Darkest Dungeon Alternatives and Similar Games

This dark 2D turn-based roguelike might seem similar to Darkest Dungeon, fostering the same battle layout, but it features a different goal to achieve and its mechanics are quite different. In this in-depth fantasy title, you’re the bad guy. You play as a necromancer named Iratus on a quest to reach the surface and obliterate any good thing there is in the world. Throughout your adventure upwards you’ll be using various different monsters, such as skeletons, vampires, ghouls and more, each with their own strengths & weaknesses. As you slay the forces of good you’ll get to use body parts to craft your own minions, each of which has their own special abilities that make them unique. Research, unlock new talents via 4 different talent trees and more. If you don’t mind being on the dark side, then this title might be what you’re loo

Not as grim visually, The Banner Saga Series has you go on a Viking journey, a tough, snowy adventure with lots of choices to make. Your decisions from the first game can alter the story in the next, and choices in the second can affect the narrative in the third entry. Throughout the turn-based trilogy you’ll get to meet and control a diverse range of different characters which, if defeated in battle, are gone for good. Featuring a great 2D hand-drawn art-style, caravan management and tactical battles viewed from the perspective of a bird’s eye, this narrative-driven trilogy is one you won’t forget after playing it. If you’re looking for in-depth tactical gameplay, an interesting cast of characters and a great story where choices have an impact then The Banner Saga trilogy is for you.

In this 2D turn-based RPG, you’re not the one going through dungeons; instead, you’re the one defending the dungeons. The goal here is to defeat the heroes crawling through your dungeon by hiring various different creatures and using traps to your advantage. You’ll get to choose between 3 Dungeon Master classes, and then you’ll set up your defense to best counter the heroes coming through, taking them on in a similar layout, a 3v3 format. If you’re looking for a unique roguelike and like the idea of defending a dungeon, then you should take a look at this game.

It might seem like this is Darkest Dungeon in space, but there’s more to it than that. This cool comic-looking 2D roguelike features cards, making deck-building just as important as customizing your three characters of the varying classes. As you explore procedurally-generated derelict ships you’ll face off various enemies in tactical turn-based battles. Each playthrough is different and dynamic, and you can choose to play the story mode or the arena mode, both of which are enjoyable. If you like cards, turn-based comic-like combat and roguelike gameplay, then you’ll love Deep Sky Derelicts.

Though it features combat like in Darkest Dungeon, Dead in Vinland has a lot more other elements that make it distinct. In this turn-based 2D RPG you get to manage a Viking community on an island with many surprises. Keeping everyone mentally and physically stable is a must as you face various weather conditions while searching for resources and food. Every decision matters, but with 3 difficulty modes to choose from, you get to shape how challenging your playthrough will be. There are plenty of things you can do aside from fighting enemies in turn-based combat. Experience a well-written narrative, go fishing, hunting, complete tons of quests your way – Dead in Vinland is superb in many ways.

As grim and unforgiving as Darkest Dungeon, which is no surprise considering the fact that this is a Warhammer title, an adaption of the tabletop game, Mordheim. Featuring dark 3D environments to battle in, you’ll get to choose one of 4 warbands and dive into a gritty single-player campaign mode where you’ll lead your diverse units through the Empire city, or battle other players online as you carefully make the right choices and ensure the survival of your units. If you’re looking for another challenging and in-depth turn-based game, then maybe this Warhammer game will suffice.

Battle Brothers is a top-down medieval RPG that has you manage a group of mercenaries in procedurally-generated worlds, filled with dynamic events. Each character is unique and has its own background as well as its own traits that you’ll have to keep in mind to ensure everything goes well. As you explore and recruit you’ll stumble upon varied packs of enemies, which you fight on a tactical map in turn-based fashion. Leveling up, unlocking new skills, getting better equipment – there are many things that could prove beneficial to your units. Treat injuries and keep your characters away from death, or else you might even see them undead one day. This game is amazing, challenging and in-depth, with no two playthrough being the same. If you’re looking for a game where you get to form your own journey as you survive through various eve

The XCOM turn-based games really know how to keep you attached to customizable characters of varying class as you use them to shoot down aliens attempting to invade Earth. If you can’t stand the dated graphics of the old classics, then don’t worry, as the newer rebooted entries, XCOM: Enemy Unknown and XCOM 2 are also fantastic, with XCOM 2 being quite a difficult game, a slow march to reconquering back Earth. These new entries also have some great mods, and if you happen to be a fan of Overwatch, then you’ll enjoy this mod for XCOM 2. Soldiers you recruit and save are not fearless; they’re humans, and thus prone to gaining fears of certain enemies, and can even gain bad habits, all of which can be removed after building a certain room in your large ship, which features areas that need to be excavated. Every choice counts, from ho

It might be a roguelike, but Slay the Spire is a unique title with emphasis on acquiring and using the right cards together to create powerful attacks. Choose your path throughout procedurally-generated maps as one of a few different available characters, each of which has their own unique set of cards they can use. Even if you’re not a fan of card games, that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy this incredible mix of genres that is very well-executed. With the addition of mod support, Slay the Spire can keep you playing for tons of hours on end, and is absolutely worth checking out.