Darkest Dungeon [official site] begins with a foreboding admonition. It s a game about making the most of a bad situation, you re told from the outset. Your actions are permanent, therefore the quests you embark upon will often end in failure. Heroes will die, it says. And when they die they stay dead.
These preeminent words of wisdom project an honest sentiment that s not only a tone-setter for Darkest Dungeon, but also serves to define its makeup: through each stage of development – from its beginnings, its crowdfunding success, a year-long stint in Early Access, and now onto full release – developer Red Hook Studios envisioned a brutally difficult game that would offer little in the way of concession. But does the game make death and despair engaging? Here’s wot I think.