Duskwood - Detective Story Reviews

I was initially intrigued because I saw that there aren’t any ads and I was excited because I love a good mystery that really gets you into the story. It was great at first. They give you a ton of content in the beginning episode, and some in the second and then they start forcing you to play these asinine mini games. I’m all about some match 3 games but these are basically impossible at times. I’m on episode 4 I think? And I’ve been stuck on the same section of puzzles for a few days. Each time I run out of hearts because I get destroyed by RNG and there just simply aren’t enough moves/chances to finish a game. What’s really frustrating is getting it down to the last key or last piece needed and I run out of lives. And unless you pay for more chances you’re screwed out of a basically completed puzzle and have to start over and let RNGeezus do it’s thing. I paid for premium because I loved the story so much and wanted to be more engrossed in it, but man I’m close to deleting Duskwood and never playing again simply because of the mini games. Honestly I’d rather watch ads and that’s pretty bad. I appreciate the hard work and effort that went into the story line, and I only wish that there was a way to pay to bypass the mini games or have it already be included in the premium pass. Please fix this, I really want to focus on the story and I just can’t because the games are so off putting.

The Dev team, writers, actors all on point-this app has achieved beyond measure. Immersive- Instagram accounts for the characters. If you spring for the Multimedia pack (just a few dollars), you’ll also get video calls, and can see the character’s in game pictures. BUT, you absolutely do not need it to play the game fully. One drawback to the IRL Instagram accounts: people have posted the whole story on Cleo’s page.
App Dev: OMG. Created by someone as obsessive and methodical as I am. The look, the feel, the flow- all perfect.
NO ADS! Really.
Mini- game: ok. A bit of a gripe here. I get stuck on some of them and can’t progress. I have a hunch this is on purpose to slow gameplay down and give the team time to create new content, but still. EDIT: Those games though!!! I’m in episode five and now they are coming up after every brief convo. I’m spending faaaaaar more time on the Match 3s than on the game 🤬
Writing: WOW- beyond par with any game I e played. I strongly suspect that the writing is done by these characters- it truly feels like these are real people writing the script- I mean like this four person team aren’t just paid actors, they are the creators of the game. When The Vote happened, I was actually upset. Got an in game text, son heard the chime and I said “it’s probably Jessie again”. Most EPIC choose your own adventure book ever written.

I never write reviews, I usually don’t have much to say, but this game is amazing! I found myself playing for hours on end because I couldn’t get enough of the storyline. And I’m a total sucker for good character development and a good fleshed out story, which this game has in spades. The best part is it’s completely FREE. The devs have clearly taken so much time to make this as interesting as possible, and the fact that they aren’t charging for it (unless you choose the premium option which I 1000% suggest - it’s totally worth the money. It’s definitely not required to still enjoy the experience though) is awesome. I don’t even mind the little mini games. Some of them are really hard. I’ll admit, but I’ve played games that are much harder and I usually give up on them and never finish, I’m glad this isn’t that way. The only thing I don’t like is having to wait for a new episode to drop - and that’s only because I have no patience and I’m so interested to see what happens next.

This game is a bit similar to those “found phone” games like Sara is Missing and SIMULACRA, though not as complex as SIMULACRA in terms of game mechanics. You operate your virtual phone to communicate with a group of people to try to figure out what is going on. There are photos and short video clips as well, to enhance the story. Acting is decent. In the videos, the actors (actresses) talk in English with (I think) a bit of German accent, which is actually kinda of cool. There are currently two episodes. Story wise it does not seem to contain horror elements and jump scares such as those in SIMULACRA, though the story just begins to ramp up at the end of episode 2. Based on the story so far, I have some theory about what actually happened and who was behind it. Let’s see if I am right in future episodes ;)

Similar to SIMULACRA Pipe Dream that includes Flappy Bird as a mini game, this game includes a match-3 game that you need to clear to progress. Though polished, I am not that thrilled about having to play the match-3 as it often hampers my progress when I just want to get to the next part of the story. It makes the game longer than what it actually is, in my opinion.

In any case, this game so far is definitely worth the $2.99 or so I paid for the premium pass, which provides more dialogue options, and unlocks more photos and videos. Looking forward to seeing how the story resolves.

I amost never take the time to write reviews for apps. And I even more rarely invest money in them. But this app is more than an app, it is an experience. I feel like I am taking part in a movie or TV show. I feel like a real participant in the best way. Everything about this app makes it clear that this is a labor of love for it's creators and actors. I honestly don't know what I'll do with myself once it's over.

Also, for any this app fans who haven't taken the time to also play Nox, PLEASE do so NOW! Nox is a beautiful escape room game that, like this app, stands out! And it manages to do so in a much more crowded genre. It was my gateway game. I am now an Everbyte convert and I cannot wait to see what they come up with next!

Thank you all at Everbyte for the PHENOMENAL work that you all do and the love and care that you clearly invest into your creations. It is a joy to play your games!

I would have given this game five stars but for the mini games. I loved the story and characters, and you can see a lot of time was spent on their development. I paid for the premium version up front and was glad I did. It’s definitely worth the five bucks to get all the extra content.
But the mini games ruined it, and if i hadn’t paid early I would have abandoned the game completely, it got so bad. I hate games of chance, which is why I don’t play them. Being forced to play them to continue a game I really enjoyed was beyond frustrating.
What was most frustrating for me was the fact that the games do not contribute to the game play at all. You don’t play them to solve anything or contribute at all to the story. I would actually pay more money for boosters or something like that. I would also pay more for a completely mini game free version.
I’m guessing they might have been included at first to slow gameplay since it wasn’t released all at once? Whatever reason they were included, they are absolutely terrible.

The story line in this game is phenomenal!! I have just purchased the media pack as I’ve played it 3 times and I want to see what I am missing. I don’t normally purchase any add ons but this game is worth it. A few things I would like changed, the threes puzzles, some of them are impossible to beat unless you lose a bunch of times. I’m not saying to make it super easy, a challenge is fun but losing for hours while you’re really into the game really stinks. Also maybe when the others are helping have them show the documents, maybe newspaper articles when news comes out, etc. Also this last episode took a long time to be released, I hope future ones will take a bit less time like in the good ole days, almost causing PTSD with the cliff hangers. Otherwise super addicting fun game play where you get sucked in and truly feel you’re one of them.

I found this game and was sucked in immediately. I have played quite a few chat story games, but this one kept me coming back. You don’t have to pay to play it, but it’s well worth it to unlock all of the content because the audio/video calls and pictures make you feel like you’re in this app with the group. I’m so invested in this game and am waiting on pins and needles for the next episode! I found myself attached to all of the characters as if I really am a part of solving the mystery to find Hannah. I also have a soft spot for matching games, so this hidden gem has been up my alley. I like that it’s challenging and makes you wait a bit. As much as I would love to just keep going until the conclusion (so I can play it again) I like the little breaks I have to take because it draws me further into the game. Great job all around!

I absolutely LOVE this game! It’s really addicting and really interesting to play. Although there are a few things I would change about it...First off I would add a few more moves to the mini games because sometimes they are super hard to get through without losing all your hearts on just one mini game. And I would add ads to allow access to some of the photo, video, and chosen responses so we can see how the character(s) respond. Other than that I wouldn’t change anything else. I want to thank the devs for creating this game because it is amazing to play!! I’m currently on episode 3 and it is just so interesting to play. I would absolutely 100% recommend this game to people who like crime/mystery/detective games!!!

Pros: This murder mystery game is addicting and immersive— kudos to the devs for going the extra mile for the story! Some things about it are a little hokey and require suspension of disbelief but I think that’s part of the charm, getting wrapped up in spooky legends etc!
Cons: After a while I read ‘minigame’ as ‘migraine’ because they really get tedious later in the game and use fremium purchases/timed reloads of 30 minutes to proceed. This wouldn’t be SO bad (it’s still an irritating money grab) except there’s an enormous aspect of luck and random chance built into the minigames. Sometimes I felt like pulling my hair out and it’s a big negative for the game overall. That part of the game appears to be designed with frequent failure as the goal to get you to purchase more ‘hearts.’ It’s frankly annoying but the story is compelling enough to make me keep going. Too bad they resorted to these cheap tactics because otherwise the game is brilliant.

So I absolutely love this game, but I have two main problems that really get on my nerves.

I could only rate this game 3 stars because one, when you are playing the mini games, they don’t even give you the right blocks to win, and then, if you lose, you lose a life. You only have a certain amount of lives. IT TAKES 30 MINUTES TO REFILL 1 LIFE. But if you haven’t downloaded Duskwood before, your probably thinking “Well you can just continue the story and do mini games later,” that is incorrect though. To continue the story, you have to win a certain amount of mini games. I have been stuck on a level for DAYS. I still can’t win the mini game because I run out of lives and it doesn’t give me the right blocks.

And the second thing is, PREMIUM. I, like most people, would rather be able to play amazing apps for free. Now, the main story is free, and you can do plenty without having to buy premium. BUT, I feel like I am missing things in the story because I can’t see images, I can’t listen to audio messages because they are premium. I understand apps are trying to make money, and that is fine with me, but I still can’t seem to find a good app, that doesn’t make me pay for something like premium.

Beside those two things, I love Duskwood! I love being able to receive spooky calls, chatting with the fictional characters, and trying my best to solve the mystery! Please please fix these two things, they really frustrate me. Thanks!

This is absolutely the best mobile game I’ve ever played. It’s exactly what I wanted! The story is compelling, there’s new twists at every turn, it really is a mystery!
I gave four stars because many of the mini game levels are very difficult, relying on luck and wasting lives, and I’m impatient so it was bothersome to have to wait for more lives. However they do give options to purchase coins to obtain more lives. I didn’t end up purchasing the complete version with extra pictures and interactions with the characters, but now I wish I had. Towards the last few chapters it feels really disconnected without seeing the bonuses, and took me out of the immersion. So I recommend getting the full version.
The quality is amazing, the extra apps and videos and even the acting is well done. I adore this game so much and am dying for the final chapters. I need to know if my prediction is right! #IAmJake let’s find Hannah!

I would absolutely love to give this game 5 stars because I really love the story and the visuals but these minigames are the bane of my existence. It can take a couple days to complete they 3 mini games need to access the next part of the gameplay, since you are only given 5 hearts and it takes about 25-30min for each heart to refill. It’s really hard to stay invested in the story and enjoy it all if the mini games are taking up maybe 2/3 of actual gameplay time. Like, if I play this game for about 30 min, 20 of it is for the mini games only.

Maybe the devs can reduce the amount of mini games we have to beat or maybe fix the algorithm to give players more of a chance to beat it? I’m not sure but if you have a lot of patience like I do then this game is really worth it. It’s so good despite this one massive flaw and I hope for episode 10, as we gear towards the end, the mini games become less prevalent.

PLAYER BEWARE! THIS GAME IS A SCAM!!! Let me start off with the fact that I paid the 3.99 for the premium. In the beginning it starts off with you needing to complete 1 or 2 basic puzzles to get to the next step in the game which is essentially just reading clues. BUT AFTER THE 3rd CHAPTER THE PUZZLES LITERALLY HAVE NO SOLUTION UNTIL YOU PLAY ONE ROUND 5 or 6 TIMES!! The reason this is a scam is because they only give you a limited amount of hearts so when you lose all of your hearts BECAUSE THEY MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO WIN. You can buy more with coins. But you have to purchase coins! They will give you 16 moves then say you need to match 30 of each color usually 3 Colors. & then the will only put 2 or 3 of one of the color on the entire board ever 4 to 5 moves. ON TOP OF THAT!!! When you get “special gems” they don’t do the same thing each time so you literally can’t be strategic because you don’t know what the effect of you getting a good gem would be! It’s random each time. PLEASE DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME OR SPEND YOUR MONEY!!!

Talk about a super addictive game! I truly feel like these are my friends and I personally know these people! I find myself yelling at my phone during video calls! I literally have played this game nonstop, and sadly I just got to where it says “Episode 8 Coming Soon” now what am I supposed to do? Lol. I truly can not wait until it comes out. I want to say thank you for the makers of this game, i don’t think I’ve ever had a game on my phone or computer that was anywhere near this good. To feel like I’m friends with these people in real life and every decision I make is actually going to cause something in real life... it’s intense. Thank you for this game and please please hurry and get new episodes out! I absolutely can not wait!!!!

I LOVE this game! The amount of detail and intricacy that was included in this game made me happy to pay for the “media bundle” (it’s like 8 dollars and opens up video clips, extra response options, etc). Just an example of their eye for detail- the characters that you interact with have profiles that link out to real things online- music videos, Pinterest boards etc. some characters have their own Instagram accounts! I have said so many times “they’ve really thought of everything!”

The story is immersive- I keep updating my husband and friends as the story progresses. I really enjoy it and can’t wait for the next chapter to come out! If there was this app merchandise, I’d legit consider buying some :)

This game is great and so well rounded. Extremely well thought out, I’m really impressed. The chat is so natural and realistic. I like that they give you enough options to play to your own personality. Every character is unique and your relationships with them can be so complex. The match 3s can get kind of tedious but if you think about it, they’re building your puzzle solving between plot points and simulating realistic wait times. I don’t think there’s another game like this on the market. The chat mechanics are next level and storyline is so rich and immersive. I’m super impressed, Everbyte struck it out the park with this one. I hope they keep making games like this. Please keep making games like this.

This game seems to be really good in the sense that it’s definitely piqued my interest story wise (I even got my wife hooked) but those mini games at least the first batch (as I haven’t been able to progress far enough to see if they change) with the Bejeweled/Candy Crush just draaaaaag. The first few aren’t all that bad, but then it just turns into a straight up luck of the draw. The difficulty just hiked up to the point where unless I pay money I’m stuck waiting for hearts to recharge. Those mini games make it so you don’t fly through the game I know but the difficulty could be nerfed a bit don’t you think? I don’t mind spending money on the Credits from time to time but at the current rate I’m going I’d have dropped more money than I would have wanted to. It’s a fun game and worth the download though.

I love the story section of the game, but the match three mini games pretty much ruin the whole experience. It gets so difficult that you pretty much have to pay for extra moves to progress the story because they seriously dont give you enough moves in my opinion. Another alternative suggestion would be to do away with the lives system so that people could at least keep trying until they get it. Im at the point where i want to just uninstall Duskwood because the rng keeps screwing me out of winning the mini game and then i have to wait for my lives to recharge just to fail again. Then when i do finally win i cant hardly remember what’s going on in the story. This game has a lot of potential, but i dont see myself playing anymore until they fix the mini game or add different mini games other than match three.

I have never in my life written a review for any game or app but I am compelled to write one for this app. This is such a great game! I was never bored and loved every single moment of it. I was and still am absolutely addicted to this app and I’m currently waiting on episode 8. The mini games can be challenging but I was always motivated to pass them just so I can get back to the story lol. I also like that the purchases aren’t necessary but if I could buy the bundle to immerse myself more into the game I 100% would. I even got my best friend to start playing it and she’s also addicted to it:) I recommend this game to anyone who likes crime stories and honestly just anyone who is looking for a great game to play :) kudos to the creators/developers it’s my favorite game of all time and that’s ridiculously impressive:D

I absolutely love this story and all it’s characters. I even brought premium. Seriously the characterization is incredible. While some of the dialogue may come across as cheesy that is excusable by just how these people have such distinct and unique personalities. The story is interesting and I love how it’s coming together. But I need to bring up what everyone else is bringing up- the mini games. They can be very intrusive and difficult and just take you out of a great story. It would be better if there was no lives system, and you could just play them over and over until you master it. But what’s annoying is once you run out of lives you have to wait a bit to try again, this can mean beating the required amount of mini games can take hours. So I would definitely recommended the developers fix these mini games.

I'm up to the latest chapter now. The game so far is really fun and interactive. It is like being in a real chatroom with real people. The conversations are exciting and it can get pretty intense. You can also make phone calls and receive them. There are times where you will have to go beyond the game itself to look for clues and answers. If you like playing detective, then this is the game for you. The only thing I would say is a minus is that you have to pay to see some pictures & some choices, but luckily it is not too expensive and does not take away from the experience. I definitely recommend supporting the developers in any way you can!