Humwin & Darbold
Humwin & Darbold follows a cheerful exploring robot who touches down on a strange planet to meet his partner and finds only empty ground. The planet is a string of purple islands dotted with curly plants, flies and big green monsters that would very much like a snack.
Markus Fisch made it for js13k, and this is his reworked version from after the contest. It plays well with a mouse or a finger, so it suits a laptop or a phone equally.
How to play Humwin & Darbold
Press and hold anywhere on the ground and Humwin heads toward that point. Let go and he stops after his current step. The islands link up in a long, twisting line. The red ground between them is off limits, so you cross where the islands touch.
Monsters roam each island. Some wander, some loop in circles and some march back and forth, and any that spot Humwin will give chase. Rings of snakes sit in place and bite whatever comes close. Being caught is never the end. A monster gulps Humwin down, holds him for a moment and spits him out a little way off.
Walk over objects to pick them up. Collected items line up along the lower edge, and selecting one drops it beside you. Monsters will happily eat a dropped flower instead of a robot, and that trick is the key to everything.
Controls
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk toward a point | — | Hold the button on the ground | Hold a finger on the ground |
| Skip a speech line | — | Click | Tap |
| Drop a carried item | — | Click its icon in the bottom bar | Tap its icon in the bottom bar |
Tips
- Pick up every flower you pass. A dropped flower acts as bait and keeps a chasing monster busy while you slip by.
- Watch a looping monster for a full lap before you move. Once you know its path, wait for it to pass and then walk in behind it.
- The snakes never leave their ring, so a wide detour is always safe even when it looks slow.
- Pay attention to what Humwin says after he gets swallowed. His comments are quiet hints about the solution.
- Since nothing ends the game, use failure as a test. Try odd ideas and see how each creature reacts.
If you like Humwin & Darbold, try these
The Sunshine PolicyGentle storytelling and puzzles also shape this witty point-and-click tale about a dry kingdom and a young weather keeper.
Lost TreasuresCalm exploring with no rush continues here as a little submarine cruises a sunny seabed hunting for hidden coins.
Questions
Can you lose in Humwin & Darbold?
No. There are no lives and no game over screen. A monster that grabs Humwin lets him go after a second, so you can retry an island as many times as you want.
Does Humwin & Darbold work on a phone?
Yes. Holding a finger on the ground walks Humwin, and tapping an item icon along the lower edge drops it. The view fills the screen in either orientation.
Does the game save where I am?
Progress isn't kept between visits, so plan to finish in one sitting. The story is short enough for that.
More like this: all adventure games · every game A–Z
