The game offers a mix of classic first-person shooting with regular weapons, along with the powers of The Darkness . The latter cannot be used in well-lit environments. In dark areas, Jackie can combine both powers. As The Darkness , the viewpoint is placed lower, but with a broader point-of-view. The Darkness powers allow Jackie to summon darklings (different types of creatures), summon dark tentacles that grow from his back to break through barriers and smash opponents, along with maw tentacles for close combat. Estacado can also create a black hole and force it to collapse on itself for wide-range damage, and summon Darkness guns that fire lightning bolts.
The game takes place in a modern environment, but also in the fictional Otherworld and Hell. The Darkness manifests itself as a voice in Jackie's head and tries to gain complete control of the body. The force feeds on the dark and requires a live human body to exist.