Dark Lands

Why We Picked Dark Lands

Dark Lands is built around the route through the level, and the level design does the explaining that the text does not. Forgiving about the retry and strict about the route, which is the right balance. It is more forgiving than it looks, since most hazards can be walked away from rather than fought. It holds its place because the route is the reward, and there is more than one worth taking. For reference: 670 plays, 4.5 out of 5 from 11 ratings, and 146 of 183 on the adventure shelf.

How to Play

The page documents very little, so these are the things worth knowing before you spend time on it:

• Dismiss any download or pop-up a game triggers; the run continues without it.
• Get through the route in one piece; the retry is cheaper than the detour.
• Use the fullscreen view; the edges of the level matter as much as the middle.

Editor’s Note

Levels are short and checkpoints are close, so leaving mid-run costs you very little. The shelf is built for short sessions, which is why the games here tend to open on a level rather than a menu.

Written by the UGFJD editorial team for this page. The publisher’s own description follows below, unedited.