Dark and Darker Review: Is the New Season Worth Playing?
There is a game that, just from its demo last year, saw a peak of over 100,000 online players. This game is *Dark and Darker*. This medieval-themed game perfectly combines elements of dark dungeons and Tarkov-like gameplay, offering players a thrilling dungeon loot-and-escape experience.
However, the development of this game has not been smooth. Due to legal disputes, its release date was delayed multiple times and even removed from the Steam platform for a while. Fortunately, the development team eventually won the lawsuit and reintroduced the game as a free-to-play title on Steam and Epic during this year’s Summer Game Fest. As of September 6, the game has welcomed the new S4 season update, and my friends and I decided to team up and experience it. As expected, a stressful and intense journey began.
Classes and Equipment
The game offers a rich selection of classes, with up to nine different professions, each with unique skills and roles suited to various play styles. The balance between classes is cleverly designed; for example, the warrior class, which is well-suited for beginners, has balanced attributes allowing it to tank, deal damage, and fight at a distance but cannot cast spells.
There is also the “Support Priest” class, which provides healing and protection but has low attack damage; the “Ranger” class, which can use various ranged weapons, with bows being faster but unable to use most melee weapons; and the “Mage” class, which uses wands or spellbooks to cast powerful spells but requires teammate protection due to its low physical damage and health. Other classes such as the Barbarian, Rogue, Bard, Warlock, and Druid are also available but will not be detailed here.
Regarding equipment, there are seven different rarity levels and blue text modifiers to choose from. For skill allocation, each class has significantly different talent skills, allowing players to choose four passive skills and two active skills. In team play, choosing the right class and coordinating with teammates to develop a reasonable strategy is crucial.
Free vs. Paid Version
The free version comes with many limitations, allowing only one character slot. If you want to experience multiple characters, you’ll have to delete your current character and create a new one. If you plan to play for an extended period, it is recommended to spend $30 to upgrade to a Legendary status. This upgrade unlocks eight character slots, ranking qualifications, access to the market and trade station, and most importantly, helps keep cheaters out.
Core Gameplay
The game features three maps: Goblin Caverns, Frosted Mountains, and the Forgotten Castle Ruins. There are two modes: a free-to-play standard mode and a Legendary-only hardcore mode. The game supports solo, duo, and trio play, with a brief rotation period.
The core gameplay revolves around dungeon exploration and loot-and-escape mechanics, incorporating both PVE and PVP elements. Players repeatedly enter dungeons to face not only AI monsters but also other real players, collecting powerful equipment and resources. As time progresses, the safe zone shrinks, requiring players to reach a random extraction point to safely escape with their loot. Once a character dies, all items and equipment obtained in the dungeon are lost, making every action a risk.
Game Highlights
Dark and Darker constantly emphasizes its deep malevolence, with a realistic and retro art style creating a rich medieval dark atmosphere. The game’s dark dungeons are the primary setting, with dim torches and candlelight outlining a hazy environment. The interplay of light and shadow makes every corner harbor unknown dangers, keeping players on high alert. Encounters with monsters when opening chests, being chased by hordes of enemies with no escape, and eerie sounds from nearby footsteps and distant roars all add to the chilling experience.
Difficulty and Experience
The game’s hardcore nature will definitely not disappoint you. There is no standard beginner tutorial, so you might struggle with basic actions like using health potions and navigating the game initially. You may soon find yourself overwhelmed and killed by a horde of monsters, leaving you to watch other players and gradually learn the game’s basics.
In reality, luck also plays a role. Sometimes, facing only one or two monsters is manageable, but encountering a group of high-speed monsters often results in a quick death. Additionally, players must also contend with being hunted by other players. I recall an instance where an enemy who appeared to be an ordinary Barbarian surprisingly took me down with a single hit, which was quite unexpected.
With the September 6 update of the new season, the official reset all player levels, equipment, and quest progress to ensure a level playing field for both new and old players. This update is not just a routine seasonal change but an expansion of the game’s content.
The new Ruins map has been redesigned with a ghostly theme and features a layered structure combining ruins, dungeons, and hell. Players exploring this new area must deal with monster threats while being wary of attacks from other players.
The official introduction of a new “Courier” system allows players to bring loot out of the dungeon at a lower cost before facing powerful bosses, reducing the risk of losses from failed battles.
The addition of a new Ruins Boss is undoubtedly a highlight of the new season. With a striking new appearance and significant pressure, it presents an extraordinary challenge. Success against it relies not only on individual skill but also on team cooperation.
Additionally, overall class value optimization and balance adjustments have been made, and the simplified affinity system now allows players to quickly improve their relationships with NPCs to unlock more items and rewards. The upcoming faction system, which increases the drop rate of rare items through enhanced luck, is something I am particularly looking forward to.
