Darkest Dungeon is a dungeon-crawling RPG game developed by Red Hook Studios. It was first released in 2016 and it’s available on a variety of platforms, including PC, consoles, and mobile devices. The game is known for its challenging difficulty and its unique stress system, which can affect the mental state of the player characters and add a level of realism and tension to the gameplay.
In Darkest Dungeon, players take on the role of a landlord, who inherits an estate that includes a dungeon. The player must recruit, train and lead a team of heroes through the various levels of the dungeon to combat monsters, collect treasure, and uncover the secrets of the dungeon. The gameplay features turn-based combat and a high degree of customization, as players can choose the skills, abilities, and equipment of their heroes, and decide which battles to fight and which to avoid.
The game also features a unique stress system, where the heroes can suffer from stress disorders, such as fear, despair, and madness, which can affect their performance in battle, and if not taken care of, can lead to the permanent death of the characters.
Darkest Dungeon has been critically acclaimed for its challenging gameplay, unique art style and stress system, which added a new level of realism and immersion to the game. It’s a game that appeals to those that appreciate a tough, hardcore RPG experience, who enjoy a high level of player choice, and who don’t mind losing a few characters along the way.
How To Play Darkest Dungeon
Darkest Dungeon is a turn-based dungeon-crawling RPG game that requires players to lead a team of heroes through various levels of a dungeon to combat monsters, collect treasure, and uncover the secrets of the dungeon. Here are some basic steps to help you get started with playing the game:
- Start a new game: From the main menu, select “New Game” to start a new campaign. This will allow you to choose a difficulty level and customize your game settings.
- Recruit heroes: Your first task will be to recruit heroes to form your adventuring party. You can recruit heroes from the tavern, and they come in different classes such as the Crusader, the Vestal, and the Highwayman, each with their unique abilities and skills.
- Train your heroes: Once you have recruited your heroes, you will need to train them. You can do this by sending them on expeditions to the dungeon to gain experience and level up, as well as to find new items and equipment.
- Manage your heroes: It’s important to manage your heroes’ stress levels, physical and mental health, as well as their equipment and inventory. You can also hire other characters like a Jester or a Grave Robber to improve the chances of success.
- Explore the dungeon: Once your heroes are prepared, you can send them into the dungeon. Each level of the dungeon will present new challenges and dangers, such as traps, puzzles, and boss battles. Be prepared for the unexpected and adjust your strategy accordingly.
- Combat: Combat in Darkest Dungeon is turn-based. Each hero in the party takes their turn to attack, defend, use skills or items, and so on. It’s important to use your character’s abilities and skills effectively, as well as to manage the positioning of your party members to gain an advantage in battle.
- Keeping track of stress: Darkest Dungeon is known for its stress system, it’s one of the core mechanics. It’s important to keep an eye on your hero’s stress levels and take steps to reduce it when necessary, or they might develop negative quirks, which can have a detrimental effect on their abilities in combat.
- Repeat: Repeat steps 4-6 until you have reached the end of the dungeon. The dungeon is procedurally generated, which means it will be different every time you play.
