Darkest Dungeon II Reviews

Darkest Dungeon II is ranked in the 83rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
7.8 / 10.0
May 8, 2023

In conclusion, Darkest Dungeon II has taken a different path than its predecessor but its hardcore soul is intact and clearly visible.

Review in Italian | Read full review

Unscored
May 8, 2023

While Darkest Dungeon II’s emphasis on the interpersonal is apt for a game that’s more road trip than dungeon crawl, it also makes it a decidedly more hopeful experience than the first game, as it leaves the door open for your adventuring party to face seemingly insurmountable odds and come out the other side stronger. There’s also more comedy and just plain joy in knowing that as intimidating as all those monsters may seem, your biggest challenge is getting your ragtag band of rascals to stop bickering and get along.

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Gameblog
AlexLeCoq
Top Critic
8 / 10
May 10, 2023

Darkest Dungeon 2 is a great sequel to an already great games. Red Hook Studios took risks by changing the way the game plays itself but it becomes one of the main strengh of this new game which as adapted to the time. If you like hard RPG, tough but passionate experience, Darkest Dungeon 2 is probably made for you !

Review in French | Read full review

4.5 / 5.0
May 8, 2023

Darkest Dungeon II isn’t an easy experience to dive into, but it is a worthwhile one. Those willing to muscle through its punishing design and RNG elements will find one of the best roguelike titles around, and can expect to be drawn back into its world for months or years to come.

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9 / 10.0
Aug 20, 2024

Darkest Dungeon II provides an extremely challenging, roguelike adventure for fans turn-based combat games. The difficulty will turn away some players, but those who stick with it will be rewarded by fun gameplay and a compelling story set in an astoundingly designed world.

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70 / 100
Aug 2, 2024

Taking up the torch of hope against the forces of evil was never going to be an easy task, and Darkest Dungeon II makes sure you feel it. While the roster of heroes creates plenty of opportunities for build crafting, actually interacting with all of the systems in the game can feel like a slog at times. Even so, there's enjoyment to be found in this roguelite spin on the brutally difficult combat and festering world that Darkest Dungeon is known for.

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91%
Jul 15, 2023

Darkest Dungeon 2 brilliant, stunning, and an absolute blast to play, an exceptional evolution from the first game.

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9 / 10
May 11, 2023

Darkest Dungeon 2 doubles down on what made the original so special, presenting a roguelike adventure where swings in mood carry just as much weight as swings of the sword.

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Unscored
May 12, 2023
Darkest Dungeon 2 | Review in 3 Minutes - YouTube video thumbnail
8.5 / 10.0
Jul 15, 2024

Much like its predecessor Darkest Dungeon II takes everything that was good about its previous release and perfectly tailors it to the Nintendo Switch.

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8.5 / 10.0
May 22, 2023

Darkest Dungeon II keeps everything good from the original and elevates it to create something different but equally brutal.

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8.5 / 10.0
May 10, 2023

Darkest Dungeon 2 suffers from the lack of an engaging story and some monotony, but the developers have delivered on their promises. This game is better than its predecessor in almost every way.

Review in Polish | Read full review

8 / 10.0
May 8, 2023

Darkest Dungeon 2 is a wholly different beast from the original, wrapping branching paths and compelling combat into a rogue-lite package. There are some hiccups and it may not appeal to all fans of the original, but it's still a fun journey to suffer.

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9 / 10.0
May 8, 2023

Darkest Dungeon II is a gruelling experience where you constantly fail and luck isn't on your side. But as you learn from your mistakes and unlock more resources, the challenges can be conquered, and it feels mighty good to do so. Veterans of the previous game will be surprised by the reworked mechanics, and it will take some time to adapt. Though that doesn't take away from the huge amount of enjoyment the game is able to instil and the exhilaration you get when exploring Darkest Dungeon II with an open mind. For a roguelite experience that pushes your creativity and tolerance to the limit, you'll struggle to find much better than Darkest Dungeon II.

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4 / 10.0
Jun 11, 2023

Darkest Dungeon II reminds me of Salt and Sacrifice; both sequels to cult classic titles that tried to innovate by mashing up with entirely different genres, both significantly worse off as a result.

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7.8 / 10.0
May 8, 2023

Darkest Dungeon II is a new fight against the eldritch horror, but this time the roguelite formula doesn't fit perfectly with the title. Despite some stiff parts, the intense and cruel battles are still at the core of the experience.

Review in Italian | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Jul 15, 2024

I did not closely follow the pre-release period of Darkest Dungeon II, but my expectations were just that it would be an enjoyable but derivative sequel. I’m thoroughly impressed that the reality of Darkest Dungeon II is much more ambitious than that. This is a game that does not supplant the original, but instead stands next to it, offering up an experience that is familiar but very different. I wish more sequels of this type took the relatively big swings that Darkest Dungeon II has made. The meticulous pre-planning prevalent in the first Darkest Dungeon is incredible, but so is greater focus on in-the-moment reactions in the sequel. Darkest Dungeon II is an impressive, well-crafted game that will absolutely pound you into the ground with death and detritus, but also will reward your strategy and perseverance.

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BaziCenter
Arsalan Khodi
Top Critic
7 / 10
Jul 31, 2024

Darkest Dungeon II offers a unique and complex experience, with many hours of gameplay and exploration. However, it demands extreme patience, as its steep learning curve may prove challenging for many casual gamers.

Review in Persian | Read full review

85 / 100
Jul 16, 2024

Darkest Dungeon II is quite distinct from the first one and it is essential that players are aware of this. It's a game that brings good new ideas, despite having a very frustrating "artificial limitation". The affinity system, the brutal and complex combat system, in addition to the better development of the narrative are positive aspects that justify the investment in this universe. However, it's a shame that you have to spend a lot of time unlocking new features for the game to demonstrate its full potential.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Jun 20, 2023

A great game in its own right, with a healthy plethora of content and variety to keep you going for many hours, but if you came looking for a true Darkest Dungeon sequel you may be disappointed.

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