4 Hardcore games like Darkest Dungeon® that you should try

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We filtered the 40 games similar to Darkest Dungeon® down to the 4 that fit the “Hardcore” category. Kingdom Rush - Tower Defense, Kingdom Rush Vengeance - Tower Defense and Caves of Qud top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Darkest Dungeon®.

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GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

The best hardcore games like Darkest Dungeon®

4 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Darkest Dungeon®. Each one has been evaluated across 18 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Kingdom Rush - Tower Defense

iRank92

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalHardcoreNarrativeDarkMedievalFantasy2D

Steam👍 94%· 11KRAWG👍 90%· 38

Year 2018Dev Ironhide Game StudioPlaytime ~6hOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ Same family of turn-based CRPGs: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and turn-based strategy

≠ Its own twist: tower defense planning, melee combat and setting cartoon, while skipping roguelike runs

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Steam GOG

#2Kingdom Rush Vengeance - Tower Defense

iRank92

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalHardcoreNarrativeDarkMedievalFantasy2D

Steam👍 94%· 11KRAWG👍 90%· 38

Year 2018Dev Ironhide Game StudioPlaytime ~6hOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ Fits the turn-based CRPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and turn-based strategy

≠ Where it differs: brings tower defense planning, melee combat and setting cartoon, while skipping roguelike runs

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalNarrativeHardcoreProceduralFantasyExploration

Steam👍 95%· 12KRAWG👍 83%· 46IGDB94· 1OC90· 11

Year 2015Dev Freehold Games · Kitfox GamesPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Both are turn-based CRPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, survival mechanics and open world exploration, while skipping horror tension

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalHardcoreProcedural2D

Steam👍 95%· 6.7KIGDB90· 2OC87· 20

Year 2023Dev Roboatino · Goblinz PublishingPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of turn-based CRPGs: deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and roguelike runs

≠ Stands apart with card game strategy and visual pixel, while skipping adventure storytelling

Details →

Steam GOG

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