Publisher Hooded Horse and developer Ice-Pick Lodge have officially announced Darkwood II, the sequel to the acclaimed survival horror game Darkwood. The new game is coming to PC through Steam and the Microsoft Store and will also be available on Game Pass. The release date has not been revealed yet.
Set a few years after the events of the first game, Darkwood II brings players back into a terrifying world filled with mystery and decay. The story takes place after the fall of the Soviet Union, where the dying Aral Sea becomes home to a strange forest that consumes everything in its path. No one knows where it came from or why it exists. Some believe it is nature’s revenge on humanity for its past destruction.
The world around this new forest is bleak and broken. Abandoned villages, rusting ships, and collapsing factories tell the story of a society that once was. A secret biological lab hides on a distant island, while gangs of looters, bikers, and ex-soldiers rule the remaining land through fear. Even with walls and shelters, safety is never certain.
Like the original game, Darkwood II focuses on survival and psychological horror. Players will explore new lands, including deserts, swamps, and deep waters, all while trying to survive the spreading corruption of the forest. There are no quest markers or guides—players must rely on their instincts to find their way.
To stay alive, players will need to scavenge for resources, craft weapons, and build barricades to defend against night-time horrors. The forest hides deadly creatures that can strike from anywhere, keeping players constantly on edge. Whether you hide in fear or fight back, every decision can mean the difference between life and death.
The game also lets players use strange potions and concoctions to gain new abilities—though these powers come with a cost. As the world loses its humanity, players will have to decide if staying human is truly worth it.
Throughout the journey, players will meet twisted and complex characters, each with their own motives and dark secrets. The choices you make will shape their fates and change how the story unfolds, giving each playthrough a different outcome.
Darkwood II promises to expand everything fans loved about the first game. It is known for its haunting atmosphere, eerie storytelling, and deep survival mechanics, while offering a new story that can be enjoyed even by players who never experienced the original.
