Out of nowhere, Red Hook Studios has announced that Darkest Dungeon 2, a sequel to their grueling rogue-lite RPG, is in development. A new trailer is available, teasing the “howling darkness of the end”. Seemingly set during Winter, familiar hero classes are seen, preparing for the next battle.
In an interview with PC Gamer, Red Hook’s Tyler Sigman and Chris Bourassa confirmed the return of the first game’s combat system. It’s received some changes with the presentation and mechanics, though how differently battles will play out remains to be seen. The metagame has completely changed, with a focus on “enduring a gruelling journey, not cleaning up your backyard.”
Furthermore, the cosmic horrors of the estate have seemingly begun to affect the rest of the world. “We’re giving players a glimpse of the supernatural apocalypse twisting and distorting the world beyond the estate [of the original Darkest Dungeon].” The overall scope is much larger, with 14 people on the project compared to five for Darkest Dungeon. Several more are set to join in the coming months.
Though a release date wasn’t provided, Darkest Dungeon 2 will launch first into early access. “The ability to get something into fans’ hands faster, kick the tires of the systems, and give those fans the opportunity to help shape the finishing of the game are both really important to us. Early Access is also really great for being able to alter your production plan depending on reception—a big reception can be a clear signal to invest even more in the project and pull in some of the wishlist items (there are always wishlist items) and turn them into reality.”
You can join Red Hook’s mailing list to receive updates on Darkest Dungeon 2 in the coming months.
