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Heartless Dark

Inch your way through oppressive darkness using only a flashlight and 6th sense in this tense top-down roguelike. Shoot, stun, electrocute, poison and blow-up monsters in abandoned corporate offices where resources are scarce and even the furniture could be trying to kill you.

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Developer
Publisher
Release
October 14, 2021
4 years and 292 days ago
Steam Reviews
Positive19 reviews89.5%

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Latest Contributor: IGF TeamEdit notes
Updated: Jul 11, 2026Developer scaleThe operating scale of the game's developer.
Updated: Jul 11, 2026Publisher scaleThe operating scale of the game's publisher.
Updated: Jul 11, 2026Publisher statusHow the game's publishing relationship is classified.
Search Google: How is Heartless Dark and iamRoarke funded?FundingThe known source of funding behind the game.
Search Google: Who controls the creative direction and IP for Heartless Dark and iamRoarke?Creative controlWho appears to retain creative control of the game.
Updated: Jul 11, 2026Release statusWhether and how the game has been released.

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About the Game

Heartless Dark is a top-down action-roguelike with survival horror elements. It plays like a familiar top-down-shooter but your flashlight is your only view into the darkness - oh and your 6th sense... Resources are scarce and even the furniture could be trying to kill you.



Note from Roarke (the developer):
Heartless Dark was designed as a 'coffee-break roguelike' - easy to pick up and put down and not hugely demanding of your time. A run could be completed in around 20 minutes if you're good enough. While it may not contain thousands of item combinations, hundreds of enemies and complex meta-progression like other games in the genre, I've still put my passion into creating a unique, atmospheric and replay-able experience.

Action-Roguelike: Shoot, dodge, stun, electrocute, throw bombs and other tools as you kill monsters in abandoned corporate offices. Expect procedural levels, stats, upgrades, synergies, multiple characters and perma-death.



Oppressive Darkness: Your flashlight is your only view into the darkness all around you. Oh and your 6th sense...



Survival Horror: Your survival relies on spatial awareness, managing your limited resources and learning to use hazards to your advantage.

FEATURES

GAMEPLAY:
  • Randomly generated corporate office levels
  • Perma-death
  • Environmental hazards
  • Stats, upgrades, items and synergies
  • Multiple playable characters (including randomized)
  • Discoverable lore
  • Possessed furniture that might try to kill you
QUALITY OF LIFE:
  • Seed system
  • Controller support
  • Customizable difficulty
DOES NOT FEATURE:
  • Loot boxes or micro-transactions
  • Complex meta-progression
  • Dialogue
  • Skill Trees
  • Multiplayer