Darkest Dungeon is difficult, but not because its systems are unclear or unfair. In fact, the richness and complexity of its mechanics are miraculously transparent. What makes Darkest Dungeon challenging is balancing and equipping a party and the essentially unpredictable nature of the dungeons and combat.
Our editors hand-pick these games based on a broad criteria: similar games that cater to the same player base, or games that share similar themes, gameplay mechanics, or artistic styles.
Patience and planning is a virtue in Darkest Dungeon. This is a game that makes you work hard for success, much like its other roguelike brethren. Even when you defeat bosses, clear quests, and delve deeper into the darkest of dungeons, heavy losses...
'Death is not permanent,' is the rule most role-playing games seem to follow. The moment you die or make a bad decision, you can load up a recent save file and undo it all. Darkest Dungeon is not that kind of a game. In Darkest Dungeon, each character...
The Crimson Court pumps Darkest Dungeon full of disturbing blood-sucking enemies, a challenging new class, and a marathon-style new area that forces you to think differently about how to sustain your team over a long run. While there's definitely enough...
Letters that should not be opened It all starts with a letter from a relative. He implores you to come back to your family's estate so that you may reclaim your birthright from the insane, revolting and eldritch inhabitants that now reside within its...
In its best moments, Darkest Dungeon makes me feel crazy and hopeless. There's something I can't say for most games: The times when I most felt that I had irrevocably fucked up were also the times when the game was at its strongest. Though some of Darkest Dungeon's more annoying design concessions detract from the overall experience, I'd be foolish not to recommend such a singular experience.
From the first time I saw the art style of Darkest Dungeon, I knew it was going to be something special. What I couldn't have known is just how bleak the game would be—or how...
A werewolf, a paladin, a bandit, and a cleric walk into the abyss. The werewolf's transformations startle and stress the psyche of the party. The paladin's heart gives out. Our thief begins behaving irrationally. He compulsively opens suspicious chests...
If you’re prepared to take that possibility on board, Darkest Dungeon offers a challenging chasm to lose yourself in. It won’t appeal to every type of player, but for those willing to face the prospect of crippling loss, insanity and nail-biting tension, Darkest Dungeon is certainly worth the time you’ll sink into it.
If you're prepared to take that possibility on board, Darkest Dungeon offers a challenging chasm to lose yourself in. It won't appeal to every type of player, but for those willing to face the prospect of crippling loss, insanity and nail-biting...