Darkest Dungeon II has opened its doors for its first-ever Steam free weekend, running from August 28 until September 1 at 10am PT.
Anyone curious about Red Hook’s bleak roguelike sequel can jump in at no cost, try both Confessions and Kingdoms modes, and even sample the brand new Curse of the Court update. Progress carries over if you decide to buy the game once the event ends.
The new module sees the return of the Crimson Courtiers, aristocratic parasites from the original game. They’ve brought the Crimson Curse back with them, and it’s up to you to contain the outbreak before it consumes your kingdom.
That means finding a cure, stamping out infestations, and driving the nobles and their corruption into the dirt before they overwhelm everything.
Since its 2023 launch, Darkest Dungeon II has steadily grown beyond its early road-trip roguelike roots. Confessions remains the backbone, a series of punishing runs across ruined landscapes, while Kingdoms shifts into broader strategy, asking you to defend and stabilise settlements under constant threat.
Curse of the Court deepens that mode with a fresh layer of escalating menace, tying the game back to one of the most infamous expansions of its predecessor.
If the free weekend wins you over, Red Hook is running the biggest sale the series has seen. The base game is 63% off, every DLC is 25% off, and the Resolute Bundle packs the game, its soundtrack, and three expansions with an extra 20% discount.
The free trial ends September 1, but the sale runs until September 11, giving plenty of time to decide whether to keep dragging your torchlight through the dark.
