Despite the bugs, the game was well received by other critics. It got 4 out of 5 stars in "Dragon", which stated that "Darklands" "is a great adventure and is certainly one of the best multicharacter FRPGs we've had the delight to play. With well-drawn graphics, multiple quests, good character generation, and flexibility in play, the game's detail is phenomenal." Alfred Giovetti writing for "Compute!" praised "Darklands" for the "multitude of choices you get, which surpass the complexity and historical accuracy seen in any other contemporary computer game" and that its "attention to detail is exemplary". The review concluded "MicroProse should be congratulated for a truly heroic effort in creating a game for sword, sorcery and history buffs." "Darklands" was nominated for "PC Games" prize for the best role-playing game of 1992, but lost to "Wizardry VII". The game also won the 1992 "PC Special Achievement Award" from "Game Players" magazine.