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) | – | 76 | 12 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 94% | 88 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 72 | 4 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 2 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 7 reviews sampled · 5 total reviews in window · weighted 3.6 up / 0 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (31)
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.
- 75
“DARQ Complete Edition is a dark puzzle platformer in which you must help a boy named Lloyd navigate a seemingly endless loop of nightmares. Its lack of story and solid scares may disappoint some players, but it’s a solid pick-up for those seeking a quick, creepy gaming experience.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Deep atmosphere, rare setting and cool puzzles are tied up with lackluster music, boring monster encounters, and a plot, that's a little way too obscure. There is a lot to like about DARQ, but be ready for many shortcomings.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Darq: Complete Edition is a solid puzzle game with a familiar look and an adequate challenge. The inclusion of two puzzle-heavy additional levels help affirm its identity, but it still always feels a bit torn between its two worlds.”
read full review ↗ - 71
“With a dark and strange look that feels like it comes from the mind of either Tim Burton, or at least one of his contemporaries, there's no doubt that DARQ easily catches the eye...”
read full review ↗ - 70
“DARQ: Complete Edition is a very curious and compelling living nightmare. Fans of puzzle adventures games like Myst or Broken Sword will find the alluring mystery and quandaries to solve to be very satisfying. The art direction is impressive, and for a title that was developed by an incredibly small team, it is comparable to mid-level developed indie creations. It is simplicity in a very pure form, and that is why it works so well... at least when it doesn't glitch.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Despite its short playtime, DARQ: Complete Edition is a good puzzle / platform game that you can enjoy. It is perfect for those who want a little scare while solving puzzles.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“DARQ: Ultimate Edition stands out with great visual and audio design, immersing you within its nightmarish dream world without needing to say a single word. Your time playing as Lloyd, while short, will be a memorable one full of clever puzzles, strange enemies, and physics-bending mechanics.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Darq initially intrigued me with its Tim Burton inspired dream world and brain bending puzzles. Sadly, things moved sharply in decline after those positive first impressions. Tedious stealth sections often killed the pace, as did all the trudging back and forth to collect items, and the dizzying nausea-inducing puzzle section? That's just mean. Darq is less the compelling brilliance of Nightmare Before Christmas and more the baffling misfire that was Alice in Wonderland.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“DARQ is a masterclass indiegame with brilliant level design and perfect audio. The brevity of the experience is only amplified by the uniquely grim aesthetic and the mindbending levels that make you hunger for more.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Despite its short playtime, DARQ: Complete Edition is a good puzzle / platform game that you can enjoy. It is perfect for those who want a little scare while solving puzzles.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“DARQ may be short, but it’s the perfect length to ensure it never outstays its welcome. It uses clever puzzles and a fantastic atmosphere to draw you in, then challenges you just the right amount to keep you invested. The inclusion of the DLC makes the Complete Edition the best way to play, and if you enjoy a mind-bending and physics-twisting puzzler, you’ll love everything DARQ has to offer.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“DARQ is an experience that I’m glad I finally got to play. It offers unique puzzles and mechanics within a macabre theme that I love. It really made an effort to create a seamless experience that had me playing all the way through and enjoying every moment. I will mention that it is quite short, but I don’t mind as it offered a tight experience that had me engaged the entire time.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
GameMAG
Jump Dash Roll
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3
Merlin'in Kazanı
GameGrin
TheSixthAxis
ThisGenGaming
GameSpew
WayTooManyGames…and 19 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch 1.3.2bDec 10, 2020
- Patch 1.3.2Dec 9, 2020
- Patch 1.3.1Dec 7, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- 1.2.1 Controller PatchMar 8, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- 1.2 Update is here (required to play DLC)Mar 5, 2020
- DLC Development UpdateJan 5, 2020
- Steam Award Nomination + DLC UpdateNov 28, 2019
- DARQ: 1.1 UpdateAug 26, 2019
- DARQ soundtrack preview & development updateMay 25, 2019