Dark Hours

Developer: Piece of Cake studios
Release: Oct 24th 2024
Platforms:
Action
Adventure
Early Access
Cooperative
Atmospheric
Fun
Repetitive
Bugs
Dark Hours Poster

" Atmospheric co-op survival horror with tense teamwork and scares but repetitive gameplay "

Dark Hours Review

Dark Hours is a cooperative horror game that offers a blend of tense atmosphere, jump scares, and engaging multiplayer gameplay. Players generally find it enjoyable to play with friends, especially in groups, as the game encourages teamwork and creates memorable moments through its mix of scary and sometimes humorous encounters. The graphics are considered good, with a nice atmosphere that supports the horror theme effectively. The game features a variety of monsters and mechanics that add challenge, though some players find the AI behavior inconsistent.

Despite its strengths, the game has notable issues. Some players report bugs such as texture loading problems, microphone malfunctions, and UI glitches between rounds. Additionally, the gameplay loop can feel repetitive over time due to limited level variety and monster types. Communication problems in multiplayer lobbies and the lack of certain quality-of-life features like mid-session rejoining have also been highlighted. Overall, while promising and fun in sessions, the game could benefit from further polish and content expansion.

Highlights

Players praise the cooperative multiplayer experience, finding it highly entertaining with friends and appreciating the balance of tension and lighthearted moments. The gameplay mechanics involving monsters are noted as fun and sometimes challenging, with options to toggle difficulty for solo or group play. The graphics and atmosphere receive positive remarks for supporting the horror theme well. Additionally, the game’s sound design and audio contribute effectively to immersion, enhancing scares and player engagement.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the repetitive nature of gameplay due to limited monster variety and similar level designs. Bugs such as texture loading failures, microphone issues, and black screens between rounds disrupt the experience for some players. The lack of mid-session rejoining frustrates users during long heists. Communication difficulties in multiplayer lobbies, including language barriers and poor voice chat functionality, also detract from the cooperative experience. Some players feel the AI can be unfair or broken, affecting challenge balance.

Pros

  • Cooperative gameplay is highly enjoyable and encourages teamwork with friends.
  • Atmospheric graphics and sound design effectively create a tense horror experience.
  • Variety of monsters offers fun and sometimes challenging encounters.
  • Options to toggle monster difficulty allow for solo or group play customization.
  • Game creates memorable moments mixing scares with humorous situations.
  • Long play sessions provide good value for time invested.
  • Regular updates have improved some aspects since initial release.

Cons

  • Repetitive gameplay loop due to limited level and monster variety.
  • Bugs including texture loading issues and microphone malfunctions disrupt play.
  • Lack of mid-session rejoin feature causes frustration in long heists.
  • Multiplayer lobbies often suffer from language barriers and poor communication.
  • Some monster AI behaviors are broken or unfair, reducing challenge balance.
  • Certain heist objectives can feel tedious or frustrating to complete.
  • Audio issues sometimes force players to use external communication tools.

Rating Criteria

Story
Difficulty
Graphics
Duration
Stability
Worth the Price
Capsule image

Dark Hours is a co-op survival horror game for up to 4 players. Your heist has been disrupted by a supernatural event, and your team of robbers is now trapped with an evil entity. Forget your plan, your mission is to survive. Explore and cooperate to find a way out or hide and wish for daylight.

Release Date Oct 24th 2024
Publisher Piece of Cake studios, Kepler Ghost
Developer Piece of Cake studios
Platforms

User Reviews

Very Positive (880)
86% Positive 14% Negative