Dungeons and Dragons: Dark Allianceis set to be released on Jun 15, 2025, marking the next release in a renewed push forDungeons and Dragonslicensed games. The tabletop role-playing game has seen an uptick in popularity over the years, which is being capitalized on by theDnDpublisher, Wizards of the Coast.Dungeons and Dragons: Dark AlliancefollowsBaldur’s Gate 3, but it’s just the first in a long line.
Dark Allianceis the next title in a string ofDungeons and Dragonsgames, with approximately 8 in development at the moment. Each game is said to provide different experiences and caters to a variety of tastes.Dark Allianceis an action-RPG game that takes theDungeons and Dragonssource material and expresses it with action-orientated gameplay.Dark Allianceis part of a new wave ofDnDgames that is arguably the largest push the mythos has seen in video games since the originalBaldur’s GateandIcewind Dalegames. With its release just a few months away, there’s a slew of details fans should know about the title before it comes out in June.
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It’s a Spiritual Successor to Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance
Dungeons and Dragons:Dark Allianceis acting as a spiritual successor to theBaldur’s Gate: Dark Allianceseries. The Baldur’s Gate-set predecessors were originally spin-offs of the belovedBaldur’s GateRPG classics. The originalDark Alliancegames took theDnDsource material and made it action-orientated, just like the newDark Alliancetitle. While the originalDark Alliancegames included attributes and a lot of the usualDnDRPG mechanics, they were much lighter when compared with theBaldur’s GateCRPG games. ThenewDark Alliancehas a lot it can take from the original titlesand adapt for a new generation of fans.
It Won’t Have Local Co-op at Launch
While it was originally reported thatDark Alliancewould have local multiplayerin addition to online co-op and single-player modes, this doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. Jeff Hattem, creative director ofDark Alliance,recentlystated that the developer got ahead of itself and unfortunately doesn’t have the capacity to include the mode right now. While this could be a blow for certain fans, he did state that it could come at a later point, along with other forms of downloadable content. The local co-op was a highly popular feature of the originalBaldur’s Gate: Dark Alliancegames, and many fans are hoping it can be included in the new title at some point.
The Protagonists are Popular Dungeons and Dragons Heroes
Dark Alliancewill feature 4 playable characters fromDungeons and Dragonslore who can be used in online co-op or played solo. The stars of the game areDrizzt Do’Urden and the Companions of the Hall. The Companions of the Hall is made up of Bruenor Battlehammer, Cattie-brie, Wulfgar, and of course, Drizzt. These heroes are very well known from theDungeons and Dragonsgames and expanded media. This team debuted in the 1988 book,The Crystal Shard,and appeared many more times in R.A. Salvatore’s written adventures. The group is very popular amongDungeons and Dragonsplayers.
Of particular note isthe drow ranger, Drizzt Do’Urden. Drizzt is an exceedingly popularDungeons and Dragonscharacter and is ought to be one of the most used playable characters inDark Alliance.His history is long and complicated and inherently intertwined with the Icewind Dale setting and theIcewind Dalebook series. Drizzt was originally an outlaw from his people, the drow, who live in the subterranean Underdark. He became the first of his people to willingly live on the surface, and he has since become legendary in theDungeons and Dragonsmythos.
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Dark Alliance is Set in Icewind Dale
Dark Allianceisset in the region of Icewind Dale, which is undoubtedly a familiar location to manyDungeons and Dragonsgamers. Icewind Dale has been a focal point of the eponymous books from R.A. Salvatore, the games of the same name, and several tabletop modules. The region is icy and consistently experiences extremely cold weather, which has proven a challenge for manyDungeons and Dragonsplayers.Dark Alliancewill add another wrinkle to the legacy of the territory and is set after the first book of the Icewind Dale Trilogy,The Crystal Shard.
It’s Associated with Rime of the Frostmaiden
Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaidenis an officialDungeons and Dragonsadventure, andDark Alliancewill be linked with it in some ways. This adventure andDark Allianceare both set in the frosty region of Icewind Dale, with the events of the video game occurring before the adventure module. While the stories of the two experiences are completely separate, it has been suggested there’ll be some links with the enemies fought and the places visited. This is sure to be exciting for someDungeons and Dragonsplayers to see so much focus on Icewind Dale in various media.
The Gameplay is Reportedly Fast and Action-Heavy
Thegameplay ofDark Allianceis reported to be action-heavyand fast-paced. This sounds similar to the originalDark Alliancegames in that it focuses on the action rather than spending time managing stats, like its source material might suggest. These reports from gameplay previews seem to suggest thatDark Allianceis acting as a spiritual successor and retains some of the gameplay stylings of the originals while having an unconnected story.
Dungeons and Dragons: Dark Allianceseems as though it’s shaping up well and it should have a lot for fans of the original games to enjoy. As the next step in the renewed effort forDungeons and Dragonsvideo games, Wizards of the Coast is undoubtedly hoping for a hit when it lands this summer. The action approach ofDark Alliancecould lead to more interest inDungeons and Dragonsas a whole and add another layer to its fandom. There’s still some time to go before the game is released, so there could be more information about the game released yet.
Dungeons and Dragons: Dark Allianceis set for release on June 11, 2025, on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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