The Secret of Darkwoods

The Secret of Darkwoods

Rap2h · March 28, 2023 · RPG, Text-Based, Interactive Fiction, Open World, CRPG

The Secret of Darkwoods is free to play — no purchase needed. We track it so you know if that ever changes.

PC
Very Positive89% · 1191playing now
This game is free to play. Get it on Steam →

Screenshots

The Secret of Darkwoods price

The Secret of Darkwoods is free to play — there is no purchase price, on Steam or anywhere else we track. We keep watching it, so if it ever stops being free the price history on this page will show when that happened and what it changed to.

About The Secret of Darkwoods

Open-word illustrated text-based RPG

The Secret of Darkwoods is an open-world, procedural, text-based RPG that allows players to explore a vast and dangerous world filled with secrets and treasures to discover. The game is set in the mythical land of Emeyralia, a dark and foreboding place where ancient magic and mythical creatures still exist.
Players take on the role of a brave adventurer who must journey through the treacherous forests, swamps, and dungeons of Emeyralia in order to uncover the secrets of the land and become a true hero. As they explore the world, players will encounter a wide variety of enemies and obstacles, from fierce beasts and powerful warriors to treacherous traps and hidden dangers.
Choose your fate in this non-linear fantasy gamebook.

Key Features

  • 800+ Unique Text Pages With Variations
  • 350+ Generated Illustrations
  • Play the main quest (3 to 5 hours), or randomly explore and start side quests
  • Explore villages, cities, dungeons, swamps, caves, forests, cemeteries and temples
  • Music by Dungeon Synth Artists: Percidae, Hjartans, Bounce castle, Alloch Nathir, Kasriel, Erang, Black Rose Tomes, Infernal Symphony, Rap2h
In order to survive the dangers of Emeyralia, players will need to use their cunning, strength, and dexterity to overcome their enemies and progress through the game. They can choose from a variety of weapons, armors, and abilities to help them in their quest, and they can also collect valuable treasures and artifacts to aid them on their journey.
The game features stunning ai-generated visuals, and its atmospheric soundtrack is composed by seven talented dungeon synth composers. Inspired by Daggerfall and Fighting Fantasy gamebooks, The Secret of Darkwoods is an original RPG experience that will keep players coming back for more. Visit more than 25 towns, villages, and cities. Explore cemeteries, swamps, caves, dungeons, forests, and temples. Talk with people in taverns, in shops, or in the streets, and ask them for scripted quests or procedurally generated ones. Fight deadly monsters.

The Secret of Darkwoods — game info

Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux / SteamOS
Steam Deck
Playable
Player modes
Single-player
PC Game Pass
Not included
More games like this:Mac gamesLinux games

What Steam players say

Recent verbatim reviews from Steam — separate from playze.io community reviews below.

Not recommended Dec 3, 2025
I can't sanction anything with AI-generated content.
7 found this helpful
Not recommended Oct 16, 2025
Finished the game, had a fun time at first and later it became a "click here, run through prompts without reading much, click there, finish the quest" type of experience. The idea of meeting random people became a tiring grind, so I wasn't willing to read their descriptions and was speeding through. I also had an issue finishing the quest of killing a cemetery monster for Orist Echempes, after killing it there was no option to say "Yes" when asked if I did it, so the quest was never finished. The possibility of changing cloaks, rings, and weapons mid-fight is too much of a cheat, fighting becomes too easy. I came here looking for a game similar to Roadwarden, but that wasn't it. I wish the game wasn't so simplified and had more meaningful quests which provoked an emotional response from the player. It would be better if taverns in more cities had some quests and if you could see what books you've already read.
4 found this helpful
Recommended Jul 4, 2026
A fun engaging game, I found it easy to imagine myself in the lore of Darkwoods, and I found the traditional RPG game-play easy to navigate but also fun to engage with.
1 found this helpful
Recommended Nov 1, 2025
There really isn't much to this one, but if someone is going to offer a free RPG, there's no downside to poking around at it.
1 found this helpful
Recommended Jul 10, 2026
Pretty fun walk down memory lane which reminded me of the Choose Your Own Adventure books I love reading. Although I'm not in favour of using AI assets in games, this _is_ a free game and the dev also used public domain game assets, which he credited at the end, alongside the musicians who contributed their music in this game There were some 'what-ifs' that came to my mind, consequence of my choice of actions during random encounters. I guess they don't really affect the main storyline.
Recommended May 18, 2026
This game is fantastic. Very interesting and love the open world feel.

Community reviews

—

0 reviews

Sign in to write a review.

No reviews yet. Be the first to review this game.

More like The Secret of Darkwoods

News

All news →
Minecraft Dungeons 2 Deluxe Edition: skip it, play on Game PassXbox

Minecraft Dungeons 2 Deluxe Edition: skip it, play on Game Pass

The Minecraft Dungeons 2 Deluxe Edition asks you to pre-order two unannounced DLC packs for a game Game Pass already gives you. What it contains, and why the upgrade can wait.

Sep 30, 2026
Is DayZ worth it? A straight answer before you buyPC

Is DayZ worth it? A straight answer before you buy

Is DayZ worth it? Twelve years on it is still the genre's least forgiving game. What you are buying, who it suits, and what our 97-day price record says about the timing.

Sep 30, 2026
Transport Fever 3 price: which edition to buy on launch dayPC

Transport Fever 3 price: which edition to buy on launch day

Transport Fever 3 is out today. The Transport Fever 3 price splits three ways, the loyalty discount has a fortnight-long fuse, and our record shows what the older game really costs.

Sep 29, 2026
No Man's Sky price: how low it gets and when to buyPC

No Man's Sky price: how low it gets and when to buy

The No Man's Sky price has come a long way down since 2016, and the game is on PC Game Pass too. Our tracked 12-month low, the regional key gap, and what to actually pay.

Sep 29, 2026
Sekiro cheap: what our price record shows, and what to avoidDeals

Sekiro cheap: what our price record shows, and what to avoid

Search Sekiro cheap and the results are keyshop listings, not a store discount. Our three-month price record explains the gap, and why so few live offers changes the advice.

Sep 28, 2026
System Shock 2 Remaster free on Epic from 1 OctoberFreebies

System Shock 2 Remaster free on Epic from 1 October

System Shock 2 Remaster free on Epic from 1 to 8 October, alongside BURIED STARS. Our price record shows why its floor has not moved in three months, and why waiting beats buying this week.

Sep 28, 2026
Dead Island 2 cheap: which edition, and what the price doesPC

Dead Island 2 cheap: which edition, and what the price does

Dead Island 2 cheap used to mean under a dollar. Our price record shows the floor has roughly doubled since September - here is which edition to buy, and the one that is a trap.

Sep 27, 2026
Steam Autumn Sale 2026: the games that cannot be discountedDeals

Steam Autumn Sale 2026: the games that cannot be discounted

The Steam Autumn Sale 2026 runs 1-8 October, but Valve's own rules bar every September release from it. Which games are locked out, and what our record says about the two biggest.

Sep 27, 2026

Top games right now

All rankings →
  1. 1Counter-Strike 2Free
  2. 2Dota 2Free
  3. 3PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDSFree
  4. 4Grand Theft Auto V Legacy—
  5. 5Terraria$2.20
  6. 6Rust$25.62
  7. 7Team Fortress 2Free
  8. 8Black Myth: Wukong$35.70
  9. 9HELLDIVERS™ 2$30.56
  10. 10ELDEN RING$52.89
  11. 11Apex Legends™Free
  12. 12Left 4 Dead 2$9.99
  13. 13Stardew Valley$14.73
  14. 14Wallpaper Engine$3.99
  15. 15Euro Truck Simulator 2$4.99
  16. 16Dead by Daylight$10.40
  17. 17Red Dead Redemption 2$10.54
  18. 18Baldur's Gate 3$41.99
  19. 19Phasmophobia$18.29
  20. 20War ThunderFree
  21. 21Call of Duty®—
  22. 22ARK: Survival Evolved$14.24
  23. 23Among Us$3.03
  24. 24The Forest$19.99