Red Hook Studios recently unveiled the next free content update coming to Darkest Dungeon 2. The Kingdoms update is set for late 2024, with the announcement trailer showing off some details of the new mode. This is how Darkest Dungeon 2 integrates fan favorites from the original title in the upcoming Kingdoms mode.
Fan Favorites Return in Darkest Dungeon 2 Kingdom Mode
Kingdoms is set to be a stand-alone mode with its own quests and mechanics, similar to those that we all love from the original Darkest Dungeon. The trailer premiered during the Triple-i Initiative Showcase and features a brief look at what the mode has to offer.
After triumphing over your failures, you’re now in charge of the lands of the Mountain. The biggest takeaway from the trailer is that Kingdoms will feature upgrades, such as the Inn and the Provisioner, similar to upgrading buildings in Hamlet.
The trailer showed no additional currency, and when places were upgraded, there wasn’t a pop-up confirming the choice. It could be that you use Mastery Points or something similar that can only be spent on upgrades.
It also includes a semi-permanent roster management system like the first title. You’ll be able to pick from a group of Heroes and send out parties to clear areas of enemies. Whether you can have multiple Plague Doctors or only one, like the Confession campaigns, remains to be seen.
The exact way you go through the different regions wasn’t shown in the trailer. It appears you can pick which zone from the Inn, but there was no footage of the Stagecoach rambling down a path. What was included is that this time around, you’re on a timer. You have to find the boss menacing your land before you run out of days or the counter reaches zero.
This is where the new enemies appear. Three factions battle to steal the Kingdom from you:
- The Coven
- The Beastmen
- The Crimson Courtiers
Each of these faction designs draws from popular enemies and allies in Darkest Dungeon 1. The Coven are similar to the Fungal enemies found in the Weald. The boss of the Coven appears to be the Hateful Virago, given the skull head and straw doll poppet. Given the name of the faction and the presence of the Hag’s daughter, it’s likely the Hag and her cauldron will show up at some point.
The Crimson Courtiers are obvious nods to the Crimson Court DLC, with the bug-like features and pompous clothing. The original DLC added a whole new area, new items, and enemies to the original game, including The Blood, which is a current item in Darkest Dungeon 2. It’s hard to tell which prior enemy the Crimson Courtiers boss is without seeing its backside, but it most closely resembles the Esquire from the front, especially since it’s holding a handkerchief in one claw.
The Beastmen are where things take a bit of a turn. Instead of being similar to a former enemy, the boss of this faction appears to be the Abomination hero. A mix of man and beast, the Abomination could change himself into a horned creature that spat bile. The faction symbol is even the same, though upside down, as the brand on the Abomination’s head. It seems he became stuck somewhere in between the two after the apocalypse began and, like the Antiquarian, lost his moral compass.
While the bosses are easy to pinpoint from the video, the factions are made up of a variety of monsters. Whether these are all comprised of previous enemies seen in Darkest Dungeon 1 can’t be confirmed at this time. Once more is known about the new mode or a new trailer drops with additional footage, we’ll be able to tell if new creatures are going to be introduced.
The development team at Red Hook Studios listened to the community and responded with the Kingdoms mode. A mix of old and new, this is a great way to integrate what the fans of the previous game loved while keeping it in line with the current game. I know I’m excited about the new Kingdoms mode and can’t wait to see what other throwbacks are included.
