In The Dark 2

A deadly virus is corrupting the Federation’s neural network, threatening to isolate the galaxy. As Captain Ikalo Pann, follow cryptic clues, solve intricate puzzles, and explore alien worlds to stop the spread and uncover a deep sci-fi mystery.

Play the demo here.

About the Developer

Bio

Name / Studio Name

Bryan Taylor / Pearacidic Games and Tom Lockwood / Gumpy Function

Location

Tampa, Florida, USA (Pearacidic Games) and Melbourne, Australia (Gumpy Function)

How It Started

Bryan: Like many others, the pandemic gave me a rare opportunity to dive into game development and really explore it. I learned a ton during that time.

Tom: When I became a stay-at-home dad in 2020, I finally had the time to turn a hobby into something more serious. That was the spark that pushed me toward game development as a long-term career.

Other Games / Projects

Bryan: In The Dark 1, a Little Nemo fan game, and Grimace’s Birthday.

Tom: Quite a few Game Boy projects! Highlights include Unearthed (1st place, GB Compo 21), Grimace’s Birthday, Feed IT Souls (2nd place, GB Compo 23), Super Dassalo Land, Dicee!, Lee Carvallo’s Putting Challenge 2, and My Dinner With André.

Fun Fact

Bryan: I’ve got ADD, which, strangely, helps me juggle lots of different tasks at once when coding or scripting. Also, my background as a chess teacher has definitely shaped the way I think about systems and design.

Tom: I love using LEGO to prototype puzzle ideas. Especially with Unearthed, I’d physically build puzzles on the table before I ever touched a keyboard.

The Idea

Why I Made This Game

Both of us loved the pick-up-and-play feel of In The Dark 1 – a simple, satisfying logic puzzle game that fit the Game Boy perfectly. But at the time, GB Studio had serious limitations. When those constraints were lifted in later versions of GB Studio, we saw the chance to revisit and reimagine the original idea from the ground up. The result is In The Dark 2 – a complete expansion of the concept with a bigger story, better visuals, and significantly more puzzles.

What Makes This Game Special

Bryan: The first In The Dark was my debut published title, so it’ll always be important to me – but In The Dark 2 is the fully realized version. It has the story, the polish, and the depth we always wanted to include.

You'll Love This If...

You're a fan of sci-fi, puzzle games, or philosophical themes. If you’re into logic-based challenges, rhythm shooters, or narrative-driven indie games, there’s something here for you.

Inspiration / Influences

Bryan: Definitely Alien, Star Trek, and other space westerns. The main character, Ikalo Pann, draws a lot from the strength and tenacity of Samus Aran (Metroid).

Favorite Feature

Bryan: The shmup mode is my personal favorite – it breaks up the brainy puzzle segments with a fun change of pace.

Tom: Without spoiling anything, there’s a moment late in the story that completely re-contextualizes one of the shmup missions. That twist is probably my favorite.