Darkest Dungeon II

 PC
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 55 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 55
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 55
  3. Negative: 0 out of 55
  1. 3DJuegos
    May 28, 2023
    It'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]
  2. Ars Technica
    May 8, 2023
    So 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.
  3. Eurogamer
    May 8, 2023
    A copious and often brilliant, if not quite unmissable reworking of a powerfully grim fantasy. [Eurogamer Recommended]
  5. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Nov 1, 2021
    Aside 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

85
#85 Best PC Game of 2023
30
#30 Most Discussed PC Game of 2023

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 101 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 101
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 101
  3. Negative: 39 out of 101
  1. SomeDude9909
    May 11, 2023
    2
    Darkest Dungeon II is a misnomer. The game does not have any dungeons, and it isn't a real sequel to the first Darkest Dungeon.

    Darkest    Darkest Dungeon II is a misnomer. The game does not have any dungeons, and it isn't a real sequel to the first Darkest Dungeon.

    Darkest Roads, as it should be called, is a pathetic attempt at a roguelike that uses similar aesthetics and gameplay mechanics from the first Darkest Dungeon game. They cut out all of the town building, character building, and trinket accumulating aspects of the first game. They added a carriage that is horrible to control and a relationship system that either makes your team hate each other internally for no reason or literally turns your characters gay for each other whether you want them to or not. They simplified the stats with tokens which keeps an element of RNG but makes it now much less interesting and nuanced than before. They cut out the ancestor's dark tales of macabre investigations into the occult. They refused to add Crusader as a character and also cut out a number of other favorites from Darkest Dungeon while just adding one new character to the roster.

    I hate it and wish they had made a genuine sequel instead of this abomination. Stay clear of this waste of time and play Darkest Dungeon instead.    … Full Review »
  2. deceitfulninja
    May 10, 2023
    5
    It's embarrassing user reviews are always 0 or 10. I played few a few hours but overall this is a downgrade from DD1 in a lot of ways. ItIt's embarrassing user reviews are always 0 or 10. I played few a few hours but overall this is a downgrade from DD1 in a lot of ways. It ditches the metaprogression in base building for one off runs, which I don't hate on paper. The first game became a slog of a grind and that needed fixing. But roguelites based around short runs are only good when there's a ton of variability between those runs in that no two feel the same. This is not the case here, it's just the same combat from the first game slightly tweaked with the same characters. You unlock new things for future runs sure, but nothing that's going to change the experience. It's a major disappointment.… Full Review »
  3. dversion
    May 9, 2023
    10
    This game is so deep. There's such growth from the first game. It's not easy, but if you are up for the challenge you'll get an education inThis game is so deep. There's such growth from the first game. It's not easy, but if you are up for the challenge you'll get an education in RPG gaming. Check out the streams on Youtube and you can see the number of buff's, rebuffs etc. In the last game runs took 40 hours with 12-15 characters and now you take 4 characters on a 3-5 hour run. With the candles you can build your characters.

    PS - Don't believe the haters. They gave Redfall a 10/10!    … Full Review »
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