Darkest Dungeon 2’s metagame reboot was expected, and necessary
October 18, 2022Darkest Dungeon 2 developer Red Hook Studios is making robust use of its game’s Early Access status to not just introduce new areas of exploration and heroes to help fill out your party, but also overhauling the title’s metagame and progression systems.
The Altar of Hope update, which hit earlier this month, didn’t just rework key systems for the game, it also reset player progression. From all outward appearances, the update and reset may seem drastic, but the studio knew the major change was an inevitability.
“We have always been aware that the old ‘Hope’/XP system didn’t afford players any real choice in terms of how to progress their metagame between runs,” said Chris Bourassa, Red Hook Studios co-founder and creative director. “Candidly, we needed something up and running for Early Access launch, but always felt it was imperative to revisit the system and create something more robust. We are always looking for ways to enhance the risk/reward aspect of the game, and to create tough choices for players, and by those metrics, the new system really helps move the game in a great direction!”
At launch, players earned Hope during every playthrough, which was then awarded to their overall level in the game. Each level unlocked a host of new things including heroes, items, and even potential traits.
To read the rest of this story, which first ran on Oct. 18, 2022, visit the Epic Games Store.
