The Dark Room
Early access since Sep 2018
Addictive and vicious retro-styled comedy puzzler chock full of profanity, abuse, unfairness and warped logic. Will You: Go North? Find Light Switch? Cower and whimper like a beaten swine? Make your decision and escape The Dark Room! Just remember - YA DIE! YA DIE! YA DIE! YA DIE!
89% positive · 124 reviews
Not yet
In early access, content planned but development status unclear
High confidence
Content Planned
Development Uncertain
Not yet
In early access, content planned but development status unclear
High confidence
Content Planned
Development Uncertain
Where to buy
Steam $13.99
Can't confirm — worth a look
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Evaluation
The Dark Room launched into Early Access on September 19, 2018, with only Level 1 available and a clear promise that Levels 2, 3, and a "Darkest" level would follow. The original development studio, Stirfire Studios, went into liquidation later in 2018, leaving sole creative owner John Robertson to carry the project forward.
On April 2, 2026, Robertson published a candid status update — the only developer communication in many years — acknowledging that the game has been effectively stalled for around eight years. The situation is complex: Robertson wants to rebuild the game from scratch in a new engine (due to improved motion-capture technology and the old codebase being unattractive to potential partners), write new content, and deliver a significantly expanded experience. However, as of that update, no publisher, funding deal, or development partner has been secured. Robertson mentioned that a Kickstarter campaign may be necessary, but no such campaign has been launched.
The store description still references the undelivered levels and invites players to "help us create the full Dark Room experience" — framing consistent with the game still being unfinished. While Robertson expresses strong personal determination to finish the project ("I WILL FIND A WAY TO RELEASE THIS THING"), there is no concrete timeline, confirmed funding, or active development studio attached to those plans as of the most recent update. The promised content remains unshipped, and the path to completion is genuinely uncertain.
Evidence
Developer confirms the game has been stalled for ~8 years. Original studio went into liquidation in 2018. Plans to rebuild in a new engine with new content, but no funding or publishing deal secured. A Kickstarter may be necessary. Developer expresses strong intent to finish the project but has no confirmed path forward.
Launch announcement confirms only Level 1 is available in Early Access; Levels 2, 3, and Darkest are promised as future updates funded by sales.
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
John Robertson
Achievements
11
Platform
Windows, macOS
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Not rated
Players
Single-player
About this game
What is the Dark Room? The Dark Room is:
1. Sadism. With jokes.
2. An addictive throwback to 1980s text adventure games.
3. A one-of-a-kind retro-styled comedy puzzler that pits your pitiful brain against brutal deathtraps in the pursuit of freedom.
4. An adventure with a deep hidden story you can only unlock through skill, patience and exploration.
5. The kind of thing you can send to your friends just to make them very, very angry.
6. The exact opposite of an open-world game.
7. Like Fortnite, but only in the sense that it’ll make you want to kill.
With over three-and-a-half hours of recorded content, plus profanity, comedy, body horror, puzzles and warped logic, this is the Dark Souls of text adventures, the BDSM of RPGs, it’d be a walking simulator, but only if you were walking through a minefield.
Level One has 60 minutes of specially mo-capped dialogue and performance, while levels 2, 3 and Darkest give you even more, and will bring you the true story of Darren. Your money goes into making the game bigger, louder and more dangerous!
The Dark Room is the videogame adaptation of the interactive stage show of the same name from comedian John Robertson. So play this, then, when the show comes to your town, gather with the other survivors. Just remember - YA DIE! YA DIE! YA DIE! YA DIE!
Pick up the game while it's in Early Access and help us create the full Dark Room experience!
“This is the future of gaming.” - Ron Gilbert, on Twitter. (Original version, 2012)
“Is there a map? I’m lost.” - Ron Gilbert, on Twitter, three hours later. (Original version, 2012)
“The Dark Room is the stern scolding we all deserve... one of the most clever, hilarious and innovative takes on the genre I’ve ever seen” - PC PowerPlay
8/10 - Starburst Magazine
“I ate lint” - GameInformer AU
1. Sadism. With jokes.
2. An addictive throwback to 1980s text adventure games.
3. A one-of-a-kind retro-styled comedy puzzler that pits your pitiful brain against brutal deathtraps in the pursuit of freedom.
4. An adventure with a deep hidden story you can only unlock through skill, patience and exploration.
5. The kind of thing you can send to your friends just to make them very, very angry.
6. The exact opposite of an open-world game.
7. Like Fortnite, but only in the sense that it’ll make you want to kill.
With over three-and-a-half hours of recorded content, plus profanity, comedy, body horror, puzzles and warped logic, this is the Dark Souls of text adventures, the BDSM of RPGs, it’d be a walking simulator, but only if you were walking through a minefield.
Level One has 60 minutes of specially mo-capped dialogue and performance, while levels 2, 3 and Darkest give you even more, and will bring you the true story of Darren. Your money goes into making the game bigger, louder and more dangerous!
The Dark Room is the videogame adaptation of the interactive stage show of the same name from comedian John Robertson. So play this, then, when the show comes to your town, gather with the other survivors. Just remember - YA DIE! YA DIE! YA DIE! YA DIE!
Pick up the game while it's in Early Access and help us create the full Dark Room experience!
“This is the future of gaming.” - Ron Gilbert, on Twitter. (Original version, 2012)
“Is there a map? I’m lost.” - Ron Gilbert, on Twitter, three hours later. (Original version, 2012)
“The Dark Room is the stern scolding we all deserve... one of the most clever, hilarious and innovative takes on the genre I’ve ever seen” - PC PowerPlay
8/10 - Starburst Magazine
“I ate lint” - GameInformer AU
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 26, 2026
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