Darkest Fear 2: Grim Oak

It's tough to squeeze high-class lighting into a tight space, as you'll know if you've ever tried to install an antique chandelier in a bedsit. So we don't usually expect to find atmospheric lighting effects in mobile games, given the constraints mobile developers work within.

However, Darkest Fear 2 breaks the mould. And while it may seem nerdy to bang on about great lighting before mentioning the gameplay, it's one of the aspects that sets this spooky action-adventure apart from the crowd – and it actually affects the gameplay.

You play Dr Thomas Warden, a historical researcher plunged into a town called Grim Oak, where secretive monks rule, and the shadows are full of dark monsters. If this all sounds a bit like console game (and now film) Resident Evil... well, that's because it is.

Darkest Fear 2 is one of the first mobile attempts at a survival horror game that actually succeeds in sending a chill up your spine. It takes a top-down viewpoint, and has you walking around the town solving puzzles, avoiding the monsters, and trying to figure out what those monks are up to.

You're eased into the gameplay with an introductory level that explains how everything works. The lighting comes into play pretty quickly, as you learn how to brandish torches to scare off the monsters, who only remain in the shadows. This means that judicious use of light sources keeps you out of their clutches, although stray into darkened corners and you cop zombie pain.

Puzzles form the bulk of the gameplay, as you search for items and then figure out how (and where) to use them to accomplish your current goal, before moving onto the next puzzle. Darkest Fear 2 feels like you have a fair amount of freedom to wander around too, rather than being constantly shepherded along a linear path.

One criticism is that the deliberate gloominess of the game graphics can occasionally leave you wondering what to do next, with new items not always well signposted. But if you like your adventure games to truly tax your brainpower, the hardcore nature of Darkest Fear 2 will keep you glued to your phone.

A problem with this kind of game can be the lack of replayability – once you've completed it, there's little reason to go back. However, Darkest Fear 2's maker, Rovio, has clearly borne that in mind, and packed in enough secrets and a couple of twists that give more long-term depth.

Overall, this is a polished adventure game that displays true craft, from the atmospheric lighting through to the dialogue and little graphical touches. And if it scares the willies out of you along the way, so much the better.