Red Hook Studios

Red Hook Studios is a Vancouver-based video game developer and publisher focused on gothic horror role-playing games, roguelikes, turn-based tactical systems, and dark-fantasy interactive entertainment. Founded in 2013 by Chris Bourassa and Tyler Sigman, the studio develops challenging games built around atmosphere, strategic decision-making, and the psychological consequences of adventuring.

The studio is best known for the Darkest Dungeon franchise. Its original game combines hand-drawn dark-fantasy presentation with party management, tactical combat, and an Affliction System that models stress, fear, paranoia, and other responses to hardship. Following a Kickstarter campaign in 2014, Darkest Dungeon launched in Early Access before its full release in 2016, later receiving expansions including The Crimson Court, The Shieldbreaker, The Color of Madness, The Butcher's Circus, and The Fire's Edge.

Darkest Dungeon II broadened the series into a stylized 3D, road-trip roguelike structure. The game entered Early Access in 2021 and reached its full 1.0 release in 2023, with subsequent content including The Binding Blade and Inhuman Bondage.

Development focus

Red Hook provides full-cycle game development spanning design, engineering, art, audio implementation, publishing, multi-platform distribution, post-launch support, downloadable content, and community and modding support. Its specialties include:

• Gothic-horror RPG and roguelike design
• Turn-based tactical combat and stress-driven gameplay systems
• Stylized 2D and 3D dark-fantasy art direction and animation
• C++, Unity, and Unreal Engine 5 development
• Community-oriented Early Access and modding ecosystems

In September 2024, Red Hook Studios was acquired by Behaviour Interactive Inc. and continues to operate as an autonomous subsidiary studio. Bourassa and Sigman remain in leadership roles, while the Vancouver team continues development work on the Darkest Dungeon franchise and future projects.