# Descent: Journeys in the Dark

Descent: Journeys in the Dark is a board game for 2–5 players. It plays in 120–240 minutes and is meant for ages 13 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 5. It is rated 6.4 out of 10 by 21 Ludoya reviewers.

- **Players:** 2–5 (best with 5)
- **Playing time:** 120–240 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 13+
- **Complexity:** 3.3 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2005
- **Categories:** Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Adventure, Exploration
- **Mechanics:** Grid Movement, Role Playing, Team-Based Game, Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, Modular Board
- **Ludoya rating:** 6.4 out of 10, from 21 reviews
- **Owned by:** 39 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 55
- **Unique players:** 34

**Designers:** Kevin Wilson

**Artists:** John Goodenough, Frank Walls, Jesper Ejsing

**Publishers:** Fantasy Flight Games

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Alphaspel | 678 kr | https://alphaspel.se/491-bradspel/79851-descent-journeys-in-the-dark-1st-ed |

## Expansions

- [Descent: The Well of Darkness](https://www.ludoya.com/games/descent-the-well-of-darkness)
- [Descent: The Road to Legend](https://www.ludoya.com/games/descent-the-road-to-legend)
- [Descent: The Altar of Despair](https://www.ludoya.com/games/descent-the-altar-of-despair)
- [Descent: The Tomb of Ice](https://www.ludoya.com/games/descent-the-tomb-of-ice)
- [Descent: The Sea of Blood](https://www.ludoya.com/games/descent-the-sea-of-blood)
- [Descent: Journeys in the Dark – Quest Compendium – Volume One](https://www.ludoya.com/games/descent-journeys-in-the-dark-quest-compendium-volume-one)
- [Descent / Runebound / Runewars Figure: Nara The Fang](https://www.ludoya.com/games/descent-runebound-runewars-figure-nara-the-fang)
- [Descent / Runebound / Runewars Figure: Jonas the Kind](https://www.ludoya.com/games/descent-runebound-runewars-figure-jonas-the-kind)
- [Descent / Runebound / Runewars Figure: Tobin Farslayer](https://www.ludoya.com/games/descent-runebound-runewars-figure-tobin-farslayer)
- [Descent / Runebound / Runewars Figure: Truthseer Kel](https://www.ludoya.com/games/descent-runebound-runewars-figure-truthseer-kel)
- [Realms of Terrinoth: Descent / Runewars Scenarios](https://www.ludoya.com/games/realms-of-terrinoth-descent-runewars-scenarios)
- [Descent: Journeys in the Dark – Bonus Quest: Cult of the 100](https://www.ludoya.com/games/descent-journeys-in-the-dark-bonus-quest-cult-of-the-100)
- [Descent: Journeys in the Dark – Bonus Quest: The Chase](https://www.ludoya.com/games/descent-journeys-in-the-dark-bonus-quest-the-chase)
- [Descent: Journeys in the Dark – Bonus Quest: The Aerie of Death](https://www.ludoya.com/games/descent-journeys-in-the-dark-bonus-quest-the-aerie-of-death)

## Similar games

- [Dungeon Saga: Dwarf King's Quest](https://www.ludoya.com/games/dungeon-saga-dwarf-kings-quest)
- [Warhammer Quest: Shadows Over Hammerhal](https://www.ludoya.com/games/warhammer-quest-shadows-over-hammerhal)
- [OrcQuest WarPath](https://www.ludoya.com/games/orcquest-warpath)
- [Shadows of Brimstone: Forbidden Fortress](https://www.ludoya.com/games/shadows-of-brimstone-forbidden-fortress)
- [Shadows of Brimstone: City of the Ancients](https://www.ludoya.com/games/shadows-of-brimstone-city-of-the-ancients)
- [Okko Chronicles: Cycle of Water – Quest into Darkness](https://www.ludoya.com/games/okko-chronicles-cycle-of-water-quest-into-darkness)
- [HeroQuest Advanced Quest](https://www.ludoya.com/games/heroquest-advanced-quest)
- [Shadows of Brimstone: City of the Ancients (Revised Edition)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/shadows-of-brimstone-city-of-the-ancients-revised-edition)
- [Shadows of Brimstone: Swamps of Death](https://www.ludoya.com/games/shadows-of-brimstone-swamps-of-death)
- [Dungeon Universalis](https://www.ludoya.com/games/dungeon-universalis)
- [Malhya: Lands of Legends](https://www.ludoya.com/games/malhya-lands-of-legends)
- [Warhammer Quest](https://www.ludoya.com/games/warhammer-quest)

## Rules questions

### What is the exact order of a hero's turn—do I Refresh, Equip, then Act?

A hero turn is three steps: Refresh, Equip, then Take an Action (move, attack, interact); follow the hero turn diagram and action options on Rulebook p.8.

### How does line of sight work for attacks—can I shoot through corners or diagonals?

An attack requires an unobstructed line of sight from attacker to target drawn across the map (walls and obstacles block LOS); follow the declare and LOS steps in the attack sequence on Rulebook pp.9–10.

### When and where do monsters spawn from spawn or trap cards?

Spawn and trap cards trigger during the overlord’s turn and instruct you to place monsters on the valid spawn points shown on the map or card, following the detailed spawn placement rules and examples on Rulebook p.12.

### How do doors and exploring work—can heroes move through closed or rune-locked doors?

Heroes cannot move through closed doors without opening them (opening is an action); rune-locked doors require the specific key or action described by the quest, and full door/exploring rules are on Rulebook pp.13–14.

### What are power surges and when can I spend fatigue to reroll dice?

Power surges are special faces on power dice and fatigue can be spent to reroll dice or activate certain effects as described in the power-dice and fatigue rules; see Rulebook pp.10 and 17 for die faces, surges, and spending fatigue to reroll.

### What does the Guard order do and how do Guard interrupts interact with other actions or Rest?

Guard is an interrupt order that lets a hero react to attacks on adjacent allies outside their normal action, while Rest is a separate order with its own timing and effects; see Guard interrupts and Rest order rules on Rulebook pp.14–15.

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/descent-journeys-in-the-dark)
- [Descent: Journeys in the Dark in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/descent-journeys-in-the-dark)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/17226)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-23. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._