Darkest Dungeon II

Darkest Dungeon II will appeal to fans of the old game and new victims. I mean,

80%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

grinding, optimization

77% User Score Based on 11,535 reviews

Critic Score 85%Based on 26 reviews

Platforms

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About

Darkest Dungeon II is a single player tactical role playing game with horror, fantasy, mystery and historical themes. It was developed by Red Hook Studios and was released on October 22, 2021. It received positive reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"Darkest Dungeon II" is a gothic horror RPG sequel where players embark on a perilous roadtrip with a team of heroes, facing treacherous challenges and making tough decisions. The game features a haunting original soundtrack with 16 tracks and over two hours of music, adding to the eerie atmosphere and intensifying the gameplay experience. Players must navigate their way through treacherous landscapes, battling fearsome enemies and upgrading their team's skills to survive the damning journey.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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77%

Audience ScoreBased on 11,535 reviews

gameplay726 positive mentions

grinding622 negative mentions

The graphics and art style are stunning, successfully transitioning the series' signature aesthetic into a detailed 3D environment.
The character development and relationship mechanics add depth and uniqueness, allowing for meaningful progression and experimentation.
The atmosphere is dark and immersive, effectively capturing the Lovecraftian themes and enhancing the overall experience.

The gameplay loop is seen as repetitive and overly reliant on RNG, leading to a less engaging experience compared to the original.
The story feels fragmented and lacks the emotional weight of its predecessor, diminishing player connection to the characters.
Many players report significant bugs and performance issues, including stuttering and frame drops, which hinder the overall gameplay experience.

gameplay
3,264 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
70%
8%
The gameplay of "Darkest Dungeon II" has sparked a wide range of opinions among players, primarily due to its significant departure from the mechanics of its predecessor. While many appreciate the introduction of new systems, such as the relationship mechanics and token-based combat, others feel that these changes have led to a more convoluted and less engaging experience. The game is often described as a roguelike, with a focus on runs that can last several hours, which some find tedious compared to the more structured gameplay of the first game. Overall, while the visuals and atmosphere receive high praise, the gameplay loop is seen as repetitive and overly reliant on RNG, leading to mixed feelings about its depth and enjoyment.
- “The gameplay loop is very similar, but they have introduced enough changes to keep things interesting.”
- “There is a large variety of characters and even more if you get the DLCs, and part of the charm is experimenting with different teams and mechanics to find those that are effective; it's quite satisfying beating an enemy that gave you grief for a long time in a couple of turns as your knowledge of the game increased.”
- “The core gameplay loop misses the mark from the original so much that it'd be impressive if it wasn't so disappointing.”
- “The gameplay feels shallow, overly tutorialized, and lacks the grim, strategic depth that made the first game so compelling.”
- “The game punishes you relentlessly as you desperately tried to keep your characters alive through opaque mechanics and unforgiving RNG.”
- “The gameplay loop is built around a long roguelike, but features curiously little variety from run to run.”
graphics
1,372 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
51%
1%
The graphics of "Darkest Dungeon II" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visual presentation, successfully transitioning the series' signature hand-drawn aesthetic into a detailed 3D environment. Many players appreciate the improved animations and atmospheric design, which enhance the game's dark, Lovecraftian themes. However, some fans of the original game express disappointment, feeling that while the graphics are superior, the overall gameplay experience has suffered due to significant changes in mechanics and structure.
- “The graphics are stunning, the expanded character backgrounds are ingenious, and the story and world design is so compelling.”
- “The art style is beautiful; the 3D visuals show the world in a way that the first one couldn't.”
- “The graphics and animations are dope, the narration is tight, the world is exceptionally bleak and there are fun moments to be had here.”
- “The only positive thing I found in my short exploration of this sequel were the visuals.”
- “But that's the thing, I think: everything apart from the new graphics felt like a downgrade from the first game.”
- “If you buy this game expecting to find the original darkest dungeon just with upgraded graphics and new enemies, you're gonna have a bad time (and you kinda deserve it).”
story
1,359 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
73%
4%
The story in "Darkest Dungeon II" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a shift from the more cohesive narrative of the first game to a more fragmented and less engaging storytelling approach. While the game introduces deeper backstories for each character through unique shrines and mini-games, some players feel that the overall plot lacks the depth and emotional weight of its predecessor, often feeling disjointed and less impactful. The atmosphere, art direction, and narration remain strong, but the gameplay's roguelike structure can detract from the narrative immersion, leading to a sense of repetitiveness and a diminished connection to the characters.
- “The atmosphere and story are outstanding with plenty of connections to the first game.”
- “Each character has a background story that you uncover as you play more.”
- “The story unfolds slowly, through cryptic narration and fragmented memories.”
- “The story is basically nonexistent, which is pretty sad considering you hear a narrator almost all the time.”
- “The storytelling is weaker than the first game, and I felt that the narrator took a step back.”
- “The story feels weak and the world feels wrong.”
grinding
629 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The grinding aspect of "Darkest Dungeon II" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and time-consuming. While some appreciate the reduced grind compared to the first game, others feel that the new roguelike structure still demands significant grinding for character upgrades and resources, leading to a repetitive gameplay loop. The stagecoach mechanics and lengthy runs contribute to a sense of monotony, making progression feel less rewarding and more like a chore for many players.
- “Yes, we want a hard game, I guess, but not a tedious hard game for the sake of it.”
- “No grinding for heirlooms to finish that final patient cells upgrade, or build the mighty red hook.”
- “The wagon system is clunky and adds nothing of value, while the sheer amount of time wasted on repetitive grinding makes progression feel more like a chore than an accomplishment.”
- “So you will find yourself grinding dozens of hours for little to no rewards, while the game doesn't do much to make each run interesting or stand out, making everything seem repetitive, like a Sisyphean task.”
- “The game is grindy as hell, which is an issue if you're restricted on time you can dedicate to a game.”
music
600 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
42%
2%
The music in "Darkest Dungeon II," composed by Stuart Chatwood, has received mixed reviews from players. While many praise its haunting and atmospheric qualities that enhance the game's dark themes, some feel it lacks the memorable and iconic tracks of the first game, with a few noting that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music is generally regarded as solid and fitting, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience, though it may not reach the same heights as its predecessor.
- “The music, by Stuart Chatwood, blends melancholy melodies with anxious tension, perfectly mirroring your journey into the abyss.”
- “The soundtrack continues to be a marvelous work of art.”
- “The music is phenomenal, the art style and animations are gorgeous, and the sheer amount of personality the heroes showcase through their dialogue is fantastic.”
- “Music is horrible and godawful, far, far, far worse than in the first game.”
- “The music is much weaker; the first game's hamlet theme was extremely soothing after a long run, and there is nothing like that caliber here.”
- “There is not enough music variety, and the music is toned down compared to its predecessor.”
atmosphere
428 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
43%
1%
The atmosphere in "Darkest Dungeon II" is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, effectively capturing the grim, Lovecraftian themes of its predecessor while introducing enhanced visuals and sound design. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a sense of dread and tension through its art style, narration, and music, although some feel that the transition to a roguelite format has diminished the emotional weight and claustrophobic intensity found in the first game. Overall, the atmosphere remains a standout feature, drawing players into its dark and oppressive world.
- “The game’s gothic art style and animations are absolutely stunning, elevating the dark and foreboding atmosphere of the original to new heights.”
- “The atmosphere, sound, and visuals are very pleasant.”
- “Sure, you’ve got the same grim Lovecraftian atmosphere and art style, but the gameplay loop lacks the same gripping edge.”
- “The atmosphere is dark, gothic, and hopeless.”
- “The atmosphere loses some of its eeriness; the roguelike nature of the game means there's certainly less emotional investment in each encounter, and the combat plays a bit differently.”
replayability
223 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
69%
4%
The replayability of Darkest Dungeon II is a mixed bag among players. While many appreciate the introduction of new modes like "Kingdoms" and the variety of character paths that enhance replay value, others feel that the game lacks the depth and engagement of its predecessor, leading to a less compelling experience after multiple playthroughs. Overall, the game offers significant replayability through its roguelike elements and ongoing content updates, but some players express concerns about the pacing and repetitiveness of runs.
- “The result is a more varied, more compact, focused, and replayable series of short adventures ('confessions').”
- “Most importantly, the addition of new heroes and new regions/bosses will add needed variety to move into an extremely replayable game.”
- “There's so much replayability here, and every run feels fresh thanks to the dynamic elements that keep things interesting.”
- “Replayability is also very limited.”
- “But, even when you beat it... it lacks replayability.”
- “The replayability is lost as well after you've run through all the areas.”
emotional
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mixed response from players, with many praising its ability to create deep emotional connections through character investment and storytelling, reminiscent of the original game. However, the shift to a roguelike structure in the sequel has led to a perceived reduction in emotional attachment, as characters are disposable and runs are shorter, diminishing the impact of loss. While some players find moments of joy and heartbreak, others feel that the emotional weight and permanence of character progression have been significantly lessened, resulting in a less impactful experience overall.
- “What awaits is one of the most daring, emotionally resonant, and mechanically refined experiences in modern gaming.”
- “When a character died, it could be heartbreaking; you named them, invested in their quirks, and shaped a story around their journey.”
- “Themes of perseverance, madness, and hope are interwoven beautifully into every element of the gameplay, making each run emotionally resonant.”
- “To summarize: too long runs to the end boss, no character progression, lackluster bosses, good graphics, boring story, good areas with unique ideas and great mob designs, music honestly didn't catch me that much like the first game.”
- “You drive some wonky carriage that has a lantern on it, and have to sit through boring story times if you want to see a character's class get upgraded.”
- “Boring story, fights that drag on for hours, and the fights don't feel more strategic or skillful from the first game; it's just buff up, use all the buffs, repeat.”
optimization
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
60%
21%
The optimization of Darkest Dungeon 2 has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates, particularly in certain areas like the Tangle. While some users noted improvements since launch and praised the game's ability to run on a variety of systems, others expressed frustration over the UI and the need for highly optimized team compositions to succeed, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the game shows potential, it still requires further optimization and performance patches to fully meet player expectations.
- “In a day where sequels seem to simply mean a re-release of the previous game built for higher-performance machines and less optimization, Darkest Dungeon 2 succeeds as a sequel.”
- “Beautiful graphics (and well optimized to run pretty much on anything).”
- “It seems like they fixed the optimization issues that were killing it at launch.”
- “The game is dumbed down, less optimized (wagon controls are clunky, and prone to sludgy framerate drops), more grindy, more RNG dependent, and overall less of an enjoyable experience than Darkest Dungeon 1.”
- “Terribly optimized, runs in slow motion all the time.”
- “Horrible optimization, why does this game struggle to even maintain a good framerate on decent hardware?”
humor
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with players finding both hilarity and frustration in its mechanics and character interactions. Many reviews highlight the absurdity of combat situations and character dynamics, often leading to laugh-out-loud moments, while others express disappointment over the game's balance and design choices that detract from the fun. Overall, the humor is described as dark and twisted, with a blend of comedic failures and quirky character antics that can evoke both laughter and exasperation.
- “The relationship system is fun, and it's a great feeling to have your entire party get along, or very funny when they all hate one another.”
- “It's really hilarious seeing your runaway doing 2-3 damage and applying no fire dot onto the enemy who has 20% fire resistance.”
- “Sometimes it's hilarious and you laugh out loud and everyone in the house thinks you are insane (most of those are insanely hilarious digs that are also bad).”
- “However, I have the feeling the game has become so hard that it is not funny anymore.”
- “So much RNG that it's not funny.”
character development
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
51%
7%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the depth and uniqueness of character designs and relationships, as well as the engaging mechanics that allow for meaningful progression. While some players appreciate the improvements in character development and storytelling compared to previous installments, others feel that the focus on grinding and limited customization detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the artistic direction and character design are highlighted as standout features, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
- “Beautifully built character development and excellent mechanics you can really sink your teeth into.”
- “Character development is much stronger in this game, and there's a better sense that relationships between characters are forming, and have an actual impact on the game.”
- “The story and character development seem incredibly in-depth, but not overly complex.”
- “It lacks any meaningful story, character development, or gameplay.”
- “This game requires a significant amount of grinding towards class development rather than character development, as characters are treated as disposable.”
- “Lacking on customization and character development you will find yourself grinding the same thing over and over.”
stability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, including random UI freezes and frame drops. While some players have noted that the game runs smoothly in certain aspects, the overall experience is marred by frequent instability and unbalanced mechanics. Despite these issues, a few users express hope for future updates to improve stability.
- “The game is finished, not buggy, discounted for DD1 owners, and is fun.”
- “I’m also playing this game on the Steam Deck, and while it needs Proton to run for now, it still runs great.”
- “I waited for a couple of DLCs and many patches/updates before purchasing, and still the game is buggy and unplayable.”
- “It's buggy, completely unbalanced, and the interface alternates between counter-intuitive and non-functional.”
- “The user interface is also bloated with frame-freezes present at every window opening (this is baked into the code and not dependent on hardware).”
monetization
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
22%
65%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the absence of microtransactions and the generous free content, while others criticize it as a cash grab that exploits nostalgia without offering substantial new ideas. Players express disappointment over perceived predatory practices, such as locking key content behind convoluted processes, and some feel the game resembles a freemium model despite lacking traditional in-game purchases. Overall, the sentiment reflects a struggle between enjoying the game and feeling exploited by its monetization strategies.
- “Zero microtransactions; the amount of free content they pump out is insane.”
- “I've given it a thumbs up because they don't have a battle pass or any in-game purchases, and that's a rarity these days.”
- “About the only way they could have made this worse would have been by adding microtransactions.”
- “This was just a cash grab off of a good IP.”
- “Entire game feels like developers made a quick cash grab using a few themes from the original game.”
- “The spirit of the old game is gone and this just feels like a cash grab.”

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85%Critics’ scoreBased on 26 critic reviews

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47h Median play time

103h Average play time

12-100h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 128 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Darkest Dungeon II is a tactical role playing game with horror, fantasy, mystery and historical themes.

Darkest Dungeon II is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 103 hours playing Darkest Dungeon II.

Darkest Dungeon II was released on October 22, 2021.

Darkest Dungeon II was developed by Red Hook Studios.

Darkest Dungeon II has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Darkest Dungeon II is a single player game.

Similar games include Iratus: Lord of the Dead, Darkest Dungeon, Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch, Curious Expedition 2, Across the Obelisk and others.

Darkest Dungeon II

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