Red Hook Studios officially announce Darkest Dungeon II

Red Hook Studios have officially revealed Darkest Dungeon II with a teaser trailer dubbed The Howling End. The studio are looking to bring back the recognisable combat system and it's confirmed that the game will release in early access.

Critically acclaimed turn-based RPG Darkest Dungeon is getting a sequel and it's been officially announced by the game's developer Red Hook Studios. Unfortunately, there isn't much detail as the teaser trailer dubbed The Howling End failed to reveal much other than snowy mountains and six heroes.

There is no mention of the release date either but the developers have shed some light on their upcoming project in a PC Gamer interview. Just like its predecessor, Darkest Dungeon II will also initially release in early access. It's interesting that the devs didn't mention a potential distributor on PC, which could suggest that the developers and publisher are currently open to all options.

Speaking to PC Gamer, Tyler Sigman and Chris Bourassa from Red Hook Studios confirmed that their combat system is making a return with a "significant tune-up" both "mechanically and in terms of presentation". They are also working on a different "metagame structure" but refused to go into details on that one.

While they absolutely love to work in their horror universe, Red Hook Studios are eager to give Darkest Dungeon II its own theme and identity within that universe. They are looking to achieve this with a lot more stories and by further exploring and building the combat system. 

As for the new setting and locations, the devs haven't really shared much but have offered a small hint by mentioning "supernatural apocalypse twisting and distorting the world". If you played the first game, you'll know that at the very end of the story there is a mention of the end of the world which could suggest that Darkest Dungeon II's story is set shortly after the events in the first game.

darkest dungeon screenshot showing mad man Darkest Dungeon

During the development of Darkest Dungeon, Red Hook Studios counted five developers but the studio have now staffed up to 14 which should give them more space for additional features and improvements on existing ones.

You can read the over with PC Gamer.