Darkest Dungeon | Review | With Mike

[@OneStopCoopShop]

COMPONENTS - Very mixed bag here. The minis (and miniature storage) are lovely, but the cards and cardboard are overly dark and not great quality. 0:00 - Introduction 0:29 - Dungeon Exploration 1:14 - Doom and Gloom 2:32 - Campaign and Leveling 3:43 - Enemy Activation 4:28 - Player Tactics 5:19 - Final Thoughts

[@darinlagarry3091]

I do agree on the overall dark tone of things. The stress track in particular is very difficult to see!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

@@darinlagarry3091 yeah, I called that one out in the playthrough. It was invisible in the video, lol

[@darinlagarry3091]

I enjoy the game quite a bit actually. I played a full campaign. I did though have to make a few tweaks to the rules for balancing, based on feedback on the bgg forums, like removing some of the low level monsters from the deck as you progress. I thought that the "dread management" aspect of the game was very interesting (dealing with all the debuffs), the combat was fun and the character leveling was fun also. Its the same gameplay at any player count, and not too difficult to manage solo. For me personally its a keeper.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Glad you had fun with it! We might play a bit more, but not a long term keeper I think

[@DieNische]

I like the game despite its balance issues. The combination of a one shot campaign game with a huge character progression, ressource management in the settlement and a very good flow of play over the three phases make it a very interesting game. But especially balancing (too easy and some bosses are very weak against certain hero Combos) is a big problem. Nonetheless a game I enjoy quite a bit and a Keeper.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I think a bit of houseruling can go a long way with this one

[@1AngelAlita]

I like the game a lot, not to mention painting all those fantastic minis. Will improve with expansions that will add variability and difficulty.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

The minis are great. I didn’t mind the variability from the start… good mix of hero and enemy types.

[@almondroy]

The best part of the video game is that it's quick to bounce back after a party wipe. The upkeep is done for you, if the board game is just as punishing, the will to keep going will be crushed due to the down time of upkeep

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I don't see losing a lot of characters often, but yeah, it's always going to be more fiddly

[@ChimeratAlpha]

Just heard of this game and it's got a very steep cost for entry. Going to check out your solo play to see if it might convince me to order a copy, but your review brings up a few concerns related to overly random design.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

It's not one that I would personally encourage people to seek out, especially at the high price, but watch the playthrough and see if it's maybe right up your alley!

[@mitch-TO]

After your playthrough video, I’m surprised this review is so positive.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Well, there’s a difference between the individual mechanics and my own personal feelings. Do I respect many of the mechanics? For sure! Do I want to play the game more? Not really… 😅

[@AuthorDiCristofano]

I bought Darkest Dungeon on a Steam sale about three years ago. I loved the overall theme, but the brutally punishing combat system that makes KDM feel light weight was just too much for me. Masochism is not my forte. About a year ago I rebooted it up and found a few mods in the workshop that made the gaming experience easier and enjoyable. The bg game version looks cool, but I'd definitely modify some of the rules to make it more accessible and streamlined. I understand it's frowned upon by some, but as long as the general framework and theme of the game is intact, I'm okay with it.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

There are already some solid houserules on BGG.

[@arcubal]

Thanks Mike! My personal dislikes beyond the mechanical overload (of trying to spill all the videogame guts into rules & components for a board game): - exploration is blah - so much black - so many icons - even more black ...but the tactical location tiles look and play somewhat fun though 😋I sure wish Hellboy had these kind of tiles... So yeah, they could have 'trimmed the fat' on this game, focussing solely on what they did well according to yourself - combat. Glad I dodged the bullet on this one.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Yeah, if it was more focused on just the combat I’d personally enjoy it more. And so much black!!!!

[@plaidflannelgeek]

I like the upbeat intro music for such a dark game.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I had to drag myself out of the darkness somehow!

[@Calmien]

Quick and light? :D

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Did I say it was quick? 😅😅😅

[@pencilpauli9442]

The supplies soon start to run out, which I get. That's what happens to consumables. The shovels confuse me though. Are they disposable, or so poorly made that they break after one use? lol Thanks for the playthrough and review, Mike.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Rotting wood, perhaps? ;)

[@pencilpauli9442]

@@OneStopCoopShop haha of course, that and and demonic shovelworm. I forgot about them.

[@Rathammergames]

I have it and I love but I 100% agree with your review. And also it takes A LOT of table space!!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Indeed, though not as big as a few others I covered recently (looking at you, Aeon Trespass...)

[@kumanight]

I predict this is going to be one of those games that no one talks about in a year.

[@Urek968]

Isn't that most kickstarter games? Like I just bought a copy of dark rituals the other day after randomly coming across it and basically nobody talks about it. I don't hear anyone talking about solomon kane either and that game is massive with some of the best minatures in a board game. Once the hype for a game is over only some games stick around in conversations online.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I think it depends not only on initial success but also longevity, and yeah, especially with mythic’s recent issues I don’t see a ton of long term support here

[@1AngelAlita]

Nah, it's a keeper. And about in a year will come expansions, I expect.

[@tiredguy2753]

With how much is going on with mythic that would not surprise me

[@Tchousssman54]

Well it depends a lot of if you liked the game or not.

[@wiktorwiktor1827]

I looooove your reviews . Greetings from Poland

[@OneStopCoopShop]

That’s so cool! I’m a quarter polish myself. Still need to get over there and visit one day :)

[@jonathana6298]

I passed on the KS for this game. I just felt like many of the ideas and mechanics should have been abstracted for the board game version.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

My thoughts exactly

[@GI-JOEs]

Great video. 👍

[@dayoltay]

The one and only, best BG reviewer!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Aw thanks!

[@patriziopastore9895]

I really like it... although is punishing :) (like the videogame)

[@OneStopCoopShop]

For sure, they matched the difficulty well!

[@kevinerskine3299]

I remember watching the campaign and some of the videos then and it didn't excite me, no matter how much I loved the video game. Your review sounds like about what I expected. Thanks Mike.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Happy to help!

[@phk975]

For Science!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

We still haven’t played the actual game. My kids just build stuff with the blocks 😅😅😅

[@phk975]

@@OneStopCoopShop 😂

[@victorgonzalez2927]

I’m glad I didn’t back this. It really felt like a cash grab trying to capitalize on the computer games success. The game doesn’t seem to translate well and feels like when they try to make a mobile game into a video game and fail. All the miniatures were meant to drive up the price of the game where they could’ve all been left out.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Sadly the miniatures are by far the best part of the production 😅

[@Mark-nh2hs]

That's the same argument and issues I have with many of these video game to board game adaptations. Yep rushed or second thought game mechanics with little thought of narrative in the campaign - yep guessed it.

[@DuraheLL]

It's a solid game that do what it does very well. There isn't quite quite likely it.

[@riotvale]

Slay the spire, you’re up next!

[@sebastienvivas9319]

Nice overview mike. For now I think I made the right decision just staying with the PC version of Darkest Dungeon.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I enjoy the video game more, personally

[@chrisnenzel582]

I'm so very glad I demanded and received a refund for this game.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Oh nice! I know a lot of others are waiting for them

[@1AngelAlita]

It's a very good game (with a few house rules) and minis are fantastic.

[@Annarach]

A poorly play tested, overly fiddly, game from Kickstarter. Must be the first time that has ever happened...

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Haha, well, I’ve seen MUCH worse. This one has many good parts

[@Annarach]

@@OneStopCoopShop Yeah, I think we all have, but it just never seems to end. FOMO is a hell of a drug....

[@DuraheLL]

Navigation isn't dragging along. Learn to scout and it's way smoother. Dungeons are pretty fast. Boardgames is waaaay less punishing than digital game. This is fair. Good progress and you get pretty op fast. But overall a very solid adaptation of the digital game. The really did it on that one

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Agree to disagree :)

[@ordinarystrawstraw555]

I think somebody bought the game and is now trying to justify it to themselves haha

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I never mind people enjoying something :)

[@DuraheLL]

@@ordinarystrawstraw555 It's legit good and I'm out to spread the word because of the disgruntled horde of kickstarter backers boycotting it for the wrong reasons. You're missing out