57
MONSTER
Set in the Forgotten Realms, the game features real-time combat and dynamic co-op gameplay, and pits the infamous Drizzt Do'Urden and his legendary companions – Catti-brie, Bruenor, and Wulfgar – against some of the most iconic monsters from the world of Dungeons & Dragons. Frost Giants, Beholders, and White Dragons roam the frozen tundra of Icewind Dale in search of the Crystal Shard— and it's up to the companions to muster the strength to stop them from claiming and using it to destroy their home.
Game analysis
Monster Scorecard
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Story and Narrative
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52
Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance nails cinematic flair and lore nods but drowns in a shallow, repetitive story that reduces D&D’s rich universe to generic hack-and-slash action, leaving fans craving substance over style.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY
Story Score
52
Positive Reviews (80-100)
0%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
73%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
27%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.
TL;DR
story and narrative
Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance nails cinematic flair and lore nods but drowns in a shallow, repetitive story that reduces D&D’s rich universe to generic hack-and-slash action, leaving fans craving substance over style.
Gameplay Mechanics
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55
Despite co-op charm and character depth, Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance crumbles under repetitive mechanics, clunky controls, and a lack of polish. While its multiplayer teamwork and skill systems shine, grinding combat, unresponsive gameplay, and bland design dominate. Critics call it a rushed, unfulfilling slog—nostalgia can’t salvage its flaws.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY
Gameplay Score
55
Positive Reviews (80-100)
7%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
70%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
23%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.
TL;DR
gameplay mechanics
Despite co-op charm and character depth, Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance crumbles under repetitive mechanics, clunky controls, and a lack of polish. While its multiplayer teamwork and skill systems shine, grinding combat, unresponsive gameplay, and bland design dominate. Critics call it a rushed, unfulfilling slog—nostalgia can’t salvage its flaws.
Graphics and Visual Design
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61
Amidst praise for immersive D&D world-building and stylistic visuals, Dark Alliance falters with technical hiccups—glitches, poor animations, and underwhelming PS5 performance—making its visual ambition feel like a wasted effort despite moments of style.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VISUALS
Visual Score
61
Positive Reviews (80-100)
17%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
78%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
5%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the graphics and visual design.
TL;DR
graphics and visual design
Amidst praise for immersive D&D world-building and stylistic visuals, Dark Alliance falters with technical hiccups—glitches, poor animations, and underwhelming PS5 performance—making its visual ambition feel like a wasted effort despite moments of style.
Music and Sound Design
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69
Mixed reactions to Dark Alliance's audio design: Praised for immersive orchestral scores and choral themes that elevate its fantasy atmosphere, but criticized for generic, repetitive tracks and inconsistent sound design. Voice acting was largely praised but noted for repetition.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR SOUND DESIGN
Sound Score
69
Positive Reviews (80-100)
33%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
62%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
5%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the music and sound design.
TL;DR
music and sound design
Mixed reactions to Dark Alliance's audio design: Praised for immersive orchestral scores and choral themes that elevate its fantasy atmosphere, but criticized for generic, repetitive tracks and inconsistent sound design. Voice acting was largely praised but noted for repetition.
Voice Acting
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68
Voice acting in Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance shines with charm, humor, and immersive flair, earning praise for its nostalgic dialogue, distinct characters, and standout goblin banter—though repetitive lines and over-the-top delivery occasionally dampen the experience. While critics like IGN and Game Rant hail it as a defining strength, others note flaws in emotional depth and tonal consistency, creating a mixed but largely positive verdict.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VOICE ACTING
Acting Score
68
Positive Reviews (80-100)
44%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
44%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
11%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the voice acting.
TL;DR
voice acting
Voice acting in Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance shines with charm, humor, and immersive flair, earning praise for its nostalgic dialogue, distinct characters, and standout goblin banter—though repetitive lines and over-the-top delivery occasionally dampen the experience. While critics like IGN and Game Rant hail it as a defining strength, others note flaws in emotional depth and tonal consistency, creating a mixed but largely positive verdict.
Technical Performance
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42
Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance stumbles under a mountain of technical flaws across all platforms, with newer hardware like PS5 and Xbox Series X offering slight polish but failing to fix core issues—framerate drops, glitches, unstable online play, and clunky mechanics—leaving critics calling it an unfinished, buggy mess that undermines its potential.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
Tech Score
42
Positive Reviews (80-100)
3%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
42%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
55%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the technical performance.
TL;DR
technical performance
Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance stumbles under a mountain of technical flaws across all platforms, with newer hardware like PS5 and Xbox Series X offering slight polish but failing to fix core issues—framerate drops, glitches, unstable online play, and clunky mechanics—leaving critics calling it an unfinished, buggy mess that undermines its potential.
Replay Value
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53
Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance delivers co-op thrills and loot-driven replayability but is bogged down by repetitive design, technical flaws, and underwhelming content, leaving players with a mixed bag of short-term fun and long-term disappointment.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR REPLAY VALUE
Replay Score
53
Positive Reviews (80-100)
8%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
65%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
27%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the replay value.
TL;DR
replay value
Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance delivers co-op thrills and loot-driven replayability but is bogged down by repetitive design, technical flaws, and underwhelming content, leaving players with a mixed bag of short-term fun and long-term disappointment.
Overall Verdict
57
MONSTER
OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION
Monster Score
57
Positive Reviews (80-100)
6%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
68%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
27%
Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.
TL;DR
A flawed yet nostalgic D&D co-op romp plagued by technical hiccups, repetitive design, and clunky mechanics, despite its engaging combat, lore nods, and multiplayer appeal—best suited for fans willing to overlook its shortcomings.
57
MONSTER
Reviews
93 reviews found90
TrueAchievements
Jun 21, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review concludes with a positive assessment
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83
Player 2
Jun 21, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dark Alliance is a solid single-player experience but truly shines as a chaotic co-op adventure. It is recommended to play with friends for the best experience.
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80
PlayStation Universe
Jun 21, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Despite its flaws, the game is recommended for action RPG fans due to its engaging co-op gameplay, loot system, and budget price. It's seen as a worthwhile purchase for those seeking dark fantasy hack-and-slash fun.
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75
Worth Playing
Jun 21, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The game is a solid action-RPG with strong multiplayer elements but suffers from technical flaws and a lackluster narrative. It offers value for co-op fans despite its shortcomings.
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72
XboxAddict
Jul 6, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
A fun but flawed dungeon crawler with strong visuals and co-op potential, hindered by technical issues and limited replayability. It offers a decent experience for D&D fans and casual players looking for cooperative action, though its shortcomings are significant.
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72
RPG Fan
Jul 6, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
A game with promising mechanics and nostalgic ties to D&D lore, but hindered by significant technical issues and design limitations. It has potential for improvement through DLC and patches but remains frustrating for many players.
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70
Game Rant
Jun 21, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
A worthy successor to Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, praised for its combat, lore integration, and accessibility. It balances casual fun with D&D depth but has notable flaws in repetition and technical polish.
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70
Push Square
Jun 28, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dark Alliance is described as a game that offers old-school PS2-style fun, enjoyable solo or with friends. It is not groundbreaking but worth trying for fans of dungeon crawling hack-and-slash classics.
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70
Cultured Vultures
Jun 21, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
A fun action game with strong combat and D&D fan service, but its technical issues and clunky mechanics make it a tough recommendation unless playing with friends. The verdict score is 7/10.
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70
Pure Xbox
Jun 21, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The game is a well-executed action-brawler that will likely be enjoyed by long-time D&D players or fans of fantasy action brawlers. It doesn't revolutionize the genre but is worth trying, especially since it's available on Game Pass at launch.