FIX: Darkest Dungeon 2 Keeps Crashing on Startup PC [2024]

Darkest Dungeon 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the popular roguelike dungeon crawler, has finally arrived, bringing with it a host of new challenges and adventures for players to experience.

However, some players have reported encountering crashes on startup while trying to launch the game on their PCs. This issue can be incredibly frustrating, as it prevents players from diving into the dark and twisted world of Darkest Dungeon 2.

In this guide, we will explore some potential causes and solutions to help you troubleshoot and resolve the issue, allowing you to enjoy the game without any interruptions. So, get ready to face the horrors lurking in the shadows, and let’s get your game up and running!

There could be several reasons behind Darkest Dungeon 2 crashing on startup on your PC. Here are some possible causes:

Outdated or corrupt graphics drivers: Having outdated or corrupt graphics drivers can cause compatibility issues with the game, leading to crashes.
Insufficient system requirements: If your PC does not meet the minimum or recommended system requirements for Darkest Dungeon 2, the game may crash on startup.
Conflicting software or background processes: Some third-party software or background processes running on your PC might be conflicting with the game, causing it to crash.
Damaged or missing game files: Corrupt, damaged, or missing game files can lead to game crashes on startup.
Antivirus interference: Overprotective antivirus software settings may block the game from running properly, resulting in crashes.

Understanding these potential causes can help you identify the root of the problem and guide you toward the appropriate solutions to fix the issue.

Solution 1: Restart the PC

When you experience a Keeps Crashing or any bug in your game, it’s recommended to start by restarting the computer before attempting any other fixes. This is because restarting the computer can resolve any temporary errors caused by outdated cookies and cache or conflicts with other software on your system. By simply restarting the PC

Solution 2: Close Unwanted Programs on PC

If there are too many programs running in the background, using too much internet/RAM/Disk can cause Darkest Dungeon 2 Keeps Crashing on Windows 11.

Closing unwanted programs will help you eliminate the crashing issue on your PC.

So, let’s close unwanted programs:

Press Ctrl + Shift + ESC keys to open Task Manager
Now check which program is using more Network
Right-click on that program and select End task
And check if the crash is solved or not.

Solution 3: Run the Application as Administrator

Running the program as an administrator will definitely help you eradicate the Darkest Dungeon 2 Keeps Crashing as it might lack the privileges required to run the Application.

To solve the issue of the game crashing, running the program as an administrator could be a helpful solution as it may not have the necessary privileges to run the application. By granting administrative access to the program, you can ensure that it has all the necessary permissions to operate and potentially resolve any errors causing the game to crash.

Here is how you can run the application as an administrator:

Go to the file/ folder.
Then go to the Game Launcher/Steam client.
Right-click on the Launcher icon
A menu will open
Select “Run as administrator“

Now the program will start running smoothly without giving you the error “Darkest Dungeon 2 Keeps Crashing“

The above solution is a temporary fix which helps you run the program or access folder. If you want to run the program permanently on administrator, then follow the next solution to solve Darkest Dungeon 2 Keeps Crashing Issue.

Solution 4: Run the Program as an Administrator (Permanently)

When running a program or application on a Windows computer, there may be times when you need to give the program administrative privileges in order to access certain features or settings. However, simply right-clicking on the program and selecting “Run as administrator” may not always be enough, as you may need to grant these privileges permanently in order to avoid constantly having to repeat the process.

In this case, you will need to take some additional steps to ensure that the program always runs with administrative privileges, even if you forget to explicitly select this option. In this solution, we will walk you through the process of running a program as an administrator permanently, so that you can gain the access you need without any extra hassle.

Go to the folder/Application
Right-click on it
A menu will open
Select Properties
A new window will open
Navigate to the “Compatibility Tab“
Under the Settings heading
Find “Run this Program as an administrator“
Check the box for this option
Click “Apply“

Now your program successfully Runs as an Administrator on Windows (Permanently) and you can easily open the program without repeating the steps again and again.

If you still facing errors then proceed to the next solution.

Solution 5: Update Graphics Card Driver Via Windows Update

Updating your graphics card driver is an important step in ensuring your computer is running smoothly and efficiently. With the latest driver updates, you can improve your system’s performance, fix any bugs, and enjoy new features.

In this solution, we will be showing you how to update your graphics card driver using Windows Update, a simple and straightforward method for keeping your drivers up to date. So, let’s get started!

Here is how you can update drivers via optional updates on Windows 11:

Click on the Windows icon
Click on the Settings icon
A new window will pop up
Select Windows Update from the left menu
The new window will pop up
Now select Advanced options
Click on Optional updates
A new window will open
Click on the drop-down button for Driver updates
Now, select your desired drivers
Now press the Download & Install button

If you cannot update your drivers through Windows Update, then you can try updating the Graphics Drivers through Device Manager to fix the Darkest Dungeon 2 that Keeps Crashing on startup.

Drivers update via an optional update on Windows 11

Solution 6: Update Graphic Drivers Via Device Manager

Updating your graphics card driver is essential for ensuring optimal performance and compatibility with the latest software and games. Updating your graphics card driver can be done via the Device Manager in Windows and is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few steps.

Here is how you can update drivers through Device Manager:

Click on the Search icon
Type Device Manager
Click to open Device Manager
Then select the Display adapters
A further menu will open
Right-click on the graphic card name
Click on the Update driver

update graphic driver via device manager 1

Solution 7: Check for Driver’s Updates of GPU/Video Cards of Different Company

An issue that can cause crashes in Darkest Dungeon 2 is outdated GPU drivers. When the video card drivers are not up to date, the GPU cannot keep up with modern gaming and may cause crashes. To resolve this, we suggest updating the video card drivers. Direct links to the main GPU manufacturers can be found below.

If the above solution didn’t work out for you, then try the next solution.

Solution 8: Verify the Game Files On Steam

Sometimes the game file will get corrupted or get deleted, which eventually causes a Keeps Crashing issue on The Darkest Dungeon 2 on PC.

Verify the Game File in Steam

Follow the steps to verify the game file on Steam software:

Launch the Steam Software
Now login in the steam
Navigate to the library
Select the game and right-click on the game
Now select properties
Now click on the “Local file” Option
A further menu will open
Click on the “Verify Integrity of the Game Cache“
Now the software is verifying the files, and this will take some time.

Sometimes the game file will get corrupted or get deleted that eventually causing a Keeps Crashing issue on steam.

Solution 9: Disable the Discord Overlays

Sometimes third-party apps might interfere with the game and cause Darkest Dungeon 2 Keeps Crashing on startup. The overlays app is widely used to enhance the multiplayer experience in the game. But these apps also need more resources to run smoothly in the background.

So, overlay apps might cause the Keeps Crashing on startup. To prevent any errors further we have to disable the overlays apps that are running on your PC in my case I am going to disable the discord overlays.

Here is how you can disable the Discord Overlay:

Open the Discord
Click on the gear Icon to Open “Users Settings“
Find Activity settings from the left pane
Click on the “Game Overlay” option
Go to Enable in-game overlay option
Click on the toggle to disable it

Solution 10: Disable The Steam Overlay

Some players have reported that disabling the Steam overlay on their Windows computers has improved their ability to play Darkest Dungeon 2 on PC.

Here are steps to Disable the Steam Overlays:

Open the Steam client
Go to the Library
Right-click on Darkest Dungeon 2 and select the properties
Select the General section
Now just uncheck the Enable Steam Overlay

Solution 11: Perform a Clean Boot

If you’re experiencing issues with your computer like slow performance or unexpected crashes, it could be due to conflicting applications running in the background. A clean boot can help you start your computer with only essential services and drivers needed to run the operating system, helping you identify any conflicts or issues caused by third-party applications or services.

To perform a clean boot follow the steps down below:

Press Windows Button + R Key
The Run Dialogue Box will appear
Type “MSConfig“
Press Enter
The System Configuration window will open
Select Services tab
Uncheck all the unnecessary services
Only check those you need now
Now click OK

If the error persists, then proceed to the next solution to solve the crashing issue on the PC.

Solution 12: Disable Antivirus Software

In some cases, the third-party antivirus software installed on a computer may prevent the game Darkest Dungeon 2 from running properly.

So, you need to disable the antivirus for a few minutes to check if the antivirus is causing Keeps Crashing issue on Darkest Dungeon 2.

In order, to disable the antivirus follow the step below :

Select the arrow button on the taskbar a Small menu will open.
Then click left on the Avast antivirus icon.
The setting menu will open and select “Avast shield control“
In a further menu, you will select the “10 minutes option“
Now restart the game.

If the issue persists then proceed to the next solution.

Solution 13: Change the Power Settings

Power settings are an essential aspect of any modern computer’s performance optimization. When your PC’s power plan is set to the Balanced option plan, it may provide less power to a game, which can cause game lag or game crashes on startup.

Whether you’re using Windows, macOS, or any other operating system, adjusting power settings is crucial to ensure optimal performance and energy usage. In this guide, we will discuss how to change power settings on your computer and help you optimize your PC’s power usage to suit your needs and prevent the Darkest Dungeon 2 Keeps Crashing issue.

How do I change power settings in Windows 11?

Go to the Control Panel
Select the View option “Large Icon“
Now find “Power Options” and click on it
Choose your Power Plan “High Performance“
If there is no other option expect a “Balanced “
Then navigate to the left menu
Select “Create a power plan“
A new window will open
Select the power plan to “High Performance“
And click on Next
The new power plan is available.

If you still have any queries or suggestions, share your experience with us in the comments section below.

FAQs

Q: What are the minimum system requirements for Darkest Dungeon 2?

The minimum system requirements for Darkest Dungeon 2 can be found on the game’s official website or store page. Ensure that your PC meets these requirements to avoid crashes and other performance issues.