Dark and Darker Archives

AppWizard

November 23, 2025

New dark fantasy looter shooter mixes dungeon crawling, corporate greed, and the co-op magic of Peak and Lethal Company

Vision Quest is a dark fantasy looter shooter game developed by Wizmud Games, set in a consumer goods conglomerate mega dungeon. Players embark on an online co-op adventure to investigate "data mining used for dark rituals" and redeem the legendary Sweepstakes Code. The game supports squads of up to four players and features a mix of medieval and modern weapons. It includes 3D in-world voice chat and a unique loot-carrying mechanic. Players face various threats, including monsters and illness, and can assist each other with items. If a player dies, they can control a plastic toy called a 'Freakopop' for additional vision. Wizmud Games has partnered with Pocketpair for marketing and promotions, and Vision Quest is set to launch in 2026, with a wishlist available on Steam.

AppWizard

September 13, 2025

Diablo creator’s new extraction RPG has major Elden Ring vibes, and a beta’s about to start

Mistfall Hunter is a new game that blends extraction mechanics with Norse mythology, set to enter its next closed beta on September 16. David Brevik, president of Skystone Games, discussed the game's unique approach compared to traditional extraction RPGs, emphasizing its dynamic gameplay reminiscent of soulslike games. The beta will feature solo and trio modes with two difficulty tiers: normal and chaos. Players must request access via Steam before September 15 to participate, with previous testers granted automatic access. Skystone Games is positioning itself as both an indie publisher and a growing entity in the live-service gaming space.

AppWizard

June 18, 2025

Epic Games Store Is Removing Controversial Game From Everyone’s Library

Epic Games will remove the game Dark and Darker from all player accounts on November 1, 2025. The game was previously taken off the Epic Games Store in March 2023 due to legal disputes between its developer, Ironmace, and Nexon. Players have been notified via email about the removal, which will make the game unplayable on the Epic Games Store. Players can no longer purchase in-game items like Redstone Shards or Legendary Status upgrades, but previously purchased items can be used until the removal date. Refunds will be issued for the Legendary Status upgrade, but not for Redstone Shards. Players who do not receive refunds by July 1 are advised to contact player support. The future of Dark and Darker is uncertain due to ongoing legal proceedings.

AppWizard

April 19, 2025

The Best PC Games Right Now (2025)

PC gaming in 2025 features a mix of innovative remasters, indie titles, and new intellectual properties, providing a wide range of experiences for gamers. The most played games on Steam include Counter-Strike 2, PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, and Dota 2, with Counter-Strike 2 leading in player engagement due to its esports scene. Notable new releases include Blue Prince, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and Promise Mascot Agency. Other popular games outside Steam are Minecraft, Fortnite, and Valorant. Genre-specific leaders include South of Midnight for action, Myst (Remastered) for adventure, and Street Fighter 6 for fighting. Upcoming anticipated titles include Grand Theft Auto 6 and Elden Ring: Nightreign. Trends in 2025 highlight esports engagement, indie innovation, purposeful remakes, and cinematic storytelling. Last Epoch's Season 2 update has revitalized player interest with new content and enhancements. The year 2019 was significant for PC gaming, with acclaimed titles like Resident Evil 2, Control, and Disco Elysium, and marked by the influence of digital distribution platforms.

AppWizard

April 12, 2025

Dark and Darker finally gets a PvE-exclusive ‘Adventure Mode’

Dark and Darker has launched Season 6 of its early access release, introducing "Adventure Mode," a PvE-exclusive co-op format that allows players to explore dungeons without PvP encounters. The update includes adjustments to loot drops and monster difficulties, new monster patterns such as the Nightmare Ice Spider and Nightmare Yeti, and a "High-Roller boss summoning system" for summoning bosses like the Lich and Ghost King. Numerous bug fixes have been made, along with improvements to gameplay mechanics, cooldown times, armor ratings, and new crafting options.

AppWizard

February 28, 2025

Dungeonborne, the game that once threatened to steal Dark and Darker’s crown, is closing in May

Dungeonborne, developed by Mithril Interactive, will officially close, with new account registrations and in-game purchases ending on February 28 and the game going offline on May 28. The game was first revealed in February 2024 but received mixed feedback and struggled to gain traction, peaking at only 22 concurrent players recently. The lack of consistent updates contributed to its decline. In contrast, Dark and Darker, a similar game, has thrived, peaking at nearly 12,000 concurrent players after returning to Steam in June 2024.

AppWizard

February 13, 2025

Court rules PC game Dark and Darker did not infringe Nexon’s copyright, but orders compensation

The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Ironmace did not infringe upon Nexon’s copyright related to the P3 project in the development of the game Dark and Darker. However, the court ordered Ironmace to pay 8.5 billion won (approximately .87 million) in damages to Nexon, acknowledging the impact of Ironmace's actions on fair market competition. Nexon has been involved in this legal battle since 2021, claiming that a former lead from its P3 project misappropriated source codes and data to create Ironmace and develop Dark and Darker. Nexon plans to pursue further legal action through a higher court. Ironmace expressed respect for the court's ruling.

AppWizard

July 4, 2024

The final Steam playtest for fantasy extraction game Dungeonborne attracts thousands of eager adventurers

An open beta for the dungeon-crawling game Dungeonborne is currently available on Steam, accessible to all interested players.

AppWizard

June 10, 2024

Dark and Darker developer is ‘looking to make amends’ because its free-to-play model is ‘not well designed’

Dark and Darker's return to Steam was marked by controversy as it was relaunched as a free-to-play game, despite the developer, Ironmace, stating that it was always intended to be a paid product. Free players are restricted to a stripped-down version of the game, which has caused criticism and backlash. Ironmace has acknowledged the mistake and is working on finding a compromise to give both new and existing players a complete gaming experience.