Darkest Dungeon 2 already had a knack for being unforgiving and difficult, and with the addition of its Kingdoms mode, it ventured into even deeper challenges. By integrating the essence of DD2 into a format that feels somewhat like a strategy board game, it has managed to fuse its turn-based battles and iconic dark visuals into an entirely new setting. Red Hook, the developer, had assured players of more content updates for Kingdoms, referred to as ‘modules,’ and they’ve just delivered on that promise with the release of their latest expansion, Secrets of the Coven.
For those who are unfamiliar with the Kingdoms twist in Darkest Dungeon 2, here’s a quick summary. Picture a game where your journey is mapped out across a series of interconnected tile paths. Your mission is to thwart an evil power trying to overrun the land, and this means navigating through these tiles to confront a final boss. However, the path is not straightforward, as followers of the malevolent force will attempt to halt your progress, and you have a limited number of ‘days’ to track down and defeat their leader.
As you traverse this board game landscape, you’ll come across inns. These are your safe havens, where you can take a breather and heal. However, they’re not just places to relax—they need protection. Should too many fall to enemy hands, based on your chosen difficulty, it could spell defeat for you. When a combat scenario arises, expect challenges akin to what Darkest Dungeon 2 fans are used to—strategic turn-based skirmishes, carefully-picked team setups, and sharp tactical ploys.
The debut module for Kingdoms, titled Hunger of the Beast Clan, had a gritty appeal, but this latest expansion is diving into the realm of witchcraft. According to Red Hook, “Secrets of the Coven brings an entirely new challenge as you face off against a group of nefarious witches. The unseen threads of witchcraft are at work, pulling at the seams of the Kingdom. Follow clues to uncover and eradicate this mysterious coven before their subversive influence takes root!”
In addition to introducing new foes and narrative twists for Kingdoms, this mode is receiving some very welcome quality improvements. You can now stash at least three items at every inn, and if you choose to upgrade, you’ll have room for more. Hoarders, rejoice—salesmen in the game will now repurchase items from you, albeit at a lesser value than you paid. Plus, there’s a handy new tool to guide you in selecting effective and harmonious team setups.
On top of the free Secrets of the Coven update, there’s also the premium The Binding Blade DLC to consider. This package expands your character roster by adding The Duelist and The Crusader.
Secrets of the Coven for Darkest Dungeon 2’s Kingdoms mode is available now. If you’ve yet to dive into Darkest Dungeon 2, now’s an opportune time as it’s currently 50% off until Monday, April 21. You can grab your copy right here.
If Darkest Dungeon isn’t quite your speed, we’ve curated a list of the top roguelikes and RPGs on PC at the moment, which might catch your eye.
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