Halloween Horror Treats to Play: Darkest Dungeon
By: Nik S
Players take role of what is essentially themselves and has to manage a roster of heroes they employ to explore the dungeons below a Gothic mansion they inherit. The game is a mix of real-time movement through the dungeon and turn-based combat. A core feature which brings fear to the player is the stress mechanic. Each character has a meter to measure the level of their stress from exploring the dungeon, encountering eldritch creatures, and seeing that which no man should ever see. Stress can also increase from just exploring as well, looking at a book they shouldn't have to just spending too much time in the dark. Once a character meets their breaking point they can either gain afflictions that will either hinder the party (them going mad essentially), to enhancing performance (making good out of a bad situation).
When the player and their team is back in town they have to make tough decisions of what to do. Should you hire new teammates? How about your Crusader whose stress is almost to the breaking point, should they go pray? It's stressful and fear inducing for the player to have to micromanage while not knowing if their heroes will survive the next dungeon.
Nothing is scarier than that of the unknown, especially what lies dormant in the minds of men. Inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, Darkest Dungeon is a turn-based RPG developed by Red Hook Studios for all major platforms. It first came to PC in early access for about a year until it was fully released, and was Kickstarter funded.
Players take role of what is essentially themselves and has to manage a roster of heroes they employ to explore the dungeons below a Gothic mansion they inherit. The game is a mix of real-time movement through the dungeon and turn-based combat. A core feature which brings fear to the player is the stress mechanic. Each character has a meter to measure the level of their stress from exploring the dungeon, encountering eldritch creatures, and seeing that which no man should ever see. Stress can also increase from just exploring as well, looking at a book they shouldn't have to just spending too much time in the dark. Once a character meets their breaking point they can either gain afflictions that will either hinder the party (them going mad essentially), to enhancing performance (making good out of a bad situation).
When the player and their team is back in town they have to make tough decisions of what to do. Should you hire new teammates? How about your Crusader whose stress is almost to the breaking point, should they go pray? It's stressful and fear inducing for the player to have to micromanage while not knowing if their heroes will survive the next dungeon.
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