Darkest Dungeon 2 Review

Darkest Dungeon 2 reviewed on PC by Jon Bolding.
Interesting 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.

[@Oreca2005]

Remember overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer

[@zairomolino4074]

Monstrous size has no intrinsic merit, unless inordinate exsanguination be considered a virtue

[@CaptainManBoobs]

😂

[@oliverman6168]

Make sure ur reach does not exceed Ur grasp.

[@stephenwalker1984]

A match is struck, a blazing star is born!

[@paulcallahan7727]

​@@zairomolino4074thats my favorite

[@luigi24908800]

The narrator is absolutely one of the best parts of the game, perfect VA.

[@samueldavidbatistaruiz7510]

If you really like him, he is the narrator on some audio books, omnibus from Lovecraft and such. You can give it a try.

[@passionateromp6557]

Gives me chills

[@eleventyeleven]

The game would not be as successful as it was if Wayne June hadn’t narrated the Ancestor.

[@Legoman775]

@@passionateromp6557 gives me conniptions

[@STNGR4Y]

The dungeon so nice they darkened it twice

[@maxxieboy271]

Looks like Ryan, looks like Ryan!

[@STNGR4Y]

@@maxxieboy271 PeppaTalk

[@nicholasedwards4989]

soooo truue

[@anthonydelarosa4301]

Couscous, food so nice they named it twice.

[@elastichedgehog6339]

Get pegged

[@s.m.1981]

Curious is the trapmaker's art, his efficacy unwitnessed by his own eyes.

[@harmez7]

some of his quotes are really deep. like the one you wrote

[@MaximillianTiberius]

"A full campaign of DD2 takes roughly 60 to 80hrs to complete, depending how lucky or clever you are. It took me 62". - smirks in cleverness

[@leoleo1035]

HAHAHAHHA That was a nice one indeed

[@davidcohen4518]

exactly like you right now, correct?

[@Antonio-vl7to]

He about to ask IGN for a clever raise

[@user-qd8pb2xq7j]

Done it in 39 hours. Enjoyed every minute

[@Dornpunzel]

Damn you are one sexy clever hottie. 😁

[@TallSilhouette]

This is seriously one of the most gorgeous games I've ever seen.

[@romanovkazdavicovich3996]

Definitely 👍🏻

[@phillystevesteak6982]

ya thats basically the one thing it excels at lol

[@michaelschneider1365]

newbie to this and i’m going all in this looks overwhelming but interesting

[@cactuz4813]

Confidence SURGES as the enemy crumbles

[@andreidragostin]

"Worse you can do is survive through it all. Healed scars, lost allies and the darkest of thoughts will bring you to the brink of both madness and victory. With a strike, you can make a better world which you will not belong to. Extinguish thy own flame, warrior. Hope has dawned, but, alas, you are owed to the darkest dungeon."

[@runeriguz]

the Darkest Dungeon series is definitely in my top 5 most beautiful games. The eerily crisp and stylistic art is top-notch imo

[@Antonio-vl7to]

Definitely a wonderful series and world.

[@meskonyolsen6657]

is this sarcastic reply

[@kaelthas06]

Many Fall In The Face Of Chaos, But Not This One. Not Today

[@paulovaldivia7632]

The greatest line in DD...

[@leero9032]

​@@paulovaldivia7632you cannot learn a thing, you think, you know.

[@THEspindoctor84]

agreed, this is an awesome quote

[@luisernestochaconguerrero778]

The main difference between the first one and this one.. is that you no longer have a home to go back to The heroes travel to the mountain in a single run and thats it, there are no towns to updgrade cause the entire world falled into madness

[@kangkijp8974]

and one unit per class. you can not have 2 - 3 highwayman in your squad.

[@kitsunin4690]

@@kangkijp8974 'cause the burden is now something only a select few in the world are capable of fighting against, and they cannot escape the torment even through death.

[@Putrescence420]

Theres a lot more differences brozef

[@adroitws1367]

if you lose unit can you recruit another one later?

[@kitsunin4690]

@@adroitws1367 A random one joins you at the next inn, which comes after a mandatory boss. So if you can beat the boss sans a party member (or the party member died in that boss fight). But they come in unfriendly with everybody in the party and with no mastered skills which makes it rough. Still possible tho. And you get a metacurrency bonus.

[@paov2334]

Prodigious size alone does not dissuade the sharpened blade.

[@aztrolopitecus]

The last updates they did before the official release were goated, really made the game more enjoyable

[@Palaecro]

What did they change? The demo was brutal😢

[@Sage_6reen]

You remember our venerable house

[@phero2]

opulent and imperial

[@Prodigial]

All the quotes people use from DD1 only highlight the lack of atmosphere and story DD2 has in comparison.

[@tomatoheadfd]

Actually a pretty insightfull review from IGN, well done!

[@phero2]

Did anyone ever find out who wrote those lines for the narrator? I'll never forget "Curious is the trapmaker's art"

[@kitsunin4690]

People have no clue what to think about "randomness" in games. In fact, DD2 having a hundred different random outcomes is precisely why it's a game with a high degree of skill: Because when there's this much randomness, your ability to manage risk and adapt become crucial skills. In games with only a few places where luck matters, you actually have far less room to exert control over them. This is how the "Law of large numbers" applies to games. If they have a little bit of randomness, the player who is luckiest will win. If they have a lot of randomness, your total result will always be pretty close to the average, so it's ultimately skill that is the most important. As someone who plays a lot of board games, this is an infuriating misunderstanding that is constantly applied to highly skillful games that use things like dice. People constantly winge about a game being a luckfest where your rolls determine whether you win, meanwhile I'm over here winning 99% of the time.

[@huski1645]

Darkest Dungeon is about managing the odds. You cannot control the dice, but you can control how much the dice will matter. If you're ever in a position that a dice roll will end your run if it goes poorly, you've already screwed up.

[@Brisingr]

thank you

[@AB-py6jl]

You should play poker.

[@FingerSpazm]

​@@RandomToast skill issue

[@MrRedmer]

People have no clue and yet it's you who lacks understanding of game theory. If you have three times missed a shot, there should be a constraint in the code that 4th will be accurate, or each shot shall have an increased chance. etc. it's just an example, but it's a principle of game design if you don't want to give people frustrating masochistic experience. There are many books on this topic available if you want to listen and learn something in life.

[@StefanSochinsky]

Meta progression like this has always been a bit of a double edged sword for me: On one hand, players need to be rewarded for the time that they invest in the game, even when they lose. On the other hand, it creates a game that's practically impossible to win in the early stages because you're expected to have the permanent upgrades to proceed. The game is challenging because it is unfair, not because of the players lack of skill and knowledge of the game.

[@Poisonedblade]

"A moment of valor shines brightest against a backdrop of despair." - The Ancestor.

[@penttikoivuniemi2146]

Teetering on the brink. Facing the abyss.

[@Xitriyknyaz]

For me, it's 10 out of 10. Very high replayability, great art, atmospheric music, and a deep combat system.

[@arthez2436]

What about this grind? (being weak at start, not having a lot of choices etc.) For me this thing alone cant make game 10/10, something like a speed mode maybe would fix this where you get 300% candles or something (and different achivs for each mode for beating the game).

[@petelimppu]

@@arthez2436 There's no game where you have it all at the start lol. And even if you've not progressed you DO have a lot of choices

[@hua..]

@@arthez2436 DD1 was considerably more grindy in comparison

[@TheSoleDweller]

@@arthez2436 The main interest in its replayability is that precise fact you don't have lots of choices in the beginning but start building up your roster that is gonna be different from one run to another. This was also the heart of the first opus and what, to me, made it grand.

[@matomatic4599]

Too many initial choices tends to confuse newer players with paralysis analysis, and demoralise newer players when there's no progression system to offer a silver lining when they lose time after time.

[@justinc882]

The narration in darkest dungeon and I'm assuming DD2, is the best part.

[@charleg8759]

They scored it 8!

[@kamayo1564]

You absolutely hero

[@gizzad]

This is the best review I've ever seen come from IGN. Bravo 👏

[@AB-py6jl]

All the best game reviews are done by fans of the genre who can still be critical about what they like.

[@bananatiger3063]

More darker more dungeon

[@holtikultura911]

MOAR

[@duckheadbob]

Actually less darker less dungeon.

[@penguins0301]

More darker zero dungeon

[@Redbert80]

Darkest no Dungeon. Sounds like a Japanese anime.

[@m.richman3486]

More! MORE!

[@kurvas12peligrosas]

A time to perform beyond one's limits!

[@MalibuRacer102]

Animations look incredible, PS5 please!

[@Kpimpmaster]

My question is How does it compare to the first one

[@lukeraynor85]

Does anyone know what the ancestors quote app is called for android. Seems to have disappeared from the playstore

[@Windbend3r]

When is this coming to console?

[@crunchb3rry]

The target is winter of this year.

[@red1948]

July

[@pixelmentia]

"With the whole world dissolving into an apocalyptic primordial abyss..." Oh wait, he's talking about the game.

[@Thiagolekao]

I'm loving this game. It's easier than the first one but to return to this world and characters is a really nice experience

[@forgottenhelm1299]

Still playing the 1st one. Just got back to playing it and its memorizing. I'll grab the 2nd one for X-Mas later this year with some dlc

[@jacobmorales7564]

The hero reads an unsettling passage

[@Nrdyco]

Sounds like the reviewer didn't play the first game... The RNG and screaming at THE RNG is one of the biggest reasons ppl play darkest dungeon.. the frustrating yet rewarding experience that comes with a run. Sometimes it's cheers, sometimes it's cursing at the RNG gods but you go back in because it's the gamble that draws you in

[@bartdiako1]

Has anyone bought the move wrights yeat?

[@RyanRynoldsTwin]

When does this come to console ??

[@mrhippo828]

Game patches will overcome many problems Even the big ones

[@lockiet7227]

This should’ve been one of the narrators quotes

[@klaymen8559]

When is 3 gonna be out? ;)

[@ourdailymeat]

*Finally a review from you guys*

[@TheRealIronMan]

To be fair its totally the devs fault for the lack of promotions and didn't release it on steam, most ppl had no idea the game was even released

[@slowmercy69]

​@@TheRealIronMan It's not on Steam??😂

[@abrealgaming5649]

The fact that this didn't get a 9 or 10 is going to piss a lot of people off

[@SmarkAngel]

It won't, I don't think. This entry is....controversial lol

[@peevan]

@@SmarkAngel yeah this game shouldnt even be called Darkest Dungeon 2, more like Darkest Roadtrip

[@m.richman3486]

Nah. The majesty of this game is that people love it with it's flaws. It's not a game for everyone

[@ggg-ng3tm]

​@@peevanwhere dungeon

[@alargecorgi2199]

Piss off who? Super fans who are biased? DD2 has already mixed reviews when the first beta for it ran. Purists wanted the hub back.

[@greatbritishranker]

Thank you Jon Bolding for a high quality review

[@paulcallahan7727]

They brought wayne june back! whens it coming to switch?

[@robertjag167]

Personally not a fan of grinding in a singleplayer game. But the graphics.. 10/10!

[@volcano3493]

Packs laden with loot are often short on supplies.

[@ozzlss]

Where is Reynauld??

[@ChillyWing]

Canonically dead

[@luisernestochaconguerrero778]

Sacrifice himself to stop the Heart of darkness

[@FatWalterWhite69]

@@ChillyWinghe isn’t, that’s a rumor

[@GangurEXE]

​@@ChillyWingpeople say it's canon but then they have no source to back it up

[@petelimppu]

@@FatWalterWhite69 Tell me you haven't beaten DD2 without saying you haven't beaten it :D

[@xNewSidx]

Wish this was on console at launch.

[@Linkous12]

Seems the Flagellant has lost some... skin since the first game.

[@michaelschneider1365]

i’m buying this for ps5. it looks overwhelming hard and fun.

[@santiagopavonruiz6751]

When is coming to consoles like switch?? 😢

[@Thrak360]

Is it 7?

[@LivinProoof]

"One more to throw on the growing corpse pile."

[@theworld6710]

Absolutely love this game. Has its issues, but it is a consistently fun and engaging Roguelike.

[@silverm0nk3y]

Can’t wait for that console release!

[@ahmadrusyaidi3293]

When it’s coming to console?

[@pijinio]

This runs perfectly on a CI7 4790 at 900p with just the IGPU AMAZING OPTIMIZATION in PERFORMANCE

[@Hj4a]

This review made me feel soothed; sedated.

[@armuk]

Big mistake in changing the format to the the running stagecoach style IMO. Having and building a central hub added a lot to the first game.

[@audiocorps2334]

Central hub was a garbage waste of time only hard carried by the games aesthetics. If the game's art style was any different praise for the garbage hub system would have never been a thing. It was tedium for the sake of tedium.

[@ennuiarduous6446]

Removing the city is definitely the worst idea they could've undertake.

[@joseraulmachadofernandez9744]

Was the crusader removed?

[@texhenning9603]

Crusader died, many other classes are now enemies

[@CeetjeBeetje]

Be wary! Triumphant pride precipitates a dizzying fall.

[@kayboy6055]

considering it gambling vs rogue like dungeon crawling, where the entire isn't to hopefully lose until you win, but to face each new dungeon with a curious, novel kind of approach threw off the rest of the review.

[@ihatelittletitties]

Feel bad when you don't give the team a break, then they die of a heart attack.

[@2Jackrabbit]

It's a bit weird to say, but the initial state of the EA build was more appealing to me. The first day of release I've beated it in the second run, so it lacked some fairness, but the fact that you had controls over some of the more gruesome meters made it more enjoyable to me than the direction the full released done. It's interesting, beautiful and pleasing for sure nonetheless, just feel more grindy and random than it was in the early access version.

[@BrokenSymetry]

Really don't like the new stage coach system. Probably the worst part is you're forced to play for a long time with just a few heroes that have just a few of their skills unlocked. Gets boring and repetitive, a contrast to dozens of hero combos you could make right from the get go in the original.

[@HighLanderPonyYT]

You can unlock all the heroes in 1-2 hours. Unlocking all the skills takes longer but it's been a fun process.

[@Bored339649]

The animation is so nice

[@HighLanderPonyYT]

Greatly put!

[@nilsrodas6967]

Going rogue lite was a mistake.

[@michaelschneider1365]

is this like organ trail and super hard

[@nfoquest5738]

This game is more about decision making than gambling

[@dillonhansen3839]

really makes you feel like your having a meltdown

[@fabe61]

Sounds like some of the same problems exist from the first game that stopped me playing that one, too; a very unforgiving game that demands a lot from you, while not giving you much control over the game. Seems like a recipe for ‘feelsbadman’. I’ll stick to Slay The Spire.

[@Nackols]

wow this game looks beautiful those animations and everything look so clean

[@dahunlee_acousticguitar_covers]

'Overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer.'

[@waterfallhunter9642]

This game is the biggest disappointment Literally everything is worse and virtually all strategy has been eliminated Who tf wants to grind for 60 hours just to get a chance at the game

[@gureguru4694]

you mean darkest adventure 2? literally zero dungeon in the game lmao.

[@Jose_31416]

Oh, so between 60 and 80 depending on how clever you are... And it took yo 62 hours??? Yo must be soooooo clever!!! Lol

[@fightwithonefilms]

Said rogue like twice

[@MomirsLabTech]

2 Dark 2 Dungeon

[@Alexor715]

They should name it "Slay The Darkest Spire"...

[@ghostofamoment]

My only issue with this game is it just doesn't have a compelling sense of progress, and the gameplay loop is not as rewarding or interesting as the first game. That said, it's still fun for a couple of runs and the art direction is incredible.

[@Jovid-cq9pb]

So would you say the first one is better?

[@CookingEmi]

@@Jovid-cq9pbi would say it’s an entirely different experience; this one feels more casual and quick, whilst the other is a proper time sink where each run is a dozen hours or more

[@kearseymorton2078]

there are TONS of things to unlock permanently, if your heroes survive a run you can customize and upgrade them 5 times and take them on a team to kill the 5 bosses (that will take around 15 hours), so yeah there a LOT of progress

[@N3THER]

There are 5 acts to progress through. What do you think progress means?

[@meskonyolsen6657]

I'll Bet get a same fate from Gollum but it wasnt

[@user-ci4gc1nz6k]

Basicaly, Darkest Dungeon but WITHOUT the Dungen

[@kevinandreselorzacortes3324]

Dude where's the Crusader😢

[@daddysoze]

Darkest Dungeon 3....we can go darker!

[@thalianox2492]

These nightmarish creatures can be felled! They can be beaten!

[@KenPSI]

Combat screen looks very dumb down compared to DD.

[@Kraluth]

Most of the info is in tooltips now.

[@Marc-ox2rj]

This gives me blood brothers vibes. Anyone relate?

[@kengoh5136]

The lack of sense of progression and attachment to the characters in the first game are a huge turn off for me😢

[@N3THER]

You literally have 4 heroes to grow attached to for 3+ hours

[@BoobaBoba69]

Attachment to heroes? Try to lose MAA with the jinx quirk and 5 memories. You will cry to say the leat

[@Ranyanya]

If you're not attached to your characters in the first game, you can hardly win it at higher difficulty level. Even the first heroes that are mostly expandable by mid-game until your stage coach is maximized are important and you feel for them. Also, building the hamlet and unlocking harder bosses in each places does give a lot of sense to progression in this game. Planning becomes the key to fast progress.

[@TankTaur]

More arrive, foolishly seeking fortune and glory in this domain of the damned...

[@Bottna]

Looks awesome

[@Lord_Deimos]

Surprising that the narrator isn't featured in every Warhammer game

[@parfaitcell3067]

Nothing beat Fear and Hunger

[@Memelord2020]

8/10

[@Hunter-jf4ld]

Why is the horse just ramming in to every rubish purpose, they could even go around. Won't last long that way

[@HighLanderPonyYT]

You get loot.

[@Red93100]

Wait.. The reviewer is saying it took him 62 hours to beat the shackles boss for the first time? Is that what he's saying?

[@HighLanderPonyYT]

No, there are 5 chapters total, each ending with a different boss.

[@kingshadow8782]

🤘🏻😎👍🏻

[@kingshadow8782]

Wow

[@79Dtrain]

The narrator's name is Wayne June and it's kinda embarrassing that the reviewer didn't know 🤦

[@tomlampe7676]

It's an 8

[@paintballJohn2]

The loathing festers.

[@phineasbogg1318]

Impressive haul … if you value such things.