When the Darkness comes
Hooks you almost right away
What the data shows
- In the first 2 hours 1 in 9 reviews are negative (12%); after 3h it's 1 in 50 (2%).
- Fully opens up by hour 3.
- The opening is criticised less than in 88% of games we track.
- 43% of players who start reach the ending.
- Most players drop off before “I'm glad.” (Survive the first run): only 43% of starters get there.
- 90% of owners got the first achievement.
When it gets good
Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.
before it gets good opening up fully opened up
Based on all 8,611 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 300 reviews: 2.6h for positive, 1h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.
Where players quit
Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (89.8% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.
- Started playing 100%
- I'm glad. Survive the first run. Most players quit here 43% −57
story milestone ending biggest drop-off
Story milestones were labeled by AI from achievement names and descriptions; mistakes are possible.
All achievements (32)
story milestone ending side
- Thanks for playing! You won the game! 100%
- No Escape Try to exit the game by conventional means. 83%
- Faith in the Light Find the Light at the end of the Bridge. 75%
- Keep going. Progress in the Metro. 74%
- Yes, it was yours. Discover the secret room. 68%
- Time tick ticks away. Find all the clocks in the School level. 58%
- Really? Try to escape from the platform. 57%
- Breathe. Successfully reach the end of the platforms. 56%
- Running away. Run away from your fears. 55%
- There is actually nothing here. Try to find meaning where there is none. 54%
- I'm glad. Survive the first run. 43%
- Aah, the fresh air of Mother Nature. Go behind the Hermitage. 37%
- You should have known. Try to escape in the City. 37%
- Happiness Choose Happiness as your purpose in life. 34%
- You're a patient one, aren't you? Wait a long time for that first red door. 28%
- Just press the button! Wait a long time before pressing the first button. 23%
- Again? Relaunch the game after the first run. 23%
- Oh, this is different. Discover the Sunny Factory. 20%
- Isn't this lovely? Discover the Sunny City. 19%
- D\4rkn37s hAs C0M3#A@I$A ¢}{°[]se |he o|3A+}{ end|/\\/g. 18%
- Are you, really? Get a different answer. 17%
- I can see! Discover the Sunny School. 17%
- Creation Choose Creation as your purpose in life. 16%
- Goal! Put the ball in the goal. 15%
- Knowledge Choose Knowledge as your purpose in life. 14%
- Always there for you..? Reach the end of the second run. 12%
- Light. Find your light. 11%
- Money Choose Money as your purpose in life. 11%
- True End. You have reached the end of the journey. 9.7%
- Well, that was unexpected. Select no purpose in life. 9.4%
- Fame Choose Fame as your purpose in life. 6.6%
- Speed Ninja! Find the Speed Ninja easter egg. 6.1%