Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance

 PC
User Score
3.3

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 124 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 124
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 124
  3. Negative: 88 out of 124

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  1. BestOpinionEver
    Jun 24, 2021
    9
    I had been looking forward to DnD:DA for a long time. I saw the first reviews were overwhelmingly negative, so I held off. I instead watched a considerable amount of streamers play this game before playing it myself, and each one seemed to be having fun with it. The game looked great, so i decided to try it myself.
    I'm very glad I did.
    Let me address some of the "issues": 1. "Bugs":    I had been looking forward to DnD:DA for a long time. I saw the first reviews were overwhelmingly negative, so I held off. I instead watched a considerable amount of streamers play this game before playing it myself, and each one seemed to be having fun with it. The game looked great, so i decided to try it myself.
    I'm very glad I did.
    Let me address some of the "issues":
    1. "Bugs": After about 20 hours of gameplay, I have encountered 1 game altering bug, which caused my character to become stuck on an enemy mob. This occurred once in 20 hours, and while annoying, I was able to just kill them mob and become unstuck. I can see how if this happened on a boss, you would likely die. As unfortunate as that would be, a 10-20 second bug within 20 hours of gameplay is not much to complain about.
    2. General QoL/Clunkiness: There are a couple clunky spots such as the "loot reward" chest, where if you click it while empty, you get hung up for a couple seconds while the game informs you its empty. It's a bit awkward, but after doing it once and learning not to, the 2-3 second inconvenience is not enough to warrant any type of negativity towards what is otherwise a really fun game.

    The Good:
    1. Combat: A very fast paced, while tactical brawler/hack and slash. Your very first game will be a bit slow/difficult as you only really have your basic light and heavy attack, and depending on your class, maybe a block and dodge. I also had anvil and taunt skills, but those are on a long cooldown when you first start so you won't be using them much. The game, if you select the proper difficulty for your gear score, strikes a pretty perfect balance of difficulty and progression. The fights are hard, can be long, and if you are skipping the "Short rests", the levels are a real challenge. I love 5-10 minute boss fights that boil down to not making any, or many mistakes. And when you do make a mistake, it is costly. As you level up you learn new moves and skills, and the game really opens up. You start doing new combos that completely alter the way you fight, and you feel "strong" pretty early on while also being aware that mobs still do a considerable amount of damage to you. Again, if you are level 15 with good gear doing tier 1 levels, you will 1 shot everything and the loot will suck. If you are level 1 trying tier 6, you will die to everything in one hit and the game will be impossible. This game gives you a lot of freedom, and unfortunately the reality of people, and gamers specifically, is there's more low iq types than high. With that freedom, these low iq types set the game difficulty to a setting that ruins their experience, and they come here crying.
    2. Progression: As the game goes on, you unlock new moves, passives, and skills. Additionally, you find new loot and there are sets with bonuses, you upgrade your gear to buff the stats, and you can do cosmetic changes to each piece to make custom sets.
    3. Graphics/Levels: This game has some of the best looking and best designed levels I've played in a long time. I am honestly hoping this game Dev makes more games in different universes (Warhammer / 40K PLEASE). There are 4-5 different environs all with different enemy types. Goblins will be a constant, but within goblins you have about 6 archetypes, there are also multiple verbeeg, Deuregar, etc.

    Some tips: The camera default rotation speed is a bit slow for my liking, I would suggest upping this to max asap.

    Haters will always hate, and it strikes me as mostly shut-in types that were hoping this game would be a suitable replacement for their bleak existence. It's a game, and it's a pretty good one. It's not perfect, but it's the best one I've played in 2021.

    Enjoy cause it's fun!    … Expand
  2. Nightrnner
    Jul 2, 2021
    8
    Fantastic co-op ARPG! My friends and I have been waiting for a game like this to play together for years. Bugs? Yes. For us older gamers bugs have always been a part of the gaming experience. Unless they make the game unplayable/ beatable... no harm, no foul. Not sure why new video games being made today have to be the answer to world hunger to get decent reviews. Even the so calledFantastic co-op ARPG! My friends and I have been waiting for a game like this to play together for years. Bugs? Yes. For us older gamers bugs have always been a part of the gaming experience. Unless they make the game unplayable/ beatable... no harm, no foul. Not sure why new video games being made today have to be the answer to world hunger to get decent reviews. Even the so called professional game reviewers out there sound like they just need a hug to get over their nerd rage. This game brings me back to the good to Gauntlet64 days (bugs-a-plenty) ! Hope the developers can see past all the BS reviews and make tons more content for this game!… Expand
  3. BrickSlamchest
    Jun 26, 2021
    9
    This game is an amazing casual Dungeons & Dragons game. The environments and audio are beautiful. The gameplay is really fun. You can spend a lot of time hunting for upgrades to your characters and gear. Mechanics are loosely based on Dungeons & Dragons to fit into an arcade brawling loot hunter. There's a decent amount of lore snippets sprinkled throughout the world to collect and read inThis game is an amazing casual Dungeons & Dragons game. The environments and audio are beautiful. The gameplay is really fun. You can spend a lot of time hunting for upgrades to your characters and gear. Mechanics are loosely based on Dungeons & Dragons to fit into an arcade brawling loot hunter. There's a decent amount of lore snippets sprinkled throughout the world to collect and read in between missions.

    That being said, there are a ton of bugs and polish that should have been done before release, but this is a good time despite that. Just know that going into this in its current state there are issues with hit boxes, some animations, and AI that are easy to look past while enjoying the ride.    … Expand
  4. AfricanMangos
    Jun 25, 2021
    9
    I have so much fun playing this game with my brother. As a DM who just finished the recently published campaign module Icewind Dale Rime of th Frostmaiden it is so awesome to see all of the places I’ve been imagining for over a year now. I can’t wait to continue playing through the rest of the game and I’m really looking forward to The Echos of the Blood War DLC
  5. Karl_Martell
    Jun 29, 2021
    10
    I honestly cannot understand what some players are criticising about the game. It looks great, the voices and music are really well done and the player will be immediately immersed into the world of the Forgotten Realms. As a D&D nerd, I am blown away how the developers have brought the creatures and the setting to life. It feels like an interactive D&D-movie. The four characters are veryI honestly cannot understand what some players are criticising about the game. It looks great, the voices and music are really well done and the player will be immediately immersed into the world of the Forgotten Realms. As a D&D nerd, I am blown away how the developers have brought the creatures and the setting to life. It feels like an interactive D&D-movie. The four characters are very well adapted from the novel and feel believable and alive. Using the PC version I did not encounter any severe gameplay-issues right now.… Expand
  6. Drewdwn3434
    Jun 23, 2021
    8
    You know, Not everything is about bugs and glitches. You have so much to enjoy here. Playing as Drzzt is like a dream come true to many fans. Do not miss out!
  7. Thopper85
    Jun 25, 2021
    9
    Everyone is giving this game a bad rap, but it is actually a lot of fun! I’ve encountered a handful of bugs. None of them have been game breaking or been that serious (enemy health bar staying up, stuck during a jump over a table, etc…) The combat is fast paced but not a button masher. You need to actually time and use combos to be effective. The environments are gorgeous and the voiceEveryone is giving this game a bad rap, but it is actually a lot of fun! I’ve encountered a handful of bugs. None of them have been game breaking or been that serious (enemy health bar staying up, stuck during a jump over a table, etc…) The combat is fast paced but not a button masher. You need to actually time and use combos to be effective. The environments are gorgeous and the voice acting is phenomenal. If you want a faster paced D&D experience that still has a lot of the progression and RPG elements then check this out. I would love to see some more classes available, but sounds like there will be DLC coming later.… Expand
  8. Hobbad
    Jun 24, 2021
    9
    For the first game in a series from a small studio, it's pretty polished.

    The environments are gorgeous and hand crafted. I have enjoyed the non-linear/exploratory aspect of the game. Combat's fun and when you get a combo just right and slam an opponent into the ground (or get slammed yourself) you definitely feel it. Would highly recommend starting with Wulfgar as the first    For the first game in a series from a small studio, it's pretty polished.

    The environments are gorgeous and hand crafted. I have enjoyed the non-linear/exploratory aspect of the game.

    Combat's fun and when you get a combo just right and slam an opponent into the ground (or get slammed yourself) you definitely feel it.

    Would highly recommend starting with Wulfgar as the first character you try out. Definitely the strongest solo character and, from my experience, the most fun to play.

    Excited to see the series improve with each iteration.    … Expand
  9. hoodiechamois
    Jun 24, 2021
    9
    You know, Not everything is about bugs and glitches. You have so much to enjoy here. Playing as Drzzt is like a dream come true to many fans. Do not miss out!
  10. Dshot
    Jun 23, 2021
    10
    Muy buena ambientacion y diseño de niveles, musica y sonido tambien a la altura, el combate es su punto devil, mucho que pulir en este apartado.
  11. Nofake18
    Jun 27, 2021
    8
    Well Balanced Hack and Slay in the D&D Universe, some Bugs plague it, but Overall its well Build
  12. Zelldincht90
    Jun 24, 2021
    10
    Non merita la pioggia di 0 che sta ricevendo. Sicuramente il combat system è migliorabile, ma l'avventura è intrigrante, le missioni bilanciate e sfidanti. La migliore esperienza si ottiene in cooperativo. A tal proposito, ottima la gestione online/offline in caso di gioco cooperativo o singolo.
  13. KepasaAmigo
    Jul 1, 2021
    8
    For me this game is solid 8 out of 10. It's fun. Not so hard compared to dark souls. With a friend can be really enjoyed. Many bosses. Not much missions but u get it on game pass. Maybe after a year or two it will get better with some end game content
    .
  14. BigEggsKitchen
    Jun 24, 2021
    8
    The hate for this game is uncalled for. I feel bad for the developers. I’m about 6 hours in and it’s a blast
  15. The_Xanathar
    Jun 26, 2021
    10
    *Speaks in Abyssal so the mortals giving low ratings can't hear*

    Morons! The lot of you! This game is the greatest thing that your console has ever played!
    Low ratings? How would you like to be vaporized? No? You wouldn't like that? You're not fun at all.
  16. trfgjakal
    Jun 28, 2021
    8
    Being new to D n D and also coming into this game having read some awful reviews, I can't but feel sorry for this game. Upon getting into it the game has a beautiful finish and the graphics are much greater than I expected. The gameplay is great and even better as a co-op experience as it was designed to be played. the depth of the game which does just keep on giving as you find more andBeing new to D n D and also coming into this game having read some awful reviews, I can't but feel sorry for this game. Upon getting into it the game has a beautiful finish and the graphics are much greater than I expected. The gameplay is great and even better as a co-op experience as it was designed to be played. the depth of the game which does just keep on giving as you find more and more parts to it. One thing it could do is explain all the areas a little more but it has the depth of Diablo to the moves and gear.

    There are some areas that do need working on but what new game doesn't especially one from a smaller studio. As other people have mentioned whack up the horizontal axis reaction as it is slow to turn but quickly remedied. I am 8 hours in and now running 2 characters to change up play with friends and loving it.    … Expand
  17. Vantastic
    Jul 1, 2021
    10
    It needs work, it's not a ten. But it sure as hell isn't anything less than 6: so my 10 is to balance out the review bombs.

    There's a learning curve and patches needed, but it's fun and isn't that what counts at the end? It's got good bones, need polish.
  18. krabulut
    Oct 19, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. mükemmel bişi böyle birşey olabilir mi yaaa neyini beğenmediniz amk oyna geç… Expand

Awards & Rankings

38
#38 Most Discussed PC Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
53

Mixed or average reviews - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 37
  3. Negative: 13 out of 37
  1. Riot Pixels
    Sep 12, 2021
    33
    You know that a cooperative game is stillborn when you spend several minutes looking for random players to team up with even on a launch week. Probably because it’s one of the worst D&D games in ages.
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Sep 1, 2021
    60
    Dark Alliance is a disappointingly run-of-the-mill action RPG whose most distinctive features are bugs and connection issues. Solid combat and levelling systems are not enough to outweigh repetitive, boring environments and the lack of decent endgame content. [09/2021, p.44]
  3. Malditos Nerds
    Jul 22, 2021
    30
    Dungeons & Dragons Dark Alliance is a blemish on a franchise that is always fondly remembered by its fan base. None of its features is up to the series and doesn't even allow us to fulfill the role-playing fantasies that Dungeons & Dragons has given us for so many decades.
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