Darkwater is a cooperative extraction horror game set deep beneath the frozen ocean of an alien world. Developed by Targon Studios and published by Playstack, the game takes the chaos of games like Lethal Company, the systems-driven crew gameplay of Barotrauma, and the rogue-lite loop of We Need to Go Deeper, then throws in deep-sea terror and submarine warfare for good measure. The result is messy, intense, and unexpectedly hilarious – especially with friends.
Survive Beneath the Ice: What is Darkwater?
You and up to three other players command a barely functional submarine trapped beneath a sealed alien ocean. A mysterious plague has prompted authorities to freeze the planet’s surface, stranding survivors below. The objective? Scavenge supplies, survive attacks from hostile submarines and abyssal horrors, and make it to the next outpost before your oxygen runs out, your sub explodes, or your teammate tries to pilot while on fire.
Players can play solo, but Darkwater thrives in multiplayer, where chaos and communication (or the lack thereof) turn survival into a memorable experience. Every player has a role to fill: piloting, reloading torpedoes, repairing leaks, manning sonar, or braving alien-infested ruins to scavenge fuel and parts.
Core Gameplay: Panic, Plan, Repeat
The core loop of Darkwater revolves around:
- Piloting and managing your submarine: Directly control helm, sonar, and engine systems.
- Upgrading your vessel: Customize your sub with rooms dedicated to hacking, stealth, medical support, and more.
- Combat: Launch torpedoes, use depth charges, or board enemy vessels manually via manned torpedoes.
- On-foot exploration: Exit the sub to raid derelict underwater stations full of loot, lore, and lethal surprises.
Combat is a blend of tactical submarine dueling and slapstick crew management. During engagements, it’s not uncommon for one player to steer while another yells about a breach, someone else patches leaks, and a fourth chases a rogue crab into the torpedo bay.
Weapons range from standard pistols and shotguns to blowtorches, sledgehammers, and harpoons. The game leans into absurdity without ever fully becoming parody, maintaining a surprisingly cohesive tone.
Visuals and Atmosphere
Darkwater embraces a moody, rust-covered aesthetic. Interiors are dark, cluttered, and full of flickering lights and grime. Exterior environments alternate between eerie stillness and full-blown aquatic nightmare. The design sells the setting: this is a broken world, both technologically and biologically.
That atmosphere is bolstered by excellent sound design—groaning metal, sonar pings, and muffled screams under water create a sense of constant tension. The creature design also deserves mention: infected divers, anglerfish, tentacled horrors, and crustacean monstrosities keep players on edge.
Early Access Roadmap: A Look Into the Future
Targon Studios has laid out an ambitious roadmap, suggesting Darkwater is far from finished. Here’s what’s planned:
Summer 2025 – Invasion Update
- New Weapons: Harpoon gun, explosive harpoon, depth charges.
- Submarine Upgrades: New layouts, enemy scanner.
- Enemies: Leviathans, elite variants, crustacea, tentacled horrors.
- New Biomes and locations.
Fall 2025 – Brimstone Act 1
- Major overhaul of submarine systems and combat.
- Fire-based weaponry and suppression systems.
Winter 2025 – Brimstone Act 2
- Robotic enemies and salvaged automaton tech.
- Build and maintain robotic crew (some less cooperative).
Future Update: Nations (TBA)
- Explore abandoned facilities from rival nations.
- Adds new weapons, tech, and enemies.
This roadmap, combined with dev transparency and frequent community engagement, points toward a game with serious long-term potential.
Community Feedback: What Players Are Saying
Most early access reviews are positive, praising the game’s chaotic co-op energy and potential. Players love the ship customization, the unpredictability of missions, and the fact that no run feels the same.
Some common suggestions and gripes include:
- A better respawn or revive system.
- More variety in enemy types.
- An easier way to find open lobbies.
- Buggy voice chat and occasional performance hitches.
Despite these, many agree: Darkwater is already more fun than many polished AAA games.
The Deep End: Where It Shines
Unscripted Chaos That Feels Organic Darkwater doesn’t force set-piece moments. They happen naturally. Maybe a crewmate explodes while welding. Maybe a crab steals your fuel canister. Maybe you forget to anchor your ship and it drifts into a minefield. The game thrives in emergent, unscripted storytelling.
Ship Design Matters Adding new rooms and expanding your submarine isn’t cosmetic. Whether it’s a medbay for healing or a stealth chamber to avoid sonar, each upgrade has strategic impact.
Combat Variety From ship-to-ship duels to frantic boarding parties, the game keeps you on your toes. Coordinating torpedo reloads while repelling alien boarders never stops being fun.
Where It Springs a Leak
Lack of Direction for New Players The game desperately needs a tutorial. Right now, you’re dumped into the ocean with little guidance. Expect to fail your first few missions.
UI and Inventory Confusion Swapping gear, managing weight, and crafting aren’t intuitive. The game could benefit from clearer interfaces.
Voice Comms & Matchmaking In-game voice chat is spotty. Matchmaking lacks filters, and there’s no persistent server browser yet.
Not Solo Friendly While technically playable solo, it’s clearly designed for 3-4 players. Playing alone is tedious and slow.
Darkwater: Darkwater is already a standout in the co-op survival space. It’s unpolished but undeniably fun, offering a distinctive mix of tension, teamwork, and tomfoolery. With an active development roadmap and a creative, dedicated player base, it’s likely to only get better from here. A brilliant co-op experience buried under a bit of early-access rust. Dive in with friends, and you’ll likely surface with stories worth retelling. – Obsidian
