Hyper Light Drifter
Hyper Light Drifter
Game
Game2018
Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition
Developer Long Hat House
Dandara is a 2018 2D platformer and Metroidvania video game developed by Brazilian studio Long Hat House and published by Raw Fury in 2018. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
267 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Nov 3, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
78
LovedLoved
146 positive · 41 negative
95% range 72–83%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 146 | 41 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 35 | 1 | 28 |
| Lemmy * | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| Mastodon * | 1 | 0 | 4 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Mostly Positive
490 of 640 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
78% recommend · 146 yes, 40 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 186 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (1,032 of 1,275 positive).
Players praise the unique movement mechanic of leaping between surfaces. [1][2][3] The pixel art and soundtrack are widely acclaimed as gorgeous and memorable. [4][5][6] Some players find the controls frustrating, especially with keyboard and mouse. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [13]
I certainly see the appeal of this game but it ended up as a very irritating experience. The moments where you zip around the map feel great, but once enemies appear the game screeches to a halt because you main mode of attack is a projectile you have to charge. The two bosses I fought felt very cinematic and fun though. Map design also didn't gel with me. Way too many paths go on for too long before you hit dead …
- [4]
The game is a little fetch-questy in the late game when it comes to fulfiling the conditions for the true ending, but other than that this is a beautiful and fun game. The art and music are gorgeous and the mechanics and lore are inspired. I started and finished this right after the 2024 election so playing a game where you fight as the literal avatar of creative freedom against an oppressive regime really hit for …
- [1]
This is probably the most unique game in the metroidvania format because of its movement mechanic. Instead of free movement, you can only jump to specific static positions. They give you a bit of aim assist to make it all pretty fluid. Eventually you're so used to it that you're just bouncing around everywhere like it was second nature. The other major element to this game is its soulslike difficulty both in …
- [10]
Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition is a striking reinterpretation of the Metroidvania formula, one that immediately distinguishes itself through movement, atmosphere, and narrative tone. Rather than traversing the world by running and jumping in familiar ways, you navigate through the gravity-defying landscapes of Salt by leaping between specially marked surfaces. This core mechanic is not simply a novelty—it reshapes …
- [2]
Good Things Unique Movement System – Instead of walking or running, Dandara leaps from surface to surface, creating fast-paced traversal that feels fresh and exciting. Beautiful Pixel Art – The game’s vibrant environments and expressive characters make the world of Salt visually striking. Deep & Symbolic Lore – Inspired by the historical Afro-Brazilian warrior Dandara, the game’s story is filled with metaphors and …
Summarised from 34 of the 262 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 10, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Players who liked Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition talk about unique and satisfying movement system; those who didn't talk about controls can feel bad on keyboard and mouse. Which matters more to you?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Reception towards Dandara was generally mixed, leaning towards positive. It was better accepted in publications centered towards mobile platforms, showing its origins as a touchscreen-first game. Dandara received a nomination for "Portable Game of the Year" during the 22nd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 267 · most liked firstSo like with a 10 year old discord account I would have to have made this private NSFW server that I now don't have access to at age 7 for this to make any sense. Very cool @discord.com , remember when I bought Dandara from you guys with real money because you said you'd be a game storefront?
negative · AI labelView post →Ok, I forgot that I had some drawings that are worth posting, like this one I made of Dandara (it's a metroidvania game I highly recommend it)
positive · AI labelView post →My favorite PAID games on the Play Store (+ user recommendations 💬). 👉*For my **free** games list, please go [here](https://discuss.tchncs.de/post/40095267).* **New list entries - updated June 2026:** - **[Ugly](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pid.ugly) 🌟 🎮 - Puzzle platformer** - **[Lunar Silver Star Story Touch](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.somoga.lunar1android) 🌟 🎮 - Turn-based RPG** - **[Cat Quest…
neutral · AI labelView post →My favorite PAID games on the Play Store (+ user recommendations 💬). **Latest entries - 28 June 2025:** - [Levelhead](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bscotch.levelhead) 💬 🎮 👥️ - Platform** - [Crashlands 2](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bscotch.crashlands2) 💬 🎮 - Survival crafting** ::: spoiler Other recent entries - **[Ogu and the Secret Forest](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.SinkHoleStudio.OguForest) 🎮 - Action adventure** -…
neutral · AI labelView post →My favorite PAID games on the Play Store (+ user recommendations). cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/58686627 If you want to save this list, I suggest doing so with the [original post](https://lemm.ee/post/58686627), as I'll keep it updated with new entries. > **Latest entries - March 15th, 2025:** > > - **[Cursed Treasure Tower Defense](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iriysoft.cursedtreasure) - Tower defense** > > **Latest entries Netflix - March 15th, 2025:** > >…
neutral · AI labelView post →I certainly see the appeal of this game but it ended up as a very irritating experience. The moments where you zip around the map feel great, but once enemies appear the game screeches to a halt because you main mode of attack is a projectile you have to charge. The two bosses I fought felt very cinematic and fun though. Map design also didn't gel with me. Way too many paths go on for too long before you hit dead ends, which ends in too much backtracking. I respect this game, but from afar.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Post some of your favourite female videogame characters for international women’s day 💖 Last minute! Bayonetta - The sexy witch protagonist of Bayonetta Daisy - The princess of Sarasaland in Super Mario Chiaki Nanami - The Ultimate Gamer from Danganronpa 2 Dandara - From the indie game Dandara
neutral · AI labelView post →What's the most recent game to enter your top 10 canonical, personal games? Pretending I'm not sure if you mean "most recently played" or "most recently released," I'll give two answers. Released: Ghost of Tsushima Played: Dandara #blutoid
positive · AI labelView post →Did gravity and direction just take the day off?
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Feather's Edge, a metroidvania from the Brazilian team behind Dandara, is announced for future release on PC.. >Dash and slash through an innovative kinetic metroidvania. The Tower of Time awaits – a rich, handcrafted world fractured by the collapse of time. Slice through foes in tough-as-talons bite-sized battles, and master the way of the bird warrior. 🌐 [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3804760/Feathers_Edge/)
neutral · AI labelView post →Sadly not much fun on a Controller... Dandara is a clever and creative Metroidvania with a unique gimmick. Instead of moving around normally, you can only move by leaping between surfaces. This means you can in theory move very quickly, bouncing through the various psychedelic zero-Gravity locations like a pinball. In contrast to your rapid movement, your attack is slow and methodical, needing to be charged every time you want to attack. Imagine a Metroid game where you only have the Charge…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Brazil is not exactly known for its game development scene, but Dandara is an awesome outlier. In my opinion, the best game ever produced by my countryman... you should check it out! It's a metroidvania with a twist in its gameplay, with great lore, setting and superb soundtrack! My only gripe is the short window of Invincibility frames when you get hit: you can get wrecked pretty fast against multiple projectiles!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Follow my Curator page, [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/41363546-Fruit-N-Doggie-Reviews/]Fruit N Doggie Reviews, so you can be updated whenever I post a new review. Overall Rating - Seriously Flawed ★★☆☆☆ First Impressions I was looking through my library and games, and saw how much Dandara: Trials of Fear (DD) stood out from its reviews. People seemed really split on whether they quite enjoyed this Metroidvania, or it messed up big time. Having no foreknowledge about the game, I…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Here's one hour of me defending a space whale 🐋 from robot orbs in SKIES ABOVE from @hungrydingo.bsky.social: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yknU... This roguelike feels like a cross between Hades and Dandara, creating a unique, addictive experience. Thanks for the review copy, @flynnsarcade.bsky.social!
neutral · AI labelView post →The game is a little fetch-questy in the late game when it comes to fulfiling the conditions for the true ending, but other than that this is a beautiful and fun game. The art and music are gorgeous and the mechanics and lore are inspired. I started and finished this right after the 2024 election so playing a game where you fight as the literal avatar of creative freedom against an oppressive regime really hit for me and cemented that freedom and art and expression are something that's always…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Happy #blackhistorymonth! Have some artwork from one of my favorite Indie games; DANDARA!
positive · AI labelView post →Got bored, dropped it. Movement feels honestly bad, specially with KB/M. Being a Metroidvania, this makes the game utterly insufferable.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →this game is good. i just cannot gel with the controls after 3 and a half hours. the pixel art is fantastic and i really want to like this game but i dont really. if this game looks interesting to you then pick it up. these devs deserve the support and im happy to support good looking experimental games like this
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →... hmm... Last night, I started a new indie game, "Dandara," a Metroidvania that... sort of plays like a 2D Gravity Rush? Its big mechanical hook, you see, is that you can't run or jump. Rather, you fling yourself bodily at any surface that'll support you, like Spider-Man.
neutral · AI labelView post →absolute peak game. soundtrack is undoubtedly one of the best i've ever heard, right up there with undertale, minecraft, and terraria. the story is beautiful if you care to look at it closely, and the game is overall an immensely detailed masterpiece. 10/10.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Well, what an interesting game. I’ll say this, the art style, story and even gameplay concepts presented here are really unique. However, unique doesn’t really mean good unfortunately. The movement in this game is point and jump, linear movement to a surface, but in several occasions now I’ve had the game force my trajectory to where it though I wanted to go and not where I actually wanted to go. I can’t think of anymore more frustrating that repeatedly dying because the game thinks it…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →never got to finish #Dandara in the past, today is the day we beat it for the #StreamDeck adding another game to #TheBeatenPath, #RookRules playing #IndieGames: youtube.com/live/YqmegZu...
neutral · AI labelView post →also, if you've already bought and played Dandara? pick it up again. that Trials of Fear expansion adds a LOT to the game. holy shit. and it's completely free! y'got nothing to lose!
positive · AI labelView post →Imagine dropping a banger in 2018 and your name’s still barely making a blip, while your rivals are swimming in hype 100 mil times more
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is probably the most unique game in the metroidvania format because of its movement mechanic. Instead of free movement, you can only jump to specific static positions. They give you a bit of aim assist to make it all pretty fluid. Eventually you're so used to it that you're just bouncing around everywhere like it was second nature. The other major element to this game is its soulslike difficulty both in challenge of combat and the very low number of check/save points. You get something…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you are the one who usually beat games to the end, DON'T touch this one even with a 100-inch stick. The final boss is gonna dissapoint you. There are thousands of projectiles on screen and you are not gonna evade them just because the game requires you to be superhuman. Every time I die on the same moment, I am bloody tired and feel very well that my attempts don't snow any progress. I can't evade 5 projectiles from 5 different sides at once. Who has come up with this ♥♥♥♥? And the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have played my good share of metroidvania platformers and this has to be the worst one. I don't understand the decision to make the movement so garbage. You basically have to jump around the map like a lunatic to traverse it. Why? Never mind, i don't actually care since i didn't directly pay money for this since it was in a humble bundle i got in 2019. Avoid this garbage and go play Hollow Knight.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really tried to like this game. I have around 6 hours of actual playtime (ignore the 46 hours shown — I accidentally left the game running in the background for a couple of days), but unfortunately, I just could not fully get into it. That said, there are definitely things the game does well, so let me start there. THE GOOD 1. Beautiful pixel art – The visuals are fantastic, and I especially love the design of the main character. 2. Great music – I have yet to hear a track I dislike. The…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The linked video includes reviews of 10 indie games. The segment on Dandara recommends the game, and discusses how its unique movement style interacts with different input methods. [. . .] There may be a kernel of truth to the idea Dandara was designed for mobile devices, but I think its unusual way of moving around feels best, works best, on a conventional controller. [. . .] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eRtv28O-Pc][Click here to see the entire review on YouTube]
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've played this game through Nintendo Switch before and I brought it on steam to leave a review. The game is a very good game... it's just not a game for me. First i love the fact that this game is based of a real life freedom fighter, that being Brazils Dandara Dos Palmares and when i learned tof this i told myself i would finish this game no matter what. When i played it the game for first time the first thing we all notice is the gorgeous pixel art and the second thing is the movement of…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →a fun little metroidvania. Good music, fun pixel art, and an interesting surreal world. I like the movement; bouncing around the environment. I did end up using the cheats near the end.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A brilliant take on a platformer that can be easily played with a touch screen. Gorgeous pixel art, wonderful soundtrack and fascinating world and story. Perfectly captures the feel of being an anime fighter. Leaping and shooting is exhilarating.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Good Things Unique Movement System – Instead of walking or running, Dandara leaps from surface to surface, creating fast-paced traversal that feels fresh and exciting. Beautiful Pixel Art – The game’s vibrant environments and expressive characters make the world of Salt visually striking. Deep & Symbolic Lore – Inspired by the historical Afro-Brazilian warrior Dandara, the game’s story is filled with metaphors and hidden meanings. Expansive World Design – A well-crafted Metroidvania…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I finished Dandara. A game that has a lot going for it, an ethereal atmosphere and an ambitiously fresh idea for its movement system, which sadly at odds with how limited it can be in combat, resulting more frustrating than it needs. A nice potential, albeit limited by a bit of design wonkiness.
neutral · AI labelView post →All the way back at the beginning of No Escape I wrote about Dandara, which is a really fucking good metroidvania-style game from a Brazilian dev team about defeating fascism with art: noescapevg.com/review-danda...
positive · AI labelView post →Absolutely seconding this. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Dandara, I should go back and replay it sometime. A game that wholly upends your navigation tendencies for a metroidvania
positive · AI labelView post →My recommendations: - Anodyne ([Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.Anodyne.mobile) | [Humble Bundle](https://www.humblebundle.com/store/anodyne) | [Humble Widgets](https://www.humblebundle.com/widget/v2/standalone/anodyne/Sndn9sjSnlz)) - Chloe Playtime ([Amazon Appstore](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09QBZ3D6R) | [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rmstudios.chloee)) - Codemancer…
neutral · AI labelView post →this got to be one of the most unentertaining games I've ever played. felt literally nothing playing it. feels like devs just made a check-box list game (it has this and it has that and everything else) but forgot that games need to be entertaining and this game is just not. battles suck (also enemies design is awkward, why am I fighting some furries with medieval weapons lmao), platforming nonexistent (you can pretty much just spam jump 99% of the time and be just fine),…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I was really hoping this game would be good because I would love nothing more than to see Brazilian art excel on the global stage, so I'm glad this didn't disappoint me lol. The central conceit of the game felt really satisfying to play, it reminded me a lot of VVVVVV, which is already one of my favorite games, in that it has one core, unique mechanic that's been labored over extensively and being good at the game depends mostly on dominating that mechanic. I found the exploration very fun, I'm…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Some games I thought were pretty good that got somewhat looked over: **Dandara: Trials of Fear** -- Somewhat Metroid like but with a unique limited movement system. **The Dwarves** -- An ARPG with a bland title (based on a book I guess) that I think made a lot of people overlook this but the gameplay was well done. **Echoes of Aetheria** -- Typical JRPG which isn't for everyone but I enjoyed it. **The Fall of the Dungeon Guardians** -- Similar to Grimrock (though maybe not quite as…
positive · AI labelView post →The next game we're talking about for WOFF is Dandara, which I've never heard anyone talk about, and is really interesting from an adaptation perspective. It's an ios metroidvania that I played on switch so the ios allowances are mostly sort of annoying?
neutral · AI labelView post →More versions of SotN with even more adrenaline. Amazing, I loved it! A unique gameplay design I've never seen before. This is not flattery, you did an amazing job, Keep it up!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is genuinely cool. The most unique platformer I have ever played, all due to not giving the player to walk. Instead you dart from platform to platform like a ninja, hurling energy bolts like an anime character. The world blends the familar with the fantastic and even alien, as you navigate escherian hallways and coridors that still sell the concept of a town, a forest, a nightmare, and an area beyond time. The combat design reminds me of classic zelda enemy design, enemies are…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition is a striking reinterpretation of the Metroidvania formula, one that immediately distinguishes itself through movement, atmosphere, and narrative tone. Rather than traversing the world by running and jumping in familiar ways, you navigate through the gravity-defying landscapes of Salt by leaping between specially marked surfaces. This core mechanic is not simply a novelty—it reshapes the entire feel of exploration. By propelling yourself from wall to wall and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of the most unique metroidvanias I've ever played (twice, once on mobile). It's pretty fun, even though I guess the movement could be off putting to some people (even though it came naturally to me, personally). Amazing soundtrack and visuals.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As of today, Final Fantasy X HD Remaster (2016) is the 65th best game of all time according to me, directly below Red Dead Redemption and directly above Dandara. It is part of Tier 5. There are 25 tiers and 565 games in the list #PixelRankings
positive · AI labelView post →Terrible aesthetic, terrible game play. And a you actually included a black disabled women as a character in a action game? how does that make any sense?? Seem like DEI casting mattered more then making a good game.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a puzzle game. If I have to constantly think about how to travel from one side of the room to the other through the use of unorthodox movement controls, it's a puzzle. It's not that I have something against puzzles, but this game is not advertising itself as a puzzle game when it clearly is.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As of today, Papers, Please (2013) is the 62nd best game of all time according to me, directly below Dandara and directly above Mischief Makers. It is part of Tier 9. There are 48 tiers and 542 games in the list. #PixelRankings
positive · AI labelView post →I recommend playing this on a tablet or smartphone. The movement is much more intuitive using a touchscreen. Worth playing if you want a unique Metroidvania experience with beautiful pixel art.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Wall of text incoming! You've been warned... \#hasicontent 8Doors: Arum's Afterlife Adventure A Vampyre Story ABZÛ Anodyne Augury Red Code Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extended Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon Böbl Bunny Swordmaster Story Celeste Celeste Classic Celeste Classic 2 Codemancer Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition Downwell Dragon's Crown (PS3 / PS Vita) Dragon's Crown Pro (PS4) Dreaming Sarah Dusk Child Dust: An Elysian…
neutral · AI labelView post →I'm absolutely stunned at how good this game is. The critic reviews don't do it justice. Dandara is a cohesive work of art. There are issues with this game but they don't matter. Play it for the experience.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Being stuck to the walls and not being able to move freely feels very restrictive. It also tends to feel more like a puzzle game, which isn't a genre I like to play either. It just wasn't for me. ===================== My Metroidvania Tier List (excluding Metroid & Castlevania titles) ===================== S+ Aeterna Noctis | S Tier (Truly Special) Astalon: Tears of the Earth | Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom | Hollow Knight | S- Blasphemous 2 | Cathedral | A+ Doomblade^ |…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The movement, while being the game's differentiator, is so inexact and hard to control that it completely takes away from the enjoyment of the game. It's not so obvious at first, but when you go up against a boss, it's nearly impossible to move around correctly because it just kind of does what it wants to. You have to hold down your fire button for what seems like an eternity before it fires. Again, against the bosses, with both of these mechanics, it feels like the only way to do damage is…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Unique but good movement system and very artsy in design and story. Some annoying achievements tho and the cutoff point is not telegraphed enough for me.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Good metroidvania, the main point that makes it stand out in the genre is the original gameplay where you defy gravity by jumping between surfaces (floors, walls ans ceilings), instead of regular platforming.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →English Version (french below) : A nice and very atypical game ! It takes some time to get used to the movement system, but when you get the grasp of it, it does feel pretty satisfying, despite the auto-lock sometimes getting a bit imprecise, which can get frustrating. Other than that, the story is maybe a tad too cryptic for my taste, but it didn't prevent me from appreciating it. The environments are quite diverse, the music is nice, especially themes playing during boss fights. The…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →if you like metroidvanias, i suggest Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition; sick and very unique Brazilian game also Endacopia; fucking cool lil adventure/point and click game
positive · AI labelView post →Looking for more mobile games to play. I welcome titles. Here's my library! I like roguelikes and strategy games. Balatro Loop Hero Slay The Spire Game dev story Neko Atsume 1 and 2 A Little to the Left Bloons TD6 Dandara Cultist simulator Downwell Dungeon Maker Evoland 1 and 2 Little Inferno
neutral · AI labelView post →Jesus, i not stealing candy from babies, do you remember Dave the diver, the game who almost won the indie GOTY prize beside been backed by a milionare fund corporation, ain't saying i gonna pirated a "artistic" five dollars game made by one guy while living in some basement, althrought nothing would stop me. I more than glad to pay for games i appreciated, like "El Paso, elsewhere", Mina The Hollower, Pigface, Dandara, Huntdown, etc, but you have to understand, i live in a place where some of…
neutral · AI labelView post →
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