Everything we know about: Darkest Dungeon 2

From the minds of Red Hook Studios comes the sequel to the delightfully dreary phenomenon that began in 2015. A twisted and dark demonstration of doomed actions and eldritch horror. And now the darkness falls upon us once again, as we venture into the catacombs of the crazed and the corrupted. Will history repeat itself? Are we all doomed from the start? Pick up your torch and say goodbye to those who would listen, as we Venture into the Darkest Dungeon 2.

The game has been changed since we last visited these unhallowed grounds. So much is still a mystery. But you wont be totally blind, as this is everything we know about Darkest Dungeon 2.

What has changed in the Darkest Dungeon 2?

Before, we played the part of the Heir. Summoned to the hamlet by their ancestor, they would hire mercenaries to uncover the secrets hidden in the darkest dungeon. This time we are the Protégé, sent on a mission from the Academic. We must traverse the Mountain and the fallen kingdom within it, and defeat the evil in its ruined walls. The game-play will involve a 5 act structure, named ‘Confessions’. These act work as story beats and depending on how you go about solving them, will affect the rest of the game-play.

The first Darkest Dungeon was a mixture of base building and dungeon crawling. The game-play loop had you delving into the dungeon, uncovering the horrors that lurked within, and making it out alive if possible. Those who died in the dungeon were lost forever, those who survived were stricken with all manner of psychological maladies. You would upgrade the Hamlet you called home, unlocking new ways to delve into the dark. Darkest Dungeon 2 will take a different approach.

A road to ruin…

Rather than a series of rooms in a catacomb, you instead will pilot a stagecoach through the roads and paths towards your destination. In a branching format you’ll be able to pick a patch, and in some cases you’ll be able to deduce what event will happen at each stop along the way. However, you will only be able to get so far, depending on how much light you have. The farther you travel, the less light will guide you, and at a point the darkness will begin to cling. If you go too far difficulty will begin to rise, along with other negative effects for your party.

Combat has remained the same to a sense. You have your characters with unique abilities and drawbacks, who’s sanity and other needs must be met. Turn based combat makes a return, with positioning within the party affecting certain attacks and abilities. One thing of note that has changed is that combat can no longer be escaped. Once you begin, you’re locked in, and may god have mercy on your souls.

Abandon all hope…

This game will stress you out. It is not going to be a fun and happy time. And that’s the charm of Darkest Dungeon 2. You go in knowing about the grim dark, and willfully throw yourself into the gothic abyss where only the strong will survive.

Darkest Dungeon 2 will make its full launch on May 8 2023 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC through Steam.