Parents' Guide to

The Darkness

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Demonic possession haunts first-person shooter.

Game Xbox 360 , PlayStation 3 2007
The Darkness Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

See all
age 15+

Based on 2 parent reviews

gamenerd323
gamenerd323 Adult
November 9, 2009
age 14+

Mature gamers!

You play as a gangster, on his 21st birthday he inherits a demon powers that he uses to brutally kill his enemies. Some gore and lots of blood are shown, there is also bad language but the violence is the concern for this title.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
emerya7x
emerya7x Adult
December 4, 2008
age 16+

eeek

This game is very unusual.I like how it isn't similar at all to any other game.It's intense and violent,but the demonic sense i got from it made me shutter.I had to stop playing it because the chills some of the scenes gave me.
See all 2 parent reviews

What’s It About?

THE DARKNESS begins with a bang: You play as Mafia hit man Jackie Estacado, who wakes up on his 21st birthday in the back seat of a speeding convertible after being knocked out during a money deal gone wrong. Eventually you discover that the head of the crime family you work for, \"Uncle\" Paulie Franchetti, has put a hit on you. Even more disturbing, though, is a demonic voice that starts speaking in your head -- until you learn how to harness the \"darkness\" and use the ancient power to exact revenge on Paulie and his henchmen. In fact, you'll transform into somewhat of a demon yourself, with serpent-like appendages growing out of your shoulders, glowing eyes, and an aversion to light.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

As you might suspect, this extraordinary action game is as gory as it is striking. While over-the-top (in true comic book fashion), the story, penned by Eisner Award winner Paul Jenkins, is well written and exceptionally voice-acted by the talented cast. Finding more than 100 hidden items in the game will unlock bonus goodies (accessible from the main menu), including comic books, concept artwork, and more. Along with the lengthy single-player game, The Darkness offers seven unique multiplayer modes for both the Xbox 360 and PS3.

Mature gamers in search of a worthy shooter will find The Darkness one of the finest games of the year thus far. The action is intense, the story and characters are memorable, it looks and sounds great, and there's a ton of solo and head-to-head game play to sink your fangs into.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what makes this game appealing. Does the fact that the main character is possessed by an evil force make him (or you, as the player) less responsible for his actions? Is that good or bad? Do the violent acts seem less violent when they're committed by tentacles instead of guns? Did this game make you feel like you were part of a dark comic-book world? What drew you in -- the shooting or the story?

Game Details

  • Platforms: Xbox 360 , PlayStation 3
  • Available online?: Available online
  • Publisher: 2K Games
  • Release date: June 26, 2007
  • Genre: First-Person Shooter
  • ESRB rating: M for Blood and gore, drug reference, intense violence, strong language, suggestive themes
  • Last updated: November 4, 2015

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate