This game is a fresh breath from all the wave shooters, rail shooters, jump scares, and overpriced VR tech demos that plague most VR titles. Instead; this game feels like a labor of love where the dev made an honest effort at creating a quality game with a cool atmosphere, old school puzzles, and an interesting story.   
In my opinion this is NOT a survival game. It’s like a DOOM type action shooter mixed with a ton of PS1 Resident Evil / Alone in the Dark style puzzles. The protagonist is clearly inspired by John Constantine and the first weapon makes you feel like you’re playing Castlevania VR at times. 

+++ Pros +++

- Closest I got to playing Castlevania VR 
- LOCOMOTION and teleport 
- HAUNTED MANSIONS 
- VARIED and GREAT atmosphere  
- Interesting story 
- Weapons feel good 
- Smooth gameplay 
- VERY good voice-acting 
- GREAT SOUNDTRACK 
- Decent length game, took me approximately 15 hours to finish 

Cons 

- This game does NOT hold your hand, puzzles can be a bit challenging at times 
- Minor early access bugs, nothing game breaking so far 
- No multiplayer 
- Saves progress only when loading next area 

 
Overall had a great time, the game kept me entertained throughout. 

⭐ 9/10 well worth the money. ⭐

* Played on OCULUS RIFT S.

UPDATE (11/11/2021):
For me with the Halloween update the overall re-playability has significantly improved. I’ve beaten the story mode twice but now the dev gave us a randomly generated haunted mansion to play with. Since the dev put the effort to add more value to the game for free, I felt like I should update my review to include the latest update.
The new mansion is scary, NOT like the story mode which feels more like a resident evil game, this new haunted mansion is like the original slender man game chase to collect pages combined with some phasmaphobia like ghost-hunt. And from the menu it looks like the dev plans to add more content to this mode (there are multiple locked books but only 1 book is unlocked which is the one you use to jump into the haunted mansion).
Halloween update Pros
- Randomly created mansion, great re-playability
- AMAZING atmosphere, you’re constantly on edge but still want to explore the gorgeous haunted mansion
- The items you need to collect change each time
- The ritual room is hidden behind a secret passage and this passage also changes location each time you run the haunted mansion which is incredibly cool to discover
- Performing the ritual was an adrenaline rush but I won’t spoil that part for you
Halloween Update Cons
- The mansion is randomly generated but NOT procedurally generated so after a few playthroughs you start seeing recognizable rooms, but I’m not sure if this is a con since the atmosphere is gorgeous and not bland like most procedurally generated maps
- Sometimes you see some minor textures popping
- VERY SCARY and not for people who can’t handle it, but there is always the story mode for that

Played on Valve Index with Knuckles Controllers

The Dark Method is the epitome of a hidden gem. It's a game that wears its love for its genre on its sleeve, with environments filled with such atmosphere and attention to detail that I'm frequently amazed that just one person did all this.

It's like the dev put Castlevania and Resident Evil 4 in a blender, resulting in a slow-paced exploration game where you'll wander environments ranging from dark and chilling to downright hellish, fighting the demonic denizens of the 11th dimension along the way. You'll spend the majority of your time finding items and clues with which to solve environmental puzzles, which in turn opens your path forward.

Along the way you'll find weapons to expand your arsenal. Your starting weapon is a skull-topped mace with the ability to launch the skull at your enemies, similar to the iconic whip from Castlevania. It takes a little practice to get used to, but this was my go-to weapon, outshining the crossbow and the pistol. I thought I wouldn't find a weapon I liked more ... until I got the sawed-off shotgun. Let's just say I may have acted out a few Evil Dead fantasies.

Of course no game is perfect, and The Dark Method isn't without its issues. The game is at times too dark, obscuring the things I need to see in order to solve a puzzle. The most frustrating of which involved some chains I had to shoot in order to escape a chamber. The area I had to aim was so dark that I didn't even know the chains were there, much less that I was supposed to shoot them. I accidentally shot a chain by firing blindly, hitting one of them in the process.

A glow effect on goal-critical objects such as those would make things more accessible. The smooth turning speed is really slow. I think this is intended to maintain the overall slow pace of the exploration, but I shouldn't be able to hold a short IRL conversation in the time it takes for me to turn 360 degrees.

The combat doesn't present any real challenge, especially if you took the time to get good at using the whip. The reward comes from unlocking more areas to explore and soaking in the atmosphere. Each time I opened a new path forward I found myself eager to see the next cool sight I'm about to head into.

As mentioned at the start, I played using a Valve Index with Knuckles controllers. When you start the game you'll be asked to choose between Vive Wands or Oculus Touch as your control method. Choose Vive Wands and the controls will work perfectly. Your in-game hands are a bit off angle, but it's nothing major. The dev doesn't have access to the Index, which prevents any officially listed support, but the Index does indeed work without the need for any configuration on your part.

The Dark Method's slow and methodical pacing may not appeal to those who prefer faster paced or more action oriented titles, but if the idea of survival horror with a dash of Castlevania appeals to you, then you should definitely check this one out.

In a market flooded with wave shooters, glorified tech demos, and shallow cash grabs, it is criminal that a game this good is so unknown.

Haven't finished the game yet but have been having alot of fun playing it.

If the trailer seems your cup of tea, you should definitely buy it.

Pros:
- Surprising smooth gameplay
- Cool, varied environments
- Awesome Voice acting
- Weapon Design

Cons:
- Lack of real save system
- Sound Design, I'm playing on a Oculus Quest 2 so it may be native to my platform, but I've been having issues with getting attacked by monsters from behind and not noticing because it sounds like they could be anywhere. I've played other games that have achieved this better.

Other than those two small complaints I have been having a blast,

Currently would rate 8 out of 10 but may update when I finish

*This review (October 2022) is while the game is in Early Access. Review will be updated as more content is available or when the game is out of Early Access.*

If you like puzzles, adventure, action, horror elements and some of horror throwbacks then this game is for you. You can tell this game has inspiration from early horror games of the 1990s and a few of more current ones, as well as horror movies from the 1980s and 1990s. A hidden gem that hit all the right spots for me. This game is made from a single developer that is on par as some AAA titles, the developer is also communicative with the community! I like to support single or a small team developers, since I have cousins who are into game developing too. It took me about 15 hours to complete the main story, a majority of this time was enjoying all the sights (some puzzles or what to do/where to go, had me scratching my head at times too). I really like how all the chapters were connected together in one large map with very minimal load times that didn't break the immersion. The game's story was enjoyed so much that I wrote a walkthrough with puzzle solutions guide for the community.

Having completed the main story (of what is currently available) and guide. Checked out the bonus modes. The random mansion had me the most piqued. The developer had also released a random maze just in time for Halloween 2022. I played the random maze and I beat it just over 9 minutes, must have gotten an easy maze. Will try the maze more and explore (instead of finding the key then look for the door, or finding the door then look for the key). I was laughing at the minions when I saw they had pumpkins over their heads. I have tried the random mansion. In this mode you need to pick up 4 ritual items, find the ritual room, and perform the ritual. I picked up 2 of the 4 of the ritual items and got lost. Being lost I encountered the demon, I ran into a room to hide and the demon followed in, trapping me, it was game over. Loved it, reminded me of the Spencer Mansion (the Resident Evil mansion) and Devour, and if they had a baby! Will need to try the mansion more!

The game is playable and very much enjoyable, as it is. The main story now has me piqued! I am excited to see what the developer has planned. Give this game a try, you will not be disappointed!

***WITH THE 12/14/2022 UPDATE THE MAZE IS NOW A PERMANENT ADDITION TO THE GAME!***

After reading Caion,s review posted on August 23 there isn't much else to add! I also played with the Valve Index and had
no problems. The game is a lot of fun with many hours of exploration puzzles and monsters!
Would highly recommend it!

So I scroll Through Alot Of Games On Steam In VR Which have the specials going on..'! I came across this Game and Gave it a go."! I was really impressed and had alot of fun. Solving the puzzles in this game is so satisfying.'!! And whipping out the long one AKA Skull Weapon and smacking demon spawns to death with it is fun too.'! I can't Wait till I have more time to play this again and if anyone reads this definitely give this a go.'! https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1452621666 My First Play Through On Rift S.'!

This game is awesome !

The enviroments, the atmosphere, the puzzles, the story, the voice acting, the soundtrack, the visuals, the weapons ... so much to love in this game.
I agree with the other reviewers: this is a hidden gem !!!

If you like old school action adventures that keep good balance between not to easy puzzles and a well dosed amount of combat, don't hesitate and play "the dark method".

Yes, it is early access and there are some bugs and glitches. There are some minor complaints like the missing save system or the too easy combat but nothing that holds me back from playing. It's always entertainig and the puzzles keep you busy and eager to see what happens next.

The Dev is a very kind person who cares about his game and its players. He is listening to our complaints and suggestions and even helps out if you get stuck. Amazing work for a one man show !
This really deserves support and is absolutely worth the price.


All thumbs up ! But I have to leave now, got an appiontment ... yeah exactly...with Dr. Dark ;-)

A hidden gem; STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS GAME!

When I purchased this game I was expecting an average VR game…boy, was I wrong. This Developer (by the way, I believe it is a one person team) is very creative and has developed an excellent VR game.....and is well worth the price. The audio/music, game play and graphics are exceptional throughout the entire game. Some comedy, some scares, some surprises, fun puzzles, and tension as you proceed through the game.

This game flows very well, graphics are very nice and though I played only a few hours to date, it has a story that builds as you proceed.

I've always enjoyed games like this that really immerse one into the story, but I am enjoying this game more than most other VR games …it's really hard to explain why. But trust me if you like games with a developing story, puzzles, tensions, exhilaration, combat, you will really like this game.

Game play is incredibly fun and, in all honesty, challenging at times as you attempt to figure out the puzzle. Puzzles are interesting; not so difficult that you have to check a walk through to solve them, but they're not total 'gimme's either. Most of them play off the same few mechanical tricks, but in interesting ways that require you to stop and think about what you're trying to accomplish. As you proceed on your expedition, you'll find weapons to expand your arsenal; weapons to include a sawed off shotgun....which is definitely a favorite.

I really think that the majority of recently released VR games are getting worse instead of better.....well this game, THE DARK METHOD, is one of the best VR games to date and is one of the top 10 VR games I have played since VR came out in 2016......and I have played over a hundred games. This is what VR games should be like.

BUY this game; you will enjoy it.

Note—this Dev is very responsive and answers all comments/questions. And he is fully focused on fixing any issues and on making this game better.

i do what is there work nicely but puzzle are a bit tricky,my 2 cents is the game is superb,but the save situation is very ugly,i think it should save on new weapons acquisition and when you solve a puzzle.right now i wont work on it too much until this is done better as no one like to redo the same things for hours.ps add a height ajustement for people like me woh play seated otherwise if thoses dont bother you you will really love the ambiance of that game .congrats to the dev

Played on Vive Pro 2 with index controllers:

I cant really tell where all the good reviews come from.
The game lacks proper direction. After the tutorial you are thrown into your Appartment with no indication what to do and how to do it.
Eventually you might figure out you can start missions from a book, but noone explains you what is what and what does what.

Apart from that: I started two missions and in both I managed to get stuck rather quickly: Once in a car in the garage, once on a corner in a building.
Both cases I couldnt move away anymore, neither with controller / Teleport, nor with actual Room scale movement.

So at the end the game was nothing but frustration.