PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews

Darwin's Paradox! is a special little mascot platformer that feels like a throwback to the PS1-era, but with all the sheen and quality of life improvements of the modern day. It's overflowing with charm, smart ideas, and fun gameplay that's all paced perfectly from chapter to chapter. As adorable as the game is, the narrative doesn't hit the highs of the Pixar films it seems to be inspired by, and it ends pretty abruptly on a cliffhanger. That, combined with some occasional checkpointing headaches are really the only blemishes on an otherwise completely lovely experience. Play this game. We don't get ones like this often.

Darwin's Paradox! delivers a striking cinematic platformer that pairs expressive, wordless storytelling with demanding, precision-based gameplay, resulting in a short but memorable adventure that balances emotional tone with mechanical depth. While its inventive movement and environmental design consistently shine, a few uneven mechanics and late-game frustrations hold it back from absolute greatness.

By leaning on its MGS stealth adventure lineage, Konami and developers ZDT Studios has produced a pleasing homage through it courtesy of Darwin's Paradox. The threats and the platforming challenges are numerous, the references are cool and you'll be content to keep on lapping this one up just to see the iron will of Darwin continue onward towards salvation. At times it can be a bit tricky to know exactly what to do, the story is threadbare and it might not be lengthy, but you will surely remember this one when you're done-even if it's just for the Metal Gear Solid references.

Darwin's Paradox is an excellent platformer that is consistently enjoyable, with some of the best cinematic visuals and a real eye for detail that never fails to impress.

Darwin’s Paradox is an incredibly well-designed cinematic platformer that keeps you gripped from beginning to end. Each segment feels distinct thanks to its varied scenarios and the inventive ways it plays with its core mechanics. While those mechanics don’t evolve dramatically, the way they’re explored is consistently delightful, creating memorable moments throughout. There’s some trial and error, but generous checkpoints prevent it from becoming frustrating. It’s a joy to play, with strong pacing that keeps things engaging, though it is a little too short, and the collectables don’t add much in terms of replayability. Even so, this debut from ZDT Studio is fantastic and sets a strong foundation for what could become a standout name in cinematic platformers.

Darwin's Paradox! excels in its impeccable art direction, the protagonist's charisma, and the creative approach of alternating gameplay both in and out of the water, in addition to delivering a fun narrative with memorable cutscenes. On the other hand, the uneven difficulty, especially in the second half, and the decision to make certain challenges mandatory that could be optional end up hurting the pacing and generating unnecessary frustration. Still, it's a remarkable and personality-filled experience, worthwhile mainly for its visuals and originality.

Darwin's Paradox is a puzzle-platform adventure that combines excellent artistic direction with highly original gameplay. Some might argue that the story can be completed in a very short time, and on that point we probably wouldn’t have much to object to. However, who said that great longevity must necessarily be one of a production’s strengths? The time spent in the company of the blue octopus was truly enlightening: it entertained us and showed us that the video game industry needs representatives of this caliber. With a style reminiscent of an animated film, Darwin's Paradox manages to skillfully mix humorous moments with challenging gameplay sections that are (almost) never frustrating. Admittedly, on console (PS5) a few technical limitations can be noticed, but this doesn’t make the journey toward “freedom” any less enjoyable. Between stealth elements that are never too intrusive and unique, well-balanced levels, we’re confident that the debut work of ZDT Studio is a success and certainly not a misfire.

Darwin's Paradox! is a lot of fun, the octopus and aliens theme is suitably absurd and comes with plenty of useful abilities that make the experience consistently unique and inventive. It is a short experience, which you should take into consideration, but it's one that's certainly worth playing.

Darwin's Paradox is a brief but enjoyable 2.5D platforming adventure which also incorporates stealth and some light puzzling. It has some minor issues, such as dubious checkpointing in places, but Darwin's undeniable charm will ultimately win you over.

Darwin's Paradox is a wacky platformer-stealth adventure packed with details and featuring a protagonist whose eight arms you just can't help but love.