On Steam, the two fantasy escapes from Tarkov are fighting for your favor. We tell you which game suits you best
The world of PvPvE games is highly competitive – alongside the two top dogs Hunt: Showdown and Escape from Tarkov, two fantasy spin-offs, Dungeonborne and Dark and Darker have been vying for your favor since 2024.
While Dark and Darker has established itself as a surprise hit in 2023 and has a loyal fan base, Dungeonborne is a new challenger on the scene and promises improvements in many areas.
But which game offers the better experience? In this article, we compare the strengths and weaknesses of both games to find out which game is suitable for which players.
Dungeonborne vs Dark and Darker – which game is worth playing for me?
Both Dungeonborne and Dark and Darker combine elements of Player vs. Environment (PvE) and Player vs. Player (PvP) and take you into a dangerous, medieval world in which you have to fight your way through dungeons.
In both games, you have various character classes at your disposal with which you can hunt monsters, loot treasures and fight against other players if you encounter them. Both games place great emphasis on a strategic approach, because if you die, you lose everything
In the following we list the respective strengths and weaknesses.
Dungeonborne
We like that
Graphics: Dungeonborne impresses with its chic Unreal Engine 5 graphics and far surpasses Dark and Darker, which has rather plain graphics.
Battle system: The battle system in Dungeonborne appears more complex and mature than in Dark and Darker. While the latter seems somewhat immature in many areas, Dungeonborne offers a variety of selectable skills and talents that make the game more tactical and varied.
Accessibility: Dungeonborne offers a much easier introduction than Dark and Darker. For example, there are beginner dungeons for solo players where you can explore and loot without too much time pressure. In addition, many important basic items such as healing potions and bandages are dirt cheap.
PvP experience: Although PvP battles are less frequent in Dungeonborne, they are very intense and offer a welcome change from PvE. The rare encounters with other players make these moments particularly exciting and unpredictable.
Scav mode: Similar to Escape from Tarkov, you can go into battle as Scav. You don’t start with your own character, but as a fully equipped member of the Mithril Order, and can go on a dungeon tour without risk. You can keep the loot if you survive.
Free access: Dungeonborne offers all game modes and content at no additional cost. This makes the game particularly attractive for players who do not want to pay for additional content. The in-game store is limited to cosmetic skins. In comparison, Dark and Darker requires additional spending for the full experience.
We don’t like this
The hitboxes: A major problem in Dungeonborne is the unreliable hitboxes. Often attacks, both in PvE and PvP, do not seem to hit, even though they are visually executed correctly.
Artificial Intelligence: The AI of the enemies in Dungeonborne is weak and easy to trick. The enemies can often be confused by simple tricks, such as jumping on elevations, which significantly reduces the challenge in PvE.
Dark and Darker
We like that
Atmosphere: Here the name says it all, because Dark and Darker offers a very immersive and dark atmosphere. Without a torch, you can’t see your own hand in front of your eyes in many rooms. The music and the design of the environments further enhance the dark atmosphere.
Established base: Even though Dark and Darker and Dungeonborne have similar player numbers on Steam, Dark and Darker has the larger player base. The game was already playable via its own launcher for around a year before the game ended up back on Steam following the legal dispute between Iron Mace and Nexon.
Classes: Dark and Darker offers a wide variety of playable classes, each with unique abilities and playstyles. There are also some that are really creative – such as the bard, whose instrument you have to play yourself with a kind of rhythm game.
We don’t like this
Graphics: Compared to Dungeonborne, the graphics in Dark and Darker look outdated and less appealing. Graphically, the game cannot keep up with the Unreal Engine 5 graphics of Dungeonborne.
Little Free2Play: Dark and Darker is Free2Play, but requires additional spending for a lot of content. If you don’t spend any money, you only get one character slot and can only compete in normal mode. The high-roller mode, where the best rewards await, is behind the paywall.
Matchmaking: As soon as you enter dungeons that require a certain gear score, the balance is very mixed. If you just meet the minimum, matchmaking will not take this into account. You will often encounter players with epic or legendary equipment – even if you only show up with rare equipment.
Conclusion: Which game is best for whom?
Dungeonborne is ideal for players who have no previous experience with games like Escape from Tarkov. It offers an easy introduction and is particularly attractive for those who want to try it out at no extra cost.
This doesn’t mean it’s undemanding, however: although the AI opponents are much easier to outwit than in the competitor, the game offers sufficient tactical depth and gets really intense when you come up against other players.
You can also play Dark and Darker for free to see if you like the title. However, a one-off real money investment is required if you want to play the game for longer. Overall, the challenge is greater and requires a strategic approach, as you will encounter human opponents more frequently, who are sometimes better equipped or may appear in larger groups.
If you are looking for a dark atmosphere and intense PvP experiences that also benefit from a strong player base, you will find it here.
