- Publisher: Red Hook Studios
- Release Date: May 8, 2023
- Also On: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
- Critic score
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- By date
- Unscored
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May 12, 2023Darkest Dungeon II showcases how sequels can surpass the original through its captivating gameplay, stunning art style, and immersive music. While the game's complexity may prove challenging, those who venture forth are rewarded with hours of engrossing gameplay and a constant yearning for one more expedition.
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May 8, 2023Red Hook Studios refined the art of Darkest Dungeon in every sense, making it extremely difficult to find any defects. It’s a brutally challenging strategy games and it’s well suited to embrace the new roguelite form. Do yourself a favour and try it right now.
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Jul 17, 2023Darkest Dungeon 2 isn’t a perfect game by any means, and as someone who isn’t a fan of difficult games or games that I feel intentionally aim to cause me grief, I cannot say I wasn’t annoyed or even lashed out at the game. But the design behind Darkest Dungeon II, the care put into exploring this world, telling this tale, and making a game that you’d want to play repeatedly is absolutely brilliant. As it was the first time around. Iteratively, Darkest Dungeon II is a must-play for anyone who found anything enjoyable about the first game. Newcomers be warned: Darkest Dungeon II is an incredible experience.
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Edge MagazineMay 18, 2023In short, Darkest Dungeon II is everything you could hope for. [Issue#385, p.114]
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May 17, 2023There’s plenty of content to fight through in Darkest Dungeon 2. The team at Red Hook Studios kicked up their creativity to give us a fresh take on an already beloved game. The new mechanics make this seem like a completely new experience instead of the second title in a series. While the original was a hit, Darkest Dungeon 2 is a slam dunk of a sequel.
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May 13, 2023Darkest Dungeon 2 succeeds to prove that you can completely change the formula that once worked and still be a great game. Even keeping the elements that made the first one so special.
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May 9, 2023Darkest Dungeon II is everything I expected and more. An evolution of the series that introduces so many new mechanics that I can hardly believe that this is a sequel to the original Darkest Dungeon. Less punishing and frustrating than the first game, Darkest Dungeon II offers fans of the series a myriad of options when it comes to creating the perfect party. The thing that didn’t change from the first game is the pain you feel when your most powerful hero fails a “death’s door” check because you thought it would survive one more hit. Darkest Dungeon II is a near-perfect roguelite that’s hard to surpass.
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May 8, 2023Darkest Dungeon II continues the legacy of the original game as a brutally dark and difficult roguelite turn-based RPG. Much like the characters in the game, riding out in a hopeless effort to stave off the apocalypse, the player will find themself pushing forward despite certain defeat, with only a weak promise that next time it will be a little easier. It’s impressive that such a relentlessly challenging game can still have the player coming back for more.
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May 8, 2023Darkest Dungeon II is a gruelling experience where you constantly fail and luck isn’t on your side. But as you learn from your mistakes and unlock more resources, the challenges can be conquered, and it feels mighty good to do so. Veterans of the previous game will be surprised by the reworked mechanics, and it will take some time to adapt. Though that doesn’t away from the huge amount of enjoyment the game is able to instil and the exhilaration you get when exploring Darkest Dungeon II with an open mind. For a roguelite experience that pushes your creativity and tolerance to the limit, you’ll struggle to find much better than Darkest Dungeon II.
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May 8, 2023Darkest Dungeon II isn’t an easy experience to dive into, but it is a worthwhile one. Those willing to muscle through its punishing design and RNG elements will find one of the best roguelike titles around, and can expect to be drawn back into its world for months or years to come.
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May 8, 2023Undoubtedly another very high quality title from Red Hook Studios but it probably should have been named differently.
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Apr 11, 2024Darkest Dungeon II is a dark turn-based roguelite game characterized by its extreme difficulty, grotesque aesthetics and cruel but enjoyable battles. If you are someone who always loved a great challenge, enjoyed that retro comic style in the 80s or simply have been a soul-like fan, DDII is indubiously going to satisfy your appetite.
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May 9, 2023Darkest Dungeon II is an absolute revolution of what we saw in its predecessor. Only the hard battles will be some familiar to those who played that game, finding a completely different game apart from that, and of course, better. Much better.
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Jun 9, 2023Darkest Dungeon II is a game that deserves to be evaluated independently from the first game, a game that paves its own path by moving in a different direction. With that in mind, it definitely deserves to be played.
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May 23, 2023Darkest Dungeon II keeps everything good from the original and elevates it to create something different but equally brutal.
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May 15, 2023A masterful entry in the horror RPG genre. The extremely high difficulty is a challenge worth of any gamer's time. An over reliance on random details and a story a bit too nebulous are the only real problems.
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May 12, 2023Darkest Dungeon 2 suffers from the lack of an engaging story and some monotony, but the developers have delivered on their promises. This game is better than its predecessor in almost every way.
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May 11, 2023Darkest Dungeon 2 doubles down on what made the original so special, presenting a roguelike adventure where swings in mood carry just as much weight as swings of the sword.
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May 9, 2023Darkest Dungeon 2 is truly a “streamlined, unnecessary genres dropping and infinitely expanding“ evolution of its predecessor. This beautiful work of harmoniously coexisting design and mechanics reminds me of an enormous roguelike jug filled to the brim with horrifyingly hardcore gameplay, many difficult choices, huge 50+ hours long campaign and a whole bunch of Lovecraftian horror! Oh and there are cute pets riding on your stagecoach too.
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May 8, 2023When I found myself shouting in relief and frenetically raising my fist in the air after a hard battle ends in my favor, I can’t deny the following fact: Darkest Dungeon II is a harsh but fantastic game whose white-knuckled battles and hazard-filled exploration will trap you for hours. If you’re willing to make the needed sacrifices, it’s a journey well worth taking.
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May 8, 2023Darkest Dungeon 2 does its own demanding rogue-lite thing. You can love it or hate it just as much as its predecessor.
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Jun 9, 2023Darkest Dungeon II is a game that no one needed. The impact of the original Darkest Dungeon is still palpable and still holds to this day, but Red Hook set out to take the soul and essence of the original game, and polish it and polish it until they came up with this beauty of a game. The changes in gameplay mechanics are enough to make it feel more like a different game with the same core, rather than an actual sequel, and it's unfortunately fighting against its bigger brother, but Darkest Dungeon II brings enough to the fight to make it a compelling and well-worth experience for grim, Lovecraftian Roguelite fans.
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Aug 21, 2023Darkest Dungeon 2 is so different from its predecessor. A true roguelike with only one significant problem: The creators should learn how to explain things better. It’s also rather long for the content it provides. But the combat is great, the graphics beautiful, the narrator splendid.
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Jun 26, 2023When a game is successful it can be easy to just make a few changes and call it a day for a sequel. Altering the formula with how traversal works and adding in new ways of making the game feel both punishing and fair is what makes Darkest Dungeon II exemplary. With so many different options of making things work it is easy to get lost in this world for one more run. Those that stick past the many fallen runs will find a game that shines by not having players learn to run from walking, but rather how to stand battered and bloody after crawling and fighting through everything the game throws at them. This game is a well-designed gem for any brave enough to enter its depths.
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Jun 21, 2023A great game in its own right, with a healthy plethora of content and variety to keep you going for many hours, but if you came looking for a true Darkest Dungeon sequel you may be disappointed.
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Jun 7, 2023Darkest Dungeon II retained a lot of features that made the original great, implementing some new challenging mechanics as well. The sequel kept that unique ‘’Darkest Dungeon feel’’, yet it gave us a completely new experience.
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Jun 6, 2023While very different from the original, this sequel still knows how to offer a challenging and addictive roguelite experience that knows how to push us to the limit.
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May 31, 2023Darkest Dungeon 2 offers an addicting gameplay loop and satisfying systems.
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May 19, 2023Darkest Dungeon 2 had me feeling mixed at first. Ultimately, this sequel feels more fleshed out, and I grew to appreciate the direction it took, giving our heroes more life by giving them backstories and how they interacted with each other in the world.
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May 15, 2023The official sequel to Darkest Dungeon seemingly chose to abandon the management system and offer more rogue-lite fun instead based on the theme of carriage travel. While the concept proved itself with much deeper combat mechanic, but it barely feels like fresh gameplay.
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May 12, 2023Darkest Dungeon 2 manages to refine its initial formula, without deteriorating its morbid and addictive essence.
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May 12, 2023Interesting turn-based RPG combat keeps Darkest Dungeon 2’s roguelite progression fresh for hours – if you can push past the early, intentionally punishing humps and like it for what it is, rather than the close retread of Darkest Dungeon that it isn't. Its structure may be frustratingly random at times, even so much as to feel meaningless or pointless, but a gambler's spirit can see you through those weird patches of bad luck or directionlessness. Besides, this game would have to be really bad to drag down the vibes of the moody lines and grumbling narration that live at the heart of Darkest Dungeon 2.
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May 12, 2023Delighted with the game’s art style and fascinated by its atmosphere, I spent dozens of hours with Darkest Dungeon II and I will probably spend dozens more. It is undeniably a great game with many strengths, but it differs significantly from its superb predecessor and it will never take its place in my heart.
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May 10, 2023Darkest Dungeon 2 is a great sequel to an already great games. Red Hook Studios took risks by changing the way the game plays itself but it becomes one of the main strength of this new game which as adapted to the time. If you like hard RPG, tough but passionate experience, Darkest Dungeon 2 is probably made for you.
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May 9, 2023Darkest Dungeon II brings fresh ideas to an already stellar series.
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May 9, 2023A solid sequel to one of the best roguelike games of recent years, that personalises the conflict against Lovecraftian madness while adding to the original’s compelling turn-based battles.
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May 9, 2023This Lovecraftian road trip takes you to the guts whether it's during the strategic fights that end in sweat and blood, in the introspection of the heroes or in the exploration of the dreadful places. Darkest Dungeon II made the risky bet of not being content with being an improved version of the first opus. Although we may regret some changes, we must still note that the game has found its identity. The pre-eminence of the rogue-lite aspect is the strong choice of Red Hook which thus manages to create the impression of facing adversity that is beyond us. The game is not perfect, however, suffering in particular from rather hollow passages with the diligence and from its sometimes punitive hazardous dimension. Intended mainly for seasoned players, this title will delight those who have a taste for optimization and effort.
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May 8, 2023Quotation forthcoming.
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May 8, 2023Darkest Dungeon II is not the game I wanted. It's its own thing that is a darn fun game with a lot of interesting mechanics and beautiful artwork. One can't pre-judge DDII based on a player's opinion of the original. It shares a tone, a combat system, and a general aesthetic, but the flow and style of gameplay is so different that it is entirely its own thing. It will take hardened Darkest Dungeon players a bit to adjust to the change. If you're willing to go with the flow, it's an engaging and exciting title, if not quite the masterpiece of the original.
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May 8, 2023Darkest Dungeon 2 is a wholly different beast from the original, wrapping branching paths and compelling combat into a rogue-lite package. There are some hiccups and it may not appeal to all fans of the original, but it's still a fun journey to suffer.
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May 8, 2023Darkest Dungeon II expands on the series in a way that brings a new kind of freshness to the core experience. Those looking for something identical to the first game may feel disappointed with how progression tracks, or a lack of a more diverse roster of characters. That said, it is bound to keep you entertained for hours on end, and has plenty of new mechanics to engage in that allow for more experimentation and min-maxing.
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May 8, 2023Where its predecessor was concerned mostly with the physical and emotional wear and tear that comes with a life of violence, Darkest Dungeon II is more invested in showing how dire circumstances affect your heroes’ relationships.
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May 8, 2023Darkest Dungeon 2 takes everything about the first game and amplifies it. It's darker, and more brooding, but oozes more personality. It's not easy, but the long exhale after a successful expedition is difficult to match.
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May 8, 2023In conclusion, Darkest Dungeon II has taken a different path than its predecessor but its hardcore soul is intact and clearly visible. It is a ruthless, violent roguelite and embellished with a combat system of rare complexity which, after a few hours of experience and attempts, shows an incredible depth. Net of some problems mainly related to the excessive randomness of some mechanics, we are talking about a title that should not be missing in the luggage of any fan of the genre.
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May 8, 2023Darkest Dungeon II is a new fight against the eldritch horror, but this time the roguelite formula doesn't fit perfectly with the title. Despite some stiff parts, the intense and cruel battles are still at the core of the experience.
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May 10, 2023Darkest Dungeon 2 is a challenging yet fun roguelite experience, even if it does sacrifice some of what made the original great.
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Jul 31, 2023Darkest Dungeon II is to be applauded for not resting on its laurels, instead opting to make significant changes from its predecessor. The style, challenge, and strategic brilliance remain and that is enough to make it stand out still. However, the focus on roguelike randomness and excessive grind does make this a very different experience and one that didn’t gel for me. If you have the patience to explore the rich detail of the mechanics and the stoicism to deal with the inevitable deaths and disappointments then this is a journey worth taking. Just don’t expect it to be a comfortable ride.
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May 16, 2023That’s actually a frequent issue with Darkest Dungeon II. I admire that the team at Red Hook Studios took a real swing here, trying new paths forward for the series instead of just tinkering around the edges and making an iterative sequel. The issue is that most of the game’s strengths are still the parts that came from the first game, with most of what’s new feeling fine but also like downgrades to what they’ve replaced. It leaves Darkest Dungeon II in a strange place where, on its own merits, it’s an interesting and well-made game that doesn’t quite live up to the example set by its predecessor.
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May 8, 2023Darkest Dungeon II is definitely a good game, skillfully built upon the experience of the first installment. However, perhaps the comparison with the first game led the developers to go overboard, mixing in ambitions of a more traditional narrative role-playing game into the original formula. This ends up creating noticeable contrasts and lengthening the gameplay a bit too much, making it quite burdensome to start over from scratch each time.
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May 8, 2023A great core gameplay loop, great enemy design and art, and a more run-based approach sets this game apart as one of the greats in the roguelike genre. The Stress and relationship system might not be for everyone, but it reinforces the strong focus on the choices you make in a run.
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LEVEL (Czech Republic)Jan 22, 2024It brings a lot of new mechanics and interesting innovations. For fans of the roguelike genre I would definitely not hesitate to recommend the game. It will probably not be a problem to spend quite a few hours in it. However, the problem will arise if you want to compare the second part with the first one. This would probably be met with less enthusiastic ovations. [Issue#329]
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May 23, 2023At the moment, this game needs plenty of updates in order to get recommended.
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May 11, 2023Darkest Dungeon 2 takes a great many things from the original whilst adapting it creatively into a new world. Whilst not all of its choices feel as weighty as the first, that thematic core is just as oppressive.
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May 10, 2023Darkest Dungeon II is still promising, but lacks meat around its bones. The 3D art style has been a success, but many changes to core mechanics are either underbaked or too plain, and the user interface needs more love.
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May 8, 2023Darkest Dungeon 2 is a worthy sequel to the 2015 original. It’s a fearless alteration of a well-known formula, while also building a game that you really don’t need any context for. Despite issues with some of the best aspects of the game being thinned by its new formula, Darkest Dungeon 2 remains one of the most exciting strategy games in a while.
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| This publication has not posted a final review score yet. | |
| These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation. | |
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May 28, 2023It's still difficult and with a lot of management and strategy, but there's also some of that danger and chaos of the original that's been lost in the journey. [Recommended]
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May 8, 2023So yeah, I’m pretty hooked on Darkest Dungeon 2. If it had Steam Deck support, I'd be in real trouble (it's coming in the future, Red Hook, says). Yes, there are issues, and I don’t know how far into the end game it will keep me engaged. But the combat is so good, and the roguelite elements are enticing enough, that it has entranced me in the same way the first game did.
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May 8, 2023A copious and often brilliant, if not quite unmissable reworking of a powerfully grim fantasy. [Eurogamer Recommended]
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Nov 1, 2021Aside from those interface annoyances and the somewhat confusing compromises made to simplify roster management, I have been having a hell of a time with Darkest Dungeon 2. It might not scratch all of the same itches for me that its predecessor did, and some of the changes seem born of an overzealous devotion to streamlining everything, but it's also one of the most enjoyable roguelites I've thrown myself into on its own merits. The pacing is great, each decision along the road feels meaningful, most runs that aren't killed early on by horrible luck feel aptly rewarding, and the music, art, story, and narration create a singular and sorrowful set of vibes that are hard to top. Deck it out with some very interesting and often unconventional RPG classes and thematically-grounded party dynamics from the refined stress system, and I don't think I'll be letting the flame of this carriage burn low for a long time.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 42 out of 101
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Mixed: 20 out of 101
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Negative: 39 out of 101
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May 11, 2023
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May 10, 2023
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May 9, 2023