Darkest Dungeon® (2016)

Developer: Red Hook Studios
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Genres: Indie, RPG, Strategy
Rating: 4.6 of 5, 160,502 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 36 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A tense, tactical crawl where every decision is weighed against mounting stress and permadeath loss.

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What players say

Players say the difficulty comes from heavy reliance on RNG, where a run can collapse from bad luck despite good preparation. The grind and long playtime are common complaints, but its oppressive atmosphere and turn-based strategy keep many addicted. Opinions are split on whether the randomness creates tense drama or just unfair frustration.

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This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.