Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)
- Players
- 1-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 5 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 120 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 14+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.2 / 5
- Year
- 2012
About the game
Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) casts one player as the scheming Overlord while up to four heroes venture into ruins, dungeons, and cursed forests to complete story-driven quests. Combat uses a distinctive dice-pool system full of surge symbols for special effects, and modular board pieces mean every quest looks and plays differently. With a full campaign system, upgradeable heroes, and asymmetric roles, it's a rich dungeon-crawling experience.
Hobbli's Notes
Descent 2E remains one of the gold standards for asymmetric dungeon crawlers, thanks to its streamlined line-of-sight rules and satisfying hero progression. The overlord role adds a layer of strategic tension missing from many co-op crawlers, since a real opponent is adapting to your choices. It asks for a significant time and component investment, so it rewards a committed regular group more than a casual one.
What we like
- Asymmetric overlord role adds real strategic tension.
- Rich campaign system with hero growth over time.
- Modular boards keep quests visually and tactically fresh.
- Solo play supported against the overlord AI.
Keep in mind
- Long two-hour sessions with real setup and teardown time.
- High complexity and rules overhead for new players.
- Large box with heavy component and expansion investment.
- Notable downtime for players not currently acting.
Who it's for
Great for ages 14+, fantasy adventure and dungeon-crawl fans, in groups of 2-5 (including solo play against the overlord AI).
