Save Issues
Save issues are the most common problems in Darkwood. Here's how to deal with them.
Save File Corruption
Darkwood saves can become corrupted if the game crashes during a save. The game creates backup saves automatically, but they're not always reliable. If your save is corrupted, navigate to %appdata%/Darkwood/saves/ and look for .bak files. Delete the corrupted .sav file and rename the .bak file to .sav.
Lost Progress After Crash
Darkwood autosaves at specific points: when you enter a new area, when you survive a night, and when you pick up key items. If the game crashes, you might lose progress since the last autosave. To minimize progress loss, manually save before risky encounters.
Save Not Loading
Sometimes a save file won't load. This is usually caused by a mod conflict. If you're using mods, disable them and try loading the save again. If the save still won't load, it's corrupted and you'll need to use a backup.
Enemy AI Bugs
Enemy AI bugs can be frustrating, especially during nights.
Enemies Stuck in Walls
Sometimes enemies get stuck in walls or furniture. They can't reach you, but they also won't despawn. The fix: leave the area and come back. The enemy will respawn in a valid position.
Enemies Not Spawning
On rare occasions, enemies don't spawn during a night. This makes the night boring but safe. The fix: save and reload. This triggers the enemy spawn system.
Banshee AI Freeze
The Banshee can sometimes freeze in place, not moving or attacking. This is caused by a pathfinding error. The fix: leave her line of sight and come back. She'll reset her AI.
Performance Issues
Darkwood is well-optimized, but some systems may experience issues.
Low FPS at Night
Nighttime has more dynamic lighting and enemy AI, which can cause FPS drops. Lower shadow quality to Medium and disable dynamic lighting. This should bring your FPS back up.
Stuttering When Entering New Areas
Stuttering when entering new areas is caused by the game loading assets. The fix: install Darkwood on an SSD. This significantly reduces loading times and stuttering.
Audio Crackling
Audio crackling is caused by audio buffer issues. The fix: reduce audio quality to Medium in the settings. This increases the buffer size and fixes crackling.
Crafting & Inventory Bugs
Crafting and inventory bugs can be annoying but are usually fixable.
Items Disappearing
Sometimes items disappear from your inventory. This is usually caused by a desync between the inventory system and the save system. The fix: save and reload. The items should reappear.
Crafting Recipe Not Working
If a crafting recipe isn't working, make sure you have all the required materials. Some recipes require specific quantities that aren't clearly displayed. Check the recipe again and count your materials carefully.
Workbench Not Responding
If the workbench isn't responding, leave the room and come back. The workbench resets when you re-enter the area.
🏆 Final Pro Tip: The most common bug in Darkwood is save file corruption. Always keep multiple save files and back them up regularly. The game's autosave system is reliable, but it's not perfect. Manual saves are your best defense against progress loss.