Challenges in Board Game Production
In a surprising turn of events, the much-anticipated board game adaptation of Darkest Dungeon, which initially garnered overwhelming support through a Kickstarter campaign, has encountered significant setbacks. Originally launched with a modest goal of 0,000, the campaign soared to an impressive .7 million, reflecting the enthusiasm of its backers. However, more than five years later, Red Hook Studios has announced that the project has ultimately collapsed due to ongoing issues with the publisher, Mythic Games.
According to a statement from Red Hook Studios, the financial difficulties plaguing Mythic Games have persisted for several years. The studio expressed its disappointment, stating, “As many of you know, the financial situation at Mythic Games has been strained for the past several years. We’ve kept an eye on the situation, hoping for the best. Unfortunately, at this point, Mythic Games is no longer able to manufacture or deliver the Darkest Dungeon board game.”
The challenges faced by Mythic Games were exacerbated by rising production and shipping costs, influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This led to requests for additional funding from backers, a move that was met with considerable backlash. While a first wave of shipments, including the English-language edition and various expansions, reached some supporters, the anticipated second wave failed to materialize, leaving many in limbo.
In a further twist, Mythic Games officially ceased operations in December 2025, as reported by BoardGameWire. The company had previously promised to provide backers with 3D printer files for the game’s miniatures as a final act of goodwill. However, a former employee later revealed that this promise was misleading, as Mythic allegedly did not possess the rights to the files. This claim was corroborated by Red Hook, which has since taken steps to ensure backers receive the necessary materials.
In an effort to mitigate the disappointment, Red Hook has opted to release all relevant game files to backers, including rules and 3D models. The studio acknowledged the limitations of this gesture, stating, “We understand that nothing can replace the experience of receiving the full board game. Unfortunately, Red Hook has neither the board game manufacturing expertise nor the ability to divert the funds required to overcome the obstacles faced by Mythic without jeopardizing our own operations.”
As the dust settles on this tumultuous chapter, Red Hook remains hopeful that this final gesture can serve as a silver lining in an otherwise disappointing situation for backers who had invested their hopes—and funds—into the Darkest Dungeon board game experience.
