Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 72 | 19 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 88% | 81 | 112 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 88% | 81 | 23 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Feb 16, 2026) · 22 reviews sampled · 23 total reviews in window · weighted 16 up / 2.3 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (12)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 70
“Dead of Darkness's memorable characters, satisfying narrative twists, and thoughtful design elements left a strong impression.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While it takes its time getting into the meat of things, despite this being more of a 16-bit throwback affair, it’s one of the better horror games out in the eShop”
read full review ↗ - 83
“The game creates a really cool atmosphere, combined with fun and challenging exploration. In addition, the puzzles and clue system help to differentiate the game from its peers, challenging the player while also keeping them intrigued to discover what lies ahead.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Dead of Darkness channels classic survival horror yet carves its own identity with a twisty story and sharp design. Combat and puzzles are serviceable but dragged down by cheap insta-kills.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“A lot of love for the survival horror genre has been put into Dead of Darkness, which shows in every aspect of the design. However, repetitive combat, constant inventory management, and frequent backtracking undercut the competent puzzle design and solid narrative. As a game so beholden to genre tropes and classic design, Dead of Darkness feels like it never quite knows how to play into its strengths. If you are a die-hard survival horror fan you might get some enjoyment over the throwback vibes-but otherwise, it may be better left in the dark.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Dead Of Darkness is a love letter to survival horror games of the past, all be it with 16-bit graphics and better voice acting. It takes some of the best parts of games like Resident Evil, twists it into an SNES style package, and just lets it be what it is. In a world full of video game’s with giant open worlds that are big for the sake of being big it’s refreshing to play a game that knows exactly what it is and doesn’t try to be anything else. That said the lack of a system to track where you’re going did get me lost a few times after I shut the game off for the night. As stated above a spot in the menu to look at previous dialog in the game would fix this and it’s something used in this genre of game. If old school survival horror is your thing I highly, highly recommend this game.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Dead of Darkness is a creepy and challenging survival horror title with an interesting story that makes you want to solve the mystery of what is happening here.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“All in all, Dead of Darkness is a great 2D Resident Evil tribute that brings plenty of its own ideas to the table. There could have been less reliance on instakills late in the game and the attempts to feed in some Eternal Darkness style sanity effects are underdone, but the core gameplay, the puzzles, and the twisting narrative are all well worth the price of entry.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“It gets a lot of the things you love about classic horror games just right and presents them in a visual style that’s rather unusual for the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and perhaps that’s why I have scored Dead of Darkness so highly. Nothing in Dead of Darkness is particularly flashy, but everything is done extremely well and faithfully to its source. If you prefer the Resident Evil series from 4 onwards, then this will not be for you, but fans of Resident Evil 1, 2, and maybe even 3 need a piece of this blood-curdling action!”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Will you manage to escape the darkness before it eats you alive?”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Despite its ominous title, Dead of Darkness shines as a rare beacon in the modern horror landscape, which often relies on remakes to deliver meaningful experiences. With meticulously crafted pixel art and a compelling narrative, this indie title embraces old-school survival horror mechanics reminiscent of the original Resident Evil. From inventory management to locked doors and scattered puzzles, this game, developed by one single person, offers a nostalgic yet gripping challenge for genre enthusiasts. And for those who crave even greater difficulty, two additional unlockable modes beyond "Hard" will push your survival instincts to the limit.”
read full review ↗
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GamesurfPatch history
- Update #8 - Cistern overhaul, obstacles on maps, additional storage chestFeb 16, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Trading Cards, Console Ports and Sale!Apr 10, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Update 6 - 08.04.2025Apr 8, 2025
- Update 5 - 03.03.2025Mar 2, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Update 4 - 16.02.2025Feb 16, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Update 3 - 02.02.2025Feb 2, 2025
- Update 2 - Build 1.1.6Jan 31, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Update 1 - 26.01.2025 - Build 1.1.5Jan 26, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Story TrailerJun 6, 2024