There are RPGs that challenge your skills. There are RPGs that test your strategy. And then there’s Darkest Dungeon—a game that crushes your spirit, breaks your will, and forces you to march forward into the abyss anyway.
Developed by Red Hook Studios, Darkest Dungeon is a turn-based, gothic horror roguelike that throws players into an unforgiving world where death is only the beginning of suffering. It’s a game about leading flawed, fragile heroes through nightmarish dungeons filled with eldritch horrors, disease, and madness.
With its punishing difficulty, deep tactical combat, and a stress system that makes every decision feel like life or death, Darkest Dungeon isn’t just a dungeon crawler—it’s a psychological torment simulator. And yet, it’s one of the most rewarding, immersive, and unique RPGs ever made.
The Story: A Legacy of Horror and Ruin
The game begins with a letter from your estranged ancestor, urging you to return to your family’s crumbling estate. What was once a prosperous noble house has been reduced to a cursed ruin, overrun by unspeakable monstrosities. Your ancestor, in his reckless pursuit of forbidden knowledge, unearthed ancient horrors beneath the estate, opening a portal to eldritch nightmares that now infest the land.
Now, as the heir to this doomed legacy, you must recruit mercenaries, adventurers, and criminals to venture into the depths of your estate, cleanse the corruption, and ultimately face the Darkest Dungeon itself.
But victory comes at a cost.
Your heroes will face madness, disease, starvation, and despair. Some will perish. Some will abandon you. Others will lose themselves to the horrors they’ve witnessed, developing crippling phobias, compulsions, and insanities. The question isn’t if you’ll lose soldiers along the way—it’s how much you’re willing to sacrifice to win.
Turn-Based Combat with a Psychological Twist
At its core, Darkest Dungeon features a deeply tactical turn-based combat system, where positioning, skill synergy, and resource management are key. Battles are brutal, slow, and methodical, rewarding careful planning and punishing reckless aggression.
The real twist? The Stress System.
Every enemy encounter, every near-death experience, and every step through the darkness pushes your heroes closer to the brink of madness. Stress accumulates over time, and once it reaches 100, a hero suffers a resolve check, which can trigger one of two effects:
- Afflictions – The hero succumbs to their fear, developing traits like Paranoia, Masochism, or Hopelessness, which make them harder to control. A Paranoid hero might refuse healing, while a Masochistic one might intentionally hurt themselves.
- Virtues – In rare cases, a hero finds inner strength in the chaos, gaining buffs like Courageous, Focused, or Powerful, boosting the team’s morale.
With enemies that cause stress damage, diseases, and debuffs, every battle is a fight against the enemy and your own crumbling sanity.
The 15 Playable Hero Classes
Darkest Dungeon boasts 15 unique hero classes, each with distinct abilities, playstyles, and quirks. Building the perfect party composition is essential, as synergy between classes can mean the difference between survival and complete annihilation.
- Crusader – A heavily armored holy warrior, excellent for frontline combat and stress healing.
- Highwayman – A rogueish duelist, wielding pistols and daggers for high crit damage.
- Plague Doctor – A deadly alchemist who inflicts poison, stuns enemies, and heals allies.
- Vestal – The primary healer, wielding divine magic to keep the party alive.
- Leper – A slow but devastating brute, capable of delivering massive blows.
- Bounty Hunter – Specializes in marking enemies, making them vulnerable to high-damage attacks.
- Hellion – A savage barbarian woman, excelling at AoE and frontline damage.
- Man-at-Arms – A tank and support class, providing buffs and protection.
- Grave Robber – A nimble assassin who can steal, dodge, and deal high critical damage.
- Occultist – A dark magic user, offering powerful but unpredictable healing.
- Arbalest – A long-range crossbow user, excellent for picking off marked enemies.
- Houndmaster – Fights alongside a loyal warhound, causing bleed damage and stress relief.
- Abomination – A cursed warrior who transforms into a monstrous beast, gaining immense power but stressing out allies.
- Antiquarian – A weak fighter but boosts gold earnings, essential for long-term survival.
- Flagellant – A self-harming fanatic, excelling in bleed damage and stress healing.
Each hero starts with random quirks that can be positive (Quick Reflexes, Hard Skinned) or negative (Fear of Beasts, Kleptomaniac). Managing these quirks, and deciding who is worth keeping or abandoning, is a core part of the game.
Why Darkest Dungeon is Still Worth Playing Today
Despite releasing in 2016, Darkest Dungeon remains one of the most compelling RPG experiences available. Here’s why you should dive in (or return) today:
- A Unique, Unforgiving Challenge – If you love tactical combat and brutal difficulty, this game is a must-play.
- Deep Customization & Strategy – With 15 classes, randomized quirks, and different dungeon types, no two playthroughs are the same.
- Atmospheric Horror & Incredible Art – The hand-drawn gothic art style, coupled with Wayne June’s bone-chilling narration, makes for an unforgettable experience.
- DLC Expansions – Expansions like The Crimson Court and The Color of Madness add new enemies, dungeons, and mechanics, keeping the game fresh.
- A True Sense of Triumph – Unlike most RPGs, victory in Darkest Dungeon feels earned. Every dungeon dive is a desperate fight for survival, and every hero who makes it out alive is a legend in their own right.
If you crave an RPG that forces you to make tough choices, challenges your strategy, and tests your resolve, then Darkest Dungeon is waiting for you. Just remember:
“Many fall in the face of chaos… but not this one. Not today.”
