Darkest Dungeon 2 Update Enhances Intense Strategy in Kingdoms Mode

Darkest Dungeon 2 already had a reputation for being tough, but its new Kingdoms mode raises the stakes even higher. Imagine blending the essence of DD2 with elements of a strategy game—it’s like playing on a tabletop board. The game retains its gripping turn-based combat and signature dark look, now in a novel setting. Red Hook, the developer, had promised additional content for Kingdoms, dubbed ‘modules,’ and they’ve delivered with the recent release of the second expansion, Secrets of the Coven.

If you’re not quite familiar with Darkest Dungeon 2 Kingdoms yet, here’s a quick rundown. Picture a strategy game where your mission is to thwart an evil power from swallowing the land. The game is mapped out with tiled pathways, and you must forge a trail through these tiles to face off against a final boss. But beware, soldiers and their loyal followers won’t make it easy, and time is of the essence—you have only a limited number of ‘days’ to locate and defeat the leader.

Scattered across the board are inns—little refuges where you can take a breather and recover. But they’re not invincible; you’ll need to guard them, or they risk getting overrun by enemy forces. Losing too many inns might spell the end of your journey, depending on your chosen difficulty level. When battle calls, you’ll face the familiar challenge of turn-based combat, where success hinges on assembling the right team and making savvy tactical choices, much like the original DD2 experience.

Following Hunger of the Beast Clan, the first gritty module for Kingdoms, Red Hook takes a witchcraft-themed turn with their latest expansion. “Secrets of the Coven presents a fresh challenge against a sinister band of witches,” Red Hook explains. “Witchcraft unseen threads are at work, unravelling the fabric of the Kingdom. Track down clues to dismantle this cryptic coven before their dark influence spreads!”

In addition to the intriguing new foes and storyline, the game mode sees some excellent quality of life improvements. Now, you can store at least three items at any inn, with options to upgrade for more storage space. Hoarders can resell items, though at a reduced price from the original. Plus, there’s a new help tool that provides guidance on assembling strong and synergistic team lineups.

Accompanying the free Secrets of the Coven update, the premium DLC, The Binding Blade, is out as well, introducing two fresh characters: The Duelist and The Crusader.

The Secrets of the Coven update for Darkest Dungeon 2’s Kingdoms mode is available right now. Never tried Darkest Dungeon 2? It’s a great time to start, especially with a 50% discount running until Monday, April 21. You can grab it here.

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