Windows:

Extract to C:\Darkest\
Launch:
C:\Darkest\_windowsnosteam\Darkest.exe
or make desktop shortcut, different thumbnails are in Darkest directory.
Launch and skip intro:
C:\Darkest\_windowsnosteam\Darkest.exe -skipfeflowintro
Save games at:
Documents\Darkest

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Linux:

Extract to ~/Darkest/
find ~/Darkest -type d -exec chmod 755 '{}' \;
find ~/Darkest -type f -exec chmod 644 '{}' \;
chmod 755 ~/Darkest/darkest.bin.x86_64
Launch:
~/Darkest/darkest.bin.x86_64
or make desktop shortcut, different thumbnails are in Darkest directory.
Launch and skip intro:
~/Darkest/darkest.bin.x86_64 -skipfeflowintro
Save games at:
~/.local/share/Red\ Hook\ Studios/Darkest/

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Saves:

Windows:
Documents\Darkest
Linux:
~/.local/share/Red\ Hook\ Studios/Darkest/

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dWdoLnppcA==