DARQ: Complete Edition

About DARQ: Complete Edition

DARQ was made by the independent studio Unfold Games and came out on Windows PC in August 2019. The Complete Edition on Steam adds two extra chapters, The Tower and The Crypt, each with new mechanics and locations. On PlayStation, Xbox and Switch it is now sold as "DARQ Ultimate Edition", published by Feardemic, which holds the same game and both chapters plus DARQ: Dream Journal, a 60-page digital graphic novel; the Xbox and Nintendo stores list it from March 2023.

Lloyd realises he is dreaming, and the dream turns bad. Every attempt to wake up fails, so he explores the darkest corners of his own mind, a world of grey corridors, gears, cages and strange statues, to work out what it means. There is no dialogue; the story is told through places and objects.

You move him through rooms seen from the side. He can walk up walls and onto ceilings, which turns the room with him, and he can shift parts of the dream: moving things, rotating rooms, and carrying and using items he finds. The puzzles are built from these rules. When creatures are near he must hide, wait and slip past, since they are stronger and faster than he is.

The horror is quiet and slow: a creepy mood and sound design by Bjørn Jacobsen, rather than gore. The developer puts the main game at about 2.5 to 4 hours, comparable in scope to INSIDE and LIMBO, and there are optional hidden secrets for players who want more. Some critics found the stealth and the carrying of items back and forth tedious, and one puzzle section can be hard on players prone to motion sickness.

Players on Steam have rated it highly, and the publisher lists twelve awards and nominations, among them Best Adventure Game and Best Game Music at Chainsaw Festival 2020. It suits players who liked Little Nightmares or LIMBO and want something stranger and more puzzle-led.

How to play DARQ: Complete Edition

1. Buy DARQ on Steam, or "DARQ Ultimate Edition" on PlayStation, Xbox or Switch, and start the main story.
2. Move Lloyd through each room and look for objects you can carry or use.
3. Walk onto walls and ceilings to turn the room and reach new paths.
4. Rotate and shift parts of the dream to solve each puzzle.
5. When a creature is near, stay in the dark, wait for your chance and sneak past.
6. Play The Tower and The Crypt chapters afterwards for more puzzles.

Tips

• Watch enemy movement before you move; most are dangerous only if they notice you.
• Try walking on every wall: many solutions come from turning the room.
• Listen closely, since the sound often tells you where something is coming from.
• Look for hidden secrets if you want more, they are optional.

Questions