All the Darkest Places

Editorial Meh

All the Darkest Places is a rough-around-the-edges sandbox visual novel exploring grief and personal relationships through its protagonist Alex. Community opinion is sharply divided: a core of enthusiasts praise the character models, animations, and emotional core—particularly the handling of depression and loss—while the much larger contingent of critics hammer the game's incomplete state, poor writing, lack of direction, and abrupt scene transitions. The sandbox structure frustrates players accustomed to linear VNs; there is no hint system, the cursor frequently disappears, and several reviewers report getting stuck unable to progress. What content exists clocks in at roughly 30 minutes to an hour of actual play, yet the game is priced as a full release rather than the single early chapter it is. The dev has signalled plans to streamline toward a more story-focused approach and expand further, but no substantive updates have landed in months, leaving most players to conclude the game is abandoned or in limbo.