Darkest Dungeon II is cruel. A simple miscalculation or bad luck can ruin your two to three hour expedition before the final boss of the chapter. There are no checkpoints; When your party dies, it’s time to start over. Only some unlocked upgrades stay with you. Constantly having to make difficult decisions while keeping track of different systems can (and will) be frustrating and nerve-wracking. At the same time, Darkest Dungeon II is the most cathartic and rewarding experience since the original in 2016.
Similar to its predecessor, you create a party of four different heroes who must survive exciting turn-based combat with a focus on position, synergy, and a certain amount of luck. Your attacks have a range of potential damage points that they can deal, plus there are buffs and debuffs that give you a chance to miss your shot or land a critical hit, among other things.
The combat system is difficult to master but incredibly satisfying. As you get to know your cast, immerse yourself in the exciting experience of learning who is a good match with whom, in what position, and against what creatures. I spent hours experimenting with the best combinations for my playstyle, trying new things each time. The battles feel like puzzles, and you feel great about succeeding in one piece with your party. But they can also frustrate you when you deal one less damage than necessary and get an unexpected counterattack.
Things get more complicated when you add in the stress system, the series’ signature core mechanic. When their white gauge is complete, your hero can suffer a breakdown and lose most of their HP. You can also get a positive outcome and heal, although this is less common. If a single meltdown in a difficult encounter can ruin your entire expedition, imagine what it feels like to have five in a row in the same battle. It’s a disheartening feeling that should make you stop playing immediately, but there I w as, so angry and intrigued at the same time, ready to try again. This game has sunk its hooks so deep into me.
A new affinity system shows how well your group gets along. This quickly becomes strained when you realize that all of your small choices can antagonize your heroes and negatively impact certain abilities. Having to change your entire strategy is both annoying and a tremendous challenge, one that has fulfilled me as I braved and overcame the odds. Luckily, this mechanic can also make your heroes good teammates, adding combo attacks and other amazing surprises.
Combat aside, you’ll explore haunting yet beautifully crafted regions before reaching the final boss of your expedition. You travel in a stagecoach, a vehicle that can be damaged by dangerous roads, adding unwanted battles. You can also choose which path to take, sometimes you know what to expect and others are completely in the dark.
All of these mechanics create an experience I just can’t get enough of. Even now, after 40 hours, I still want to come back to refine my team and unlock the remaining items and upgrades. While some trips are patently unfair, there’s also a notable feat in finding balance in what should be utterly chaotic. I wish there were more shortcuts to take away the pain of failing a 3 hour run and having to start over. And more user-friendly items in the early stages, which can be extremely overwhelming and will likely turn off players, would go a long way.
As I cried out in relief and frantically raised my fist in the air after a tough battle ended in my favour, I can’t deny the following fact: Darkest Dungeon II is a tough but fantastic game, filled with white-knuckle combat and danger-filled exploration Hold her captive for hours. If you are willing to make the sacrifices required, it is a journey worth taking.