TLDR: just play the game lolA dark room has quite a reputation in the idle game genre, and it’s for a very good reason. When you start the game, it seems like any other idle game except that it doesn’t really have graphics(honestly a good thing if you ask me don’t know why people are one starring this masterpiece because of it), and it seems very story focused. Speaking of the story, it is very good. I really didn’t expect it to be that good. The first major story beat of this game(when you get the cart I think) really suprises you with how sudden it is, and sets up the rest of the game very well. The game can get fairly boring at the beginning, but once you get to exploring the outside of your little town you won’t put the game on hold for a long time. It’s surprisingly deep and mysterious for what it is, and I highly recommend it. Also, for anybody who one starred the game because of the uncomfortable nature of the first story beat(again, no spoilers), you obviously didn’t go any further because what happens at that point really evolves and becomes very interesting as you continue the game. In terms of the gameplay, it is actually pretty deep and has you thinking on how you can get the resources needed for the crafting recipe fast and efficiently. The In-game events that happen can really leave you thinking on your feet and can have some interesting damage control solutions. But I could talk all day about this game, so I will leave it at this: pay price, play game, get your whole village massacred of 40 people by just one wolf(for some reason), rage, leave 5 star review with a wall of text.

update: sound now saves! Sound sensitive folks beware— the new version starts at 100% volume every time. There’s no way to permanently adjust or disable sound. I started playing this in 2014 when it was new and was fascinated by the simple set up and rich storytelling. Once every few years I’ll come back to it. It’s fun to play with different goals in mind - how quickly, with or without huts, cover the whole map or just get what you need, etc. The new interface roll out for the 10th anniversary is overall a big improvement. As with any UI change if you’re used to the old way, it takes a while to get used to the new way. For me, the hardest thing to get used to was the fact that some of the timing and features are actually different. So some strategies I used before don’t really apply in the same way. That does add to the fun to have new challenges though. I would give this five stars if it weren’t for the fact that I can’t disable volume in the 2024 version. Assuming they adjust that in an app update, I’ll give the fifth star then 😁

I’ve had ADR since it first released and I’ve played The Ensign and A Noble Circle too. Many many many times. At this point, I’ve completed the game so many times and I’m so used to it that I can beat it in about an hour start to finish. Somehow, even…what? A decade later? I still enjoy playing the game even though I know precisely what will happen. It has become my bed time mantra. Somehow, playing this game, stoking the fire, running through the motions, has given me a way to quiet my mind and go to sleep. I literally play it every night before bed. The small lines of dialogue have become even more relatable and this game now truly brings me a sense of solace. When I first started, I had a sense of wonder and horror and imagination strike through me when I played the game. It’s a brilliantly done story. Done perfectly with so little. I have loved it from the start and hope to have it for years to come. Please play The Ensign too. It’s worth it. Enjoy the little Easter eggs that were planted in there. Question your morals. Embark in chaos. Go forth and conquer.

Myself and 4 of my cousins have always been very into various types of gaming. Personally I had never experienced a game similar to this in any way. At first I was indifferent about it, It wasn’t as if I had lost interest seconds into it, but I wasn’t sure what it was all about. I took my time, I read every little message that popped up and carefully progressed through the game, soaking up every little detail. I finished the game for the 7th time earlier today and decided I would leave a review just because of how extraordinary I find this game. I want to say a huge thank you to Amir and Michael for all of the time, effort, and thought put into A Dark Room. I 10/10 recommend this game to anyone who wants to expand their gaming genre and explore a text based, time extensive game. Please take your time and try to appreciate everything about the game, and I promise you it will be worth it and you will love it. P.S. The Ensign is also a very great game and once I have ventured farther into it and beaten it just a couple more times I will be sure to leave a review there as well.