Escape the Dark Castle is a hauntingly beautiful, gothic adventure that successfully brings the atmosphere of tabletop RPGs to the mobile screen. The black-and-white pixel art is incredibly evocative, creating a sense of dread that perfectly matches the 'grimdark' fantasy setting. It’s a game of risk and consequence; every door you open and every encounter you choose can lead to your salvation or a gruesome end.
The gameplay is a mix of tactical decision-making and light RPG elements. You manage your health and equipment while dealing with a wide array of grotesque monsters and unsettling events. I loved the sense of mystery and the 'choose-your-own-adventure' feel of the narrative branches. It’s a challenging game that doesn't hold your hand, making every escape feel like a genuine achievement. For fans of dark fantasy and old-school dungeon crawlers, this is a hidden gem.
Available on: iPhone, iPod
Version 1.1Wed May 19 2021
Audio bug fixed.
Track your prisoners’ stats in style with the Escape the Dark Castle companion app, featuring atmospheric sound and animation that blend with and enhance the tabletop experience.
Sitting alongside your character card, the companion app offers the following features:
• Track your Prisoner HP
Brutal heavyweight shackles represent your prisoners current HP. Press and drag to see the chain-links glow and rattle as you adjust your HP, while a tension building heartbeat increases in speed as you draw closer to death!
• Record your Plague Level
The Plague menu allows you to keep track of your plague level using tally marks as directed by the game rules. When you pass a Plague Threshold an animation is triggered - automatically adjusting your HP on the shackles.
• Manage Companions
When Companions enter the game, select them via the Companions drop-down menu, where you can adjust their HP and trigger their special abilities to mirror their in-game actions.
• Access Digital Rules and FAQ
Via the Settings menu you can access browser-based searchable digital rules and FAQ to help you get quick clarifications during play without hunting through the physical rule book.
• Connected Soundtrack
The settings menu also has links to the atmospheric ETDC soundtrack on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp – meaning you can easily play it in the background, combining with the SFX from this app for full immersion into your dark adventure.
• Solo or Local Multiplayer
You can play a 2-prisoner solo game on one smartphone, or Host a game which up to three other players can Join using their own devices. During hosted games, all player’s prisoner names and HP levels are displayed in real time on each device, and you will phase in and out of game states together as a group for maximum atmospheric connectivity.
• Pass the virtual ‘YOU’ token
Tap on the YOU icon and a list of your fellow prisoners will be displayed. Choose who to pass the token to and you’ll hear a heavy metallic sound on that players' device as the token lands with them!
• Free Integrated Death Book!
When your prisoner dies, enter the code of the card which finished you off and the app will display your doom – a contextual death scene to read aloud and bring full narrative closure to the story. The Death Book is normally sold separately for £9.99 but is included and integrated here for free!
Please note:
-A copy of the Escape the Dark Castle board game is required to use this application.
-This application is compatible with iOS 11 onwards.
-An internet connection is required to use the network features of this application.
-This application is limited to one user per device.
Escape the Dark Castle © Copyright 2017-2021 Themeborne Ltd. Escape the Dark,
Escape the Dark Castle, the Escape the Dark Castle logo, Themeborne and the
Themeborne logo are either ® or ™, and/or © Themeborne Ltd, registered in the UK. All rights reserved. No part of this product may be reproduced without specific permission. Actual components may vary from those shown. Themeborne Ltd is located at Kirkham. House, Norwich, NR3 2AG, UK. www.themeborne.com
Requires iOS 11.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.An atmospheric companion app to enhance the Escape the Dark Castle board game.
Track your prisoners’ stats in style with the Escape the Dark Castle companion app, featuring atmospheric sound and animation that blend with and enhance the tabletop experience.
Sitting alongside your character card, the companion app offers the following features:
• Track your Prisoner HP
Brutal heavyweight shackles represent your prisoners current HP. Press and drag to see the chain-links glow and rattle as you adjust your HP, while a tension building heartbeat increases in speed as you draw closer to death!
• Record your Plague Level
The Plague menu allows you to keep track of your plague level using tally marks as directed by the game rules. When you pass a Plague Threshold an animation is triggered - automatically adjusting your HP on the shackles.
• Manage Companions
When Companions enter the game, select them via the Companions drop-down menu, where you can adjust their HP and trigger their special abilities to mirror their in-game actions.
• Access Digital Rules and FAQ
Via the Settings menu you can access browser-based searchable digital rules and FAQ to help you get quick clarifications during play without hunting through the physical rule book.
• Connected Soundtrack
The settings menu also has links to the atmospheric ETDC soundtrack on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp – meaning you can easily play it in the background, combining with the SFX from this app for full immersion into your dark adventure.
• Solo or Local Multiplayer
You can play a 2-prisoner solo game on one smartphone, or Host a game which up to three other players can Join using their own devices. During hosted games, all player’s prisoner names and HP levels are displayed in real time on each device, and you will phase in and out of game states together as a group for maximum atmospheric connectivity.
• Pass the virtual ‘YOU’ token
Tap on the YOU icon and a list of your fellow prisoners will be displayed. Choose who to pass the token to and you’ll hear a heavy metallic sound on that players' device as the token lands with them!
• Free Integrated Death Book!
When your prisoner dies, enter the code of the card which finished you off and the app will display your doom – a contextual death scene to read aloud and bring full narrative closure to the story. The Death Book is normally sold separately for £9.99 but is included and integrated here for free!
Please note:
-A copy of the Escape the Dark Castle board game is required to use this application.
-This application is compatible with iOS 11 onwards.
-An internet connection is required to use the network features of this application.
-This application is limited to one user per device.
Escape the Dark Castle © Copyright 2017-2021 Themeborne Ltd. Escape the Dark,
Escape the Dark Castle, the Escape the Dark Castle logo, Themeborne and the
Themeborne logo are either ® or ™, and/or © Themeborne Ltd, registered in the UK. All rights reserved. No part of this product may be reproduced without specific permission. Actual components may vary from those shown. Themeborne Ltd is located at Kirkham. House, Norwich, NR3 2AG, UK. www.themeborne.com







Escape the Dark Castle is an atmospheric survival adventure game. Trapped in a terrifying fortress, you must navigate through a series of procedurally generated rooms and face off against nightmarish creatures. Use your wits and the items you find to survive. Every decision matters, and the path to freedom is fraught with peril. Featuring a unique black-and-white aesthetic and a heavy focus on narrative choices, this game offers a deep and immersive dark fantasy experience.
Stunning Black-and-White Pixel Art
Procedural Dungeon Layouts
Deep Narrative Choices
Challenging Turn-Based Combat
Your inventory is extremely limited. Never carry more than one healing item at a time. Prioritize 'Keys' and 'Shields,' as these allow you to avoid damage entirely, which is far more efficient than trying to heal mid-combat.
The Last of Us: Escape the Dark is a strong expansion on the original mechanics of Escape the Dark Castle, and it's a well-done adaptation of The Last of Us...
www.wargamer.com - Wed Jan 29 2025
Escape the Dark Sector improves (in almost every way) upon the experience that Themeborne started with Castle in 2017. Here's my review!
GameTyrant - Fri Jan 29 2021
Another board game adaptation of hit video game The Last of Us is on the way, this time from the creators of Escape the Dark Castle.
Dicebreaker - Thu Dec 29 2022
If you were already a fan of Themeborne's dungeon crawl tabletop game, Escape the Dark Castle, their new Escape the Dark Sector will have...
GeekDad - Sun Nov 29 2020
Dark Castle and Sector both are focused, deeply thematic, card-based narrative adventure games. Pivoting around a simple (with each game boasting a slightly...
Things We Enjoy - Sat Jul 29 2023
Iconic Naughty Dog video game The Last of Us is set to get a major board game adaptation from the designers at Themeborne, known for Escape...
GamesHub - Thu Dec 29 2022
The Last Of US: Escape the Dark board game lets players pick up characters like Joel and Ellie from the video game series and take them on an adventure of...
Tabletop Gaming Magazine - Thu Dec 29 2022
Escape the Dark Castle creator Themeborne is partnering with Naughty Dog on The Last of Us: Escape the Dark, an open world co-op board game.
Wargamer - Thu Dec 29 2022
Escape the Dark Castle is the first in a series of narrative games from Themeborne, an independent design studio based in England where...
GameTyrant - Fri Jan 29 2021
From Escape the Dark Castle makers - Not only is The Last of Us being adapted for a TV show early next year, but it's also getting an...
Push Square - Thu Dec 29 2022
When presented with a choice between a 'Dark Hallway' and a 'Screaming Door,' check your health. Hallways are safer but offer less loot; Doors are dangerous but are the only way to find the powerful weapons needed for the boss.
It features a dark, gothic atmosphere and some disturbing imagery, but it focuses more on adventure and survival than pure horror.