Through the Darkest of Times Critic Reviews

A superbly crafted game that serves as storyteller, teacher, and concerned friend.

I value the game for its non-linearity and many endings but mainly for the gravity of its theme and how the history – unpleasant as it is – was depicted.

The management and RPG style made me think of a digital board game like Antihero, but really it plays more like a visual novel — a genre that leans hard on player interaction to involve you in the story. And in that, Through the Darkest of Times was quite effective. I did feel for the struggle of these people in a way that felt more personal than if I was watching a movie or reading a book. The choices didn’t lead to branching stories, but the very act of making a choice placed responsibility for the consequences on me. That’s an extremely effective game design!

Complex themes and a gameplay that really conveys the story: Through the Darkest of Times may be a simple game, but it’s worth your time.

Through the Darkest of Times is not a lighthearted game. By many definitions it isn't even a fun game. But it's an important game, and it's also a very thrilling tactical experience. This game will not be enjoyed by everyone but it carries a lesson that everyone should learn one way or another.

Through the Darkest of Times paints what feels like an accurate portrait of life in Nazi Germany. Cherry-picking major events, like the Reichstag Fire or the opening ceremony of the Olympics, it convincingly places you at the scene, putting you in the shoes of a regular German trying to come to grips with how one person--or even five people--can respond in the presence of evil. It depicts everyday life, and everyday people, both those seduced by ideology and those finding the strength to rally against it. I'm not sure it offers any answers--indeed, I suspect my frustrations with futility were intentional. One person alone can't change the world. But that's no reason not to fight for it.

Overall this is a nice title and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun but short game.

Not many games have you play the underdog from beginning to end. It’s tense, and each passing day keeps you on edge. You’ll be emotionally invested in trying to keep your members, friends, family, and even strangers safe as you make choices that will shape your life and their future. Although a second playthrough doesn’t hit the same way emotionally as the first, it’s still a fantastic title to understand the heart-wrenching reality of that period.

This atmospheric resistance management game may not be a perfect game, but it’s an important one. Especially in this day and age.

Through the Darkest of Times is a game worth trying if you are willing to forgive a slow paced and repetitive gameplay, in exchange for an exciting and very detailed history lesson. Those who prefer to get rid of the Nazis with a BFG 9000 should definitively look for something else.

From the point of view of the narrative, Through the Darkest of Times is a fascinating and very important game so that we never forget the atrocities that stain the history of the 20th century. However, if you are looking for a good strategy game, better look elsewhere.

Even though it’s meant to be an educative game, it’s still an interesting adventure, and particularly relevant thanks to the parallelisms it draws with the rise of the nazism now and then.

Through the Darkest of Times is a fantastic proposition and very much a necessary game to understand what it could have been like being a German, a human being, during these terrible years. Even if gameplay mechanics fall short, it's still very recommandable for anyone who needs a reminder and/or is interested in History.

If you’ve grown tired of Map Painting Sim #400392 but still want to get a compelling fix, this is a great place to start. The storyline is sensitively written, well animated and filled with agonising choices that will have you questioning yourself pretty harshly.

With effective visuals, a moving story, and a powerful message, Through the Darkest of Times is a must for anyone who enjoys historical and interactive story-based games.

Through the Darkest of Times tells a compelling, historically grounded story of German resistance fighters who stood up to the Nazis. Its sensitive handling of difficult subject matter makes it a great game for anyone interested in a serious, emotional treatment of Nazi Germany. Unfortunately, the somewhat shallow strategy gameplay falls behind the deep themes.

This game offers a unique perspective on isolated civic defiance to Nazism in the heart of Berlin. It’s full of emotion and heavy moments to ponder, even though its strategic part is a bit underwhelming.

Through the Darkest of Times is a powerful modern art installation about thehorrors of the nazi regime. As a videogame it is somewhat limitedaside for being able to put players in very awkward and thought provoking positions.

Quotation forthcoming.

The title damages its overall appeal by morphing this conflict from one of liberty against tyranny to one of liberals against conservatives, and, while the artists behind the title are free to do what they wish with their narrative, it feels like an ironic blunder to straight-facedly present such a serious, impactful, and important historical period as something so unquestionably black-and-white.