Trial and error is the nature of videogames and no other game has proven that to be true than Darkest Dungeon and its excellent sequel. Red Hook Studios’ fantastic duo of panic-inducing sagas is among my favorite releases of the last few years for good reason. They’re ridiculously atmospheric, providing some of my most memorable and traumatic gaming experiences.
And now console players will also be able to partake in what I could easily blame to be one of the main reasons I tend to take breaks between similarly dark games since with Darkest Dungeon 2 arriving on all of the current systems. The Switch at the center of it all is probably the most notable of them given its portable nature, and to my absolute joy, it performs admirably, maintaining the addictive drop in, drop out nature of the game, which is even better on that system’s fantastic screen.
I’ve already talked about the game last year when it first came out, and on all accounts I found it to be a superior version to its predecessor, which was already an incredibly impressive feat all things considered. The new stagecoach and moment-to-moment gameplay only made what was already an amazing time even better, if not the best for your anxiety as it’s an even more mentally demanding game than the original.
As for the presentation and performance, the Switch holds its own with Darkest Dungeon 2 quite well. The only real gripes I found while playing it were the presence of slightly longer loading times and the fact that the font is sometimes a little too small when playing it portably. The former is especially noticeable every time the game is booted up due to the initial transition to the main menu takes a bit long to get through.
Everything else about the port is flawless. Visually, Darkest Dungeon 2 is bar none one of the most striking games around and that’s still the case a year later, and coupled with some excellent voice acting imparted by the narrator, it’s a kickass package presentation-wise. On the other hand, it’s all sometimes a little too dark, so playing it in dimly lit locations usually suits it better. And don’t forget to bring some headphones with you!
In terms of party-based RPGs on the system, you can’t go wrong with this when it comes to its mechanics and fun factor. It’s a perfect mix of psychological puzzles and party management that does a great job keeping you at the edge of your seat at just about every encounter. Keeping your characters together is much harder than usual given that Darkest Dungeon 2 is at all turns playing against you by turning your group against you, seeping away their sanity.
For the ones that are worried about the pitch black nature of the game, don’t be: Darkest Dungeon 2 is built to make you replay it many times. There’s zero chance that you’ll be successful on your first run. It’s supposed to be an incredibly difficult time that is unfriendly to all. The main draw to it is learning from your mistakes and preparing for the worst. With that mindset, the game is generous with moments you’ll remember and a rewarding level of challenge that few others dare to provide.
