Darwin's Paradox Is Out Now and It's the Most Charming Platformer of the Year

You play as an octopus. You stick to walls with suction cups, shoot ink at guards, and camouflage yourself against surfaces to sneak through an industrial complex. Your only goal is to get back to the ocean. That is the pitch for Darwin’s Paradox, and it works beautifully.

ZDT Studio’s debut game launched yesterday on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2 for $24.99. It already holds a Very Positive rating on Steam at 86% and a 75 on Metacritic from 19 critic reviews. For a first game from a new studio, those are strong numbers.

What Makes Darwin Special

ZDT Studio is a Paris-based team whose leadership includes former Arkane Lyon Studio Director Romuald Capron (Dishonored, Deathloop). The studio was founded by veterans from gaming, animation, and visual effects. Konami is publishing. That pedigree shows in every frame.

Darwin’s Paradox is a 2.5D puzzle-platformer that tells its story entirely without words. The animated sequences between levels look like they belong in a Pixar short. The industrial complex you are escaping through is rendered with incredible detail, from rust-streaked pipes to flickering fluorescent lights. When you finally reach underwater sections, the screen explodes with color and life.

The title references Charles Darwin’s 1842 monograph on coral reef ecosystems. The game draws clear inspiration from Limbo and Little Nightmares, blending atmospheric exploration with light stealth and environmental puzzles. A full playthrough takes about 6 to 7 hours.

The Octopus Toolkit

What sets Darwin apart from other atmospheric platformers is how ZDT Studio leaned into octopus biology. Darwin can stick to walls and ceilings with his suction cups, squeeze through tight spaces, shoot ink to distract guards and hit distant switches, and camouflage against surfaces to hide in plain sight. Each ability feels grounded in what a real octopus can do.

The alternation between land and water sections creates a great rhythm. On land, Darwin is clumsy and vulnerable. In water, he is graceful and powerful. That contrast makes every dive feel like a reward.

The demo featured a Snake skin and cardboard box hiding mechanic as a nod to Metal Gear Solid, and the stealth sections in the full game carry that same playful energy. Sneaking past guards, using ink clouds as distractions, and timing your movements around patrol routes is when Darwin’s Paradox is at its best.

What Critics Are Saying

The reception has been positive with some caveats. Critics praise the art direction, Darwin’s charm, and the creative level design. The main criticism across reviews is inconsistent wall-climbing controls. Darwin’s stickiness to surfaces can be unpredictable, and the second half introduces timed sequences that clash with the otherwise relaxed exploration pace.

IGN, Game Informer, and GameSpot all gave it a 7/10. NoisyPixel went higher at 9/10, calling it “a high-quality animated movie short and a dedicated gameplay experience.” GamesRadar landed at 3/5, noting that stealth abilities are “charming, though under-used.”

Should You Play It?

If you loved Limbo or Little Nightmares and the idea of playing as a sneaky octopus appeals to you, Darwin’s Paradox is worth the $24.99 asking price. The art direction is genuinely world class. Darwin is one of the most charming video game protagonists of the year. Just know that the controls can be finicky in the later chapters.

For ZDT Studio’s first game, this is a strong foundation. The talent is obvious. If you are looking for more atmospheric platformers, check out our list of games like Hollow Knight.