Introversion is a small development house that deserves more attention than it gets. The team makes modest, beautifully conceived, games that are compelling to play and darwinia is one of their best.
The gameplay is challenging enough without, save perhaps one small exception, being frustrating. This allows you flexibility in play so, whether you are the aggressive type or slow and methodical, you should find a satisfying game. I never felt forced to find the trick to advance forward and the game never worked against my approach to the maps, as often happens in other games.

The graphics are simple, as you would expect from a group that isn't cranking out a million dollar blockbuster, but beautiful and enhance, rather than detract from, the experience. At first it might seem offputting, but you quickly realize that it isn't something that requires tolerance but actually fits the game's story and design. The story doesn't feel like an afterthought. It is well written and has a strange emotional pull for a video game. The lovely music changes to help drive this emotion but is never in your face and never becomes tiresome. It all combines beautifully, and doesn't feel slapped together, but has a spare, elegant quality.

I found myself amazed at how emotionally attached I became to each little stick figure and its survival.

This game is well worth the modest price. It isn't a throwaway, have a look during a sale, type of game. I never felt that I was having to overlook flaws or that I had made a donation to an aspiring developer. Although relatively short it has great replay value, especially the later missions. I finished the game and have played it numerous times through and I go back and replay it every so often. This should tell you something, in an age where we have steam accounts bursting with games we play for a few minutes and never glance at again.