The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark

The retro point-and-click adventure The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark is currently available for free, for Windows and Mac — 100% free to keep — as part of a limited-time Epic Store’s giveaway offer! Take advantage of it, as The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark normally costs US$14.99!

The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark is a 2D indie point-and-click adventure with irreverent humor in which the player once again investigates supernatural events in the city of Twin Lakes, this time facing the presence of a Lovecraftian cosmic threat. It was developed by Spooky Doorway and initially released on July 15, 2021.

This sequel to The Darkside Detective features environmental exploration, interaction with NPCs, and a focus on inventory-based puzzle solving, all structured in a more linear way than it may initially appear. The aesthetic is retro, with pixel art graphics and other elements that reinforce the genre’s classic tradition, and despite its horror themes, the tone is more “spooky” than “scary”. Actually, the game is even accompanied by a light and comedic atmospheric soundtrack.

Published by Akupara Games and released for Windows, Mac, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Stadia, iOS, Android, Windows Apps, and Atari VCS, The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark was generally well received by critics, earning awards much like its predecessor. In addition, it holds extremely positive user ratings on PC gaming platforms. On January 22, 2026, a new sequel titled The Darkside Detective: Backside of the Moon was announced via a trailer.

You can get the game here!

Trailer

Gameplay

The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark is a point-and-click adventure game in which players once again control Francis McQueen, exploring static environments, collecting items, interacting with non-playable characters (NPCs), and solving puzzles by combining objects or using them on elements within the environment to progress the narrative.

The story takes place in the same city as its predecessor, Twin Lakes, where McQueen returns to working as a regular detective after the police department’s supernatural division is shut down at the beginning of the game. However, unexplained events begin to resurface, while a larger cosmic threat gradually unfolds throughout the narrative.

The game features an episodic structure, with each case functioning as a standalone investigation accessible from the detective’s case files. Progression occurs primarily through inventory-based puzzle solving, without the inclusion of minigames or significant parallel systems.

Although certain investigations open multiple areas simultaneously, overall progression follows a predominantly linear logic. The game does not allow players to become permanently stuck (soft-locked), but the order in which puzzles are solved may require previously obtaining specific items in other areas.

About the game

Delouse your room with sage and pack up your travel-sized ouija board, it’s time to re-enter Twin Lakes – America’s 34th most haunted city. Join Detective McQueen as he puzzles his way through 9 chilling cases, risking life and pixelated limb to solve the macabre mysteries that plague the poor town.

Twin Lakes is a cursed city. Less cursed than say, “Demons are tearing it apart” but more cursed than “always loses its keys” or “often steps in puddles”. It’s roughly in the middle of the cursed scale, is what we’re trying to say.

Cursed enough that it’s a nuisance. Cursed enough that somebody has to deal with it…

That’s where The Darkside Detective comes in. Whenever you hear a bump in the night, feel a tingle up your spine, or smell something fishy, Detective Francis McQueen isn’t far behind.

No, he doesn’t smell of fish – it’s a phrase, come on…

Picking up after the events of The Darkside Detective, McQueen has to save his usually-present (in body, if not mind) sidekick Officer Dooley from the Darkside, so the two can get back to what they do best – investigating the city’s many strange, often paranormal, always paradoxical goings-on.

Join them in this frighteningly funny point-and-click adventure as they investigate nine more standalone cases bringing them to a carnival, the local retirement home, an amateur wrestling circuit and even as far away as Ireland as they do what they can to keep the Darkside at bay.

Like how this sounds? Try the first title.

Feature list

9 unique cases, the likes of which you’ve never seen before (not a guarantee)
Uses both pointing and clicking technology
Music from Thomas O’Boyle, a totally-living composer, definitely not undead
Photo-Realistic* Pixel Rendering (*Depends on your definition of photo-realism)
1 mail-in rebate per customer on exorcism services for hauntings resulting from play
A brief recap of the events of “The Darkside Detective” for anyone who hasn’t played it and doesn’t want to