Darkest Dungeon® II: Hero Origin Pack Review Summary

Generous free DLC delivers great skins and origin sets, but skin mixing restrictions, unbalanced Kingdoms mode, and a two-year delay hold it back.

Free DLC with great skins: Multiple reviews highlight that the DLC and its skins are entirely free, which is praised compared to typical monetization. The quality of the skins is also noted as high, with some saying they could have been paid content.

Origin skins included: The DLC includes the origin outfits for playable characters, which players had wanted. These skins are now available for free by completing each hero's story.

High quality and impressive: The content is described as impressive, nice, and close to masterpiece quality overall. The skins are considered the best in the game, with full designs rather than simple recolors.

Fill cosmetic gaps: The pack fills a noticeable gap in hero cosmetics and provides additional customization options for free. This includes past character designs and models that are now playable.

Skin quality varies but free: Some reviews note that the skins are of mixed quality, but they are free, which makes them worthwhile. Specific skins like the Plague Doctor's and Vestal's are highlighted as attractive.

Skin mixing limitations frustrate players: Players cannot mix weapon skins with origin skins or use purchased skins with updates, limiting customization. This restriction applies across several reported clusters.

Kingdoms mode poorly balanced: Kingdoms mode is poorly balanced, with early game stress forcing players down specific paths. Inn upgrades further force militia upgrades, reducing strategic freedom.

Bounty system lacks matching content: Bounties have no corresponding memories or skins, and characters appear out of place during bounty events. This integration gap reduces immersion and rewards appeal.

DLC release delayed two years: The origin skins took two years to implement, and the DLC launched later than promised. This lengthy delay frustrates players awaiting promised content.

Developer update pace too slow: Developers take a long time on a single update, and players compare unfavorably to Total War's content approach. This slow pace erodes confidence in ongoing support.

Origin skins are separate models: Unlike standard skins, Origin Skins are distinct character models rather than simple color palettes, offering more visual variety but likely requiring more effort to implement.

Kingdoms mode early stress: In Kingdoms mode, there is an early game stress mechanic that pressures players from the start, affecting strategy and progression pace.

Skins unlocked via hero stories: Players can unlock skins by completing each hero's story, integrating progression with narrative and rewarding character development.

Shrines grant bonus rewards: Completing Shrines provides bonus rewards that help players learn character backstories, merging gameplay with lore discovery.

Prime heroes now playable: Heroes in their 'Prime' state are available as playable characters, expanding the roster with enhanced or alternate versions of existing heroes.

Mining concerns: The review expresses concern that the game may perform cryptocurrency mining on the player's computer. This is a serious privacy and performance issue.

Free pack recommended: Players recommend getting the pack because it is free, making it a low-risk addition for fans.

Targets first-game fans: The DLC is recommended for those who enjoyed the first game, indicating it appeals to existing fans rather than newcomers.

Not for casual players: The content may not suit casual players, possibly due to complexity or difficulty, leading to a negative recommendation for that audience.

Players seem to enjoy the game from the start, with free content updates adding to the excitement, though early game stress may limit some options.

Friction: early game stress; limited ways to deal with stress; forced down certain paths.

Steam Deck: This review does not mention Steam Deck at all. All feedback centers on the origin skins pack—its free optional nature, the separate download requirement, inability to mix skins, and a two-year wait. No technical barriers such as crashes, small text, launcher problems, or battery drain are reported. The game likely runs natively and seamlessly on Steam Deck based on this evidence.

Developer respect shown: Releasing the DLC for free demonstrates the developers' respect for their community and their commitment to not exploiting fans financially. Such actions reflect positively on the company's ethos.

DLC separate redemption pack: The DLC is a separate pack that must be redeemed to the account, and the developer noted that adding it separately was easier due to the skins being distinct models.

Community requested cosmetics: The skins were heavily requested by the community since the game's release, and their inclusion as free rewards fulfills long-standing player wishes.

Comparison to series predecessor: Some reviews compare this game to the first in the series, noting less gameplay innovation but richer art and story. This suggests the sequel focuses more on narrative and visuals.

Outfits for multiple characters: The DLC includes outfits for characters featured in the three character DLCs, expanding customization options beyond just the base roster.