The truth is that the Hamlet needs to be as busy as it is due to the sheer complexity of the gameplay. The Hamlet is honestly overwhelming at first glance with an incredible amount of content to wade through. In the Hamlet, the Abbey and the Tavern relieve heroes of stress the Blacksmith and Guild allow for heroes to upgrade their weapons or skills the Sanitarium serves as a source for curing negative quirks or locking positive perks onto heroes the Nomad Wagons sell equipment the Survivalist teaches campfire skills to the heroes and the Stage Coach acts as the main resource for recruiting new characters. The Hamlet serves as the game's hub, where players are automatically sent to at the end of every quest.

Gameplay is effectively divided into two core sections: the Hamlet and the Dungeons. Careful character placements, financial knowhow, and patience are all larger keys to success. Relying entirely on the RPG mainstays of levelling up ultimately leads nowhere. Neglecting the latter will only make the former harder.

This is an RPG, yes, but it's also an item, character, and town management simulator. Failure occurs most of the time, not due to overwhelming difficulty, but out of unpreparedness. Rather, it's hard because it's punishing. It's doubtful anyone would ever deny that, but it isn't hard for the sake of being so.

Darkest dungeon review