A few hours ago, I was delighted to read the news about the new free update for Kingdoms, the dedicated game mode for Darkest Dungeon II, which brings back familiar faces from the first installment.
Red Hook Studios today unveiled Curse of the Court, the third and concluding adventure module in the free Kingdoms game mode for Darkest Dungeon II.
Scheduled to launch on August 28 for PC and Mac, this update brings a host of new content and mechanics to the critically acclaimed rogue-lite, with console releases to follow at a later date.
Bloodsuckers Return
At the heart of Curse of the Court lies the sinister Bloodsuckers, a vampiric faction first introduced in the original Darkest Dungeon’s Crimson Court DLC.
Players will face these night-prowling fiends across three new Kingdoms maps, each designed to challenge veteran and newcomer alike. A brand-new questline promises to unearth the faction’s dark ambitions, while a suite of achievements will test the mettle of those seeking completion.
Alongside fresh locales and adversaries, Curse of the Court debuts a unique Curse mechanic: an evolving condition that can afflict your party, altering both risk and reward as you navigate the winding roads and ramshackle inns of the Kingdoms.
“Curse of the Court is the third adventure module for the DD2 Kingdoms mode. Just like the preceding two, this update adds new items, mechanics, and a harmful host of fresh horrors to contend with… all packaged up into yet another FREE update. At this point, the amount of complimentary content packed into Darkest Dungeon II is verging on delinquent! We genuinely hope our players enjoy the return of the Bloodsuckers!”
— Chris Bourassa, Creative Director, Red Hook Studios
Kingdoms Mode and anniversary edition
Launched earlier this year, Kingdoms represents a reimagined structure for Darkest Dungeon II, tasking players not only with surviving harrowing encounters but also with defending a realm and its network of inns.
Following the release of Hunger of the Beast Clan and Secrets of the Coven, Curse of the Court completes the trilogy of free modules, each introducing a fresh enemy faction: the ravenous beastmen, the duplicitous coven, and now the vicious Bloodsuckers.
In tandem with Curse of the Court, Red Hook Studios and Skybound Games also revealed plans for a physical Anniversary Edition of Darkest Dungeon II on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5, due in Q4 2025.
This collector’s package will include a steelbook, in-game pop-up diorama, papercraft stagecoach, a playable deck of cards, the full original soundtrack, and redemption codes for three DLC packs: The Binding Blade, The Inhuman Bondage, and The Infernal Supporter Pack.
About Darkest Dungeon II
Originally released in Early Access on the Epic Games Store in October 2021, Darkest Dungeon II fully launched on PC and Mac in May 2023 and on consoles in July 2024 to widespread acclaim.
The sequel builds upon its predecessor’s gothic, turn-based combat with new 3D visuals, a run-based road trip structure, fourteen playable heroes, five distinct regions, and a persistent upgrade hub known as the Altar of Hope.
The first DLC, The Binding Blade, debuted in December 2023, marking the start of a steady stream of free content that now culminates in Curse of the Court.
