Darkest Dungeon is a roguelike set in a Lovecraftian universe that perfectly mixes turn-based combat, fantasy RPG elements, and survival horror.
The game was created by Red Hook Studios in collaboration with Sickhead Games and released way back in February 2015 to positive reception by both fans and critics alike.
The game revolves around the player leading a party of four adventurers, each having their own class and unique characteristics and abilities. It is up to the player to prepare them and take them through a series of dungeons and defeat various creatures and obtain priceless treasures.
While the game so far sounds like any average RPG, the twist comes in the form of survival horror elements with the player having to balance various needs of their characters such as stress, light, and hunger and keep them well prepared for every dungeon.

An additional part of the challenge comes from the limited inventory space which is used for both supplies as well as any loot that you obtain, so it is up to the player to decide what they want to take with them and what to leave behind, as they will only be able to take a limited amount of treasure back with them.
All in all, Darkest Dungeon is a challenging game that requires a lot of planning and strategy, and knowing when to push forward, and when to turn back and run is crucial for the survival of your party.
This combined with the dark yet cartoonish art style makes Darkest Dungeon an extremely enjoyable experience.
So why we are waiting for the sequel, let’s check out some similar games to hold us over.
Mad Crown
Mad Crown is a roguelike RPG that was developed and published by S-Game and released back in 2018, and right from the get-go, it is apparent that Mad Crown shares a very similar art style to Darkest Dungeon, so much so, that those who have not played either of them would probably not be able to tell them apart.

However, the similarities don’t stop there. While the Mad Crown focuses more on the story of the game, it also shares a lot of themes with the Darkest Dungeon.
Set in a post-apocalyptic setting, Mad Crown emphasizes a deteriorating realm and desolation. This combined with the challenging mechanics of the game makes Mad Crown an excellent choice for those looking for a Darkest Dungeon substitute.
Slay The Spire
Just like Darkest Dungeon, Slay The Spire is a roguelike dungeon crawler, but while Darkest Dungeon utilizes survival horror elements combined with turn-based combat, Slay The Spire opts to use cards and deck-building mechanics.
Slay The Spire was developed by Mega Crit Games and its core gameplay mechanics revolve around the player taking control of an already predetermined character who comes with a specific amount of gold, health, and their own set of unique abilities.

It is then up to the player to guide that character up the spire defeating various enemies and bosses along the way.
The player has many different ability cards at his/her disposal which they can use both offensively and defensively and since each card is special in its own way, constructing a powerful deck and coming up with different strategies on how to utilize it to the best of its abilities is crucial for your success.
Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Master
Leading a party of adventurers like in through random dungeons defeating powerful monsters and bosses, and stealing valuable treasures sounds pretty exciting, right?
After all, these are the core elements of Darkest Dungeon and many other games.
However, doing it over and over can get can cause it to get really old, really fast, so if you are looking for a game similar to Darkest Dungeon but want to shake things up, then look no further than Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Master.

The game was developed by Goblinz Studio and as its name implies, has the player take on the role of a Dungeon Master and fight off the brave adventurers who dare enter the dungeon in search of treasure.
The core game mechanics are split into two aspects: managing the dungeon and turn-based combat. While managing the dungeon, the player gets to decide what kind of traps and hardships the pesky adventurers will face in their search for valuables. The combat aspect allows the player to choose their own dungeon master class and face off against the adventurers.
Deep Sky Derelicts
Deep Sky Derelicts is a video game that combines elements from a few different video game genres similarly to Darkest Dungeon which is why it is on the list.
The game itself features turn-based combat amped up to eleven with card mechanics combined with traditional RPG and roguelike elements.

The similarities between the two games don’t stop there as it features a very similar dark and dreary art style, although more resemblant of the old comic books than anything else. The combat mechanics revolve around the player using their cards strategically to power up their party member in order to tackle enemies that you will encounter at every corner.
The enemies themselves are extremely well designed and the music and the ambiance of the game perfectly fit perfectly.
Iratus: Lord of the Dead
Iratus: Lord of the Dead is yet another video game similar to Darkest Dungeon that puts the player in the role of a villain.
The game has the player control of an evil necromancer Iratus who has been imprisoned in the underground dungeons many years ago and is now looking for a way to free himself.
However, in order to do that, Iratus needs to create his own army of undead followers and take on everything and everyone who dares to get in his way.

The gameplay mechanics divided into two aspects similarly to Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Master with the first one allowing the player to improve the visuals as well as defensive capabilities of the underground lair, while the second one is focused on turn-based combat and lets the player control the undead minions in battle. Upon winning the battle, the player can choose to expand their army by raising more minions.
These have been our top choices of games similar to Darkest Dungeon, however, there are many more out there, so stay tuned to PCPlayerHub for more interesting video game content.