Development for the project began in 2015, when Marhulets downloaded a copy of the Unity game engine and decided to learn more about computer programming and the creation of 3D models during his spare time.

Development and release ĭarq was developed by Unfold Games, an independent studio founded by professional composer Wlad Marhulets. Both levels introduced new gameplay mechanics, achievements, and puzzles which are more challenging than gameplay content found in the base game. Lloyd has no means of defending himself: he must sneak past or outrun enemies, often by taking advantage of the physics system that governs his dream world.Īn upgraded and expanded version called Darq: Complete Edition includes two additional levels, “The Tower” and “The Crypt”.

To accomplish this, Lloyd may walk on an adjacent wall, or pull a relevant lever. A key gameplay mechanic is the ability to change Lloyd's perspective or his surroundings as part of the solution for the game's many puzzles. He can walk left or right, and interact with environmental features like picking up objects or climbing through gaps. The player controls Lloyd throughout the game, which is set in a 'zero-gravity lucid dream'. Darq received mixed or average reviews on PC and PlayStation 5, whereas the Nintendo Switch version received a more favorable reception.ĭarq is presented as a 2D side-scroller with greyscale graphics, and is predominantly accompanied by minimalist ambient sounds. Prior to the game's release, Darq gained significant media attention following public disclosure by Unfold Games founder Wlad Marhulets that he had rejected numerous offers from several publishers as well as an exclusivity deal with the Epic Games Store. An updated version of the game titled Darq: Complete Edition, which collects the base game and all downloadable content, was released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on December 4, 2020, and ported for multiple console platforms in March 2021.

The game was initially released for Microsoft Windows on August 15, 2019. Marketed as a psychological horror game, Darq follows a boy named Lloyd, who is trapped in a lucid dream state, as he manipulates the physics system which governs his dream world in order to solve puzzles and evade enemies. Darq (stylized as DARQ) is a puzzle- platform adventure game developed by independent studio Unfold Games.

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