In most video games, death and defeat are seen as failures and have a stigma attached to them. In Darkest Dungeon, those two things are so common and frequent that planning for victory is an ill-conceived strategy. Working around failure is what matters most in such a title, making it a truly unique trendsetter in its turn-based genre. Too bad it seems Darkest Dungeon 2 is still a ways off.

Looking to get your serotonin fix in the form of overcoming overwhelming adversity after getting your soul crushed by a turn-based RNG battle system can be a tough affair. Luckily, we’ve compiled some of the toughest and most thematically close video games that match Darkest Dungeon’s gameplay philosophy. These titles ought to keep you occupied until the sequel comes around to break your spirit once again.

10 Solasta: Crown of the Magister

  • D&D 5th edition game
  • Medieval fantasy
  • Team-based
  • Permadeath

The latest title qualified here is quite a revolutionary step forward for the Dungeons & Dragons franchise. Solasta: Crown of the Magister, is one of the first video games to successfully translate D&D’s 5th edition ruleset into gaming and it worked quite well; it’s every bit as brutal as the tabletop dice.

As such, don’t go in Solasta expecting a warm welcome unless you pick the easy version of the ruleset in-game. Beyond the truly random turn-based gameplay chances, Solasta is a standard Forgotten Realms story about adventure and good versus evil.

9 XCOM Series

  • Sci-fi with aliens
  • Team-based

Speaking of unforgiving turn-based RNG, the XCOM games are well-known for serving that to players after they’re comfortable in their perceived invincibility. At certain difficulty levels, even a hit chance of 90 percent can miss a lot.

It’s not much different from Darkest Dungeon in that regard. It’s sci-fi, however, which is a huge departure from Lovecraftian medieval horror. Still, if you’re looking for a turn-based challenge and have some healthy blood vessels to spare that you can afford popped, by all means, try out this series.

8 Deep Sky Derelicts

  • Sci-fi, retro-futuristic
  • Team-based
  • Roguelite

Darkest Dungeon in space would be one of the best ways to sum up Deep Sky Derelicts. It even “borrows” some of the former’s exploration mode and 2D storytelling. Deep Sky Derelicts is less foreboding and oppressive despite the horror elements.

It doesn’t have the same ominous atmosphere nor the creepy foreshadowing from the narrator. What it does have is a lovely balance of difficulty and reward as well as a charming art style that lets it set its own identity apart.

7 Battle Brothers

  • Low fantasy, medieval
  • Hexagonal battle simulator
  • Permadeath

True to its name, Battle Brothers is an elaborate battle simulator that takes place on a hexagonal battlefield. In this game, you take control of your custom army as you lead them in a deadly chess match against the enemy army.

Several factors dictate the ebb and flow of the turn-based 2D battle such as morale, veterancy, and of course, your input as their commander. There’s a permadeath mechanic present in the game which you’re probably used to by now thanks to Darkest Dungeon.

6 Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Master

  • Medieval fantasy
  • Team-based
  • Roguelite

You ought to try Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Master based on its novel idea alone. This game reverses the player’s role where instead of raiding dungeons, you’re defending one and are thus controlling a team of monsters against sacrilegious heroes that seek to defile your domain and loot the riches.

You assume the role of a Dungeon Manager where you can recruit monsters to defend your dungeons after wave after wave of heroes flock in like it’s a museum trip. It’s not just monsters you get to control, but also the traps and quirks of your dungeons.

5 Iron Danger

  • Medieval fantasy
  • Turn-based and real-time hybrid

Iron Danger was mostly a sleeper hit last year but it gave something to the turn-based genre that’s never been seen before: a hybrid combat system. Iron Danger lets you toy with the flow of time in a seamless melding of its story and gameplay.

Outside combat, the game is in real-time mode. But once you enter an encounter, the game lets you rewind and pause time to change the outcome of combat choices. Gameplay, in that regard, is similar to editing a video except more visceral and interactive.

4 Divinity: Original Sin

  • Medieval fantasy RPG
  • Hard exploration and combat

Darkest Dungeon is intent on letting you experience a baptism by fire; no it won’t hold your hand or coddle you during the darkest moments. Divinity: Original Sin, the first game, also treats its players in a similar manner.

The game can be a harsh RPG where you don’t get a quest marker and you’ll have to do some reading and some comprehending. The turn-based combat, while quirky, is rather difficult and compels players to save scum so they can do some much-needed trial and error.

3 Alder’s Blood

  • Lovecraftian fantasy
  • Stealth

Alder’s Blood is perhaps the closest to Darkest Dungeon in atmosphere since it’s a Lovecraftian game at its narrative core. You face the unknown and overbearing horror of a dead god poisoning the game world with grotesque and incomprehensible monstrosities.

Where the difference lies is in Alder’s Blood’s gameplay. It places emphasis on stealth instead of skirmishes. That doesn’t mean it lets you breathe easy, as even the stealth mechanics in Alder’s Blood relies on lots of RNG.

2 Underrail

  • Post-apocalypse
  • Hardcore RPG

If you want more options in exploration and combat apart from RNG skirmishes, then Underrail might just offer you a fully-fledged RPG system like Divinity. It’s a post-apocalyptic romp through an underground sanctuary after humanity was forced down to the ground.

Except “sanctuary” is a bit of a misconception because the whole subterranean enclave is an inhospitable and amoral cesspit. You must then find your place in that kind of society using any skills you have at your disposal all in turn-based glory.

1 Othercide

  • Post-apocalypse, sci-fi
  • No healing
  • Team-based

As far as style goes, Othercide takes the cake due to its somber and muted colors. The game comes in three colors: black, white, and red. It uses these palettes to full effect while telling its hyper-stylized and dramatic narrative.

You’ll also be pleased to know that the graphics are in full-3D and the visuals remain as they are even in the toughest turn-based gameplay moments. With the impressive degree of its visuals and art style, the story is just icing on top.

NEXT: Great JRPGs Without Turn-Based Combat