LogFAQs > #946165331

48. Darkest Dungeon (video game) (18.5 points)
Nominated by: PrinceKaro (1/4 remaining)


Importance: 5
Fear: 7.5
Snake: 6

Never before has a game tackled the psychological toll of adventuring much like Darkest Dungeon has. It's the closest game to Koudelka where I felt like survival horror elements really tied into the gameplay of a turn-based RPG roguelike. While there's always an inherent survivability element to these games, Darkest Dungeon uses the mechanics to directly tie in to what the protagonists are feeling. Every character, no matter how tough or powerful they may seem, falls victim to their fleeting mental states, when put up against the Eldritch Abominations of the various dungeons. The game sports an Affliction System, which ensures your characters never get so strong that they can just blow through a dungeon. This system will cause heroes to literally flee from battle, or become so masochistic they become a danger to themselves and others, or become so selfish they literally don't listen to your commands. This is simply put some of the best gamification of Lovecraft's themes ever. This system is supported by the game's incredible art direction. DD of course incorporates the tentacles and pulsing flesh masses associated with Eldritch lore, but its use of decaying, Gothic architecture and dark fantasy creatures pushes this hopelessness and despair on you just as much as the characters. These feel like places no human was ever meant to step into, and along with the challenging gameplay, pushes you through a grueling adventure that's unlike any RPG you'll ever play. If you're feeling tired of that same old JRPG, Darkest Dungeon might just be the cure for you.

---

Bare feet on the tile with my head up in the clouds
https://imgur.com/1e1e70S