Darq

Darq has a few frustrating stealth encounters, sure, and some jump scares that grated on my nerves in the wrong sort of way. However, those blunders weren't enough to diminish the sense of wonder I had helping Lloyd navigate his nightmares. Just like a dream, Darq can be as baffling as it is beautiful at times, but it’s a wonderful taste of surrealism rarely seen in games.

Darq is a beautifully stylish, Tim Burton-esque romp through the subconscious dream-world of a young boy which manages to be spectacular even with a very short length. The minor niggles here and there are easily ignored thanks to a great tone and a great amount of polish for the first effort from an indie studio.

While there are moments where the spookiness clicks, like its hectic climax, the rest is forgettable. It will give a fright once in a while, but that shock quickly disappears. It’s the fluffy type of horror, something with the trappings but not the depth. It’s not an amateur production, but it is less eerie than it should be. Horror is subjective, but I cannot suggest DARQ for its scares. Playing ...

Developed almost entirely by a solo developer, DARQ is an unbelievably impressive puzzle game that manages to be equal parts creepy and intelligent. Using perspective to alter the game space, DARQ will have you lost in a Burton-esque nightmare where you’ll have to bend space and defy gravity in order to succeed.