The original Darkest Dungeon was a delight of emergent storytelling. This also means if you disliked Darkest Dungeon, you'll enjoy the sequel more, since it focuses on one particularly strong element. DDII is a game for the people who found the combat to be the most engaging part of the experience and wanted a ramped-up, refined version of that, with the other parts pared down.

That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it means that it's possible to have loved the first game and dislike the second - or vice versa. The result? Darkest Dungeon II doesn't feel like the first game. It also is more character-focused, with more defined characters in various roles instead of the generic ones. It's a far more pared-down experience that's focused more on moment-to-moment gameplay. There is meta progression between levels, but it isn't the same as the original, where you'd dedicated hundreds of hours to progress. Instead, it's easier to compare it to something like Slay the Spire, where each run is a distinct stand-alone thing your goal is to get to the end, fight a particularly tough boss, and then move on to the next challenge. Gone is the game flow of the original, where you make repeated trips into dungeons to gradually build up your forces and your town. It's probably more genuine to call it a spin-off than a true sequel. Once your heroes start to hate each other, it's a difficult road to convincing them to become friends again.It's probably best to start the review with arguably the most controversial part of Darkest Dungeon II.

As such, keeping stress levels low at all times is even more important. One added consequence of increasing stress in DD2 is a higher likelihood of negative affinity. However, an even more important and less clear factor in creating positive relationships is managing your heroes' stress levels. For one, choose decision points that provide more golden light around your heroes as this reflects positive affinity gains between them. Sometimes these relationships are helpful other times, not so much.Ĭreating and maintaining as many positive relationships between your party members has become a key to success while traveling the long road to the mountain, but it's somewhat confusing how to accomplish this. As you adventure, your heroes form relationships with one another. Perhaps one of the biggest changes to arrive in Darkest Dungeon 2 is the introduction of affinity and relationships between heroes. Split image of a Highwayman and Man at Arms with a positive affinity, and a Highwayman and an Occultist with a negative affinity.

Darkest dungeon how to lower stress