Darwin's Paradox Review Roundup

The review embargo for Darwin’s Paradox has just officially been lifted, meaning that would-be players of Konami and ZDT Studio’s new octopus-themed platformer can now find out what critics think of the finished product. These reviews have gone live three days before the full launch of Darwin’s Paradox, with the game set to release on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2 on April 2, 2026.

Unveiled fully at the February 2025 Sony State of Play, Darwin’s Paradox is the first game from ZDT Studio, a developer founded by former Arkane Lyon members. The core story mode of Darwin’s Paradox will see players assume the role of the titular octopus who finds himself trapped inside a concrete metropolis. Players need to guide Darwin back to his oceanic home, using an assortment of octopus abilities to navigate the game’s 2.5D levels and avoid capture.

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What Reviews Are Saying About Darwin’s Paradox

As of March 30, Darwin’s Paradox is sitting at a Top Critic Average of 77 on OpenCritic, with a critic recommendation rate of 72%. These scores give Darwin’s Paradox a “Strong” rating by OpenCritic’s metrics. While additional reviews could continue to roll in over the next few hours, days, or weeks, OpenCritic already has a solid sample size of 25 critic reviews, likely giving consumers a comprehensive enough idea of what they can expect from the game.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)

WellPlayed (Adam Ryan) — 6/10

Though a 6/10 is still widely regarded to be a decent score by many outlets, WellPlayed’s review of Darwin’s Paradox does come in at the lower end of the spectrum. While WellPlayed praises Darwin’s Paradox‘s “cute and charming character designs and animations,” its audio design, and some “fun sequences in the back third,” it takes issue with the game’s “poorly realised mechanics and wonky control inputs,” as well as a slow-paced opening and “strange choices” with the game’s score.

GameSpot (Steve Watts) — 7/10

Read GameSpot’s Darwin’s Paradox review here

Landing right in the middle of the spectrum is GameSpot’s review of Darwin’s Paradox, which opens with the line “a short but memorable cartoonish platformer starring a lovable, versatile little octopus.” GameSpot’s review states that Darwin’s Paradox is short, but that it’s “densely packed with variety” thanks to the eponymous protagonist’s assortment of unique traversal options and other abilities. Like WellPlayed, GameSpot also praises the game’s humor, but does point out that some in-game traps can feel frustrating due to their “learn-by-death” nature.

IGN (Alessandro Fillari) — 7/10

Read IGN’s Darwin’s Paradox review here

Joining GameSpot in the middle of the pack is IGN. IGN’s Darwin’s Paradox review echoes similar sentiments found in both GameSpot and WellPlayed’s reviews, stating that the game “maintains a lot of energy throughout its short runtime, but it can also hit a brick wall occasionally, with mostly amusing encounters sometimes giving way to frustrating ones that feel both overcomplicated and strict in their timing.”

TheSixthAxis (Gareth Chadwick) — 8/10

One step up the critical ladder is TheSixthAxis’ review of Darwin’s Paradox. This outlet’s biggest critiques are the game’s short length and its lack of replayability, as well as some camera issues. But much like the previous reviews, TheSixthAxis praises Darwin’s Paradox‘s slapstick humor and its inventive gameplay mechanics. The game’s visuals also receive heavy praise here, with its lighting effects and underwater segments being highlighted in particular.

DualShockers (Ethan Krieger) — 9/10

Finally, representing the top end of the spectrum is DualShockers’ Darwin’s Paradox review. Again, the game’s length and some “checkpointing frustrations” are the key pain points highlighted in this review, but likewise, the game’s humor, charm, presentation, and unique gameplay mechanics are all cited as clear positives once again. Dualshockers’ review ends with the line “Play this game. We don’t get ones like this often.”