The Story of Darkest Dungeon (with the Crimson Court & Color of Madness DLCs)

The story of Darkest Dungeon has to do with the player's mysterious Ancestor and his single minded pursuit of learning of and experimenting with the taboo subjects of the world, work that led to the release of monsters into his Hamlet, and to a confrontation with a Cosmic Entity that caused him to lose his mind. It's told by the man himself, who recounts the details of his descent into Madness in various soundbites throughout the game. With the addition of the Crimson Court and Color of Madness DLCs, which expanded upon the lore of the game, the Ancestor's dealings with the forbidden are quite extensive, so let's go through all of the information that we learn of the Ancestor's actions as well as what we need to do to clean up his mess, so we can see the story of the Darkest Dungeon in full.
Note: the video doesn't cover EVERYTHING in the game (I don't talk about the Shambler or the Collector, for instance), but it should cover everything important to the story. Hope you enjoy!
If you want more videos on the lore of Darkest Dungeon, check out the series that MiskatonicMemorialist made on the game! He's got videos on a ton of topics!
/ miskatonicmemorialist
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:23 - Hamlet, Noble Family, & Crimson Court Start
06:58 - Ancestor's Lifework
24:40 - Heir comes to the Hamlet
28:29 - Crimson Court Proper
39:49 - Color of Madness
52:47 - The Darkest Dungeon
Thanks for watching!
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/ squatchgaming13

[@iteststuff3854]

At the beginning of the video you say the game has a reputation for being unforgivable, but I think you meant to describe the game as unforgiving.

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

Yup! Sure did! Believe it or not, I didn’t know the difference, but people like you have been kind enough to point out my mistake, so I’ve since learned the difference, and it’s always a good day when you learn something new! Thanks for watching! Hope you enjoyed!

[@iteststuff3854]

@@SquatchGamingChannel Yeah, I hope I did not come off as a dick. I'm just autistic so I tend to pedantically point things out. Wasn't dissing you or anything. Didn't realize other comments already mentioned it. Didn't mean to pile on. Have a good day.

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

You didn't come off as a dick at all, so no worries there! You're actually among the nicest people pointing it out. Lol. I appreciate you taking the time to give me an opportunity to learn. It was a very nice gesture. If you don't mind, I pinned your comment so that others have the chance to see that someone else pointed out the mistake before they go and do the same. If you're not comfortable with that, I'll remove the pin and pin up another one. Let me know! Thanks again!

[@iteststuff3854]

@@SquatchGamingChannel s'all good. I don't mind at all. Thanks!

[@danielmegow966]

I find it funny that I didn't even noticed that you said unforgivable. My brain just knew what you ment and that was it lol. Glad some people aren't being total dick heads about it though.

[@reynauldwhistles2338]

You can only experience "crit heal 0 and bleed" on this game and the awesome voice of wayne june.

[@xenxander]

Ah yes I remember that, with the cultist guy who's healing can be way more powerful but can also be zero. xD

[@Dyingwood.]

can’t crit 0 heal anymore :) but you sure as hell can crit 1 heal!

[@austingodburn1741]

@@Dyingwood. can crit 0 in darkest dungeon ii sadly

[@gratuitouslurking8610]

I always love how the tl;dr explanation of Darkest Dungeon's story is pretty simple: Local Man ruins EVERYTHING.

[@jacthing1]

In multiple ways

[@ethernetmumasmr_3231]

Leave nothing unchecked, there is much to be found in forgotten places.

[@ctdaniels7049]

Me at 1 am looking for forgotten tabletop game PDF scans

[@Kinglizard220]

Raiding a friend or family members fridge be like

[@zeroderorero3948]

The ancestor: Imma experiment The experiment: *backfires horribly resulting in a threat to the entire hamlet* The ancestor: oh no... anyway next test subject

[@faustodaniel5716]

Honestly the miller has the saddest story to me constantly working the land that cursed him serving a higher being that only serves to keep itself alive while he can never meet his wife again torn away thanks to the space warping sad farm man

[@RichSmithson]

Same. Dude and his workers were just chillin in the fields when a Comet came and changed everything. Some of the people in the hamlet were legit evil, where the farmers had nothing to do with any of that.

[@Mr.Sparks.173]

Worse still, all of it was due to him asking the ancestor for help. To use his occult magics to boost his crops so that he, his family, and possibly the hamlet to prosper. Imagine having that fate, and know that you had direct involvement in its creation. Even if you didn't quite know what you were getting into at the time.

[@lysander3262]

FYI, learning the story beats DOES NOT spoil the effect of the reveals as you find them in the game. The voice of Wayne June, the stress you feel as you enter a boss dungeon, and the elation you feel after those dungeons sets you up. You will experience shock and dread just as easily the first time as the fifth time, the twentieth time. An eternity. There may even be a few details this otherwise extensive video left out waiting for you. Not to mention the individual character stories found in comics, Trinkets, and barks! Now I want to play again...maybe I' finally try Bloodmoon difficulty...

[@AmericaThePridefullySimple]

Same here. I did I play about a year ago on builds I hadn’t tried yet. Wound up in a hole! Managed to pull it off though. Took twice as long!

[@thebeatleswin1]

As someone who has never beaten the game and is currently playing. Cap. Tbf I don’t really care about the story, After grinding the game for a while most of the story became background noise for me. But having the reveals spoiled will have an effect for most people.

[@fumarc4501]

The darkest dungeon beckons, once more. Into the breach!

[@primarchaether1569]

I pray to the emperor for your glory Battle Brother

[@nyvlem3184]

bro does not know how spoilers work

[@peon9584]

1:04:12 "And then another one was killed" Ah so there's just 2 left. A crusader and highwayman. Oh that's Reynauld nice, he managed to end the story with the two it started with, how poetic. 2 seconds later who the hell is fitzherberet?

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

Lmfaooo!!! That clip right at the beginning, with the Shambler killing a Highwayman, that was the fate of my Dismas... It was my third quest in the game! So funny that you noticed the switch out! Thanks so much for watching, and thanks for the laugh! :)

[@MalekitGJ]

@@SquatchGamingChannel fitting, remembering that you can get his head from the collector

[@vitoremanuel5349]

I finished my hard mode with my two starters, it was Dismas and the 3 squares, Dismas died and one cruza. Thoght it was poetic. In my first win I killed Dismas earlier too :v

[@darklord884]

@@MalekitGJ You can also get Reynauld's, even if they are alive, so that's not that big of a deal.

[@MalekitGJ]

@@darklord884 where is that item?

[@Somberghast]

I like to think that the ending is cyclical. You become the ghost at the end, watching yourself reenter the Hamlet and challenge the Dungeon again, and again, and again. Messing with the continuity of time is a common trope in cosmic horror and it fits the theme of desperation that nothing you do matters because you're now stuck in a time loop that is meant to feed the Heart until it's finished.

[@Irn_Knih]

Wait, it’s a time loop? Not another, different family member? If the the first is true, then the story is doomed to be repeated until someone or something notices what’s happening and does something If the second is true, I’d imagine another story is in order. Simply because eventually there will be an overlap of two family members arriving. Or they’d find the hamlet in the same conditions you left it in and improve further, until they inevitably fail, and another one comes along and the cycle repeats until the heart of darkness finally beats it’s last beat.

[@claytonthegrubkiller6430]

@@Irn_Knih that's the whole point of the second game, everytime you start the ghost and bodies point you away from the manor and the hamlet but it doesn't show what they're pointing at. That something is the mountain, the start of DD2 is the Heir finnaly breaking the cycle and instead of going to the manor he leaves it and lets the corruption spread. That's the only way he can get to the actual source of the darkness and kill it once and for all.

[@benwebb4567]

the protege in DD2 is not the same person as the heir. The Protege actually meets the ancester, learns the power of the iron crown and destroys the world by creating a reflection of his own mind.@@claytonthegrubkiller6430

[@anthonygavin1425]

Every time Squatch Gaming Official drops a lore video you know it’s gonna absolutely slap.

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

Haha. Appreciate the vote of confidence, but I'm not infallible. Always trying to do the best I can! Hope you still feel the same way when you've finished the video! Thanks for watching!

[@pouncelygrin6699]

indeed

[@mikewren8952]

Yeah I just found this channel and I was like holy s*** I love it

[@trap631]

Hearing the words "ruin has come to our family" really send a chill down my spine after learning the true. Every single member of the ancestor bloodline are doom to go mad and become a ghost guiding another family member to their doom or dying after not stopping the hearth of darkness from destroying the world. Truly every child of that lineage is doom to a horrifying fate

[@hariman7727]

Arguably no... arguably it's the SAME heir that keeps coming to the Hamlet, and it's a time loop due to the reality bending powers being used.

[@trap631]

@@hariman7727 that also makes sence and is also a horrifying fate

[@BlossomPathOnStage15]

So basically the heir got screwed over from the start of the game because of his grandpa? And there's no way to escape? Well I hope the next game will let us kill the old man as payback and let us destroy his soul just in case if he comes back.

[@alessandro348]

The heirs aren't blood relatives. The Ancestor is referring to "the family of man" in that line, he sent those letters out like a Nigerian prince hoping for a dupe to try to collect. If multiple show up and start a fight over "their inheritance", all the better.

[@DronesOverTheMoon]

​​@@alessandro348hey most definitely are, if you pay moderate ammount of attention at the intro cutscene, and hownthe heir is described in game. The entire point of the Ancestor calling you here is because he is fooling you into thinking you are there to fix his wrongs and return YOUR family's name to greatness, eich by the end of the game, is confirmed to be a russ of the heart to get someone to do the killing it needs to feed its Aweakening And thats not even adding the Fact that its said the heir looks exactly like the ancestor when he was Younger

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

I know that I originally said I planned on having this out Mid-September, but that was before I decided to include both the Crimson Court and Color of Madness DLCs, and including those made this video a lot longer than I thought it would be! Sorry about the wait, but it's finally here! Hope you enjoy!

[@chrisn7986]

Love your work man

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

Appreciate the love, man! Thanks so much for watching everything you have! :)

[@mofoman1239]

My guy this video is worth the wait you didn’t go easy on this games lore, great video.

[@doulim6797]

@@SquatchGamingChannel can u make a Video about all 20 Mercenaries' Lore?

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

@Dou Lim I don't currently have any plans to do any more lore type videos for Darkest Dungeon, but if enough people request it, who am I to say no? Lol.

[@Eric_Nomad_Hixtone]

Actually Heir didn't died... Darkest Dungeon 2 clearly explained that "you was successful once, do so again", meaning we're playing by the same protagonist! Who's now against the same horror he endured before

[@casulgamer1499]

Wait, is that confirmed?

[@NgaMarsters]

@@casulgamer1499 No but it is a fair assumption

[@BSOE3058]

I feel like DD2 shows what would happend if our protagonist turns back from the estate after witnessing the terror. DD1 shows the same story repeating over and over in vicious circle.

[@TheTiredTortoise]

ackshually

[@daddysnake5250]

@@BSOE3058 in terms of the DD1 time loop, it kinda makes sense since the Heir is unable to destroy the thing in the mill and they opt to leave it alone. its possible that each run of the game is just another loop and the ghost is the end and start point. maybe...the Heir is the ancestor caught in a loop of madness that repeats everytime he kills himself. he just keeps reliving the horrors he allowed and participated in on his quest for power and knowledge, then is forced to face the ultimate evil, which looks like him and shows his "heart of darkness" as a plague set to consume the world. then when he thinks its over and he tries to find peace in death, it begins again with him waking up in the stagecoach looking at the ghost of his last attempt.

[@Finrirthegray16]

I like to think that Reynold canonically sacrificed himself to the heart. Which is why the Crusader is not in DD2.

[@supersentaimexicano1967]

I hope that there Will be a Loss Sanctuary where Dismass mourns the death of his lover

[@kraios1996]

@@supersentaimexicano1967 TF

[@LeMargot]

No homo but yeah, the bestest of homies have deeper connections​@@supersentaimexicano1967

[@TheMegaPingasMobile]

...yet

[@cuvro1353]

Does this mean Dild could be Canon? Lol

[@3f4gs4s]

This game does Eldritch Horror so perfectly well. You don’t “win” in the traditional sense. The slow realization that you only staved off the horror is what makes a good horror. The game is never over, it just keeps going, forever and ever.

[@Lynch2507]

While not knowing how the ancestor became aware of what was below the hamlet adds to the lovecraftian 'we'll never know all the answers' vibe, the crimson curse giving him a glimpse without explaining how is a nice way to expand the backstory without actually answering the core question to leave the mystery. It's neat

[@maybemablemaples2144]

Reading the comments here as a passersby, you have the nicest little community here. I love watching lore videos for games that I'll know I'll never play but still love the concepts and this was a lovely lil video. Though the end bit about your son being proud has almost brought me to tears, I know for a fact that he would be. I'm terribly sorry for your loss and I hope that you and your loved ones find solace. He looked like a good lil bean 🥲.

[@satansjihad6353]

You seem to be such a cool, awesome person and I dont even know who you are lol

[@fabriziocossio3336]

The ending also has a double meaning, it could be interpreted that ,you, the player/the heir, are stuck In a time loop, committing suicide , becoming a ghost and then forcing to see yourself arrive at the hamlet once again That this has happened and will happen for eternity, until the heart of darkness finally awakens , breaking the cycle

[@korstmahler]

I played my first run in Elden Ring as the Ancestor, joining every faction I could for their forbidden lore and taking it to the giant talking turtle that held similar views to me. I was not to be disappointed, as I too slowly unveiled an eldritch truth drenched in alchemical solutions and incomprehensible glyphic tongues.

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

Is that an actual thing in Elden Ring? I haven't actually played it or looked up any of the lore or anything. Lol. Thanks for watching!

[@korstmahler]

​@@SquatchGamingChannel Minor(or major depending) spoilers ahead. Indeed! The world runs on ancient alchemical rules, and the world is being invaded and fought over by multiple cosmic entities. They have eldritch names like "The greater will" "the dark moon" "The formless mother" and "The lamplight/ghostflame". It's something like if Cthulhu's 'supervisors' all started coming back to earth during humanity's medieval period and utterly diverted the path of all religions into themselves before fighting over the planet.

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

Sounds crazy. Spoilers Isn't there like an incest thing going on too?

[@dilo7304]

@@SquatchGamingChannel majorish spoiler: kind of? I think its more selfcest really.

[@techstuff9198]

@@SquatchGamingChannel Worse, "Selfcest".

[@aaron1845]

I've always had the interpretation that the heart took on the form of the ancestor, vs the ancestor becoming some unnameable thing. Some parts of the story make more sense when you consider the ancestor isn't really the ancestor- such as the coccoon at the end

[@trollmaster4523]

Man it's scary to think that realistically people who face demonic monsters would be traumatized. Unless they have some sort of iron will but still.

[@couchpotatoe91]

We all know the chances to survive the sheer horror: It's 25%. Unless you're a flagellant, then you're doomed.

[@Jester4460]

I’d say we today stand a better And worse chance More tech more power for both sides Instead of brigans we got private army’s Instead of a few skeletons hundreds due to increased population Instead of blight we have blight Actually the Weald would stay the same The farmstead would be slighty more chemicals and beefy cows Ect

[@njp4321]

What a fantastically well made video. I expected to watch just a few minutes of it and then come back to finish it off some other time, but found myself watching it all the way through, instead. Also, as a father myself, the dedication at the end absolutely gutted me. I may not know you at all, but I feel for you, man. Putting out this kind of work, though, you should never doubt that you're making him, and everybody else around you, proud.

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

Awesome to hear, man! Happy to hear that you enjoyed it so much you couldn't pull your eyes away! Thanks so much for taking the time to watch! And thank you for the sentiments! I liked to read to Kieran sometimes when he was alive, so, in a way, it's like I'm still reading to him, y'know? Not sure he'd enjoy these stories as much as the people that watch the videos, but a Dad can hope, huh? Lol. Again, thanks for taking the time to watch, and sharing such kind words. Means a lot! :) And give your little one(s) some extra love for me, please!

[@juliogouvea9447]

@@SquatchGamingChannel absolutely mesmerizing video, I do not play video games but you made me watch it until the very end. May the light shine on you even in the darkest dungeon, brother.

[@donotliketube]

1:07:59 geez, that part hit me harder that any darkest dungeon horror(( just keep going, dude.. and take my deepest condolences🙏

[@tesculeanuandrei6744]

I couldn't believe he said it so calmly..

[@Crumplednoseskin]

Yeah, what the hell, man? The real heart of darkness over here. 😢

[@HexagonThatReallyLikesVinegar]

I love how this game somehow has a more hopeful plot than 90% of these eldritch dark games.

[@DronesOverTheMoon]

You mean that being impossíble to stop the inevitable Destruction of the world be Heart of Darkness has time manipulation bs is hopeful?

[@ctdaniels7049]

The real despair is the abominable grind the game insists upon.

[@alfalldoot6715]

The real horror is the rng

[@purplehaze2358]

"Monsters that came from a crawling chaos that lived in its deepest, darkest depths" This description actually got me a little excited to see my favorite outer god, Nyarlothotep, make an appearance.

[@wilsonv7117]

Thanks for giving lore to read :)

[@matthev24-79]

Dude i feel sooo bad for the Miller, truly the most tragic character of all DD

[@xXDonTdODRugZXx]

Thrice a victim

[@rolanvern2281]

Okay I know a lot of this is built on cosmic horror but I love the fact that the DLC used the H.P.Lovecraft story of the color from space, it's so underrated in my opinion

[@giacomoromano8842]

YES! This damn bastard of a game is one of my all times favourites! Really hope Darkest Dungeon 2 will keep up the legacy of it (i know it is kind of out but i am waiting all the "episodes" to make a judgement).

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

"Damn bastard of a game" is a good way to describe this game. So stressful... Lol. I'm also waiting for all of Darkest Dungeon 2 to be released before playing! Think I would enjoy it more when it's fully released. I haven't heard anything bad about the game yet, but I haven't dug too deep either though. Guess we'll see how we feel when we finally play it! Thanks for watching!

[@kidwhat6664]

@@SquatchGamingChannel so far, a lot of stuff they're putting in the game is testing for possible mechanics of the full release. Everything that has stayed is fantastic, I hope the trend stays!

[@ryanhernandez8324]

The LISA summary was so fine... I'm so glad I subscribed, because this game is great, just ike the summary that comes from it!

[@ghostshrimp5006]

Finally, i can’t tell you how hard it was to find a comprehensive lore guide to this game and with the DLC for that matter. Much appreciated 👍

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

Happy I could get you something you were looking for! Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for watching! I'm sure you're already aware, but if not, MiskatonicMemorialist has a ton of videos on the lore of the game, and might scratch that itch for Darkest Dungeon lore that you've been having! I've only watched a few of his videos, but they seemed pretty good!

[@zzurge1173]

I'm gonna be honest, probably would have been smarter to use those riches to make an order dedicated to stopping the veritable heart of darkness instead of commiting suicide but i guess its hard to compete with madness

[@daniilbelov8652]

Well, seems like Noble family once did it cause no matter how Ancestor or a thing that took it's form likes to talk about desperate future - the Gates were sealed before and a Thing were not able to do anything. I don't believe in a "heart of the world" and all that - more like creature like Sleeper who tries to turn world into it's residence.

[@ThatRandomGermanGuy]

They were afraid FromSoft would sue them since that’s basically the setup of The Abyss Watchers from 3 lol

[@ChristopherSadlowski]

I tried Darkest Dungeon and found it WAY too stressful to be enjoyable. Every delve into the deep darkness was this nail biting experience wondering if my little guys were going to make it out or not. This video is quite helpful, as I can get the story of a world that looked so cool to me without the dread of being responsible for the lives of others. Yes I know it's a video game and my little guys aren't real, but I can't help getting attached to characters and making sure there okay. It's why I try to make my Sims lives perfect...I feel responsible for them and I like them and want to see them happy. Like, you see a little guy and your first instinct is, "I'll protect you," you know?

[@gravynavy516]

This is why this game is great

[@ROCKBLUE5]

Ah yes, this game was an absolute blast, 10/10. For some people this game might seem too dark and too unforgiving, but I personally find it inspiring, like when a character becomes virtuous in the face of overwhelming despair. If the heart of darkness ever acts up again, I believe that humanity's champions will always get back down there and kick its ass. Even if the heart grows stronger, humanity will constantly make progress.

[@brianlewolfhunt]

i love this story, especially as you get to piece it together over the course of a LONG time of playing and fixing your ancestor's "mistakes". This makes me want to play it again and hopefully actually finish it (furthest I got was the second floor of the darkest dungeon) before the sequel comes out.

[@ziebelzubel]

That shoutout to your son at the end touched me and broke my heart at the same time, I can't imagine what you and your wife had to go trough. Your son would definitely be proud of you! I just want to say thank you - I'm a long time viewer and I've probably watched all your story summaries, and I'm always excited when I find a new upload of yours in my subscriptions. I love your style of presentation, your scripts, the way you read it, the edited gameplay in the background. You'll probably never become a youtube millionaire with this kind of content, because it is too niche and maybe not "elaborate" enough in terms of editing and whatnot, but with every upload, I, and probably everyone else here, can see that you're doing what you love, no matter how many (or how few) people are going to see it, and it really shows (although you probably had to go through a lot of pain with Darkest Dungeon, because, well... it IS Darkest Dungeon. I never made it past the first couple of bosses so I'm glad I finally got a fantastic story summary of it lol!) Thank you for your constant work and the amazing content you've shared over the years. Wishing you only the best for the future and hoping for more (especially Darkest Dungeon II once it's fully released, hehe) :) I have one question concerning the Color of Madness DLC though - so there is no way to beat the Sleeper? This felt a little anti-climactic, although, in a way it's very refreshing and fitting to the overall vibe of the game that you're facing a galactic enemy who you are unable to defeat and have to settle with trapping it in a certain area that it is unable to leave.

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

Thanks, Philipp. I really hope that's the case! :) Man, I just took a look back, and you have been around for YEARS! Since Hotline Miami! I'm sorry for not noticing before! Thanks so much for allllll the support over the years, man! And the thanks is all yours. If it wasn't for people like you that kept coming back and watching, then I wouldn't still be doing this. To say I'm grateful for the support doesn't come close, but all I can do is say thanks. Lol. I mean, you do beat it in battle, and get rewards and whatnot, but it never fully goes away like the other bosses. The whole schtick of the Farmstead area is that it's an Endless mode, so the Sleeper always "comes back," but yeah, I love how they tied its eternal return into the lore. Pretty neat!

[@ziebelzubel]

@@SquatchGamingChannel Wow, I didnt know you could check how long I've been subscribed lol! Don't worry for not noticing, I don't really comment all that often. I wouldn't keep coming back if your content wasn't as good as it is - it's a symbiotic relationship that just works, haha. Btw are you going to make a video on Cult of the Lamb maybe? It would be a rather short one since it's not extremely lore-heavy (I mean, there is a storyline, but it's a little more straightforward than in some of the other games you covered so far) but I bet it would be nice to have it presented in your way! :)

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

Nah, it wasn't anything like that. I just put a filter in my comments to see what the oldest comment you left was, and you left one on the HLM Chronology video when it was first uploaded. That's how I could tell. Lol. I don't think I can "look to see how long people have been subscribed for," and if I can, Idk how. Lol. I don't currently have plans for it because my schedule's already pretty full. The next games I'm planning to cover are The Final Station and Hyper Light Drifter, but I might make another Darkest Dungeon video before them. By the time I finish all those videos, we should be in 2023, and that's going to be a jampacked year (Darkest Dungeon II, Blasphemous II, a Hyper Light Drifter sequel, something for Dead Cells as the Devs have said it will be the biggest year for Dead Cells since launch, and maybe the Katana Zero DLC finally), plus other games that come out that I'll want to cover (Replaced, Somerville, The Last Faith). Lots of games and not enough me. Lol. But never say never! Something could happen that could make me change my mind and put in on the list! Thanks for the recommendation/request though! I'll keep the game in my mind and see what happens!

[@CobaltContrast]

As a parent I can only say I'm sorry about your son. Gave me some heartthrob at work.

[@ToiletWolf12]

I think with the end the addition of the candle is incredibly important. It means nothing without the context of the second game, but with what is happening when the heir dies, the candle, and using knowledge of the second game, hope, will live on and find another person or even group to invigorate. And with 2 the hope only grows and spreads as the darkness is fought back. It’s some great writing

[@DustD.Reaper]

I have a been waiting for something like this for a long time since I could never find the time to sit through the game myself and your style of narration only made even more of a joy to watch, though I did notice the absence of the roaming mini bosses, the Shambler and the Collector alongside the other Hamlet boss besides Vvulf, the Shrieker. What I would also be interested in would be your take on the Butchers Circus. And a small thing regarding the Farmstead, not only does the time and space altering of the coment allow the Miller and Sleeper to rise again after defeat, but once the Miller has been brought down for the first time, also those who died on their way to the mill can find their way back after a while with them having been lost in time and space form the moment they fell in battle

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

Happy to hear that, although it wasn't perfect, it scratched an itch for you! :) Yeah, I decided early on that I wasn't going to talk about the Shambler, Collector, or Shrieker since they didn't necessarily tie directly into the narrative of the game (like all the other bosses of the game). Looking back though, I could have carved out some time around the 22:00 minute mark (before talking about the Cultists) to talk about them. And I honestly forgot about the "Lost in Space and Time" thing that happens to mercenaries that are killed in the Endless Harvest. Would have been fitting to put right at the End of the Curse of Madness stuff. Just goes to show that I can always do things better! Thanks for pointing those out! And thanks for watching! :)

[@michaeliniga7958]

this is the best format for darkest dungeon lore. when content creators split the crimson court from the main lore, it muddys it up and creates confusion. great job!😀

[@MageWarren]

How the fuck do you seal a courtyard from mosquitoes. Asking for a friend

[@magosleibowitz9626]

Eldritch space magic

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

It's hard to see, but there's a gigantic mesh screen over the entire thing. The Ancestor also sprayed bug spray to repel the mosquitoes. They're easy things to miss! ;) Thanks for watching!

[@madmonty4761]

This may sound dumb but the song that plays in no mercy almost brings a tear to me eye because you know how his story ends

[@vex_instincts5183]

I like to think that the next heir succeeded like the Heir, but instead of taking his/her life, they fought on, determined to keep the Thing down for as long as they live.

[@hariman7727]

My theory is that The Heir's Ghost is looking upon his own carriage riding to the hamlet, as the reality and time warping nature of the Darkest Dungeon traps everything in a time loop until the thing is released... but because of the nature of the loop/the world/etc, it will NEVER be released.

[@tlsgrz6194]

My money is on DD2 being about how the heros and the world at large deal with the realization that the world is going to end, and how they restore order (in the world and their minds) after the knowledge about the Thing in the Earth plunged everything into chaos.

[@methanesulfonic]

I love how you integrate the gameplay mechanics (retreating, debuff, etc) into the lore.

[@destinb5043]

My deepest condolences to you, thank you for the amazing video and the research you put in. Your community and those around you appreciate you and your work.

[@unclegrapes1928]

hey man, i don't know who that at the end of the video is, but i assume it was someone really important to you, and i can assure you, you ARE making them EXTREMELY PROUD! keep doing what you're doing, you're amazing man

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

Thanks a lot, man! That is my son, Kieran. He was born really sick and spent his whole life in the NICU. He unfortunately passed away in August of last year at 7 months old. I liked to read to him sometimes, so, even though I was doing this before he was born, it's a little bit like I'm still reading to him. Not sure that he would enjoy the stories as much as you all, but hopefully he would. :) Thanks for watching, man! Appreciate the love and support!

[@disasterjones5798]

Given how great this lore video was, I cannot wait to see what you do for DD2 once the story is finished.

[@purplehaze2358]

There's not much I love more than watching hour+ videos about the lore of games I have never and likely will never play.

[@Gabronthe]

I like how some relationships with the ancestor where healthy and ended just fine.

[@rodrigodeus8730]

I'm shocked by how much this video and narration is good. Please keep up the excellent work!

[@sk8fire101]

This is probably one of the best made videos I've ever watched, thank you for this!

[@MiskatonicMemorialist]

Thanks for the shoutout in the description. I love your Hotline Miami videos and that's what got me interested in making my channel. Amazing video, the story, history and lore of the game is difficult to keep track of but you did an excellent job at it.

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

You're welcome, man! You've done a ton of work of your own that deserves praise and recognition! Be proud of your content! You've made some good stuff! :) No way! That's freaking crazy! Haha. Believe it or not, there's only been one other person that I've talked to that's told me I've been one of their inspirations to start making videos. Plenty of people have reached out and talked about it, but none of them actually followed through, so this is a crazy moment for me! Thanks for sharing that, man! Are you planning on doing any kind of videos for Darkest Dungeon 2?

[@MiskatonicMemorialist]

@@SquatchGamingChannel I have plans but I'm waiting till the 1.0 launch before I really dig into it. It's crazy how much changed between the Early Access and the full release in Darkest Dungeon 1. Character's names changed, comics were released, dialogue was added, so I'm holding out until more arrives. I prefer to have the full picture when I make the videos.

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

I feel exactly the same way! Get a firm foundation where you know they're not going to change a bunch of stuff before diving too deep into it. Just feels better that way! Maybe when the time comes, we can do something together! Our styles aren't exactly the same, but I'm sure we could work something out!

[@MiskatonicMemorialist]

@@SquatchGamingChannel Yeah, it feels weird to tell the story as it's being released. Things we think are important end up less significant, and things we looked over turned out to be the cornerstone of the story. Absolutely. Collaboration is key, we can figure something out we can cover with our channels.

[@victorree7640]

Great video! Even though I replayed the Ending multiple times, it's good to find a video summing up everything in the first game. My only tiny complaint is that you didn't talk about the "Everything burns" chapter, where Vvulf and his army of brigands raid the Hamlet. But it could easily be placed somewhere with what the heir accomplished, as they try to revoke the bandits from his land.

[@isaiahjaquez]

This was great, I hadn't played the game in a while and didn't wanna jump into the second one without being reminded what happened but wow love how you did this, will check out your other stuff and subscribe

[@brankosimic4409]

Hey man, great video, I'm a really big fan of the game and the thematic, but the end of the video really hit me like a truck.. I'm a father of two little kids and seeing you with your situation I must say that you are hell of a strong men. Hope you are doing good this days, stay strong!

[@ObsessiveBadguy]

What an unexpected and simultaneously pleasant surprise, Ive always loved this game and was contemplating another playthrough at it so this lore is much appreciated. Great work as always, your lore videos are always very clear and well organized, heres to many more to come!

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

Glad to hear you enjoyed! Lol. Thanks so much for watching and for the continued support! :) I feel I have a love/hate relationship with the game. It is super fun to play, and it gives such a satisfying feeling when things come together or you clutch out a tough fight, but it also has some BS in it that makes it frustrating for me. Lol.

[@ObsessiveBadguy]

@@SquatchGamingChannel I feel the same way lol, its genuinely the type of game where you can feel like you're on top of everything and turning your hamlet into a bustling anti-eldrich horror metropolis and then one bad dungeon run later and your best DPS and other gold sunk parties just bit it against a shambler

[@real_heh]

Great compilation of all the unfortunate events in the Hamlet. Thank you very much for your hard work!

[@kalega311]

I think your son would be very proud of you and this video! Major props for making this, I appreciate it.

[@min2724]

What insanely well designed world and unbelievably great organization and telling of the whole story by you. Amazing content. Thank you!

[@dec222]

First game I put over a thousand hours into. Perfect combo for me of gameplay, systems, writing, and lore. Loved that you could succeed with most any playstyle you wanted, from crazed dark runs all the way to super slow and conservative playing.

[@dagon99]

Dude, bless you for your lore coverage and I offer my condolences to your loss. Much love, and keep up the great work!

[@bronsonvlahov850]

Very much enjoy the use of gameplay to express story elements, especially during the courtyard segment.

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

Oh, really? That’s actually the most common critique I get on this video. I’ve had plenty of comments saying it slowed down the pace way too much. I’ve since moved away from storytelling in that way a result. It’s nice to hear the opposite! Thanks for sharing that! And thanks for watching! Really appreciate you taking the time and hope you enjoyed overall!

[@alesjanosik1545]

Holy Bjoly! This is amazing, the memories are flooding in and at the same time I had no clue about so many back stories.

[@vustswe]

Amazing storytelling! Totally captivating and looking forward too see more

[@elj3ster]

Wow, when I saw that the video was about an hour I said no way I will see it all in one sit. Not only I was wrong but you explained everything in a way that I could follow along, tiding all subjects and blends flawlessly to fit the narrative. Well made video on a game that I could never fully understand in terms of lore but this wraps up most of my doubts. Congratulations

[@Ancusohm]

This is so cool. Thanks for putting this together.

[@grantd165]

My introduction to your channel. Very nice. Leave nothing unchecked, there is much to be found in forgotten places.

[@jimneville5774]

I know I’ve played through DD already and have heard the pieces of story however getting it all in one source with this incredible narration is so much better. I’m definitely gonna be picking my old game back up, maybe start fresh even

[@Cadychan]

Brilliant recap! Thank you for your hard work!

[@skirmsher1486]

thank u for making this, random youtuber that i haven't seen, one of my most beloved rogueikes

[@gravynavy516]

Seeing you cover this was great

[@devong5669]

Great work, and thank you for not littering the video with ads!🎉🎉🎉 P.S. Awesome writing and delivery.

[@noplesnono9656]

This video released during week 87 of my DD playthru! Although i really want to watch the whole video, i do want to experience things myself Wish me luck and i'll remember to come back to this vid soon!

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

Week 87? You're pretty far along then, huh? Good luck on your journey, and remember: overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer!

[@moseth7606]

Great work dude. I love how you segway'd into game playing from lore :D

[@CatVisionTM]

Definitely feeling a replay after watching this, great story synopsis. I’m not gonna lie the very end hit me in the feels.

[@mechadragon931]

So sorry for your loss. Video was amazing.

[@JuanchoVNZ]

OMG 1 hour long video about my favorite video game?! THANK YOU

[@sandinogomez5020]

Thank you for the amazing video and like many here I was hit hard with the feels at the end with your dedication to your son. I am sure he's very proud of you. I'm a father myself and I can't imagine the struggle y'all went through so I just want to send hugs and support. I wish you and all your family, past and present, a very good night. Keep up the good work. This was indeed a CRAZY game and I appreciate the lore behind it.

[@ahmedsachwani2868]

Man it was hard to find this lore. Subbed man looking forward to the lore for when the sequel comes out

[@Bartimeaus]

Very well explained! Commenting for the algorithm to recommend your channel!

[@DukePegasus]

happy to see another vid from you ma man, keep up the good work

[@Wickednessdude]

wow!! man.. what a ride !! the way you tell the story is just beyond amazing, i was hooked from the first minute. thank you soo much for doing this

[@Wickednessdude]

and you have also a Spotify channel ..my life is complete !!

[@emred4653]

This game is great both pure vanilla and modded. Would recommend everyone to try it.

[@tacobanana_forever]

Great narrative, really enjoyed it! Congrats!

[@natanoj16]

Really interesting combination of Lore and Mechanics in your storytelling style :)

[@compatriot852]

I really enjoyed the storytelling I this game. Slowly uncovering the past events and slow degeneration of not only the ancestor, but the entire realm

[@PrincipledNaturalLaw]

A brilliant & engaging 'story' describing & explaining in-depth the lore of DD1 + DLC's...very watchable, start to finish first time for me, & highly recommended. Top Drawer 👍👍👍

[@WeeWooJoker]

Heyyy squatch been a while since I've watch your channel. Glad to see your content is still top notch as remembered!!!

[@cantonnierbethcepourlavhy6343]

Really great vid !!! Eager to see about the second one !

[@GambeTama]

Man I used to binge this channel all the time and then just... stopped for some reason. Glad to be back and with a revelation to return to!!!

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

Probably because it takes me weeks, if not months, to upload. Lol. Appreciate you coming back though! Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for watching!

[@wickedcrayon6022]

Wow, this was really good. Well put together and easy to follow. Definitely going to check out your channel.

[@LyoN003x]

Fantastic video. I remember when actually playing the game I didn't understand half of it. Sorry for your loss!

[@Omnicide101]

Reynauld: "Mom can we have Dismas" Heir: "We have Dismas at home" Dismas at home:

[@user-ol1ep1yf8g]

Excellent work. I appreciate your content Mister.

[@Rime_Di_Michelangelo]

Beautifully narrated, thank you !

[@renatoafonsomaiacarneiro950]

Yooo, I love this series of games! Cant wait to see what you will make of the lore!

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

Hope it didn't disappoint and you enjoyed! Thanks for watching!

[@renatoafonsomaiacarneiro950]

@@SquatchGamingChannel It didn't, it was great!!

[@SanMaster17]

I had the pleasure of suffering through this game before. By looking at the lore you really can see how The Ancestor is quite the POS. Great video!

[@arthurkurbedzis]

Got extremely a lot hopes on the second part, got a feeling that they will add some nice story moments to it.

[@joebykaeby]

The fact that this story works so well, explains all of the areas so cleanly and incorporates all of the enemies and bosses directly into the plot is extremely impressive, especially given that some of the most important stuff was only introduced in DLC

[@moonskined]

Everytime I watch your videos I always think, "this channel need more views" Criminally underrated.

[@SquatchGamingChannel]

It would probably help if I covered some bigger games. Lol. But in all seriousness, I'm so grateful for the little bit of attention and views that I do have. Not everybody is as lucky or fortunate to have people watch their content, so I'm super appreciative of anyone that takes the time to watch. And on that note: thanks for watching and the support! Really appreciate it! :)

[@TheAlbumsThatMadeMe]

Thoroughly enjoyed this, have a sub!

[@mfelshaw121988]

Thanks this was awesome to learn about all this! Thanks for the insight on it! Made me download it again and start playing