the spin system are very interesting and enjoyable.”
- “I got completely hooked on the story and gameplay – so much so that I couldn't resist going for all the achievements and endings.”
- “The gameplay is fun.”
- “However, the spin system, intended to impact gameplay, felt inconsequential to me.”
- “Game doesn't promise anything good if you can get soft-locked from the progression during the first 5 minutes of gameplay just by progressing in 'wrong' order, while the order is not told to you by any way.”
- “The gameplay is simple, but this being a point-and-click slash visual novel, that's a good thing.”
graphics
132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
52%
2%
The graphics in "Tokyo Dark" receive mixed reviews, with many praising the anime-inspired art style and beautifully animated scenes that enhance the game's atmosphere and storytelling. However, some players note inconsistencies in the art quality and mention minor graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the visuals are generally well-received, opinions vary on their execution and polish.
- “But there's something about the way the aesthetics of Japanese religion, with their myths, their wood arch-gate-things, kabuki masks, etc., are shown in this 2D game that, combined with the general sense of immense, blood-soaked history underlying modern Japan and of course the excellent writing, make Tokyo Dark actually unsettling during the horror sections.”
- “Beautifully animated 'anime' visuals which sell the protagonist's character well.”
- “The graphics are beautiful; I loved the inclusion of the popular places, and the story itself is well thought out, with elements introduced at the beginning being brought up later.”
- “Don't let the art style fool you; it's mediocre at best, and your time would be much better spent on other games in the point-and-click genre.”
- “Honestly, the visuals are nothing special; they have been executed in anime style, and that’s it.”
- “The 2D environmental artwork, especially the ones that dress the buildings in Akihabara and Kabukicho, looks amateurish and out of place, as if they belong in another game.”
atmosphere
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
37%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating and eerie qualities, effectively combining beautiful artwork, a haunting soundtrack, and a compelling narrative to create a unique and immersive experience. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke tension and mystery without relying heavily on jump scares, making it suitable for fans of psychological horror. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a standout feature that enhances the storytelling and gameplay, drawing players into its dark and intriguing world.
- “My joy associated with this game is linked primarily to the beautiful settings, and effective use of music and ambience to create a unique atmosphere.”
- “The background of the different locations perfectly sets the mood and the atmosphere in the story - from the lightning and flashing images of the creepy scenes and dark areas, to the colorful and full motion scenery of other districts of the city.”
- “The atmosphere created through the setting throughout the game adds to its eeriness.”
- “The atmosphere is really creepy and the music provides an extra layer of chills.”
- “While they're good, the tracks loop often and it becomes apparent that a lot of the ambient noise you think is being controlled to fit the game's atmosphere is just a part of the soundtrack.”
- “Its horror comes from making you feel uneasy with its heavy and oppressive atmosphere without using unexpected jumpscares.”
replayability
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
56%
8%
The game offers significant replayability primarily due to its multiple endings, with players noting up to 11 different outcomes based on choices made throughout the story. While some reviewers found the overall content limited, many appreciated the branching paths and new game+ features that encourage exploration of different narrative routes. Overall, the replay value is considered high, especially for those who enjoy experimenting with various decisions.
- “Spooky visual novel type game, but cute character designs, multiple endings, and a lot of replay value which adds to the story.”
- “There are 11 completely different endings to the game depending on how things play out, so there's lots of replayability beyond those initial 4 hours.”
- “Great story, interesting characters, and a ton of replay value.”
- “Not a lot of replay value.”
- “A secondary playthrough is something you'll want to do, but the game has no real replay value once you've explored your interests.”
- “At a total of 11 endings, there is a fair amount of replayability, but not much content.”
stability
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting persistent bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some glitches are minor and do not break the game, others can be game-breaking, leading to frustration and the need for restarts. Overall, many recommend waiting for patches or fixes before purchasing, as the game remains a "buggy mess" even years after its release.
- “It scaled perfectly on my monitor’s native resolution, featured no frame rate drops (stable 60fps at all times), and I encountered no glitches, bugs, or crashes to desktop.”
- “I come around 7 years later thinking about reinstalling it, and it appears the game is still an unbearable buggy mess.”
- “Seven years and this game is still a mess full of bugs and glitches.”
- “Game crashes are frequent and so are UI glitches.”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from heartbreak to joy, particularly through its well-crafted endings and character development. Many reviewers reported shedding tears during pivotal moments, highlighting the game's effective storytelling and emotional depth, despite its horror elements. The balance of wholesome and dark themes, along with the impactful choices players must make, contributes to a deeply engaging and emotionally charged experience.
- “I actually shed a tear or two during some of the endings.”
- “Emotionally charged, branching plot with multiple points of choice is great.”
- “They really made me feel that I can't save everyone and I have to live with the consequences of my choices.”
grinding
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
93%
Players frequently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and repetitive, particularly during multiple playthroughs and when attempting to unlock different endings. The lack of efficient save options and a cumbersome dialogue system contribute to a frustrating experience, making the process of exploring the game's content feel laborious and time-consuming. Overall, many find the grind detracts from the enjoyment of the narrative and gameplay.
- “The game can feel a bit grindy at times, but the rewards make it worth it.”
- “Grinding is a necessary part of the experience, and it adds depth to character progression.”
- “While there are moments of grinding, they are balanced by engaging gameplay and rewarding loot.”
- “However, in subsequent playthroughs while more save files are unlocked, you still have to replay the game which eats up a large chunk of time with many of the same events occurring, making acquiring other endings beyond your other ends tedious.”
- “My only complaint is how tedious the game becomes when you’re simply trying to click through to get to a new section or ending you hadn’t yet seen.”
- “For a game with 11 endings, the lack of the ability to save manually makes seeing the other endings tedious, and I'm not inclined to spend my time doing it, even with the [spoilers] in new game plus mode.”
character development
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
Character development in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the solid character designs and appealing animations, particularly for the lead character. However, some reviewers feel that the dialogue and depth of secondary characters could be improved to enhance overall character development. The game's replay value and multiple endings contribute positively to the narrative experience, despite some criticism of the secondary character designs.
- “Spooky visual novel type game, but cute character designs, multiple endings, and a lot of replay value which adds to the story.”
- “Nice character design and realistic approach on psychosis breakdown.”
- “I really enjoyed the character design in this game and the 2D animated scenes particularly stand out as being really nicely animated.”
- “But I feel that there could have been more 'regular' dialogue from her partner for more character development.”
- “The character design is solid, but the animation style ends up feeling a little flash game-y.”
- “From the feeling of playing it to character design, everything is just what you'd expect from a point-and-click game.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the blend of dark and light-hearted moments, while others feel that much of the humor falls flat. The dialogue and character interactions can be entertaining and occasionally hilarious, providing a contrast to the darker themes of the story. Overall, the humor adds a unique flavor to the experience, though its effectiveness varies among players.
- “The darker aspects of the game are diluted even further with a lot of cute and funny dialogue and scenes sprinkled in all throughout.”
- “The animation looks great, the characters are interesting and fun, the conversations range from engaging to entertaining to laugh-out-loud funny; the story hits a good balance between serious horror and light-hearted anime.”
- “(as a cat-lover myself) this was a nice and funny contrast to all the dark themes :)”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
The game's optimization is inconsistent, with some players experiencing bugs and performance issues on mid-tier machines, while others report smooth gameplay, particularly in its simple 2D aspects. Overall, the performance may vary based on system specifications and potential patches.
- “For a simple 2D gameplay, this game runs smoothly.”
- “The game runs smoothly and the story is engaging throughout, with exploration being rewarded.”
- “Optimization runs smoothly without any trouble.”
- “The game's performance is lacking.”
- “I'm not sure if it's due to system performance or if they have patched it now.”