The Tool Desk
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What kind of game is Moons of Darsalon?
Dr. Kucho! Games developed Moons of Darsalon as a retro-styled “save-them-all” action platformer. On each mission, you locate stranded colleagues and shepherd them toward safety, protecting them from the level’s hazards along the way. The challenge is not simply reaching the exit yourself: the darsanauts must make it too.
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Movement and combat tools support that rescue-puzzle loop. The Steam description lists a laser gun, jet pack, vehicles, terrain destruction, and a ground-maker tool for creating terrain. Nintendo’s Switch description also calls out dynamic non-player character behavior, voice commands, terrain manipulation, liquid physics, off-road vehicle physics, synthesized speech, and a retro visual pipeline. These elements make the environment part of the puzzle: a route that works for the player may need adjustment to help the companions follow.
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In his April 24, 2023 PC Gamer review, Ted Litchfield describes the game as a cheeky, vexing puzzle-platformer centered on escorting lost astronauts. He praises the companions’ pathfinding, the flexibility of destroying and building terrain, and the discrete puzzle structure of the levels. That structure makes the game well suited to short sessions, in his assessment.
#1 Best Overall
The same design creates its main appeal and its likely sticking point. Players who enjoy working out a safe route for a group, then reshaping the level to make it passable, may find the rescues satisfying. If companion management or a puzzle that asks you to stop and rethink your route sounds tedious, the central loop may be less compelling. Litchfield’s “vexing” description is a useful reminder that this is not only a straightforward run-and-jump platformer.
How strong are the review scores?
There is no single score in the available listings that should be treated as a definitive, platform-neutral verdict. The figures below come from different outlets and indexes, with different scopes; they should not be averaged together.
Rank #2
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| Source | Reported figure | What it represents |
|---|---|---|
| DeVuego | 76 points from 29 reviews | DeVuego’s Spanish-language critic index snapshot from 2023, not a global score. |
| Steam | 73 Metacritic score displayed | Steam listing snapshot observed October 8, 2026; check the live listing for its current display. |
| DeKuDeals | Metacritic 77; OpenCritic 80 | Third-party listing values observed October 8, 2026. The exact platform scope and update time for each figure were not established. |
The disparity is a reason to read the scores by source and scope, rather than evidence that one number is necessarily wrong. DeVuego’s Spanish-language index is a different kind of evidence from the storefront score display and the DeKuDeals listing.
Is Moons of Darsalon good on Steam Deck?
PC Gamer’s Ted Litchfield reported that it ran well on Steam Deck in his April 24, 2023 review, writing: “Luckily, it runs great on Steam Deck right out of the box, even without a shiny green verified badge.” That is his experience at the time of review, not an independent performance test or a current compatibility certification.
Rank #3
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Steam lists full controller support and recommends playing with a controller, but does not make one a requirement in the cited listing. The same listing includes short review excerpts from PC Gamer (“This might the perfect Steam Deck game”), DeVuego (“Absolutely all aspects of Moons of Darsalon are at a superlative level.”), and Eurogamer (“Moons of Darsalon is a gloriously silly game about rescuing astronauts”). Those are storefront excerpts, not substitutes for the outlets’ full reviews.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How do the PC and Switch versions fit different play styles?
The platform details establish different play options, not a performance comparison. Steam lists the PC release date as April 19, 2023, full controller support, and a controller recommendation. Nintendo’s official page lists the Switch release date as February 6, 2025, with TV, tabletop, and handheld modes. Choose based on where and how you prefer to play; the cited information does not establish comparative frame rates or other version-specific performance.
Nintendo’s Switch listing identifies English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Brazilian Portuguese language support, and lists fantasy violence. Language availability stated on that page should not be assumed to describe every platform’s options.
Quick Recap
Who should play it?
- Try it if you like platform puzzles that involve escorting companions, manipulating terrain, and adapting a route for characters that must follow you.
- Consider your tolerance for friction if you prefer direct movement challenges over stopping to manage a group and solve environmental problems.
- For PC handheld play, weigh Litchfield’s positive Steam Deck report as a dated reviewer observation, not a guarantee about your device or current software.
- For Switch, the official listing confirms handheld, tabletop, and TV modes, so the format can suit different play settings.
Sources
- Steam: Moons of Darsalon
- PC Gamer review by Ted Litchfield, April 24, 2023
- Nintendo: Moons of Darsalon for Nintendo Switch
- DeVuego review index
- DeKuDeals listing
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
