Review · Action · Xbox One · Nintendo Switch · PlayStation 4
Darkwood
Reviewed: 30 Apr 2026
Xbox One · Nintendo Switch · PlayStation 4 · PC · macOS · Linux
Crunching Koalas · 2017
Ludograph rating
B
Good
65 /100
Darkwood is a survival horror game that fosters problem solving and strategic thinking, but contains intense, unsettling content.
Growth (BDS)
49
Risk (RIS)
3
Daily limit
–
Age guidance
17+
Developmental benefits
| B1 | Cognitive | 0.62 | |
| B2 | Social-emotional | 0.23 | |
| B3 | Motor | 0.55 | |
Darkwood offers significant cognitive benefits through its emphasis on problem-solving, strategic thinking, and adaptive challenge in a hostile, unpredictable world. Players must constantly analyze their environment, plan their actions, and adapt to new threats, fostering critical thinking and resource management skills. The crafting system also encourages a degree of creativity.
Design risks
| R1 | Compulsion-loop pressure | 0.03 | |
| R2 | Monetization | 0.00 | |
| R3 | Social risk | 0.06 | |
The primary risks in Darkwood stem from its intense survival horror content, including high levels of fear and horror, and references to unsettling biological processes. The bleak and untrusting atmosphere, while contributing to the game's immersion, could be emotionally challenging for some players. While not manipulative, the game's challenging nature and lack of hand-holding could lead to frustration for those seeking a more guided experience.
Content (not in risk score)
| R4.1 | Violence Level | 1.00 | |
| R4.2 | Sexual Content | 0.00 | |
| R4.3 | Language | 0.33 | |
| R4.4 | Substance References | 0.67 | |
| R4.5 | Fear / Horror | 1.00 | |
Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.
Regulatory design checks · DSA — Assessed: meets criteria·GDPR-K — Assessed: meets criteria·ODDS — Assessed: meets criteria
- DSA:What Ludograph checks: whether the game's design gives minors the transparency the EU Digital Services Act expects: plain terms, honest defaults, and clear reporting routes.: Estimated from review data. No dark pattern or child-targeting concerns found.
- GDPR-K:What Ludograph checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8.: Estimated from review data. No privacy or child-targeting concerns found.
- ODDS:What Ludograph checks: whether paid random-reward drop rates are disclosed, as required in China, Japan and South Korea.: Estimated from review data. No paid random-reward mechanics found, so drop-rate disclosure requirements do not apply.
These reflect Ludograph's assessment of the game's design practices against each framework's criteria, not a legal compliance determination.