Darkwood 2 Announces Its Return, With a New Pairing of Minds
Hooded Horse has revealed the follow-up to the acclaimed survival horror Darkwood. The sequel, Darkwood 2, was unveiled at the ID@XBOX Fall 2025 showcase. The game is being steered by Ice-Pick Lodge, the studio behind Pathologic, with input from the original Darkwood team at Acid Wizard.
A World Reborn, Yet Quietly Familiar
The story picks up years after the first game’s events. Players head into the scorched sands around a dying sea, where danger hides in the light and in the dark. By day, you roam a rich, risky world and grab what you can. Nightfall pushes you to find shelter, as threats loom in every corner. Darkwood 2 adds new lands and waters to explore. New creatures push you to stay alert. There are fresh reasons to hope for dawn.
Self-Sufficient Horror: A Standalone Tale
The game’s plot, characters, and surprises stand on their own. You don’t need to play Darkwood to enjoy this sequel. Its design aims to welcome new players while rewarding fans who know the world.
Design Without Markers: A True Survival Challenge
You’ll trek jagged paths through dry deserts, foggy marshes, and even deep waters. Locals work to hold back the spreading forest, but danger keeps coming. Use your wits to outlast fear and find a way forward. There are no quest icons or breadcrumbs to guide you. You must improvise with what you find.
Crafting, scavenging, and shelter-building are keys to staying alive. Gather resources, forge weapons for defense, and set up safety at night. Barricades and traps become your shield during the dark hours. The game leans into tense mood rather than hand-holding, asking you to think on your feet.
Humanity in Question as Darkness Spreads
As the forest’s corruption thickens, a big question rides along: is it better to stay human, or to let go of that within us? The world grows colder and more alien. Your choices feel meaningful, shaping what kind of survivor you become.
Voices Behind the Project
Tim Bender, CEO of Hooded Horse, notes Darkwood’s unique blend. He says the game mixes resource management with tight top-down horror in a way not often seen.
Gustaw Stachaszewski, co-founder of Acid Wizard, reflects on the journey. He explains the long road to crafting Darkwood’s world. He says handing this project to another studio was never easy, but the team believes Darkwood should live on outside its original creators.
Alexander Souslov, Darkwood 2’s Executive Producer, speaks about mixing strengths. He highlights Ice-Pick Lodge’s focus on narrative and semiotic design, and Hooded Horse’s knack for strategy. He adds that this blend could spark something truly engaging.
Ice-Pick Lodge co-founder Ayrat Zakirov sums up the mood. He says the collaboration is just starting, but he already sees a special result in the mix of teams.
New Language Support and Global Reach
Darkwood 2 will be localized into a wide set of languages. The list includes German, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Ukrainian, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.
Where to Play and When
Darkwood 2 is headed to PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store. It will also be available on Game Pass from day one. The size of the world, the pace of exploration, and the constant looming threat are designed for PC players to savor.
A Fresh Watch on a Timeless Fear
Fans of Darkwood and curious newcomers will find a tougher, smarter take on survival horror. With Ice-Pick Lodge’ s storytelling depth and Hooded Horse’s strategic craft, the sequel promises a memorable run through an unsettling world. The mix of danger, resource management, and strategic planning should offer a fresh rhythm for players who crave tough choices and quiet dread.
What to Expect Next
Darkwood 2 aims to pick up the pace without losing the foreboding pace that made the first game a favorite. Expect more environments, more creatures, and more moments that test every decision you make. The team hints at ongoing support and updates after launch, keeping the game alive long after it ships.
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