The dungeon crawl is an experience as old as time for PC gamers; from the block-based movement of Eye of the Beholder, to the seminal Ultima Underworld, all the way through to Elden Ring's daunting delves and Diablo 4's pacey underworld rampages, the PC has exhibited many ways to dungeon-delve over the years.
But when it first launched last year, Dark and Darker offered something different within that familiar framework of flickering candles, tantalising treasure chests, and subterranean foes. Not only did you get to delve into each dungeon alongside two other players, but out there in the darkness of the caves and buried keeps are other bands of real-life players, out for the same riches as you, and prepared to fight you for them.
The execution of this PvPvE twist made Dark and Darker a hit on PC, and now the extraction-based dungeon crawler is bringing its suspenseful high-stakes play to mobile.
Dark and Darker Mobile is being made by Bluehole Studio, one of the creative studios of KRAFTON, and it isn't some watered-down, garishly coloured, sped-up version of the game. Executive Producer Joonseok Ahn made no secret of the work that's gone into keeping the original game's dark formula intact. "One of the biggest challenges was adapting the hardcore elements of the extraction genre for a mobile audience," he says. "Specifically, the risk of losing all your possessions if you fail to escape the dungeon, while still preserving the game’s unique character."
To that end, Dark and Darker Mobile is made in Unreal Engine 5. "This has allowed us to create highly realistic dungeon environments, dynamic lighting, and detailed character models, allowing players to fully immerse themselves in the game’s dark atmosphere," said Ahn. "From the subtle glow of torches to the bizarre textures of monster skin, every detail is beautifully brought to life."
Naturally, the UIs and mechanics had to be adapted to feel smooth on mobile; there is now auto-attack and aiming assistance, for instance, which is part of "implementing the complex combat mechanics into an intuitive touch control interface and ensuring smooth performance across various mobile devices," according to Ahn.
For those who don't want the pressure of playing alongside other people, Dark and Dark Mobile also introduces mercenaries—dedicated AI companions who you can level up and promote as you complete adventures with them. Of course, if you're feeling daring, you can just dive in completely solo too.
But beyond that, the core premise of descending into a dungeon and trying to escape with as much loot as possible—while fighting or fleeing other players—is there in all its gruelling glory. Each delve has a time limit, and as you get closer to it, while around the edges of the map the Dark Swarm will start creeping in, shrinking the map and making it more likely for you to run into other adventurers. It's "a natural fusion of various genres," as Ahn puts it. "By combining dungeon extraction with elements of battle royale, dungeon crawler, and RPG genres, we’ve created a unique and dynamic experience. Players will constantly face new challenges and reap rewards along the way."
Even though the combat is quite slow-paced, in keeping with old-school dungeon crawlers, the PvP and battle royale elements make each delve an intense experience, as each minute you're weighing up whether you should try to escape with the loot you've got, or push that bit deeper in search of greater spoils (and greater threats). A lot rests on these decisions, because if you die, you lose all the loot you have on you at the time, including whatever you're wearing. On the bright side, even if you die you will still gain experience for whatever class you're playing as, though it'll be significantly lower than if you successfully escape.
Other players aren't the only threat in the deep. Myriad monsters lurk in the pitch-black shadows and damp caverns; goblins, bats, cave trolls, and formidable bosses that we won't spoil here. While some of these encounters may not seem threatening, every fight punishes complacency, and you'll need to master the precise physics-based combat, whereby you need to direct your shield towards an incoming arrow, or face it in the direction that an incoming hammer swing is arcing in from.
Dark and Darker Mobile will feature classic locations like the Goblin Caves and the Forgotten Castle, with four difficulty settings that will affect the challenge as well as the loot you're able to plunder. Six of the original game's nine classes make it over to the mobile version, and will have access to the robust class and skill trees that will let you adapt each class to your playstyle as you progress.
There are few games like Dark and Darker out there, and even fewer on mobile, so its arrival on Android and iOS heralds a tenebrous new era for both the game and mobile gamers. You can apply for pre-registration on Dark and Darker Mobile now, and follow its dark descent onto mobile platforms through its YouTube, X, and Discord channels.
