Darkest Dungeon®: The Fire's Edge Review Summary

Engaging trinket mechanics and fun strong new characters reduce endgame repetitiveness, but a poorly implemented burn mechanic and lack of new maps hold it back.

New trinkets offer engaging mechanics: New trinkets, especially limited-use and trigger-based ones, are praised for adding interesting mechanics and synergies. Many players find them exciting and impactful.

Both new characters are fun and strong: Both the Duelist and Runaway are consistently described as fun, strong, and well-integrated classes. Players appreciate their unique playstyles and effectiveness.

Runaway's burn mechanics are enjoyable: The Runaway's burn and temporary item mechanics are highlighted as creative and powerful. Her support DPS role and synergy with trinkets are well received.

DLC is quality and worth price: Players widely agree that the DLC delivers solid, fairly priced content that matches the series' quality. The positive reception highlights its value and enjoyment.

New content reduces endgame repetitiveness: The DLC adds new districts, town buildings, and a wealth of trinkets that reduce endgame repetitiveness. These additions enhance the core game experience.

Burn mechanic poorly implemented: The burn status effect is considered bad, with no monsters having burn abilities and no resistance implemented. This makes the mechanic feel incomplete and unbalanced, especially against enemies.

New heroes overtuned: The new characters, particularly Runaway, are described as extremely unbalanced and overpowered compared to the vanilla cast. Players note that Runaway feels like a strictly better Graverobber and has few weak abilities.

Content feels like mods: Players feel the DLC content is comparable to workshop mods, offering little new value. The price is deemed too high for just two characters, leading to a sense of wasted money.

Lack of new maps: The DLC does not add new maps or a main storyline, focusing only on characters and mechanics. Players expected more substantial content and were disappointed by the small update.

Trinket system issues: Trinkets have problems: they can expire every time you use them, and the Dark Catalyst trinket bug consumes its charge without preventing another trinket's charge. Players also find most trinkets underwhelming.

New trinkets with limited uses: The DLC introduces trinkets with new mechanics, many of which have limited uses or can expire on use, adding strategic depth to itemization. This is a frequently mentioned feature across multiple clusters.

Two new playable heroes: The DLC adds two new characters, the Duelist and the Runaway, who are playable and come with unique mechanics. Their inclusion is a central feature of the expansion.

Duelist counter and repositioning: The Duelist has a counter mechanic that punishes enemies for attacking, often allowing her to remain in a counter state. She also has repositioning abilities and can bounce around the lineup.

Runaway Burn damage-over-time: The Runaway features a Burn mechanic that applies damage-over-time effects to enemies. This mechanic is exclusive to her and requires high APM and strict conditions to use effectively.

New town buildings and districts: The DLC expands the town with new buildings and districts, adding new mechanics and opportunities for players. This is a notable addition that enhances the base game.

Crashes on 32-bit systems: The game reportedly crashes on 32-bit systems, causing instability for players with older hardware. This technical issue likely frustrates users and may require a patch or system requirement update.

Buy on sale: Several reviewers suggest waiting for a sale before purchasing the DLC, indicating it may not be worth full price. This advice is repeated in multiple clusters.

DLC highly recommended: Multiple reviewers strongly recommend purchasing the DLC, describing it as absolutely worth it and really good. This positive sentiment is consistent across several clusters.

Support indie developer: Some reviewers recommend buying the DLC to support Red Hook Studios, the developer. This is framed as a reason to purchase beyond content value.

Great for fans: The DLC is especially recommended for fans of Darkest Dungeon who want more content. Reviewers suggest it is ideal for expanding the original game.

Finish base game first: The DLC is recommended for players who have completed the base game, as it builds on the original experience. This guidance appears for new players.

Community fair range: $19.99 - $29.99.

Player reports indicate disappointment and reliance on future patches, with no reported enjoyment.

Friction: rough edges; balancing issues.

Loyal Supporter: Replays the base game regularly, eager to test new characters and revisit familiar content. Motivation: Supporting the developer and extending enjoyment from hundreds of hours of prior play. Stance: buy.

Cautious Evaluator: Analyses new content against existing systems, preferring value and balanced additions. Motivation: Obtaining worthwhile content that is distinct and not redundant. Stance: sale.

Veterans-Only Advocate: Completionist approach, mastering the base game before engaging with DLC. Motivation: Deepening the experience for dedicated fans who already appreciate the core challenge. Stance: no buy.

Monetization: The reviews discuss the cost and value of the DLC but do not mention any microtransactions, pay-to-win elements, or predatory monetization. The DLC is a traditional one-time purchase content pack. Base price complaints are not considered evidence of predatory monetization.

Positive comparison to original Darkest Dungeon: Reviewers frequently compare this DLC favorably to Darkest Dungeon 2, expressing clear preference for the original game's style and content. They regard the second game as a misstep and welcome the return to DD1's beloved formula.

Support for developer Red Hook: Many reviewers view purchasing this DLC as a way to support Red Hook Studios, expressing gratitude for years of free updates and hundreds of hours of entertainment. They encourage the developers to continue supporting Darkest Dungeon 1.

Modding support enhanced: The DLC adds new mechanics and mod tools that enable vast modding possibilities, and compatibility with existing mods reduces conflicts. Reviewers see this as a significant positive, extending the game's lifespan.

Revives interest in DD1: The DLC provides a compelling reason to start a new playthrough and demonstrates that Darkest Dungeon still has plenty to offer. Reviewers appreciate that the developers are returning to the first game after the sequel's mixed reception.

DD2 content adapted well: The DLC successfully brings characters and features from Darkest Dungeon 2 into the original game, including the Duelist and Runaway. Reviewers note these characters feel authentic to their DD2 versions, enhancing the base game experience.