Best VPN for Dark and Darker in 2024

The gaming world is abuzz with excitement as the highly anticipated game Dark and Darker finally makes its debut in Early Access. However, there’s a twist that has left many gamers both intrigued and concerned. The Korean studio’s Ironmace newest fantasy-themed dungeon PvPvE title has been removed from Steam for raised concerns over copyright infringement.

Though launchers like Chaf Games and Blacksmith have emerged as the unexpected avenue for players to play Dark and Darker, many gamers are wary of the platforms. Of course, folks would rather play on the trusted Steam. Furthermore, the journey to explore the depths of Dark and Darker is compounded by other hurdles: sluggish download speeds, inability to run the game, and other technical problems.

Fortunately, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) answers most problems experienced by the players upon the release. However, to resolve issues effectively and keep up with gaming, the Dark and Darker VPN must tick off several checkboxes. We tested 29 providers based on their abilities to bypass geo-blocks, upkeep performance, speed up game downloads, tackle connection issues, and pricing.

Read onward to choose the best Dark and Darker VPN and how to resolve Early Access issues.

Why do you need a VPN for Dark and Darker?

There are several major benefits to using a Dark and Darker VPN. However, first, let’s look at the overall situation.

Due to the ongoing legal issues between Ironmace – the developer studio behind the game – and Nexon, Steam pulled the title out of their platform in March. However, the studio decided to release the game in Early Access regardless. Their choice of venues was Chaf Games and Blacksmith. Now, the main issue is that players report numerous problems with its privacy policy, which already allows a gaming VPN to shine through. The service comes with in-built privacy and security measures that prevent surveillance, data collection, and reduce the chances of malware.

Speaking of malware, gamers are facing a massive problem with their ISPs (Internet Service Providers), firewalls, and antiviruses throttling bandwidth and preventing them from launching the Dark and Darker. Basically, AT&T, Verizon, Bitdefender, McAfee, and others have incorrectly labeled the game’s internet traffic as malicious. Reportedly, the error relates to files like this: win64/packed.vmprotect_agen.d.

A VPN effectively prevents this since it routes your web traffic through an encrypted tunnel with a different IP address. In short, this trickery pulls the wool over the eyes of your ISP and other monitoring vectors. Though even with a VPN, we advise disabling the firewall for playing Dark and Darker. Players have reported that a reliable VPN service often is the key component in launching the game successfully.

In the same vein, gamers are experiencing extreme drops in download speed. For many, the download process only reaches between 5% and 15% before crashing altogether. Meanwhile, the inability to connect to game servers plagues a number of gamers who managed to download and install Dark and Darker despite hardships.

Fortunately, a VPN serves both as the Dark and Darker download fix and a solution to failed server connections. The former is resolved through VPN’s ability to prevent ISP and antivirus bandwidth throttling. However, the service must facilitate high speeds to download the game quickly. Meanwhile, it appears that connecting to South Korean servers via VPN helps to connect to the game’s servers with a success rate of 75-95%.

Plus, you may resort to downloading the game via torrent if the Dark and Darker VPN supports P2P sharing. Though the official Dark and Darker Discord server seems to have removed the torrent download link, you may still be able to find the game on big torrent sites. Though keep in mind that a torrenting VPN is a must in this case, both for P2P and game-related issues that the Early Access launch faces.

What are the best VPNs for Dark and Darker?

Top Dark and Darker VPNs must facilitate stellar performance to resolve download speed issues, have servers in South Korea for high chances of connecting to servers, and have privacy measures. Here are the best VPNs for turning the turbulent Early Access release into a smoother experience:

1. NordVPN – it’s the ultimate Dark and Darker VPN, the fastest in the market, whose average speeds reach so much as 452 Mbps with the proprietary NordLynx protocol taking the wheel. This service, thanks to the AES-256 encryption, actively prevents ISP throttling and firewalls or antiviruses from blocking apps and games. Besides, the service boasts a colossal global coverage, sporting 7000+ servers in 118 countries. At least 10+ are located in South Korea. And the cherry on top is NordVPN’s trusted 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark VPN – this Dark and Darker VPN is a well-rounded option. It secures your gaming sessions, though you might need to pay an extra fee for more protective features than the basic package. Surfshark’s server fleet nets 3200+ servers in 100 countries, though only one server is available in South Korea. It’s a solid gaming VPN that helps with Dark and Darker download fixes and most other complications.

Can you play Dark and Darker with a free VPN?

Though many gamers are after free Dark and Darker VPNs, they’re not a good option. Free services aren’t suitable for gaming, streaming, or anything else of such caliber. Typically, a free VPN has too small a data cap, a server fleet (we’re talking about max 100 servers in 3 locations), and basic to no security. Plus, freebies tend to earn income through secret user data harvesting and then selling to advertising parties.

The alternative to this is a premium VPN with a free trial if you’re budget-conscious and bent on playing Dark and Darker for free. Providers like NordVPN offer a free 7-day trial (Android only) and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Though for a limited time, you get access to full VPN prowess, which lets you play Dark and Darker and resolve throttling, blocking, and slow download speeds.

Buy the best Dark and Darker VPN

How to run Dark and Darker despite errors?

One of the most common problems that Dark and Darker players face is an inability to launch the game, receiving a variety of errors. Most of these launch obstacles lead back to ISPs and antiviruses throttling or simply blocking the game since it’s considered malware by the system. Here’s what you can do before you opt for a VPN.

Make an exception on firewall/antivirus for Dark and Darker

1. Click on the Start button in the lower left corner
2. Head to Control Panel
   
   
3. Then click on System and Security
4. Under the Windows Firewall section click the Allow a program through Windows Firewall
   
   
5. Check the box next to the Dark and Darker game

Use a VPN for launching the game

1. Subscribe to a reliable gaming VPN. Our top recommendation is NordVPN
2. Download and install the VPN app on your PC
3. Launch the app and connect to a desired server. South Korean servers are advisable
4. Start Dark and Darker game
5. Now you can play the game to your heart’s content!

Play hassle-free with NordVPN

NOTE: if you purchased the game from darkanddarker.com and play it on the Blacksmith launcher, be aware that uninstalling the game launcher wipes all desktop data! We advise you to wait for further word from Ironmace regarding safe Blacksmith uninstallation.

Dark and Darker download speed fix

Thousands of players are trying to download the game on Chaf Games and Blacksmith launchers on the first days of the Early Access release. In turn, this puts strain on the servers, slowing the download speeds, and causing them to drop altogether. Your best shot at the moment is using a VPN:

1. Obtain a trustworthy VPN suited for gaming. #1 gaming VPN in the market is NordVPN
2. Download the VPN client from provider’s official website, then install it
   
   
3. Connect to a server. Players report that UK and US servers maintain fastest download speeds
4. Go to your Dark and Darker game launcher and click download
5. The game should download much faster now with few to zero chances of the downloading to stop midway

Download Dark and Darker with VPN

Dark and Darker stutter issue potential fix

If you experience lag while playing the game, it could be due to ISP throttling your bandwidth or game resolutions messing with the visual gaming experience. Here’s what you can do:

1. In a game menu, head to Options
2. Click Video
3. Click AntiAliasing & Super Resolution
   
   
4. Either switch off TSR or change it to DLSS
5. Restart the game

Additionally, you may toggle with graphics settings, like turning on G-Sync, lowering shadows, textures and other bits and pieces, testing around to see what works best for you.

Dark and Darker Error Code 3032 potential fix

Some players experience Error Code 3032 when trying to buy the Dark and Darker game. It’s a payment error, likely occurring so much due to the current amount of ongoing game purchases – a whole lot of them.

The best solution at the moment is to use the card information of a friend who managed to buy the game without any issues. Likewise, you can just try paying with a different card, whether yours or someone else’s, from your family or friends. This seems to resolve the 3032 error in most cases.

Wrapping up

Though not without issues, the long-anticipated Dark and Darker game has finally launched in Early Access. Since it was removed from Steam, the studio behind the game launched the title on Chaf Games and Blacksmith. As a result, players are experiencing a handful of problems. These include slow download speeds, connectivity issues, and even the inability to launch the game. Fortunately, a reliable Dark and Darker VPN resolves most of these problems.

NordVPN is the #1 VPN for Dark and Darker. Thanks to robust encryption and expansive global coverage, the service prevents ISP throttling and helps with antivirus and firewall blocks. On top of that, the unmatched speed with NordLynx is a fix for Dark and Darker download and connectivity issues. With NordVPN in tow, you can play the game hassle-free and safely.

What do you think is the best Dark and Darker VPN? Let us know by leaving a comment!

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FAQ

What is the best Dark and Darker VPN?

The best Dark and Darker VPN is NordVPN. It's the fastest VPN service, which serves as a Dark and Darker download fix. Plus, NordVPN actively prevents ISP throttling and antivirus/firewall blocks, so you can finally play the game. Meanwhile, a vast server fleet allows connecting from anywhere.

Will Dark and Darker return to Steam?

Whether Dark and Darker will return to Steam remains a question. While Ironmace, the studio behind the game, is pursuing a return to Steam, this is likely out of the question for as long as the legal issues with Nexon are resolved.

Is Dark and Darker free?

No, Dark and Darker is not free. Before the Early Access release, the game was available to download from Ironmace's Discord via torrent. Currently, the Dark and Darker is listed at $35. "Hold the Line" Founder's Edition costs $50 and includes an exclusive skeleton character skin, torch, and emote.

How to fix Dark and Darker download issues?

For now, the best Dark and Darker download fix is a VPN. Having a fast VPN enabled stops ISP and other monitoring services from throttling your download attempts. Reportedly, the best Dark and Darker VPN is NordVPN. Players are able to download the game fast with little to no issues.

Can I use a free VPN for Dark and Darker?

No, you shouldn't use a free VPN for Dark and Darker. Free VPN services are unable to upkeep performance-heavy tasks like gaming. Besides, their speeds and server fleets are abysmal. Instead, you should opt for premium Dark and Darker VPNs with a free trial and money-back guarantee like NordVPN.