The Darkness II vs V Rising

A full spec-by-spec comparison of The Darkness II vs V Rising — engine, performance, dimensions, features and price, with the differences highlighted to help you decide.

Specification The Darkness II 2K Games V Rising Stunlock Studios
Overview
Release Date February 7, 2012 May 8, 2024
Availability Released Released
Age Rating Mature —
Developer 2K, Digital Extremes Stunlock Studios
Publisher 2K Games Stunlock Studios
Official Site http://www.embracethedarkness.com/ https://playvrising.com/
Gameplay
Genre Action Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer
Game Modes Single-player, Multiplayer, Co-op Single-player, Multiplayer, Co-op, Online Co-op
Perspective First-person —
Average Playtime 3 hours 7 hours
Platforms & Pricing
Platforms PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Apple Macintosh PC
Available On Xbox Store, PlayStation Store, Steam, Xbox 360 Store Steam
PC Requirements
Minimum Requirements OS: Windows XP/Vista/7 Processor: Intel Core 2 @ 2GHz / AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Memory: 1.5GB RAM Hard Disk Space: 10GB Video Card: 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600 / ATI Radeon HD 2600 Sound: DirectX Compatible Additional: Requires installation of Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable, DirectX and nVidia PhysX version 9.11.1107 (included with download) Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: Windows 10 64 bit Processor: Intel Core i5-6600, 3.3 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X, 3.5 GHz Memory: 12 GB RAM Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti, 2 GB or AMD Radeon R7 360, 2 GB DirectX: Version 11 Network: Broadband Internet connection Storage: 7 GB available space Additional Notes: Minimum System Requirements might change in the future
Recommended Requirements OS: Windows XP/Vista/7 Processor: 2.4 GHz Quad Core processor Memory: 2GB RAM Hard Disk Space: 10GB Video Card: 512+ MB NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX Sound: DirectX Compatible Additional: Requires installation of Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable, DirectX and nVidia PhysX version 9.11.1107 (included with download) Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: Windows 10 64 bit Processor: Intel Core i5-11600K, 3.9 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, 3.7 GHz Memory: 12 GB RAM Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, 8 GB or AMD Radeon RX 590, 8 GB DirectX: Version 11 Network: Broadband Internet connection Storage: 7 GB available space Additional Notes: Recommended System Requirements might change in the future
Critic & Community Scores
Metacritic 77 / 100 —
Community Rating 3.7 / 5 (1,123 ratings) 3.7 / 5 (175 ratings)

The Darkness II vs V Rising: which should you buy?

If you are a Filipino gamer looking for a classic, story‑driven shooter that can run on older hardware, The Darkness II is the safer pick. It supports PC, PlayStation and Xbox, needs only a modest 1.5 GB RAM and a 256 MB GPU for minimum play, and its average playtime is about 3 hours, making it a quick, single‑session experience. Its Metacritic score of 77 and community rating of 3.7/5 show solid but not spectacular reception. V Rising, on the other hand, is a brand‑new 2024 online‑focused action‑adventure that runs exclusively on PC and demands a modern 64‑bit Windows 10 system with at least 12 GB RAM and a GTX 750 Ti‑class GPU. Its recommended specs jump to a GTX 1070‑class card, reflecting a more demanding, graphically intensive world and longer average playtime of 7 hours. Community sentiment is identical (3.7/5) but there is no Metacritic score yet. Choose The Darkness II if you value lower hardware cost, multi‑console availability, and a short, narrative‑driven run. Opt for V Rising if you have a capable PC, want a longer, multiplayer‑heavy experience, and are okay with higher system requirements and a single‑platform (PC‑only) ecosystem. Prices are not listed, so budget decisions should consider the likely higher hardware investment for V Rising.

Frequently asked questions

Which game runs on older PCs?

The Darkness II’s minimum requirements only need a 1.5 GB RAM and a 256 MB GPU, making it suitable for older PCs, whereas V Rising requires at least 12 GB RAM and a GTX 750 Ti‑class GPU.

Which title offers more gameplay time?

V Rising has an average playtime of 7 hours, compared to The Darkness II’s 3 hours, giving a longer overall experience.

Can I play either game on a console?

The Darkness II is available on PC, PlayStation and Xbox, while V Rising is PC‑only.

Do the games have similar community reception?

Both games share the same community rating of 3.7 out of 5, though The Darkness II also has a Metacritic score of 77 / 100, which V Rising lacks.