Dark Deception

About Dark Deception

Dark Deception is a story-driven horror game by Glowstick Entertainment, released on Steam in 2018. It comes in chapters: the first is free, and the later ones are sold as add-ons. A 2D spin-off, Super Dark Deception, is on consoles.

Each level is a maze to clear, closer to Pac-Man than to a hiding game. You gather the soul shards scattered through it while one or more monsters chase you, and earn powers that help you stun enemies, move faster or see through walls. The first maze is a hotel stalked by murderous monkey bellhops; later nightmares bring new creatures with their own behaviour.

The store promises there is nowhere to hide and nowhere to catch your breath, and that is the source of the fear: you must keep moving with something always close behind. The monsters are grotesque and cartoonish, and the game avoids gore in favour of dark humour, so it suits players who want frights without blood.

It suits players who like fast chase horror with mascot monsters, in the line of Poppy Playtime or Bendy, and anyone wanting a free start.

How to play Dark Deception

1. Download the free first chapter from Steam.
2. Enter a maze and look for the soul shards scattered through it.
3. Run from the monsters; you can stun them but never kill them.
4. Pick up powers and use them when a monster corners you.
5. Watch for traps in the maze itself.
6. Collect every shard to open the way out and escape the nightmare.

Tips

• Keep moving; standing still is how you get caught.
• Learn each monster's behaviour, since every nightmare has its own.
• Save your powers for tight spots rather than using them at once.
• Clear shards in loops so you do not trap yourself in dead ends.

Questions