Darkest Dungeon® II

A PEAK SEQUEL! It takes everything that I loved about the first game and then ADDS in my favorite mechanics from games like Hades and Slay the Spire 2. I have found this game to be a lot more balanced too with the heroes (alongside things like inns and your wagon) being able to be upgraded and have specialized subclasses. I do greatly enjoy the addition of different final bosses and being able to take your heroes on easier or harder missions depending on what you want to that day. Makes for a dynamic game that can be both Amazing and tough, or almost relaxing and chill (if you have powerful heroes on an easy stage). The new stress mechanic feels a lot better with meltdowns being more explained and heroes able to heal more stress (typically). The friendship meter is a new challenge, but I find it to be well worth it as there is nothing quite like the rush of having one of your heroes perform that additional assist attack (with respectful). The inclusion of backstories (and needing to unlock abilities from them) for each hero is perhaps one of my favorite new features, as alongside the extra move and tweaks to each hero, it make them just as memorable as in the first game. (Guess they figured out how powerful Dismas's Grape Shot was in the first game lol). I WAS NOT expecting to see one of the heroes come back as an enemy though, that was a really nice twist. This is a late addition, but having ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ for characters is also awesome as I have always enjoyed character skins for games but I never buy them, so having them be unlockable is another cool feature. If I were to have one critique of this masterpiece, however, it would be that it is annoying that all (that I know of) of the healing moves require the hero to be under 50 or 30% health which can be a little annoying. This is EASILY made up for by the passive healing which honestly is a fantastic add. I cannot mention this game without noting on the music, I personally enjoy the first games soundtrack more, but that does NOT discount how great this game's soundtrack is as well. I'm not sure how they did it, but this game is a perfect blend of challenge and fun, with every failure leading to improvement. I honestly have to give it a 10/10 because to me, everything flows so well so far. Would 100% recommend to Rougelike/lite fans or fans of the original Darkest Dungeon. UPDATE: After finishing the game I have to say that it has only SOMEHOW GOTTEN EVEN BETTER. Spoilers ahead so do be wary as I would HIGHLY recommend you play the game first. The games final boss was a truly amazing experience that I CANNOT rant about enough. The returning music is so haunting and yet SOOO fitting for what is to come. The multiple stages of it, representing the other bosses was SUCH a unique mechanic as you aren't just fighting some final boss it is as the game itself says "the subtotal of your achievement, your body of work" and it demonstrates this beautifully. Having each hero have to face their fears in order to finally put this horror aside was yet another 10/10 decision that only shows just how much love and care this game was created with. The ending legit made my cry ;-; , If I could go above ten I would give this a 15/10 for being perfect in basically every single way from the environmental storytelling, to the heroes and how unique they are with so many different ways to play them, to how SATISFYING the game is, a perfect balance of complexity and simplicity, and everything else. This may be a niche game, but it will go down as one of the shiniest diamonds in my book.