Critics can now share their opinions on Darwin’s Paradox, the new platformer from Konami and ZDT Studio, as the review embargo has been lifted. These reviews are available three days before the game officially launches on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2 on April 2, 2026.
ZDT Studio, a new developer formed by veterans of Arkane Lyon, will launch its first game, Darwin’s Paradox, in February 2025, as revealed at the Sony State of Play. In this game, players control Darwin, an octopus lost in a concrete city, and must use his unique abilities to navigate 2.5D levels and find his way back to the ocean while avoiding being caught.
What Reviews Are Saying About Darwin’s Paradox
As of March 30th, critics give Darwin’s Paradox an average score of 77 out of 100 on OpenCritic, and 72% of critics recommend it. This earns the game a “Strong” rating. With 25 reviews already available, OpenCritic believes players have a good understanding of what to expect, even though more reviews may come in over time.
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Results
High Score: 0 —
WellPlayed (Adam Ryan) — 6/10
- Read WellPlayed’s Darwin’s Paradox review here
While a score of 6/10 is generally considered okay, WellPlayed found Darwin’s Paradox to be on the weaker side. They liked the game’s appealing characters and animations, its sound design, and some exciting parts later on. However, they criticized the clunky controls and gameplay, a slow start, and some odd decisions regarding the music.
GameSpot (Steve Watts) — 7/10
- Read GameSpot’s Darwin’s Paradox review here
GameSpot describes Darwin’s Paradox as a brief but charming platformer featuring an adorable and adaptable octopus. While acknowledging its short length, the review highlights that the game is full of diverse gameplay thanks to the octopus’s many abilities. Similar to WellPlayed, GameSpot enjoyed the game’s humor, but noted that certain traps can be annoying because players often have to learn from trial and error.
IGN (Alessandro Fillari) — 7/10
- Read IGN’s Darwin’s Paradox review here
IGN’s review of Darwin’s Paradox shares similar opinions with GameSpot and WellPlayed. It notes the game is generally energetic and fast-paced, but can sometimes become frustrating due to overly complex and strict challenges, despite those moments often being funny.
TheSixthAxis (Gareth Chadwick) — 8/10
- Read TheSixthAxis’ Darwin’s Paradox review here
TheSixthAxis reviewed Darwin’s Paradox and found it to be a mixed bag. While the game excels with its funny, cartoonish humor, creative gameplay, and impressive graphics – especially the lighting and underwater scenes – the review noted it’s quite short and doesn’t offer much reason to play through it again. They also pointed out some issues with the camera.
DualShockers (Ethan Krieger) — 9/10
- Read DualShockers’ Darwin’s Paradox review here
DualShockers’ review of Darwin’s Paradox is the most positive we’ve seen so far. Like other reviews, it points out that the game is a bit short and has some frustrating checkpoints. However, it also praises the game’s humor, appealing style, and original gameplay. The review concludes with a strong recommendation: “Play this game. We don’t get ones like this often.”
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2026-03-30 21:34