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The Dark Parables series is an incredibly beautiful fantasy adventure game series!! The painted backgrounds and illustrated characters are freaking gooorgeous to look at while enjoying the game. They are point-and-click adventure games involving solving puzzles and cleverly using items to advance, which is a relaxing genre to play while remaining engaging!
But what’s cool about Dark Parables in particular is that each of the games’ settings are wonderful, magical fairy tale stories!! There are very cool interpretations of Red Riding Hood (where the “Red Riding Hood Sisters” are a band of rangers in the woods), Cinderella (where “Cinderella” is a title given to legendary girls that exhibit traits such as strength, kindness, diligence, etc.), and others (keep reading and I’ll describe each of them!). The protagonist is an adventurous detective who investigates the strange and mysterious happenings around the world, wherever these fairy tale-like circumstances pop up.
Some of these are very suspenseful in nature, and watching the cool cinematics (where the art work is animated very awesomely) can get pretty intense!
As with the Awakening series, I had a really hard time navigating my way through the series to play them in order, so I made this list! There are small continuities and nods between the games, but you are absolutely allowed to play them in whatever order you wish without any real context penalties if you decide to skip around.
Dark Parables: Curse of Briar Rose
The first in the Dark Parables storyline explores Sleeping Beauty.
It takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland!
1000 years ago, Sleeping Beauty was kissed by a prince,
which removed a terrible curse from the kingdom.
The rampant briars were held at bay, but the poor princess was left in her slumber…
–
Dark Parables: The Exiled Prince
The story of the Frog Prince, set in the Black Forest in Germany.
Many centuries ago, a princess kissed a frog
and transformed him into a handsome prince. Unlike the fable, they never ended
happily ever after. It is rumored that the Frog Prince
is still alive and now roams the deserted path in the Black Forest,
capturing unsuspecting visitors. When the chancellor’s daughter goes missing,
you are sent to investigate her disappearance.
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Dark Parables: Rise of the Snow Queen
A combination of The Snow Queen and Snow White.
Takes place in the Bernese Alps of Switzerland.
From the ashes of the snow, the legendary Snow Queen
rises and terrorizes nearby villages with her supernatural powers.
Rescue the missing children and stop the fabled Snow Queen
before her sorrow brings upon the destruction of the world…
–
Dark Parables: The Red Riding Hood Sisters
An adventurous interpretation of Little Red Riding Hood
in the Vosges Mountains of France.
Centuries ago, the first Red Riding Hood defeated the wolf
and established the Order of Red Riding Hood Sisters. Recently,
the nefarious Wolf Queen entrapped the sisters and planned
to unleash legions of ravaging wolves onto our world…
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Dark Parables: The Final Cinderella
A variable mix of tales including Cinderella and Pinoccio as well as
elements from Donkeyskin and Kongji and Patzzi, taking place
in the Matese Mountains of Italy.
For decades, a mysterious witch, known as the evil Godmother,
has been hunting maidens in search of the legendary “Cinderella.”
Rescue the Final Cinderella from the evil Godmother’s clutches,
and stop her evil plans to conquer the world!
–
Dark Parables: Jack and the Sky Kingdom
Um… is it just me, or is Jack REALLY handsome…?
Jack and the Beanstalk, Robin Hood, and Rumpelstiltskin combine
for this game set in Alblasserwaard, South Holland.
The legendary Sky Kingdom suddenly appears
and a destructive barrage is unleashed upon an unsuspecting town.
Embark on an investigation to rescue the townspeople.
In this quest, you will meet Jack –
an infamous treasure hunter who shares a secret past with the Kingdom –
and discover the tragic history behind the chaos.
–
Dark Parables: Ballad of Rapunzel
An especially pastel, floral-centric take on Rapunzel,
set on Mount Sněžka in the Czech Republic.
You’ve been called to the kingdom of Floralia to track down the source
of a mysterious pollen spreading throughout the world.
Rumor has it that Princess Rapunzel is somehow involved –
the haunting melody she sings appears to summon the pollen…
But how did the once-loved princess come to control such a deadly force?
And who is the mysterious, shadowy figure always by her side?
The secrets you uncover may be darker than you imagined.
–
Dark Parables: The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide
The coloration and setting of this game in particular are strikingly beautiful
with all of that blue and purple!! This story is clearly the Little Mermaid,
and it takes place on the Greek island of Crete.
Follow the clues as they take you to an underwater kingdom!
You’ve been called to investigate a strange purple tide.
And that’s when the mermaid shows up…
–
Dark Parables: Queen of Sands
This setting draws from the mythical figure of the Sandman
and also borrows a bit from Beauty & the Beast.
It takes place in Provence, France.
Townspeople are disappearing in the provincial city of Montafleur
as its streets are overrun by nightmarish creatures that vanish into a purple mist.
The Red Riding Hood Sisters were called in to investigate,
but they’ve got their hands full chasing a ferocious beast
last seen along the outskirts of town. Explore the lush French countryside
as you team up with Ruth and Brianne to uncover the dark secrets
behind Montafleur’s world-famous perfumes. Unmask the true villain,
before their nightmares spread to the entire world.
–
Dark Parables: Goldilocks and the Fallen Star
The fairy tales involved this time are Goldilocks & The Three Bears
with flavorings of King Midas.
The Kingdom of Barsia has been invaded by mechanical beasts
that are attacking its citizens. You’ve been called in
to investigate these attacks and discover the origins of a mysterious artifact.
Can this artifact save the kingdom… or will lead them down an even darker path?
Only you can help Queen Valla discover the answers.
–
Dark Parables: The Swan Princess and the Dire Tree
Strange cracks are covering Dire Island, home of the Swan Kingdom,
but then an unknown thief steals the magical seed
that holds the key to keeping all of nature in balance!
Can you catch the culprit and save the kingdom before it crumbles?
–
Dark Parables: The Thief and the Tinderbox
It’s the eve of Gerda and Gwyn’s wedding, but a rogue arsonist
is setting the Mountain Kingdom’s forests on fire!
Your investigation will take you deep within the forest
where a dangerous artifact will be unearthed, one that could spell doom
for the whole world! An old friend will surface and his deepest desires
will determine the fate of the Mountain Kingdom.
Be careful what you wish for!!
–
Dark Parables: Requiem for the Forgotten Shadow
The people of Anaben are falling ill from a strange illness –
one that makes them become shadows of their former selves!
Your investigation takes a mystical turn as you uncover evidence
proving a darker magic at work. Can you restore the people
before it’s too late, or will you succumb to shadows as well?
–
Dark Parables: Return of the Salt Princess
Okay, I like this one because the princess is named Brigid,
making this the third game I’ve encountered recently
with a character that has a variation of the name “Bridget” (my name 😋).
The others are Brighid in Xenoblade Chronicles 2,
and Brigitte and Overwatch~
Together, we shall form a mighty League of Bridgets. 💪
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