Dark and
Darker

Dark and Darker (2023) is a last-team-standing online fighting game where teams race to explore an ancient citadel with a band of friends. Play involves moving through the dark caverns to find treasures, battle monsters and stay ahead of the other treasure-hunters to get out alive before the expanding dark swallows you. It stands out for combining the battle royale challenge with role-play character management and strategy of a Dark Souls or Elder Scrolls game.

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Dark and Darker is popular because it recreates classic D&D exploration of ancient and abandoned worlds with danger around each corner. Unlike Skyrim or The Witcher, this exploration is with other players. Each of you chooses a different character from the brawny barbarian to the sharp-eyed ranger or moral-boosting bard.

As you progress you discover a game not afraid of being really hard. You rely on your observation from your senses, quick reactions and use of specific weapons in close combat. There is magic, but this is far from a quick handy fireball. Mastery requires long incantations, special skills, equipment, and a tactical eye. Miscalculate an encounter, or how much health you have left and you quickly die and lose all your treasure. Get the balance of offence and defence right, though, and there are rich rewards to claim.

The result is a game where you battle both computer-controlled enemies as well as other teams. Using the darkness to set up ambushes, or hiding as others pass you by is as much fun as charging in to fight. And of course, the thrill of each round rises as you race to find the rare exits before the dark swarm comes to collect your soul.

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Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Dark and Darker 14 months ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 8 months ago.