Crypt of the NecroDancer

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 11,272 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • story
Crypt of the NecroDancer Game Cover
A seamless and exhilarating meshing of two entirely different genres.
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Crypt of the NecroDancer is a rhythm-based dungeon crawler game. Players move and attack in time with the beat while exploring levels filled with monsters and loot. Permadeath adds a challenging twist, requiring players to master the rhythm and strategize their movements to defeat the NecroDancer.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 11,272 reviews
music2,981 positive mentions
grinding59 negative mentions
  • music6,175 mentions

    The music in "Crypt of the Necrodancer" is widely praised for its exceptional quality and variety, featuring a standout soundtrack composed by Danny Baranowsky, along with remixes from various artists like FamilyJules7x and A_Rival. Players appreciate the game's unique mechanic of moving and attacking to the beat of the music, which enhances the gameplay experience and adds a layer of challenge. Additionally, the option to use custom music allows for further personalization, making the game enjoyable for both rhythm game enthusiasts and casual players alike.

    • “The soundtrack of Crypt of the Necrodancer is a standout feature that greatly enhances gameplay.”
    • “With six distinct soundtracks packed with replay value and adaptive tempo matching, Crypt of the Necrodancer goes above and beyond in the audio department.”
    • “The music is simply superb for all characters, both the themes of each level and boss fit their places very well.”
    • “The bosses are confusing in a slightly annoying way, the music isn't great, and the basic gameplay is fine but, in my opinion, uninteresting.”
    • “The music itself isn't really my kind of thing, but I could tolerate it enough to play the game many times over, it just isn't the kind of music I listen to normally.”
    • “The music can get repetitive due to the slow learning curve, but it's a solid soundtrack.”
  • gameplay1,962 mentions

    The gameplay of *Crypt of the Necrodancer* is a unique blend of rhythm mechanics and roguelike elements, requiring players to move and attack in time with the music, which adds a layer of challenge and strategy. While the game is praised for its addictive nature and engaging soundtrack, it can also be punishingly difficult, especially for newcomers, with a steep learning curve that rewards mastery of its mechanics. The variety of characters and their distinct gameplay styles further enhance replayability, making each run feel fresh and dynamic.

    • “Expect failure and triumph in equal measure as you analyze the roguelike rhythm game's demanding gameplay, moody pixel art aesthetic, and stellar Danny Baranowsky soundtrack.”
    • “Through punishing difficulty and satisfying gameplay built around audiovisual synergy, Necrodancer creates intense, engaging experiences.”
    • “The gameplay loop is so addictive in this game.”
    • “The gameplay is pretty unfair in its random room generation and crazy enemies, and when you combine that with the rhythm action mechanic, it ends up turning the combat into a tedious, time-consuming, unrewarding experience very quickly.”
    • “The gameplay is simple to learn, but the levels are very well balanced and the difficulty is ever increasing.”
    • “The rhythm component adds a dimension of gameplay that I find captivating.”
  • story574 mentions

    The story in "Crypt of the Necrodancer" is generally described as simple yet engaging, revolving around a family of musicians trying to break a curse. Players appreciate the thematic consistency and character development, particularly through the three main characters—Cadence, Melody, and Aria—each offering unique gameplay challenges tied to the narrative. However, the difficulty spike associated with completing Aria's storyline has drawn criticism, as it can hinder players from fully experiencing the story, which is primarily conveyed through short cutscenes after completing zones. Overall, while the story may not be the main focus, it effectively complements the gameplay and adds depth to the roguelike experience.

    • “The game is also surprisingly story-rich, following three generations of women in a family of musicians trying to break a curse set upon them by an evil bard and a magical lute.”
    • “The story is short but sweet, but definitely worth it as the difficulty in getting the cutscenes by using specific characters increases, making it all the more worthwhile to reach the ending.”
    • “The story, while starting out straightforward and predictable, rewards you after all the difficulty by progressively becoming more in-depth and captivating.”
    • “The conclusion to the story is locked behind a challenge character who dies in one hit, dies on a missed beat, is locked to the awful starting weapon, and starts at the hardest zone.”
    • “The story is its weakest link, but that wasn't the focus of the developers.”
    • “The story is fairly bare-bones - you get a cutscene when you finish one of the four zones with cadence, melody, and aria, and that's about it.”
  • graphics419 mentions

    The graphics of "Crypt of the Necrodancer" are characterized by charming pixel art that evokes nostalgia for classic 16-bit games, effectively complementing its rhythm-based gameplay. While some players appreciate the retro aesthetic and vibrant colors, others find the visuals simplistic or reminiscent of older titles, with mixed opinions on their overall execution. The game's modding capabilities allow for customization of graphics, enhancing the visual experience for those who seek variety.

    • “The graphics are vivid and fun while taking advantage of a retro sprite style to avoid visual clutter and make everything pop out at a glance.”
    • “The pixel graphics are also beautiful, with charming animations and attention to detail.”
    • “The art style is fantastic, resembling the prettiest SNES game you never played, and the soundtrack by Danny B is incredible - as it needs to be, since music is the core of the game.”
    • “A Game Boy Advance could run a game with these graphics, and the fact that it takes 1 gigabyte to listen to these is baffling.”
    • “The graphics feel a little rough around the edges.”
    • “If you think I’m going to be sitting here tapping the arrow keys in sync to some beat while risking an epileptic seizure from the horrible visuals, you’ve got another thing coming.”
  • replayability389 mentions

    "Crypt of the Necrodancer" boasts exceptional replayability, driven by its procedural generation, diverse character roster, and the ability to import custom music. Players appreciate the variety of game modes, unlockable characters, and daily challenges, which keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. The combination of challenging mechanics and a captivating soundtrack ensures that players can enjoy countless hours of replayable fun.

    • “The sheer depth of gameplay, replayability, skill ceiling, soundtrack, and so much more just make it one of the games that I can't help but just keep coming back to all the time.”
    • “With so many different weapon and item combinations, different characters to choose from with their own unique traits, and different ways you can decide to play the game, each run through the dungeons can be different for endless replayability.”
    • “The game has so many dynamic ways of incorporating new styles & ways of running through the dungeons that it increases the replayability & keeps the content fresh.”
    • “The only detraction from the game is exceedingly low replay value.”
    • “There's only 4 levels to play, but each character makes the replayability of those zones massive.”
    • “Definitely has a bit less replayability than most roguelikes, but all the new characters the devs have added do a great job of bolstering it.”
  • humor109 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it both hilarious and quirky, often leading to uncontrollable laughter during gameplay. The combination of funny character animations, clever puns, and amusing enemy designs enhances the overall experience, making it a standout feature. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to blend humor with engaging mechanics, resulting in a uniquely entertaining and memorable gaming experience.

    • “The results were often hilarious - my character frantically bouncing around the screen, trying desperately to match the music.”
    • “The music is spectacular, the gameplay novel, and the humor a great add.”
    • “It's a wonderfully fun game with a ton of subtle references to classic Legend of Zelda, a good sense of humor, and plenty of really great music and gameplay.”
    • “The humor in this game falls flat, as it relies too heavily on repetitive jokes that quickly lose their charm.”
    • “I expected a lot more laughs, but the humor feels forced and often misses the mark entirely.”
    • “The attempts at humor are overshadowed by frustrating gameplay mechanics, making it hard to appreciate any comedic moments.”
  • grinding66 mentions

    The reviews highlight a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with some players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly during combat and backtracking, while others appreciate the rhythm-based mechanics that can make grinding enjoyable once players find their groove. Many note that the game's difficulty often necessitates grinding for upgrades, which can detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration rather than engagement. Overall, while some players enjoy the challenge and rhythm, others feel that the grinding aspect can become a chore, impacting the game's fun factor.

    • “What a true roguelike game looks like - no grinding, unlocking, and no boosted character advantage (all zones mode).”
    • “The music isn't tedious and can be switched out.”
    • “No grinding, no problem; just get used to the rhythm.”
    • “This issue, combined with the lack of intuitive response to enemy actions, can lead to repetitive and tedious engagements, undermining the potential for engaging gameplay.”
    • “Crypt of the Necrodancer's gameplay is pretty unfair in its random room generation and crazy enemies, and when you combine that with the rhythm action mechanic, it ends up turning the combat into a tedious, time-consuming, unrewarding experience very quickly.”
    • “It's fun at first but when you have to play the last level (not the last boss) over and over and over again it becomes tedious and frustrating.”
  • stability27 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting frequent crashes, especially during startup and when transitioning between screens, which can lead to frustrating gameplay interruptions. While some players experience only minor bugs, others face significant issues, such as complete system freezes and unresponsive controls, particularly when using custom soundtracks. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, its stability issues detract from the experience for a considerable number of players.

    • “The current maps are plenty playable, plenty fun, and not buggy at all.”
    • “Enjoyable premise, and runs great on Linux.”
    • “The game freezes my entire computer upon 'exit game' every time.”
    • “I love this game, however recently the game crashes whenever I reach the cutscene after the first floor when doing full runs; to the point that it freezes my computer and I must do a hard shut down.”
    • “It's all about the beat, and when the beat continues while the game freezes you essentially lose your beat-multiplier, and if you think you can keep pushing left-right to keep the multiplier you'll just end up wasting consumables when the game eventually unfreezes later on.”
  • atmosphere17 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant and engaging themes, enhanced by an excellent soundtrack and well-executed pixel art that complements the gameplay. While many players appreciate the unique blend of medieval and modern elements, some criticize the lack of depth and detail that detracts from immersion. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite some gameplay shortcomings.

    • “The atmosphere is wonderful and the themes of each floor are conveyed further by the mood of the game.”
    • “The songs are easy to follow and create a fun atmosphere that works weirdly well alongside the objectively horrific surroundings.”
    • “The sound design and OST are phenomenal and really add to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
    • “There is no sense of atmosphere or immersion due to the extreme lack of detail or any distinct stylization with the art, and thus it never feels like an experience or a world, just a game.”
    • “Extremely intriguing concept, but not enough depth of gameplay or atmosphere to justify the difficulty, plus some features not fully functional.”
    • “The music, atmosphere, and gameplay all culminate into a masterpiece of retro dungeon crawling with a unique rhythm element thrown into the mix.”
  • optimization15 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many users reporting smooth performance even on low-end PCs and minimal lag. However, some players noted specific issues, such as audio stuttering in later zones and a desire for improved UI optimization. The simplistic art style contributes to its strong performance across various platforms.

    • “Performance-wise, the game never misses a beat.”
    • “I have not found any bugs and it is very optimized, so there is no lag at all.”
    • “The simplistic 2D, top-down, 16-bit art style of the game allows for optimal performance on any platform, not to mention it looks great.”
    • “The only complaint, or rather nitpick, I have is that the UI stands to be a bit optimized.”
    • “Edit: it helps a bit but the game runs slowly (audio stutter) in zone 4 despite easily meeting the requirements as stated on the store page.”
    • “There's not as much detail optimization as [game name], aside from a few things like how to find hidden passages without a torch and what to do with excess bombs.”
  • character development13 mentions

    Character development in the game is highly praised for its engaging designs and the continuous addition of new content, which enhances gameplay variety and challenges. Players appreciate the charming and clever character designs, particularly the female protagonists, and note that character progression is tied to gameplay, allowing for improved equipment and stats as players advance. Overall, the combination of art, music, and character design contributes to a captivating and immersive experience.

    • “The character designs are great and the gameplay is absorbing.”
    • “I love the character design as well as how the development team continues to provide more content and DLC to offer more ways to play the game with added challenge and variety with new items, characters, and levels.”
    • “Character development - the more you play, the better equipment and stats you have access to.”
    • “I would have loved to see it used in level design, as well as character design.”
    • “The music, the level and character designs, the mechanics, it all blends together for a great musical, roguelike, dungeon crawl experience.”
  • emotional13 mentions

    Players report a deeply emotional experience while engaging with the game, often oscillating between frustration and triumph, leading to moments of genuine tears. The integration of music and sound design enhances emotional investment, making players feel both challenged and rewarded. Unique character mechanics contribute to this emotional rollercoaster, with players expressing strong reactions to gameplay elements and narrative moments.

    • “Makes me want to cry on a regular basis!”
    • “It doesn't stop at becoming emotionally invested in the music and sound design of this game; you're made a part of the music and the sound design, driven and enveloped by these things.”
    • “An emotional rollercoaster from pure hate and frustration to a feeling of superiority and achievement.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Players appreciate the game's monetization model, noting that it has received substantial free content updates since launch, which contrasts positively with the prevalent trend of excessive microtransactions in other games. This approach has been well-received, as it allows for a more enjoyable experience without the burden of constant in-game purchases.

    • “Enough has been added to the game since its launch that it feels like it got a free DLC or two, which is always welcome in this era of non-stop microtransactions.”
    • “The game feels like it got a free DLC or two since its launch, which is always welcome in this era of non-stop microtransactions.”
    • “I appreciate not having to deal with endless microtransactions.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

83% average critic score

Buy Crypt of the NecroDancer

Play time

24hMedian play time
53hAverage play time
14hMain story
363hCompletionist
6-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 62 analyzed playthroughs

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