Darkest Dungeon Reviews
Darkest Dungeon is hard. Very, very hard. As someone who rarely plays dungeon crawling games, it was quite difficult for myself to find enjoyment out of this. While there is a great deal of satisfaction to be had in defeating some of the more grueling battles, the amount of frustration had in its grueling difficulty spikes and random encounters does make it a difficult title to recommend.
It's a shame that the console version of Darkest Dungeon couldn't have been a bit smarter with its controller layout, because the rest of the game shines in brilliant darkness as it did on PC; the 2D artwork is a great mix of hard lines and grotesque imagery, quite similar to Hellboy and other comics by Mike Mignola.
The narrative is drowned by mechanics
It's easy to get drawn into the deepest caverns of despair with Darkest Dungeon, but there is always a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
Darkest Dungeon can be quite inventive and interesting at its best, but these highs aren't held for very long. Still, this is a solid turn-based RPG with a great gimmick.
Darkest Dungeon manages to make turn-based combat terrifying for entirely different reasons.
Tough and unforgiving, yet keeps you coming back.
In the end it’s the difficulty and unpredictability at the core of the game that will either make it incredibly appealing to you or rightfully scare you away. There’s no glory without challenge and sacrifice and when you manage even small victories in Darkest Dungeon they can feel terrific. Sadly, even when you carefully manage your resources and try to keep your accumulated rotation of characters in good shape you’ll need to accept that any happy thoughts and feelings are often fleeting. One particularly bad mission can cripple even your AAA team if enough manages to go wrong and while you can pay to remedy afflictions the cost will make you think it over very carefully. It’s both thrilling and depressing and captures the essence of what makes roguelikes so interesting all at once. If you’re a fan of this style of play it is an easy recommendation but if you’ve not dipped your toe in the pool yet this may be a bit deeper an end to jump into than most so you’ve been warned.
A dark and deep dungeon crawler with lots of difficult choices, great combat and cool stress mechanics. Does get a bit repetitive but overall a fantastic RPG for the tactically minded.
Despite gameplay better suited for a mouse and keyboard, Darkest Dungeon transitions rather well from PC to Switch. The controls were always going to be convoluted when adapted to a controller, but it doesn't take too long to adjust, and the core gameplay loop is strong enough where overlooking that initial awkwardness is more than doable. The sheer challenge of the title will certainly overwhelm some, but there a plenty of workarounds between Radiant mode and the ability to toggle certain difficulty features off. The atmosphere, aesthetic, and music all lend themselves to an incredibly tense experience where every battle matters and constant management is necessary for survival. Darkest Dungeon is by no means for everyone, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth the stress.
Another indie hit that has managed the transition very well to the Nintendo Switch. A good turn-based RPG that is not as easy to get into in the start but grows on you with time.
If you're willing to take your time, make careful decisions regarding loot, party composition, and the best fate for your most loved characters, Darkest Dungeon will reward your efforts.
It's sadistic, mean-spirited and unfair. And it makes no pretense at being anything other than that.
Darkest Dungeon still remains a fantastic, dark RPG on its move to the Switch, one that offers a challenge stacked with replayability.
Darkest Dungeon is difficult, but not because its systems are unclear or unfair.
Darkest Dungeon is a tough turn-based RPG that does not pull its punches. However, its punishing gameplay has you coming back for more.
Darkest Dungeon is fantastic for the first twenty or so hours.
Darkest Dungeon is a game that does not go easy on any aspect. Demanding, tough and frustrating on many occasions, it's also very well designed and executed and while it clearly isn't for everyone, it will find its place with many players out there. The most difficult elements include the game's random nature and how on many moments they just feel like they have no reason to be whereas its atmosphere and presentation are worthy of every praise.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Darkest Dungeon has always been an RPG that finds ways to make life uncomfortable for the player, and this Switch version manages to add a couple of usability issues to that list. However, this remains a dauntingly deep, thoroughly absorbing dungeon crawler that will swallow you up for hours at a time.
That's what we all try to do day in and day out in our own lives, right?