Darwkood game free download for pc

darkwood_game

Darkwood game free download

Darkwood walks a fine line between atmospheric world building and tense standoffs. Players take on the role of a mute man stuck in a forest. After a short prologue sequence that introduces a wicked doctor, the man -- and players, by extension -- are left alone and mostly defenseless. There's only one goal: survive long enough to find your way back home. 

This loose structure manifests in both Darkwood's day/night cycle as well as its randomized maps. During the daytime hours, you're free to wander across the environment, either scouring locations for much-needed supplies or chasing after narrative breadcrumbs. There's plenty to see, like ramshackle buildings and overgrown ritual sites. However, it's rarely safe to linger. Once the sun begins its daily descent what little light that punctured through the foliage creeps away, allowing a host of unsettling and malicious creatures to descend on your position. 


It's during the nighttime hours that Darkwood shifts positions. While you're free to explore and generally soak in the game's creepy atmosphere during the day, your character doesn't stand a chance once night falls. To make it to the next morning, players must retreat to their hideout and prepare for whatever might come knocking at their door. Think of it as a supernatural assault on your hideout. You can barricade windows with boards and nails, push heavy objects against doors, and set bear traps around your base. If those preventative measures don't stop your assailants, then you're left with little choice other than to defend yourself with any weapons on hand. 


I spent most of my time torn on whether I liked the base defense portion of Darkwood. The game does an excellent job of building tension. It's not uncommon for the only light on the screen to come from a single lamp by your side. Shrieks, howls, and myriad other spooky sounds fire off nearby, creating a sense that something is hiding just out of sight. Hearing one of your barricades get ripped down is a dreadful experience, and waiting for a monster to tear through the darkness and attack your is enough to get anyone's heart racing. It's just a shame that combat is so damn clunky. There are plenty of randomized, unique "night events," ranging from all-out sieges by deformed savages to spectral whispering and human sacrifices that make each evening unpredictable. I spent my nights alternating between hiding in a corner, flinching every time I heard something go bump in the night, and sitting stock still, weapon raised and pointed at an entryway. It's tense, quality horror. It's just a shame that when you actually have to fight something, the illusion gets shattered at once.



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