Darkwood on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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Darkwood - a new perspective on survival horror. Scavenge and explore a rich, ever-changing free-roam world by day, then hunker down in your hideout and pray for the morning light.
Darkwood is a horror, survival horror and top-down game
developed and published by Acid Wizard Studio.
Released on August 17th 2017 is available on Windows, MacOS and Linux
in 11 languages: English, Polish, Russian, German, Spanish - Spain, Portuguese - Brazil, Italian, Simplified Chinese, Turkish, Hungarian and French.
It has received 21,618 reviews of which 20,529 were positive and 1,089 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. 😍
The game is currently priced at 3.69€ on Steam with a 75% discount.
The Steam community has classified Darkwood into these genres:
System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- OS *: Windows Vista
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8Ghz or equivalent
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: GeForce 8800GT / ATI Radeon HD 4850
- Storage: 6 GB available space
- Additional Notes: Minimum resolution: 1280x720
MacOS
- OS: OSX 10.8
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8Ghz or equivalent
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: GeForce 8800GT / ATI Radeon HD 4850
- Storage: 6 GB available space
- Additional Notes: Minimum resolution: 1280x720
Linux
- OS: 64-bit Ubuntu 12.04
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8Ghz or equivalent
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: GeForce 8800GT / ATI Radeon HD 4850
- Storage: 6 GB available space
- Additional Notes: Minimum resolution: 1280x720
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
One of the best horror games in a decade. Zero jump scares, zero cheap moments, everything is ambiance and stress to the max. This game is the archetype of a micro-genre that I have dubbed FENS games (fucked-up European Nightmare Shit -- e.g. games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R, Pathologic, Fear and Hunger, etc.). If you want the kind of incredibly nihilistic nightmarish fever dream that only comes with living in post-soviet eastern europe then you're in luck here. The game is split into two main gameplay loops: daytime exploration and plot-progression and nighttime base defense. You must return to your hideout before dark and survive incoming threats as they break into your base, Hiding is not enough, you need to be proactive and set up barriers and defenses and stay mobile within your hideout to survive. Each night will be more difficult than the last, so you can't ever default to a single strategy, it always keeps you on your toes, which is something any horror game worth its salt should do. Day time is the main thrust of the game and where you will have to make a difficult and stressful decision each morning: do you spend your 12 hours of relative "peace" scavenging for resources to help you survive the night or do you try to progress the plot? Your time is finite and the stakes can be very high depending on where you are, what night it is, what you already have, and what difficulty you are on. It makes for some expertly crafted suspense and tense decision making. There's no "playing it safe" there's only "playing it smart", and your ability to make smart decisions with finite resources will be the key to if you succeed or fail. The only real criticism I have of the game is the difficulty. The game warns you that you are playing a hard game and that it will not lead you by the hand. This for the most part is true, and it's a plus. This is not a game that will patronize you with obvious tutorials and foreshadow for you the ramifications of your decisions upfront. You might go the entire game without realizing X mechanic exists because you simply didn't think to try it and the game didn't tell you it exists. This is all great and encourages all sorts of experimentation and replays.--- the problem is that there is a MASSIVE gulf between Normal and Hard difficulty wherein Normal is too easy and Hard is too hard. The biggest problem with Normal difficulty is that there is barely any consequence to death. Sure you will lose random pieces of your inventory, but it will be marked on your map and you can go back and retrieve it whenever you want. It's not like a Souls game where the inventory is permanently deleted upon the next following death if you don't retrieve it-- it's there to be retrieved for the REST OF THE GAME. This is extremely forgiving and discourages taking the threat of being caught out of your hideout during the dark-- sure the forest will kill you, but it will also have you wake up safe at your base at the beginning of the next morning and you can just retrieve your inventory and keep doing whatever you were doing before. It's very abusable as a system and an easy crutch to fall into. Hard mode tries to rectify this by giving you finite lives. You start the game with five lives and once they're gone its game over for good. This is better but is an EXTREME jump in difficulty and consequence. My problem isn't necessarily that hard mode is too hard and normal too easy but that there isn't a mode inbetween more suitable for first time players who still want a feeling of consequence to their deaths/decisions. "Normal" difficulty is too easy, and the jump to hard is too extreme to motivate first time players to try it at the onset. Ideal would be a setting inbetween-- it would be easy enough to do, just have inventory loss upon death be permanent like in the Souls game. The only issue with that would be the devs would need to ensure that quest dependent inventory doesn't drop and disappear upon death, but that would be a very easy piece of code to write. I'm honestly shocked they didn't think to add this. There is one more difficulty, "nightmare" an extreme option for veteran players which is essentially a permadeath mode. This version feels like the most authentic mode possible, but for obvious reasons is not advised for first time players. All that said, I think that Hard mode gives you a better, more intended experience but I also think that its too unforgiving to new players. I would advise that if you want the most legitimate experience possible, you should try the game out for a while on normal, enough to teach you how things work and to understand the rules and limitations and expectations of the game, then start a new game on Hard mode and use that as your main save. This will give you enough time and forgiveness to learn the rules proper before having to worry about life management and potential permadeath. Overall, Darkwood is an excellent title and well worthy of its macabre reputation. It's the kind of horror game that many of us have been longing for, one that does not patronize, infantilize, or hand-hold you. A game that respects your intelligence and punishes your rashness and in return demands respect from you. That's not a metaphor by the way, the game literally tells you up front "be patient-- respect the woods". It's the ONLY piece of advice the game is generous enough to give you and its as well worth heading as the game is worth playing. 9/10
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Finally, a game that accurately simulates my average week here, in rural Eastern Europe.
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Fantastic and peaceful game. Nothing bad ever happens in the middle of the woods.
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One of my absolute favorite games. It's been like 7 years since I've played this, but I still catch myself thinking about it from time to time. I've really never played anything quite like it - It's creepy, atmospheric, grizzly horror done to a masterful degree, so if you're looking for a good horror story to get lost in, this is it. Me being a MASSIVE fan of the horror genre (hence I enjoyed it as much as I did), I was basically in heaven the entire time. First off, replay value is there in spades. Aside from multiple endings and countless side quests and story threads you get to pick and choose between to influence your playthrough, the very world map itself also gets shuffled between each playthrough. I'm not sure the exact extent of the shuffling, I think they just have like 2 or 3 variants for the world map(s) at the very least, but there may be some other smaller differences. Gameplay will take getting used to. It's a topdown game where ammo is limited so you'll often have to rely on melee + dodge mechanics. The more used to it + the various enemy attack patterns you get, the far better you'll do, so just try not to get too discouraged at the start and just take things slow and safe. It also has a very novel "line of sight" mechanic. You have a Metal Gear Solid radar-esque cone that illuminates what's in front of you - and enemies that are not in that cone, won't be drawn. So even though it's top town, you still will be getting ambushed and caught off guard constantly, and the "line of sight" mechanic will even factor in to some creepy moments later on. Another mechanic is DAYLIGHT. The game operates off a day/night cycle, with the idea being you explore during the day, and then return to a safe place at night to survive the nights. Aside from finding resources + story progression, you need to make sure you collect supplies to fortify your refuge as well. And, over time, you'll need to be ready to migrate between refuges so you can start safely exploring new areas further out without running the risk of daylight ending. It definitely gets more punishing as it goes on, but if you do die, you'll respawn back at your last refuge and just need to get back to where you died to reclaim whatever you were carrying when you died. The story is the real selling point, for me at least. You're alone in the woods, something is VERY wrong with both the woods themselves and the people living in them, and you're just trying to get home. Everything else you'll have to figure out by chatting with the locals or examining various world items. It's never really spelled out bluntly, you have to do some leg work to try and connect the dots and grasp the scope of the story here - and even then you'll probably need to dig through fan wikis to really get it lol... But it's great stuff. Everything else, from visuals, sound/music, and the characters themselves, are all top notch and perfectly sells its pitch of a world gone horribly wrong. And despite that horror, I still had a blast just getting lost in it all. It's just a testament to how well made it is - which just makes it all the more of a shame that the dev studio responsible for this has apparently gone on indefinite hiatus, last I heard. I can only hope they're able to make games again some day, cause fresh ideas like this are really what the gaming scene definitely needs more of. Finally, as for you lot reading this: It's an indie game made by clearly passionate people, and it's great - if you think it looks even slightly interesting, then just give it a shot. Worst case scenario you're just throwing money at some passionate small time indie devs - big whoop lol. Better than feeding some gross megapublishers for the latest cookie-cutter garbage...
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I have never before been so intrigued and repulsed by a game to such an extent, simultaneously. This game requires a certain mindset. It starts with Fear. Let's sidestep that for a little while, congratulations. Having reached this review, you already have taken your first steps. You've seen the game's title, you've seen some screenshots, a trailer or two, likely purchased it, maybe booted the title, or even played the first hour of the game, including the small intro perhaps. Now what? It all starts with your thoughts. You've already formed a preconception, a ghost-projection about this game. Based on the evidence you've seen so far, you might think many things about this game. Throw all of that away. There is an important distinction to make - this game does not hold your hand, as it has said, however, when it tells you something - it means it. Listen to the cryptic advice you receive. Do not disregard it, and do not doubt it. It can lead you astray, but for now, any information is crucial. Secondly, immerse yourself in the world and your circumstance. The only thoughts you need to have are of Survival first and foremost, and Fear second. Disregard everything else. Thirdly, this is the only time I believe a "spoiler" will be necessary, and it's not a shocker at all - night will come. The Night is dangerous and you should rightfully be paranoid about it. Time progresses at a steady pace, you have exactly 20 minutes each day. How long the night takes to pass, you'll figure out. Search your immediate surroundings with care, but also with intent. Do not dawdle too much, and once you open your map, there you have it, your first immediate objective. Search that place, get everything you need. And what you need, first of all, is a weapon. Conflict can be avoided, but not when it's breaking down your door. A hint - if you cannot find a reliable weapon on your first day, have a good look in the workbench crafting selection . There might be something there at your disposal. Use it. Before night sets in, you get a very visible warning - the sunset. Be prepared. Listen to Survival and Fear. They mean you well. Depending on your actions during your first night, you may now have an idea of what to do. You've listened to Survival and Fear, and chose to confide in one of them. Prepare for what is to come, get your bearings. You have an inordinate amount of time at your disposal now, make use of it. Invite Survival and Fear back to your table, and discuss the plans you'll undertake. And if things don't go according to your plan, it's perfectly fine to let either of them take over. They will try their best. Now go, explore. The world is not as dangerous as it may seem, and you are more cunning than you think. At least, for now.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Darkwood is currently priced at 3.69€ on Steam.
Darkwood is currently available at a 75% discount. You can purchase it for 3.69€ on Steam.
Darkwood received 20,529 positive votes out of a total of 21,618 achieving an impressive rating of 9.27.
😍
Darkwood was developed and published by Acid Wizard Studio.
Darkwood is playable and fully supported on Windows.
Darkwood is playable and fully supported on MacOS.
Darkwood is playable and fully supported on Linux.
Darkwood is a single-player game.
There are 2 DLCs available for Darkwood. Explore additional content available for Darkwood on Steam.
Darkwood does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
Darkwood supports Remote Play on TV. Discover more about Steam Remote Play.
Darkwood is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for Darkwood.
Data sources
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Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 24 October 2025 11:31 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 29 October 2025 20:58 |
| Steam price | 29 October 2025 20:44 |
| Steam reviews | 27 October 2025 11:51 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Darkwood, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Darkwood
- SteamCharts - Analysis of Darkwood concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Darkwood compatibility
Game modes
Features
Online players
190
Developer
Acid Wizard Studio
Publisher
Acid Wizard Studio
Release
17 Aug 2017
Platforms
Remote Play
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