Darkest Dungeon II Switch 2 Edition is out, and if you already own the Switch version, the upgrade is a $2.99 add-on rather than a full repurchase. Red Hook Studios released it on the eShop on Oct. 22, and the headline changes are a higher resolution, 60 frames per second and mouse controls through the Joy-Con 2. If you are new to the game, the Switch 2 Edition is the version to buy on the console.
What the Switch 2 Edition changes
Nintendo’s listing spells out the differences. The game runs at 1080p in handheld mode and 1440p on a TV, at 60 FPS. It adds fast driving and fast combat options, which matter in a roguelike where you do the same stagecoach rides and fights a lot. You can also turn a Joy-Con 2 on its side and use it as a mouse, which suits a menu-heavy game built on PC.
The download is bigger, at 8.8GB against 3.4GB for the Switch version, so check your storage before you grab it. It supports Nintendo’s family group lending, so another console in your group can borrow it.
Upgrade or buy new
| You own | What to buy | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Darkest Dungeon II on Switch (physical or digital) | Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack | $2.99 |
| Nothing yet | Darkest Dungeon II Nintendo Switch 2 Edition | $42.98 |
The Switch 2 Edition costs exactly what the Switch version ($39.99) plus the upgrade does, so owning the older version first costs you nothing extra, and the upgrade works with physical and digital copies. Nintendo’s listing doesn’t address save data, so if you have Nintendo Switch Online, back up your save with Save Data Cloud before you upgrade.
The Tomb Raider Survivor Trilogy on Switch 2 is a similar call this week, where the bundle is the better deal than buying piece by piece.
The cheaper route on PC is GOG
If you play on PC, check GOG first. GOG sells Darkest Dungeon II DRM-free, so you keep the installer and don’t need a launcher to play. It was $12.39 on Oct. 25, 69% off its $39.99 regular price, and GOG’s listing says that deal ends at 6:59am PT on Wed. Oct. 28. GOG’s Resolute Edition was $27.75 at the same time. Steam had it at $39.99 with no discount on the same day.
Either way, it’s the same brutal stagecoach run. The Switch 2 version just finally makes it fast enough to play in short bursts.