Dungeonborne vs Dark and Darker – Which is better?

Dark and Darker and Dungeonborne are two early-access dungeon crawlers that focus on PvPvE combat. If you're unsure which to pick up, I'll explain the differences between the two to help you decide which would be more enjoyable to play.

All differences between Dungeonborne and Dark and Darker

Available Classes

When it comes to the number of available classes, Dark and Darker just barely wins out with nine classes compared to the eight in Dungeonborne. Of these classes, the two games share the Fighter, Druid, Rogue, and Priest/Cleric classes. All four of these classes are pretty common in standard fantasy games like DND. The remaining five Dark and Darker classes remain in the realm of common fantasy classes, like Barbarians. In contrast, Dungeonborne extends into a few more specialized classes, like the Death Knight and the Pyromancer. They don't have the same adaptability as the Dark and Darker classes, but they are very good at what they were intended to do.

Part of the adaptability of the Dark and Darker classes comes from the wide variety of customization offered in the forms of perks and spell selections. Like in a DND campaign, players have a limited number of spell slots that they can fill. Every spell they choose fills a certain number of slots and has a certain number of costs. It's an intricate system that requires you to put a lot of time and research into putting your build together.

Dungeonborne differs from the Dark and Darker class system because the customization of its actual classes is fairly limited. Most characters give players a choice between two Active Skills and two Passive Skills, with some characters not having a secondary option for one or both categories. Essentially, it takes away the customization given by Dark and Darker in exchange for a more beginner-friendly system that does most of the work for you.

Because of these differences, I can't say that either Dark and Darker or Dungeonborne is truly better in class selection. Instead, I would say that more experienced players who want to go all-in and build a character from the ground up would enjoy Dark and Darker, while those who want to play a bit more casually and hop right into the dungeon crawling should try Dungeonborne.

Characters

If there is one extreme way in which Dungeonborne is greater than Dark and Darker, it is in the number of characters you can have. Dungeonborne has enough slots for players to create characters for every class available and a few extras. Each character can have their unique name, appearance, and stats, even if you have two characters of the same class. In comparison, Dark and Darker only allowing you to make a single character for free feels a little lackluster. You'll need to purchase the Legendary Status pack to unlock more, which costs about $30.

Dungeonborne offers a small variety of character customization options while Dark and Darker currently has none. You can customize the skin tone, hair color, and a few other essentials of any of your Dungeonborne characters. In contrast, Dark and Darker currently only used one default model for each class. However, you can choose if your character is a woman or a man. Additionally, there are a few skins for sale for fantasy races, like Lizardmen, and the option to change your race should become available since there is a section for it in-game. You can also purchase and use emotes in the dungeons.

Combat

Dark and Darker's more realistic approach follows it into its combat mechanics. As mentioned in the Class section, you're given a much wider range of spells and perks to choose from to suit your personal fighting style. Additionally, fighting enemies and the like feels much more real; you have to genuinely watch your opponent's moves and dodge in the appropriate direction to avoid taking a hit.

This is very different from Dungeonborne, where you're able to hold the right mouse button to automatically block using your equipped weapons. When you can block in Dark and Darker, it isn't a one-tap solution; players and enemies alike can shoot and bash their way through your shield if not placed and used properly for the situation.

Aiming your weapons properly is vital in both games, but I find it to be a bit trickier in Dark and Darker. At one point, I swung my staff in hopes of hitting a goblin but hit the cavern's walls instead, giving the goblin time to hit me. It's little things like this that make Dark and Darker a more difficult, somewhat more realistic experience than Dungeonborne.

The same goes for the rest ability that allows players to naturally regenerate health and spell uses in Dungeonborne. Sitting down and taking breaks to rejuvenate is something everyone has done at some point. It does make the gameplay a lot slower than in Dungeonborne, especially if you're playing a spellcaster and need to rest after every fight.

Should you play Dungeonborne or Dark and Darker?

Overall, the best game for you depends on your experience and how you want to play. If you're looking for a semi-realistic fantasy adventure that holds no punches and requires plenty of tactical precision, go for Dark and Darker. The same goes for those who want a more intense PvP experience since Dark and Darker has a much more competitive community. Learning the mechanics and all of the skills and spells will keep you busy while roughing it in the Dark and Darker dungeons.

If you're looking for a more casual slash-and-bash dungeon adventure, I recommend going to Dungeonborne first. Its simpler tactics and class abilities make it much more beginner and casual player-friendly than Dark and Darker. The player base is also less competitive, so you won't have as many problems with fighting elite players like those in Dark and Darker.

Not sure who to play in Dungeonborne? Check out our Dungeonborne Class Tier List – Best Class here on Pro Game Guides to learn more about the available heroes.