Doom, Wolfenstein, Serious Sam, 007. We all remember those legendary titles and franchises that laid the foundations of today's first-person shooters. Games that defined a generation, bringing revolutionary ideas at the time - HP and armor system, diverse enemies, rich arsenal of weapons, traps and secret rooms with rewards. In the late nineties and early 21st century, these were the first games we would install on every new PC.
Is it time to go back in time with Darkenstein - to simpler times, without overblown mechanics and overcomplicated gameplay?
Gaming as before
The goal of Darkenstein is exactly that - it is not trying to invent hot water, but to bring back the old charm of classic, pixelated FPSs.
The game is the work of just one person, who openly admits to being inspired by titles like Wolfenstein. After four years of development, the result is a project that does not hide its roots and reminds us how merciless games used to be.
One Hobo against all
In Darkenstein, you play as the unnamed Hobo Guy, a man who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. While he is resting peacefully on the street, the Nazis approach him and kidnap the dog – Gunther.
If you've seen John Wick, you already know what happens next. Hobo embarks on a revenge mission to rescue Gunther, ready to cross half the world if he has to – and do it in style.
Rip and Tear the Nazi Scum
Despite his homeless status, Hobo Guy is surprisingly good with weapons. During my gameplay, I encountered pistols, shotguns, RPGs, bombs, and even a mystical skull that shoots lightning bolts – and rats. Yes, you read that right. Hobo uses everything at his disposal, including a talking rat that can kill an enemy when you throw it at him.
Movement must be quick and precise, because one wrong step can mean the difference between life and death. In true old-school fashion, the game is unforgiving - each level starts with 100 HP and three lives. If you lose them all, you go back to the beginning. In a time where modern games are mostly forgiving, Darkenstein stands out proudly and keeps the player on the edge of their seat every second.
From Nazi dungeons to icy tundras
The level design surprises with the level of detail. In all 13 levels I found numerous secret rooms and hidden treasures, but I also often got lost looking for the key that would open the next part of the map for me - a real retro treat.
Although I'm not a fan of modern games that constantly bombard the player with hints and tips, sometimes I still wish that the talking rat could give me some direction.
On average, each level contains 20–30 pieces of treasure and 3–5 secret rooms. Although the game looks like it came out in the late 90s, the developer has added a few modern easter eggs that will make older and younger players laugh.
Nazi zombies? Wolfenstein or Black Ops?
While Wolfenstein is the obvious inspiration, fans of newer FPSs will recognize other influences as well. In addition to classic Nazis, the game offers zombies, electric dogs and other supernatural enemies.
I was especially surprised by the first boss fight – a huge pyramid that summons zombies and electric dogs, which irresistibly reminds me of Black Ops Zombies and the legendary Moon map. As an old Black Ops Zombie fan, that boss fight was a joy to play.
Darkenstein 3D runs pretty smoothly, though it still lacks the final optimisations. I believe it will be fixed by the official release.
I also tested the game on Steam Deck - although it is not yet officially verified, it is fully playable. The layout is not perfectly customized, but it can be easily adjusted in the settings.
Enemy AI can be unpredictable at times, especially with dogs that tend to "jump into the void", but the fights are still intense and fun when you are rained down with bullets, grenades and punches. Each level offers enough content and space to explore, which prevents the game from feeling completely linear. Considering that it was made by one man and that it will be free upon release, I highly recommend Darkenstein 3D to all fans of old-school FPSs. It's not perfect, nor does it pretend to be the new Doom or Wolfenstein, but as a sincere tribute to those classics - it's worth your time.
You can find Darkenstein 3D on the PC platform from 10/21/2025.
