Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
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  1. Jan 22, 2018
    85
    Darkest Dungeon is a fantastic game for Nintendo Switch.
  2. Jan 18, 2018
    90
    While the font size is a little too small for mobile demands, the core of the game of course is still the same. And that means that now also Switch users can enjoy this beautiful and challenging tactics-rpg with its excellent art design.
  3. Apr 12, 2018
    80
    Despite gameplay better suited for a mouse and keyboard, Darkest Dungeon transitions rather well from PC to Switch. The controls were always going to be convoluted when adapted to a controller, but it doesn't take too long to adjust, and the core gameplay loop is strong enough where overlooking that initial awkwardness is more than doable. Darkest Dungeon is by no means for everyone, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth the stress.
  4. Feb 14, 2018
    80
    Darkest Dungeon still remains a fantastic, dark RPG on its move to the Switch, one that offers a challenge stacked with replayability. It’s one of the few hardcore RPGs that I can stick with without getting annoyed or bored at its difficulty. It’s a shame that the deep and rewarding gameplay is spoilt by poor controls, but once used to their awkwardness, what remains is a brilliant release for Nintendo’s system. Darkest Dungeon is suited to the mobility of the device, thanks to the short dungeon times. It is a game that will keep on giving players constant nightmares and hardships as they slowly become engrossed in the gameplay loop, while probably going insane at the same time trying to go deeper into the lair of evil that is known as the Darkest Dungeon, a game that is one of the best indies available right now on Switch.
  5. Mar 15, 2018
    80
    Darkest Dungeon is an ambitious game that features impressive details, a very complete and thorough atmosphere and a complex gameplay. Its experience ends up getting harmed by the arbitrary factors that come into play on certain moments and the overall difficulty level can be quite hard in the beginning of the game but there is no mistake in regarding Darkest Dungeon as major title within the indie scene.
  6. Jan 23, 2018
    80
    While I’m glad that I waited for Darkest Dungeon to hit the Switch, I still have misgivings. It’s certainly better on the go now than it was on the Vita, if for no other reason than the screen is simply larger, but it doesn’t feel like a great fit. However, in docked mode it’s still the same amazing game that it’s always been, although it looks sharper on PS4. After holding out all this time to finally get the optimal experience, there’s just no easy answer. However, one thing does remain clear — now that the devs have added even more tweaks and amenities, the core experience is still outstanding no matter what platform it’s on.
  7. Jan 18, 2018
    90
    I can’t recommend Darkest Dungeon enough. Its hallway crawling, madness suffering, darkness fighting, dungeon romping is some of the best RPG play I’ve had in recent years. The game shines on the Switch, despite a few minor setbacks in the font and controls. If you’re a veteran of the game or have never tried it, put it on your want list because Darkest Dungeon is very easily added to the Switch’s growing list of “Best Games”.
  8. Jan 30, 2018
    85
    Darkest Dungeon is a game that makes you learn a lot from both your mistakes and from yourself.
  9. Jan 22, 2018
    87
    An awesome port that may not be easy for newcomers but offers an interesting and deep gameplay proposal that can draw you into its world almost forever.
  10. Jan 31, 2018
    80
    The Switch version of Darkest Dungeon may have some sluggish controls, but the game itself is as brilliant as ever. A must-have if you into challenging games like Dark Souls.
  11. Jan 21, 2018
    80
    A fantastically well-designed and presented roguelike, that makes your heroes’ mental health just as important as their physical well-being.
  12. Feb 5, 2018
    90
    Groundbreaking, striking, brilliant. It takes the sensation of being at war so far that the doubts and suffering of the characters comes out of the screen and implant themselves in the player. This does require an hours-long learning process based on the tutorials.
  13. May 14, 2018
    90
    Once you learn what you need to, it’s easily one of the best indie titles to grace the Switch and it is one that will keep you hooked for many weeks and months ahead.
  14. Jan 29, 2018
    80
    Darkest Dungeon has always been an RPG that finds ways to make life uncomfortable for the player, and this Switch version manages to add a couple of usability issues to that list. However, this remains a dauntingly deep, thoroughly absorbing dungeon crawler that will swallow you up for hours at a time.
  15. 90
    Even while wading through some minor issues, Darkest Dungeon is enthralling. Even if I crave sunshine and rainbows after spending too much time in this world, it sticks in the back of my mind and I idly think about what team I’ll put together to try to mount my next dungeon crawl. It’s a dark and gloomy game, but the overall blend of combat, exploration, and town management adds up to a fantastic gameplay loop that sucks away time as you try to outwit the deadly creatures and obstructions all around the darkest dungeon.
  16. Feb 5, 2018
    80
    I’m not the biggest fan of games that punish you for the smallest mistake, but in spite of that, I really enjoyed my time with Darkest Dungeon. The game rarely feels unfair, and proper preparations and knowledge of what you’re getting into will generally get you through to the end safely. While the loop of entering dungeons and slowly building up resources and character levels might seem repetitive on paper, it’s really more addicting, as you eventually gain parties strong enough to defeat bosses and delve into the Darkest Dungeon itself. Its addition to the Switch library is a great boon, and I highly recommend it there—however, this difficult RPG is worth the price of admission on any platform.
  17. Mar 9, 2018
    80
    Outlined by its lovecraftian narrative themes and gloomy 2D art style, Darkest Dungeon breaks standard RPG conventions to deliver a challenging adventure about everlasting physical and psychological scars. With the overlapping affliction system and deep turn-based combat, every run becomes a tense thrive for survival.
  18. Jan 21, 2018
    95
    Dark atmosphere, grim locations and outright horrifying enemies and dungeons, make this game a gem of an RPG that sets itself apart from anything else on the system. The use of the Nintendo Switch’s touch screen is great and adds to the experience even more.
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 191 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 22 out of 191
  1. Jan 21, 2018
    3
    Hilariously convoluted controls, pure RNG based difficulty that will result in often random, unfair party wipes, repetitive gameplay, anHilariously convoluted controls, pure RNG based difficulty that will result in often random, unfair party wipes, repetitive gameplay, an absolute mess of a progression system, a class system so unbalanced, some are all but useless, one of the worst UI I've ever seen in my life (which directly ties in with the god awful control scheme), etc etc. I could probably write an essay out the flaws this game is plagued by. It's ONLY redeeming factor in my opinion, is the art style. Even if you can tolerate the lopsided balancing and grindy gameplay, good luck tolerating the smart phone oriented controls, and the trash fire UI. Full Review »
  2. Jan 18, 2018
    9
    Darkest Dungeon is a very good game. The game itself is fun, with extremely high replayability due to the randomized nature of the game. ThisDarkest Dungeon is a very good game. The game itself is fun, with extremely high replayability due to the randomized nature of the game. This was, of course, known with its releases on PC and other consoles. But how does Darkest Dungeon run on the Switch, and how does it compare to the other consoles?

    Before heading any further, it is worth a warning to those that have never played: Yes, the game can be difficult. And yes, you will likely a lose a lot of units. And, yes, it will not always be entirely your fault. RNG is a heavy factor in this game, and if you are not a fan of that, I wholeheartedly advise you to stay away from Darkest Dungeon. That being said, the game is fantastic, and the port was done very well.

    As I found with the other console versions, the controls aren't nearly as fluid as they are on PC. Buttons can sometimes be a little confusing and unintuitive, but it doesn't take too long to get used to them.

    Frame rate seems stable in both docked and undocked modes. My untrained eye can't perceive what FPS it's running at, but in a slow, turn-based game such as this, it doesn't particularly matter.

    The touchscreen is able to be used in portable mode which, while it's not required, felt more intuitive than the button controls. I particularly like that the touchscreen can be used for all menu, combat, and navigational purposes. It makes playing in portable mode a lot more fun than I would have expected. However, as with the Vita version, the Switch's screen suffers from a small UI. Text can be hard to read, and touchscreen may be harder to navigate for those with larger fingers.

    Perhaps the highlight of Darkest Dungeon on Switch is its battery life. While I have not tested it in all possible configurations, it lasted 5 hours and 12 minutes with maximum brightness and Wi-Fi enabled before hitting the 1% mark, at which point I put it into sleep mode to charge it.

    Darkest Dungeon at its core is a fantastic game, and its port to Switch is nothing short of well-done. Despite initially readjusting to button controls after heavy PC usage, I can fully see the Switch becoming my main way to play the game with its touchscreen options undocked and fantastic battery life.
    Full Review »
  3. Jan 20, 2018
    7
    A great excuse to check out all the post-launch content if you kinda fell off few weeks after OG launch like I did. There is one big "but",A great excuse to check out all the post-launch content if you kinda fell off few weeks after OG launch like I did. There is one big "but", though....

    The font size is tragically bad for this system. it just isn't acceptable for portable (which is the way to play this due to touchscreen support). If I was new to the game it would be impossible to figure the game out, since the tutorials are almost impossible to read.

    This makes it a release for ppl with previous DD experience. It pains me to say it but new players should stay away, unless they are planning to play in docked.
    Full Review »