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Darkest Dungeon 1 vs 2 – Which One Should You Play?

Darkest Dungeon 1 vs 2 - Which One Should You Play

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Darkest Dungeon 2 is a long-awaited sequel that changes everything players knew about the game. Though there are many similar classes, trinkets, and battle mechanics, everything else is entirely different. Most Darkest Dungeon 1 players are used to planning everything beforehand and having all the time in the world to do it. However, Darkest Dungeon 2 will always bring you to a new start, not bringing most of the things that you have unlocked during the run with you. This is a huge difference that makes both games for different types of people. This is why we will try to summarize the best parts of each game and tell you which one you should play, Darkest Dungeon 1 vs 2, and which one is better for you.

Darkest Dungeon 1

Darkest Dungeon 1 rewards players that like to plan everything beforehand. The people that take the time to look at every item and understand how every little thing works will love this game.

Since you can always plan everything and back out when you need to, you can generally know what will happen inside the dungeon. Though you can take risks, most of them are unnecessary.

On the other hand, you will have a cast of heroes that you will slowly evolve and get to know, as they gain traits that you will either love or hate. Classes that might even be considered inferior will become your favorite because one of them hit a good critical once or twice.

But, in general, all you need in DD1 is to prepare everything before going in. If you spend around 15 minutes in the Hamlet, you will usually have all you need ready to conquer another dungeon or just get the item you were looking for.

Darkest Dungeon 2

Darkest Dungeon 2 experiments more with the reactive part of the game, rather than the preparation side. If in DD1 you spend hours just preparing for battle, then in DD2 you will spend most of your time in battles.

In Darkest Dungeon 2, players will start each run from zero, with heroes that don’t have enough upgrades to make a difference in which ones you choose, and you will have to think fast on your feet.

What trinkets and upgrades you get will be random and you will have to quickly strategize the way to go as you progress. Though this gameplay does not leave a lot of time for preparation, it does keep the more casual player much more involved, as they don’t need a wiki each time they head into battle.

On the other hand, you won’t get as attached to your heroes as you would in DD1, as they don’t maintain a lot of traits and skills from previous runs.

Which One Is Better For You – Darkest Dungeon 1 vs 2

When it comes to Darkest Dungeon 1 vs 2, the question becomes more about how you like to play games: Are you someone that likes to plan things out or are you someone that likes to improvise?

If you like to plan everything out to the last detail and make sure that you know what happens beforehand, then Darkest Dungeon 1 is the game for you.

However, if you like things to keep you on your toes and to improvise and react to everything around you, then Darkest Dungeon 2 is an amazing choice for you. It all comes down to how much you like feeling unprepared and having to react to your environment.


And that is all you need to know about Darkest Dungeon 1 vs 2. Check out other interesting guides and articles:

Adrian Oprea

Founder & Lead Writer

5+ years of professional gaming journalism | 1000+ guides published since 2021

Adrian Oprea is the Founder and Head Writer of Raider King, specializing in complex RPGs and grand strategy games since 2021. With over 1000 published guides, Adrian provides in-depth walkthroughs for titles like Baldur's Gate 3, Warhammer 40K, Pathfinder series, and Paradox grand strategy games. His hands-on approach involves hundreds of hours testing different builds and strategies to deliver experience-based recommendations. Based in Bucharest, Romania, Adrian founded Raider King in 2022 to bring honest, detailed gaming content to players worldwide.

Credentials: Founder of Raider King (2022-Present) | Expert in CRPGs & Grand Strategy Games | 1000+ Published Guides | Specialist in Baldur's Gate 3, Pathfinder (Kingmaker & WOTR), Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader, Crusader Kings 2/3, Europa Universalis 4/5, Hearts of Iron 4
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