Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition

Had this been bundled with a remastered version of Darksiders, the package would be perfect. As it stands, it's just a slightly better version of an already brilliant game.

75%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

stability, optimization

75% User Score Based on 6,391 reviews

Critic Score 72%Based on 30 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $3.47

Buy NowGet on Steam CAD4.94 Buy NowGet on PS Store $5.99

About

Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition is a single player open world hack and slash game with fantasy, dark fantasy and violence themes. It was developed by Gunfire Games and was released on November 5, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Death Rides Again

Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition screenshot

Skip User Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,391 reviews

story818 positive mentions

stability519 negative mentions

Engaging and fluid combat system with a variety of weapons and combos that makes playing as Death satisfying and fun.
Beautiful and unique art style with detailed environments and strong world design, creating an immersive dark fantasy atmosphere.
Compelling story with quality voice acting and soundtrack that enrich the experience and character development.

The PC version or remaster suffers from numerous bugs, crashes, and menu freezes that hamper progression and can be frustrating.
Progression is padded with repetitive fetch quests, backtracking, and similar puzzles that can feel tedious and drawn-out.
Clunky camera and control issues, especially in traversal and combat targeting, reduce gameplay fluidity and can cause frustration.

story
2,281 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
59%
5%
Darksiders II presents an engaging and expansive story centered on Death’s quest to redeem his brother War, blending rich lore, compelling characters, and mythological themes. However, the narrative pacing can feel uneven, with an overreliance on repetitive fetch quests and side missions that sometimes dilute the main storyline's impact. Despite these criticisms, many players appreciate the game’s atmospheric world, strong voice acting, and emotional depth, making it a worthwhile continuation of the DarkSiders saga.
- “At the core of Darksiders II is the story of Death, one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, who embarks on a desperate mission to restore his brother War's honor and redeem humanity after the cataclysmic events of the first game.”
- “Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition is an amazing action-RPG with a strong story and smooth combat. The story focuses on Death's quest to redeem his brother War, exploring themes of sacrifice, responsibility, and legacy.”
- “The storytelling, worldbuilding, and characters are phenomenal throughout the whole franchise. The story is much better written and far more compelling, with the horseman Death having a much more complex arc as he attempts to free his brother War from damnation and later humanity, while wrestling with the guilt he bears from past actions; his emerging human compassion at odds with his cold, apathetic demeanor.”
- “It's an interesting setting in a teen edgelord sorta way, but the story is fairly predictable, but you really shouldn't play this game for the story anyways, it's too much fun in the combat and exploring the world.”
- “Almost all of the main missions feel like a side mission. So why the heck didn't they continue the story, instead of giving us a half baked load of old nonsense?”
- “There's so many fetch quests and arbitrary delays that the real story feels like it gets pushed aside frequently.”
gameplay
1,135 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
56%
5%
Darksiders II offers an expansive and engaging gameplay experience that combines fast-paced, fluid combat with puzzle-solving and exploration, enriched by RPG mechanics such as loot, skill trees, and character customization. While the combat and traversal feel satisfying and diverse, some players find repetitive fetch quests, cumbersome platforming, and technical issues like crashes and bugs detract from the flow. Overall, despite occasional pacing and camera problems, the game stands out for its rewarding combat, varied mechanics, and a compelling blend of action and exploration.
- “Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition on Steam is more than just a remaster—it's a bold and expansive action-adventure experience that successfully blends intense combat, RPG mechanics, dungeon exploration, and apocalyptic storytelling into one of the more distinctive titles of its generation. Developed by Gunfire Games and originally created by Vigil Games, this edition includes all DLC, improved graphics, rebalanced loot systems, and refined gameplay tweaks that make it the definitive way to experience Death's quest across the fractured realms of existence.”
- “Gameplay is where Darksiders II truly shines. The controls are smooth and responsive, and the traversal mechanics are intuitive, keeping exploration satisfying throughout the lengthy campaign. The pacing can be uneven, especially in the mid-game where quests may lean too heavily on fetch mechanics or long traversal segments. Its world feels alive with secrets, and its blend of action, exploration, and RPG mechanics remains compelling even a decade after its initial release. Few games manage to mix such a wide variety of gameplay systems without losing cohesion, but Darksiders II manages it with style and substance.”
- “The gameplay is phenomenal; fast-paced, with tons of options and setups for a variety of playstyles. It's also forgiving but challenging at the same time, surprisingly strategic too, and the puzzles are very entertaining and well thought out.”
- “Unfortunately the Deathinitive Edition port introduces technical problems and the core gameplay becomes very repetitive over time.”
- “Traversal mechanics are broken, Death just sticks in one spot and won't move.”
- “Then it goes from a fun hack and slash to an unfair fustercluck of clunky mechanics and unusable controls.”
graphics
903 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
60%
3%
The graphics of Darksiders II feature a distinctive, stylized art style reminiscent of comic books and games like World of Warcraft, which has aged well and remains visually appealing. The Deathinitive Edition offers improved textures, lighting, and sharper models, enhancing the original's colorful, atmospheric visuals without drastically overhauling them. However, the PC port suffers from limited graphic options, performance issues, bugs, and occasional crashes, requiring manual tweaks (like frame rate caps) for smoother gameplay. Overall, while not cutting-edge by modern standards, the game's unique art direction and enhanced visuals make it a standout aesthetically, especially for fans of stylized, dark fantasy art.
- “The art style ages exceptionally well and oozes passion and style, giving the world a unique and visually pleasing look that’s stood the test of time.”
- “The Deathinitive Edition brings improved graphic rendering for lighting and shadows, along with updated character and environment models that make the stylized world look sharper and more immersive than ever.”
- “Darksiders II features a captivating dark comic-book art style with colorful environments, inspired by Joe Mad's fantasy comics, creating a visually stunning and timeless experience that blends gritty visuals and comic aesthetics.”
- “The game art style still holds up to today, but you will encounter many bugs such as a white window when leaving the menu, poor FPS, and crashes.”
- “I mostly have negatives about this game, but there are positives, namely voice acting and art style. Graphics: n/a | sound: n/a | playability: f-”
- “Tried to play the game but it crashes randomly - won't start after that - character stops moving entirely - graphical glitches - can't move character while grabbing vines in-game. Whoever worked on this did not care about it. Do not recommend!”
stability
530 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The "Deathinitive Edition" of Darksiders 2 is widely criticized for being plagued by numerous bugs, glitches, frequent freezes, and crashes, often impacting core gameplay elements such as menus, cutscenes, climbing mechanics, and boss fights. Many users reported that these stability issues significantly hinder the experience, with some considering the PC port nearly unplayable without extensive troubleshooting and workarounds like enabling V-Sync or using beta patches. Despite its engaging gameplay and story, the game's technical instability remains a major drawback, and the original version is often recommended over this edition for a smoother experience.
- “It runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “Runs great on PC with steady 60 FPS and above.”
- “Beat the entire game, no cons, no bugs, no glitches.”
- “All of that on top of the fact that the Darksiders 2 Deathinitive Edition on PC is the most buggy game I've ever played in my life; many people can't even open the menu without getting frozen on a white screen (myself included 5 min in). I ended up having to enter a code for a closed beta version just to be able to play the game.”
- “The game freezes up and shows a white screen when leaving the inventory menu, the Archon quest is broken which freezes the game after the cutscene, most of the audio is gone in certain parts of the game, etc. Again, if you really want to follow the story of the horsemen, purchase and play the game at your own risk.”
- “Deathinitive Edition is even more buggy than past versions of the game (removed from the store long ago). It's a buggy mess that requires beta patching to get past a main story arc. Take that as you will and buyer beware.”
music
516 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The music in this game, composed by Jesper Kyd, is widely praised for its atmospheric, epic, and immersive quality, significantly enhancing the game's tone, exploration, and combat. Many users consider the soundtrack a standout feature that rivals top video game scores, often citing memorable themes that elevate the experience. However, occasional audio bugs, such as music cutting out or sound glitches, slightly detract from the overall enjoyment for some players.
- “The soundtrack, composed by Jesper Kyd, is a perfect complement to the game's atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack is an absolute masterpiece, crafted by the great Jesper Kyd, who is a fantastic composer.”
- “The soundtrack, composed by Jesper Kyd, sets the tone for the game perfectly, complementing the action and exploration with its sweeping orchestral compositions.”
- “Some cutscenes also play badly where the voice/music cuts out for no reason.”
- “- music and sfx cutting out until I was playing a completely silent game.”
- “The music constantly loops in an endless loop, and after 1-2 hours of playing the sound disappears completely.”
optimization
320 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
46%
40%
The "Deathinitive Edition" of Darksiders 2 shows noticeable performance improvements over the original but remains plagued by numerous optimization issues including frequent frame drops, stuttering, crashes, and inconsistent frame rates even on high-end hardware. Many players report unstable performance, bugs, and poor PC port optimization that significantly detract from the experience, often requiring manual fixes or patches. While some users experience smooth gameplay with proper settings, the overall consensus highlights persistent technical problems undermining what is otherwise a visually enhanced and enjoyable game.
- “Performance and optimization: the Deathinitive Edition demonstrates commendable performance and optimization improvements compared to the original release.”
- “The consistent updates, bug fixes, and optimization efforts post-launch highlight their commitment to delivering a polished and enjoyable experience.”
- “The Deathinitive Edition polishes the game with better textures, lighting, and performance, making it visually sharper.”
- “The Deathinitive Edition unfortunately feels very unstable and poorly optimized.”
- “The game remains broken and poorly optimized.”
- “But before that: if you can buy the original Darksiders 2, I'm telling you, buy it; the Deathinitive Edition is a shameful crapfest, badly optimized, I can't run the game on 60 fps with a GTX 1050ti, and we are talking about a rather old game, constant fps drops, glitched shadows, and crashes everywhere.”
grinding
154 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
5%
93%
Grinding in the game is frequently described as tedious and excessive, particularly with the abundance of fetch quests, collectible hunts, and repetitive dungeon crawling that disrupt the flow of gameplay. Many players find the loot collection, side quests, and boss fights overly grind-heavy, with some noting bugs that exacerbate frustration during these grindy segments. While some appreciate the RPG elements and loot variety, the overall grind leads to a drawn-out, padding-heavy experience that can feel exhausting and monotonous.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “They're not difficult puzzles mind you, they were tedious for me (not tedious enough to finish the game though).”
- “My main gripes are the overabundance of fetch quests and the lack of any collectible tracking, which can turn the final stretch into a tedious scavenger hunt, but these are manageable if you're not chasing 100%.”
- “Plus very grindy fetch quests (collect these things, kill that many stuff) makes this game feel inflated on size just to justify 20 hours length as a content value.”
- “The loot grind does get a bit tedious if you want to optimize your build and finish the bloody palace equivalent.”
atmosphere
103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
32%
4%
The game is widely praised for its richly atmospheric world, combining striking art direction, detailed environments, and a haunting, evocative soundtrack by Jesper Kyd that together create an immersive and epic fantasy experience. While some note that the atmosphere shifts between darker, apocalyptic tones and lighter, more fantastical elements, most agree that the level design, music, and sound design strongly enhance exploration and emotional engagement. A few critiques mention inconsistencies compared to the original game’s grittier vibe, but overall the atmosphere is regarded as a standout and defining feature.
- “Most of the dungeon design was visually astonishing; these are definitely the kind of dungeons you wouldn't mind being lost in, as they pull you into their atmosphere and compel you to explore your way out.”
- “The dark and atmospheric tones, combined with intricate character designs and creative world-building, create an immersive experience that pulls players into the heart of a fantastical apocalypse.”
- “The original Darksiders had a great soundtrack filled with more operatic and orchestral characteristics. Here, the music has changed to a more atmospheric and ambient style, perfectly fitting the game world. Some areas, like the Kingdom of the Dead, highlight the decadence and gloomy atmosphere, making travel and dungeon solving more appealing and instantly hooking you into the mission’s mood.”
- “It obviously does some things better than its predecessor, but in most departments it’s a step-down: story, puzzles, atmosphere, voice direction, etc. Death’s arc to simultaneously redeem himself and his brother could have been decent, but the execution was too misguided to make it work.”
- “I think the atmosphere could've been better since this is death's story.”
- “As well as that the atmosphere in this game was lacking compared to the first.”
replayability
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
75%
6%
Darksiders II offers substantial replayability through its rich RPG progression, loot system, and diverse skill paths, complemented by a wealth of side quests, collectibles, and New Game+ modes. While bugs and occasional quest-breaking issues are noted, the game's character customization, varied playstyles, and extensive content provide significant incentive for multiple playthroughs. However, some find replay value diminished after completing New Game+, and occasionally the story limits further replay engagement.
- “The combat remains satisfying, and the ability to customize your character with different items and upgrade them based on your preferred playstyle is a fantastic feature that adds immense depth and replay value.”
- “Replayability: with its wealth of side quests, collectibles, and secrets to uncover, Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition offers ample replayability.”
- “The loot system and weapon variations as well as the skill tree system add even more depth and replayability to the game.”
- “Zero replay value.”
- “Not a lot of replayability though.”
- “Little replay value after New Game+.”
humor
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The game's humor is characterized by dry, sarcastic, and witty dialogue, especially from the protagonist Death, whose deadpan and snide remarks add levity to the otherwise grim setting. Many players enjoy Death's personality and voice acting, which effectively balance seriousness with humor, although some find his character less engaging or humorless. However, numerous bugs and crashes—often ironically described as "funny" due to their absurdity—detract from the experience and occasionally undermine the game's comedic timing.
- “Namely, the game is absolutely chock full of witty humor, dry, sarcastic comments, silly moments mixed with serious ones.”
- “This game in particular has had my favorite interpretation of death in any fictional media. His cold and dry sarcastic humor made the otherwise bleak and gloomy hellscape more enjoyable, with the slight comedy from Death, his emotions and dialogue. His humor and sometimes soft side made this person that was like a god into someone more human, allowing players to connect with him more than if he was some omnipotent and immortal god who looked down on us.”
- “Exploring the lush environs of the Forge Lands, riding my horse Pestilence, the music hitting just right, mowing down enemies with the scythe and big hammer, and my boy Death spitting out dry replies, which sounded hilarious to me especially after the "stoic" War.”
character development
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
46%
7%
Character development in the game receives mixed feedback, with some praising Death's depth and growth as a compelling protagonist, while others find it lacking or minimal throughout the story. However, character design is consistently highlighted as a standout feature, admired for its detailed, imaginative, and visually striking style that enhances the overall immersive experience.
- “Death's character development is a standout feature, making him a compelling protagonist with a depth that resonates throughout the entire journey.”
- “The lore, story and characters, the character design, the overall visual direction, the level design, the music and voice acting are absolutely top notch.”
- “Regardless, Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition is a game that has surpassed the first game in almost (if not) all aspects: story, character development, fighting engine, etc. This game tells the story of "Death", one of the four horsemen, "War's" brother, and his quest for "War's" salvation.”
- “While the plot of the game is straightforward and there is not much character development to be had, we still get exposed to one of the best and more unique renditions of Death.”
- “There isn't any character development; Death is the same snarky character at the end that he was at the start.”
- “Poor character development.”
emotional
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
77%
2%
21%
The emotional aspect of the game is generally praised for its compelling and heartfelt storytelling, particularly through the character of Death and themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and redemption. While some find the narrative gripping and emotionally engaging, others consider it bland or boring, citing pacing issues and overuse of puzzles that detract from emotional depth. Overall, the story resonates well with fans of the series, though it may feel uneven or underwhelming to newcomers.
- “It is a sprawling, atmospheric epic that manages to balance intricate puzzles, intense combat, and a surprisingly emotional story.”
- “The story intertwines themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and redemption, giving the character surprising emotional depth.”
- “The narrative is gripping, and the protagonist, Death, is a compelling character whose journey you can't help but become emotionally invested in.”
- “80% platforming and silly puzzles, 10% action and 10% boring story.”
- “Mind-numbing, boring story.”
- “You can have smooth gameplay and nice character customization, but the lame and boring story didn't do it for me.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
The monetization is criticized for feeling like a cheap cash grab with instability issues, though it notably has no microtransactions or DLCs. Players find the ad experience frustrating, especially when accessing in-game help, but appreciate the absence of pay-to-win mechanics. Overall, the game balances enjoyable RPG and exploration elements despite the problematic monetization approach.
- “This version is really unstable, better to play the original rather than this quick cash grab from Nordic, lol.”
- “Well, I'm definitely down for another Darksiders game if the original devs do it, but I'm not up for a buggy and sloppy cash grab like this.”
- “No microtransactions or DLCs.”

Skip Critic Reviews

72%Critics’ scoreBased on 32 critic reviews

Skip Game Offers

Buy Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition

20h Median play time

29h Average play time

9-40h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 57 analyzed playthroughs

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition

72%8kreviews

Darksiders 3

2018

Open World Hack and Slash

+11

60%7.5kreviews

Lords of the Fallen

2014

Open World Hack and Slash

77%5kreviews

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning

2020

Open World Hack and Slash

+11

76%5.7kreviews

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

2013

Hack and Slash

67%1.8kreviews

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris

2014

Hack and Slash

More games like Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition is a open world hack and slash game with fantasy, dark fantasy and violence themes.

Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, Phone and others.

On average players spend around 29 hours playing Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition.

Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition was released on November 5, 2015.

Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition was developed by Gunfire Games.

Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition is a single player game.

Similar games include Darksiders 3, Lords of the Fallen, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris and others.

Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition

Platforms