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The Dark

$1.99
Release Date:
Platforms:
Windows
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About This Game

You come round as your escape pod plummets into the inky waters of a distant flooded planet. Comms are down and power failing. You have no choice but to head out into.. the dark.

This is a game idea that has been floating around my head for 20 years or so. I’m a triple AAA dev but had a couple of weeks off between jobs. I decided to finally make this as a short personal game jam in 2020. I was pretty happy with the results- obviously given it’s just me it was pretty rough around the edges. I released part one then. I've since come back to it every now and again esp now my daughter is very interested in helping with writing etc. I've now released part two, polished some (but not all) of the rough edges and extended the story on to maybe an hour or so of gameplay, maybe a bit more if you take your time and explore.

Looking forwards to finishing the final part and the story this year (I'm writing this in May 2023... if your reading this way in the future tell me to get my ass into gear!)

The game works well in non VR 1st person camera and VR. I've done some work to make this work well in both modes.

I’m loving this as a VR experience however if you are playing in VR I’d describe it as “Medium” comfort level. It starts pretty rough, but I’ve tried to keep decent smooth periods between higher action (and motion) moments. However…if you are sensitive, you might just get seasick, if so unplug and fire it up again without VR. Also its control pad only for the moment (no touch controller etc) support. I hope to add that later - although the pad does work well for the interface that you need to pilot the pod touch is just more involved.

You can expect to crash land in your pod on a dark ocean planet. As you explore a story will unfold with full voiceover as you pilot your escape pod over dark waters unlock the secrets of the planet.

If you enjoy it, please leave me some encouragement.

Thanks for playing and good luck out there, Captain.

Screenshots

User Reviews

Mostly Positive
7 user reviews
71%
Positive
11 min at review
Not Recommended

The only thing I kept thinking about while “playing” ‘The Dark’ was what the point of it was. You seem to be in some sort of jetboat pod thing and you can speed towards balls of light. There is no music, no sound effects and seemingly no gameplay at all. Some of the wave effects are nice I suppose as well as the light effects, but there is just no point to it. You should have been in glass or something to protect you, you should have been able to jump into and out of the water if you wanted and maybe the waves got stronger the more time went on. It might only cost £0.79, but I won't be recommending this anytime soon.

11 helpful 1 funny
1 hrs at review
Recommended

[h1]Experienced on the Meta Quest 2[/h1] You can view my review & gameplay here: https://youtu.be/YFXH7Xd25Y4 I really did enjoy this narrative-driven experience. However, it ends abruptly with a To Be Continued. Obviously, it is in Steam Early Access and it only retails for .99 cents normal price. If the developer ever gets around to finishing the game and the second half of the game is as interesting as the first half, then those who bought in Early Access will truly have gotten themselves a steal of a price. Beware though, motion controllers are not currently supported (dev says he plans to support them in the future). However, the game hasn't been updated in over a year. The last communication from the dev is on the Steam forums from back in October of 2021. It is yet to be seen if this game will ever be updated again. However, since it only is .99 cents and what is there is good quality, I can recommend this game. The game is currently about 40-50 minutes long. The dev himsel...

8 helpful 1 funny
34 min at review
Recommended

I have only played around thirty minutes but I actually liked it. Yes, it is short game (20-30 as of now). Yes, there is not a whole lot to do. But the best part is not knowing what is going to happen next. I got scared because I didn't know if the things I was seeing was going to try to eat me or not. I look forward to what will come next. Side note: Please turn up the narration. The wave and wind got so loud I couldn't really hear what was being said. Other side note: WAVE JUMPING IS FUN!!

4 helpful
42 min at review
Not Recommended

I wanted to leave a positive review because it was interesting and enjoyable but then it crashed and made me start from the beginning so at this stage I can't. Intriguing story and cute wildlife.

3 helpful
55 min at review
Recommended

It is very nice game that appeals to those looking for something different. Especially if you play it in VR, you can deeply experience one of the unique moments, the feeling of loneliness on a distant planet. I had no idea what I was playing before. So, it was boring at first. Later, I was impressed when I got used to the environment while starting to get the idea. If you feel you get stuck in the beginning like me, be patient and go far towards darkness into the ocean to explore. From the small and distorted dialogue between the character and the AI ​​assistant, you vaguely realize that you are in the middle of an intriguing story, and the mystery begins. Voice over is good by the way, and completes the whole experience as part of a believable space journey. I played it with Xbox controller, motion controllers doesn't work. I wish it supported motion controller. Just because I am too lazy to plug an extra hardware into my computer while we already have in our hands. I am look...

1 helpful
1 hrs at review
Recommended

played in vr with quest 2. this game is a gem. plays with a gamepad. i liked the controls. very simple, no handicaps, vr legs required here. the game is about 30 minutes of riding a ball around on an ocean in the dark. find points of light and chase em around a bit, back into the dark to find the next. light story, very good voice work, ends on a cliff hanger. $1? just do it.

1 helpful
48 min at review
Recommended

Simple gameplay with a good start to a story. I liked jumping high. Colors were pretty. Would like a save feature.

System Requirements

Minimum

Minimum:
  • OS: Window 10
  • Processor: 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5 3450, 4.0 GHz AMD FX-8350
  • Graphics: GTX 680 or equivalent
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • VR Support: SteamVR. Gamepad required

Recommended

Recommended:
  • OS: Window 10
  • Graphics: GTX 1080

FAQ

How much does The Dark cost?

The Dark costs $1.99.

What are the system requirements for The Dark?

Minimum: Minimum: OS: Window 10 Processor: 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5 3450, 4.0 GHz AMD FX-8350 Graphics: GTX 680 or equivalent DirectX: Version 11 VR Support: SteamVR. Gamepad required Recommended: Recommended: OS: Window 10 Graphics: GTX 1080

What platforms is The Dark available on?

The Dark is available on Windows PC.

Is The Dark worth buying?

The Dark has 71% positive reviews from 7 players.

When was The Dark released?

The Dark was released on Apr 12, 2021.

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