Darkest Dungeon: Ancestral Edition – A Masterclass in Suffering (And Loving Every Minute of It)

Red Hook Studios crafted something truly special with Darkest Dungeon, and the Ancestral Edition on Nintendo Switch — played here on the Switch 2 via backward compatibility — is the definitive way to experience this punishing gothic masterpiece on the go. Bundling the base game with both DLC expansions, The Crimson Court and The Shieldbreaker, this edition delivers an absurd amount of content for players willing to endure its relentless brutality. This is a game that hates you, and somehow that's exactly why you can't put it down.

Wokeness: 0.0

Darkest Dungeon has absolutely zero interest in pushing any kind of agenda. This is a game laser-focused on its Lovecraftian horror atmosphere, strategic dungeon crawling, and the psychological toll of sending expendable heroes into the abyss. The narrative is about ancestral sin, eldritch horrors, and human frailty — nothing more, nothing less. Red Hook Studios made a game, not a statement, and it shows in every design decision. Refreshingly pure in its intent.

Gameplay: 9.0

The turn-based combat system is deceptively deep, layering positioning, stress management, and resource scarcity into every encounter. You'll agonize over party compositions, weigh the risk of pushing deeper into a dungeon versus retreating, and curse the RNG gods when your best hero develops a crippling affliction at the worst possible moment. The touch controls on Switch work surprisingly well, though navigating menus with the Joy-Con can feel slightly clunky during frantic moments. The DLC content adds meaningful variety — The Crimson Court introduces an entire faction system and the Courtyard mega-dungeon, while The Shieldbreaker adds a fantastic new class with unique nightmare encounters. The difficulty is brutal but almost always fair, rewarding preparation and punishing hubris.

Story: 7.5

The narrative is delivered through the incomparable voice of Wayne June as the Ancestor, whose gravelly narration drips with regret and menace. There's no traditional storyline with cutscenes and dialogue trees — instead, the story unfolds through journal entries, boss encounters, and the Ancestor's commentary as you descend deeper into the estate's horrors. It's atmospheric storytelling at its finest, though players looking for character-driven narratives or plot twists won't find them here. The lore is rich for those who seek it, but it never forces itself upon you.

Graphics: 8.0

The hand-drawn art style is gorgeous in its grotesqueness — Mike Shelton's comic book aesthetic gives every hero and horror a distinct, memorable silhouette. Animations are fluid and impactful, particularly the critical hit effects and stress reactions. However, this is still fundamentally a 2016 indie title, and on the Switch 2's screen, you can notice the limitations. Dungeon environments, while dripping with atmosphere, do repeat frequently. The UI is functional but dense, and text can run small in handheld mode. The art direction carries it far beyond what its technical fidelity might suggest.

Audio: 9.5

This is where Darkest Dungeon transcends. Wayne June's narration is legitimately one of the greatest vocal performances in gaming history — every line delivered with a weight that makes you feel the centuries of corruption seeping through the estate. The soundtrack by Stuart Chatwood perfectly complements the dread, shifting from tense exploration themes to frantic combat tracks without missing a beat. Sound design is equally stellar — the crack of a critical hit, the unsettling ambient noises of each dungeon biome, the gut-wrenching sound cues when a hero reaches their breaking point. Headphones are mandatory.

Replayability: 9.0

With the Ancestral Edition's full DLC suite, multiple difficulty modes including the masochistic Stygian and Bloodmoon runs, and the sheer variety of party compositions available across 17 hero classes, you could sink hundreds of hours into this game and still find fresh experiences. Every run plays differently because permadeath and the stress system ensure no two campaigns follow the same path. The roguelike elements keep you coming back even after devastating party wipes — perhaps especially after devastating party wipes.

Darkest Dungeon: Ancestral Edition is a near-perfect package for anyone who respects their own time enough to demand a game that challenges them intellectually and emotionally. It's not for everyone — the difficulty will break some players the same way it breaks its heroes — but for those who embrace the suffering, this is one of the most rewarding strategy experiences available on any platform. The Switch portability factor only sweetens the deal, letting you ruin your favorite heroes' lives on the bus, in bed, or anywhere else despair might find you. A must-own for strategy fans.