Darkest Dungeon II is a roguelike road trip of the damned. Form a party, equip your stagecoach, and set off across the decaying landscape on a last gasp quest to avert the apocalypse. The greatest dangers you face, however, may come from within…
RPG Gamers summaryVideo game developer Red Hook Studios is taking us on a nightmarish road trip with Darkest Dungeon II. This roguelike second installment in the series remains faithful to its grim thematic underpinnings, urging players to form a party, gear up their stagecoach, and journey across a dystopic landscape to prevent the apocalypse.
Darkest Dungeon II champions the layered and in-depth combat system that was seen in the first game, but this time around there’s been an overhaul of the stats and rules for wider strategic potential. A new Token System has also been introduced, designed to make player decisions more consequential and add further complexity to combat scenarios.
The game is set to bring back the signature mix of memorable heroes, each with their own tragic backstories to unearth. Heroes can unlock their full potential through a range of new skills, progress paths, and items that can provide an edge in battle.
Each expedition in the game varies in length—from 30 minutes to several hours. Even a journey cut short yields its rewards, providing resources players can use to enhance upcoming expeditions. The game’s massive upgrade system, aptly named ‘The Altar of Hope’, offers new strategies for every venture, enabling players to cater their attack plans in line with their goals.
The dynamics between the party members are managed through the Affinity System. Relationships evolve throughout the journey, either fostering helpful battle synergies or inflaming tensions that could lead to a party’s dissolution.
The game pushes survival instincts with a sequence of nightmarish environments, each posing unique threats and challenges. Additionally, the game provides a hub, the Inn, where players can rest, relieve their heroes’ stress, and improve intra-party relationships.
Players are challenged to confront five imposing representations of their weaknesses in their quest toward the Mountain. With its exceptional 3D graphic improvements and enhanced animations, Darkest Dungeon II maintains its genre-defining art style that set the first game apart.
The sequel also boasts an impressive audio-visual experience, with a captivating new narration by talented voice actor Wayne June, a fresh and expansive score from Stuart Chatwood, and impactful sound effects from Power Up Audio.
Available on Steam, get ready to embark on this cruel odyssey and test your survival skills in Darkest Dungeon II.
