| Darkest Dungeon 2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | Pre-Order & DLC | Review |
| Release Date | |
|---|---|
| May 8, 2023 More Details |
|
| Genre | |
| Strategy, Horror, RPG, Roguelike, Indie | |
| Platforms | Price (MSRP) |
      |
$39.99 |
| Developer | Publisher |
| Red Hook Studios | Red Hook Studios |
| Number of Players | Age Rating |
| 1 | ESRB Teen |
| Time to Finish | Cross Platform Play |
| 30-35 Hours for Full Completion | Yes (Microsoft and Xbox Only) |
| Official Website | Official Website for Darkest Dungeon 2 |
Darkest Dungeon 2 Latest News
Darkest Dungeon 2 Overview
Darkest Dungeon II (DD2), released in 2023 by Red Hook Studios, is a turn-based action-strategy roguelike and the sequel to the acclaimed 2016 indie title Darkest Dungeon. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, DD2 follows The Protégé and a group of mercenary misfits as they journey across a land devastated by the repercussions of their obsession with the occult.
The game builds on its predecessor's turn-based RPG mechanics, enabling players to engage in strategic combat using a variety of attacks and abilities across four party positions. DD2 introduces a streamlined Token System, simplifying the handling of status effects, and offers customization options through trinkets, carriage items, combat consumables, inn visits, and the newly added Affinity system.
Early access for DD2 began in 2021, featuring nine of the eventual 12-hero roster and a portion of its five-act main campaign. A DLC released later in 2023 expanded the game, adding a new hero to the series and reintroducing the fan-favorite Crusader.
| Steam |
Epic Games |
 GOG |
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| PlayStation |
Xbox |
eShop |
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| Price | $39.99 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Darkest Dungeon 2 Gameplay
Darkest Dungeon II builds on its predecessor's core concept of positional turn-based RPG combat, where characters can only use specific abilities based on their position in the front, middle, or rear ranks. However, the structure has shifted significantly toward a roguelike format. Instead of repeatedly sending various four-person teams into the same dungeons, DD2 presents a journey through branching paths. Each route offers distinct boons and challenges as players guide their traveling carriage through a hostile landscape.
The game introduces new mechanics to support this journey. Each region culminates in a unique boss encounter, with inns serving as rest stops between areas. At the inns, players can heal their party, restore sanity, and apply buffs using inn items. Additional features include purchasing trinkets, upgrading the carriage, mastering abilities, and improving party members’ affinities to enhance their teamwork and readiness for upcoming challenges.
Combat retains its tactical depth while streamlining complexity through the new Token System. This system condenses ability effects into tokens that represent buffs, debuffs, and other statuses, simplifying the game's mechanics without sacrificing strategic variety. Combat items have also been reworked into a dedicated category, allowing characters to use powerful consumables directly in battle.
DD2 refines and evolves the original Darkest Dungeon formula, introducing greater dynamism, increased replayability, and a more diverse gameplay experience. Its streamlined mechanics maintain the series' hallmark difficulty while ensuring smoother, more accessible gameplay.
Darkest Dungeon 2 Reviews
One Highway to Hell of a Sequel
Darkest Dungeon 2 was generally well-received as both a worthy sequel and a standalone title, offering a distinct experience that complemented the original. Over time, however, criticism emerged, particularly regarding the game's DLC practices, with some players expressing concerns about the perceived monetization strategy following the release of the Binding Blade DLC. Despite this, many players continue to appreciate the game's shift to a roguelike structure and its innovative take on the series' formula.
Michael Abarro Jr. from Game8 reviewed Darkest Dungeon 2 at launch, awarding it a strong score of 80 out of 100. He praised the game's transition from 2D to 2.5D, noting how it significantly enhanced the series' aesthetic appeal. Abarro also highlighted the game's value, emphasizing the abundance of unlockable content and progression options available even in the base version. While describing it as one of 2023's more unconventional RPGs, he concluded that it was a title many players would find worthwhile.
similarly, Jon Bolding from IGN rated the game 8 out of 10, highlighting its distinctive style, precise gameplay mechanics, and the flexibility it offers players in adapting to its system. The review noted that the game's difficulty level might deter newcomers, as it presents a steep challenge early on. However, the new system was recognized for encouraging repeated attempts and gradual learning, transforming the gameplay experience from one of chance to one of pure strategy.
Dan Lipscombe from GAMINGbible described the game's evolution from its predecessor as largely positive but suggested it might have gone too far in some aspects. While the streamlined system added to the experience, its complexity required an in-game glossary to be understandable, particularly for new players. Despite acknowledging the game as a strong entry and a natural progression for Red Hook Studios, the unpredictability, difficulty, and overall complexity led to a rating of 6 out of 10.
Player reviews of the game were generally positive, with praise directed at its improved combat mechanics, dynamic animations, and faster, more varied roguelike progression compared to the campaign-length runs of its predecessor. Feedback from platforms like Steam, Reddit, and Metacritic highlighted overall approval of these changes, though not without criticism, as the lattermost platform's 6.1 user score shows.
Some players from the original Darkest Dungeon community expressed dissatisfaction with the faster pace, viewing it as a departure from the essence of the original game. Critiques also focused on elements such as the larger world, the new 2.5D art style, and the Token System, which some felt deviated too far from the original experience. Despite these divided opinions, the consensus recognized Darkest Dungeon 2 as a strong and impactful sequel.
Darkest Dungeon 2 Announcement Trailer
Darkest Dungeon 2 Announcement Trailer
Darkest Dungeon 2 Trivia
⚫︎ According to a statement from the developers on Twitter (X), the narrator in Darkest Dungeon 2, known as The Academic, is a distinct character from The Ancestor in the original Darkest Dungeon. Both characters are voiced by the renowned Wayne June.
⚫︎ In Darkest Dungeon 2, mercenaries are assigned their canonical names by default, rather than random names as in the first game. For example, the Highwayman is named Dismas, and the Man-at-Arms is named Baristan.
⚫︎ The Antiquarian, previously a playable mercenary in Darkest Dungeon, makes a rare appearance in Darkest Dungeon 2 as a brigand enemy.
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