The Darkside Detective
Give it 3 hours
What the data shows
- In the first 2 hours 1 in 4 reviews are negative (27%); after 5h it's 1 in 40 (3%).
- Fully opens up by hour 4.
- 55% of players who start reach the ending.
- The biggest drop-off is between “Problem Solvent” (Close case 1: Malice In Wonderland) and “Ghost Whisperer” (Close case 2: Tome Alone): from 100% to 84% of starters.
- 78% of owners got the first achievement.
When it gets good
Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.
before it gets good opening up fully opened up
Based on all 5,351 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 299 reviews: 6.2h for positive, 3.7h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.
Where players quit
Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (78.5% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.
- Started playing 100%
- Problem Solvent Close case 1: Malice In Wonderland. 100%
- Ghost Whisperer Close case 2: Tome Alone. Most players quit here 85% −15
- Ticket To Ride Close case 3: Disorient Express. 72% −13
- UrnWanted Gift Close case 4: Police Farce. 65% −6
- Bloodwolf Close case 5: Loch Mess. 61% −5
- Darkside Detective Close case 6: Don Of The Dead. 57% −3
- Saved Christmas Close case 7: Buy Hard. 45% −13
- Wiseguys Close case 8: Polterguys. 42% −2
- All Bottled Up Close case 9: Baits Motel. 39% −3
- That's A Wrap Watch the credits to the end. 55% +16
story milestone ending biggest drop-off
Story milestones were labeled by AI from achievement names and descriptions; mistakes are possible.
All achievements (30)
story milestone ending side
- Problem Solvent Close case 1: Malice In Wonderland. 100%
- Ghost Whisperer Close case 2: Tome Alone. 85%
- Ticket To Ride Close case 3: Disorient Express. 72%
- Karma Give Laxatives to McKing. 66%
- UrnWanted Gift Close case 4: Police Farce. 65%
- Bloodwolf Close case 5: Loch Mess. 61%
- Darkside Detective Close case 6: Don Of The Dead. 57%
- That's A Wrap Watch the credits to the end. 55%
- BFFs Take a photo at the photobooth. 51%
- Independence! Yay! Remember neglected responsibilities. 51%
- Arcade Kid Play games in the arcade. 49%
- Saved Christmas Close case 7: Buy Hard. 45%
- Wiseguys Close case 8: Polterguys. 42%
- Don't I know you? Call Santa out in the diner. 42%
- Dumpster Diver Search 10 bins. 42%
- Make Adventure Games Again! Get Dooley a souvenir hat. 41%
- All Bottled Up Close case 9: Baits Motel. 39%
- Culture Club Examine all of the museum's contents. 39%
- Thorough Investigation Check Roy's Alibi. 38%
- Hot Rod Examine 8 cars. 29%
- Toilet Humour Listen to all of John's gags. 28%
- Master Hacker Complete the virus minigame in three steps. 24%
- Look Skyward! Spot the Darkside SkyBeast. 24%
- Lost And Found Fully explore the vents. 23%
- Light Reader Slack off the job and read a trashy mag in each case. 17%
- mooR deR Enter the Cursed Lodge. 11%
- Book Worm Read all the book titles in the library. 9.8%
- Camp Counsellor Take all of the Turner's calls in the Bloodwolf HQ. 9.7%
- Brickman Super Fan Listen to all of Dick Brickman's radio shows. Featuring Dick Brickman. 9.6%
- Classic Dooley Use the kango hammer on everything in the sewers before advancing. 8.7%