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.