Darkest Dungeon II Reviews
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.
Yet all in all, Darkest Dungeon 2 is a worthy sequel to the 2015 original. It’s a fearless alteration of a well-known formula, while also building a game that you really don’t need any context for. Despite issues with some of the best aspects of the game being thinned by its new formula, Darkest Dungeon 2 remains one of the most exciting strategy games in a while.
Darkest Dungeon 2 wanted to move away from the formula of the first part as much as possible and send us on a new adventure, but something went wrong. The project simply lost the gloomy atmosphere of its predecessor and never figured out how to replace its mechanics.
Review in Russian | Read full review
That’s actually a frequent issue with Darkest Dungeon II. I admire that the team at Red Hook Studios took a real swing here, trying new paths forward for the series instead of just tinkering around the edges and making an iterative sequel. The issue is that most of the game’s strengths are still the parts that came from the first game, with most of what’s new feeling fine but also like downgrades to what they’ve replaced. It leaves Darkest Dungeon II in a strange place where, on its own merits, it’s an interesting and well-made game that doesn’t quite live up to the example set by its predecessor.
Darkest Dungeon 2 is a game that offers a good amount of content and replay value. However, its rogue-lite focus and slowness between battles make the experience less satisfying than the first game. Despite its graphical improvements and gameplay changes, it lacks some of the charm that made the original so special.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Darkest Dungeon II is to be applauded for not resting on its laurels, instead opting to make significant changes from its predecessor. The style, challenge, and strategic brilliance remain and that is enough to make it stand out still. However, the focus on roguelike randomness and excessive grind does make this a very different experience and one that didn't gel for me. If you have the patience to explore the rich detail of the mechanics and the stoicism to deal with the inevitable deaths and disappointments then this is a journey worth taking. Just don't expect it to be a comfortable ride.
Darkest Dungeon 2 is a challenging yet fun roguelite experience, even if it does sacrifice some of what made the original great.
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
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
Darkest Dungeon 2 is a title that has successfully managed not to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor. The change to rogue-lite won't please all fans, though, as it takes away from the game's complexity. On the other hand, it will definitely please players who are more interested in experimentation.
Review in Czech | Read full review
Ultimately, Darkest Dungeon 2 will leave you battered and bruised yet desperate for another dance with despair. It encapsulates the spirit of its predecessor while forging its path. It may not be a game for everyone, but it offers a twisted pleasure that’s hard to resist for those who embrace the darkness. Despite its flaws and initial stumbling blocks, the game delivers a haunting and immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression. In the grim ballet of Darkest Dungeon 2, despair and joy are two sides of the same coin, and that alone makes it worth a spin.
So if you don’t mind the fact that it’s not Darkest Dungeon But More and it’s Darkest Dungeon But Different…it’s worth caveating that the first 10 hours are so are basically just punching you in the face over and over again and normally I don’t put up with that at all before going “okay yeah but then it gets good” but I am an unemployed goth degenerate, so what else am I gonna do?
In the realm of punishing roguelike experiences, Darkest Dungeon 2 stands as one of the greats. With its immersive art style and complex gameplay mechanics, paired with relentless difficulty, players will be left more battered and bruised, but also wiser and more satisfied as they keep on playing.
Darkest Dungeon 2 had me feeling mixed at first. Ultimately, this sequel feels more fleshed out, and I grew to appreciate the direction it took, giving our heroes more life by giving them backstories and how they interacted with each other in the world.
The official sequel to Darkest Dungeon seemd chose to abandon the management system and offer more rogue-lite fun instead based on the theme of carriage travel. While the concept proved itself with much deeper combat mechanic, but it barely feels like a fresh gameplay.
Review in Korean | Read full review
Darkest Dungeon II creates a new framework for the stress inducing cosmic horror series, and is just as challenging as its predecessor.
Darkest Dungeon 2 takes everything about the first game and amplifies it. It's darker, and more brooding, but oozes more personality. It's not easy, but the long exhale after a successful expedition is difficult to match.
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.
Darkest Dungeon II is not the game I wanted. It's its own thing that is a darn fun game with a lot of interesting mechanics and beautiful artwork. One can't pre-judge DDII based on a player's opinion of the original. It shares a tone, a combat system, and a general aesthetic, but the flow and style of gameplay is so different that it is entirely its own thing. It will take hardened Darkest Dungeon players a bit to adjust to the change. If you're willing to go with the flow, it's an engaging and exciting title, if not quite the masterpiece of the original.
Darkest Dungeon II brings fresh ideas to an already stellar series.