Dandara

A prickly 2D Metroidvania with a curious twist, Dandara admirably finds something new to do with the genre, but it's tough work to get onboard.

81%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

monetization, replayability

86% User Score Based on 425 reviews

Critic Score 67%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

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About

Dandara is a single player arcade hack and slash game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Long Hat House and was released on February 6, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition is a 2D metroidvania platformer where you play as Dandara, a heroine fighting against oppression in the world of Salt. This edition includes new areas, bosses, powers, and mechanics, as well as expanded story and lore, allowing for more boundless exploration and combat. Defy gravity and uncover the secrets of this directionless world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+22

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 425 reviews

gameplay32 positive mentions

monetization3 negative mentions

Unique metroidvania gameplay with innovative movement mechanics that work well on mobile.
Stunning pixel art and atmospheric soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
Challenging yet rewarding gameplay that keeps players engaged and motivated.

Controls can be frustrating, especially without a controller, leading to difficulty in fast-paced sections.
The difficulty spikes significantly after the initial stages, which may deter casual players.
Lack of cloud save feature and confusing map navigation can lead to frustrating experiences.

gameplay
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
48%
7%
The gameplay of this unique metroidvania is characterized by innovative mechanics and a blend of challenging and rewarding experiences, often compared to titles like Dead Cells and Dark Souls. While many players appreciate the slick controls, beautiful graphics, and engaging soundtrack, some express frustration with certain movement mechanics and difficulty spikes. Overall, the game is praised for its originality and depth, making it a standout in the genre despite some criticisms regarding gameplay limitations.
- “Very fun game with cool game mechanics, graphics, and boss fights.”
- “A+ visuals, A+ storyline presentation, A+ gameplay design, just a spectacular game all around.”
- “Incredibly polished, very interesting mechanics and very satisfying gameplay.”
- “So if you get annoyed at the gameplay, you are stuck keeping the game and consuming phone resources or you will have to restart the game.”
- “The levels are certainly eager to punish, but the gameplay loop is limited and not fun.”
- “The biggest problem is that controls ruin the gameplay.”
graphics
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
30%
7%
The graphics of the game have received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many users praising the beautiful pixel art, vibrant colors, and atmospheric design. Reviewers highlight the game's stunning visuals as a key aspect of its appeal, often describing them as immaculate and well-crafted, contributing significantly to the overall experience. The combination of graphics with a compelling soundtrack and engaging gameplay mechanics has made it a standout title in the metroidvania genre.
- “Great design, style, graphics, and music.”
- “Fantastic metroidvania game with unique gameplay and gorgeous graphics.”
- “The graphics and soundtrack are beautiful, the mechanics are original, and the dual-stick controls are perfectly fine for touch screens.”
- “Same graphics, mechanism mostly the same, and the music are great except for enemies and shooting enemies.”
- “Better place when jumping, even the marker can reach the spot but you're forced to go to another direction.. you're not free to move around.. you must follow paths... disgusting.. I did love the graphics but meh.. gameplay is horrible.”
- “2 stars for having decent graphics.”
story
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
33%
8%
The game's story is generally well-received, described as intriguing, poetic, and compelling, with a simple yet enjoyable narrative that enhances the overall experience. While some players appreciate the minimalistic approach and symbolism, others express a desire for more clarity and direction within the expansive map. Overall, the story complements the game's stunning visuals and engaging gameplay, making it a highlight for many players.
- “A+ visuals, A+ storyline presentation, A+ gameplay design, just a spectacular game all around.”
- “The controls are basically flawless, the artwork is immaculate, and the storyline is compelling beyond compare.”
- “An excellent concept, design, and story, all beautifully implemented.”
- “There's a story but it doesn't matter much.”
- “But definitely I did enjoy the game, but I still don't understand the story though.”
- “Was skeptical at first because the games that are put out today are not fun with a plot and a lot of them do not have manageable controls.”
music
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
17%
8%
The music in this metroidvania game is consistently praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a unique and memorable soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the music as a standout feature, often describing it as phenomenal, eerie, and beautifully crafted, complementing the game's stunning pixel art and innovative gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's charm and appeal, making it a key element of the experience.
- “The art is beyond beautiful and reminiscent of Metroid; the music is on a level of its own.”
- “It's a full-on metroidvania with an expansive map, a really unique but well polished movement/attack system, intriguing surrealistic pixel-art aesthetics and a super atmospheric soundtrack.”
- “Beautiful, elegiac art and music, mind-bending, innovative gameplay.”
- “Game keeps freezing after a few minutes of play on s20 exynos (music still playing, game is frozen).”
- “The music is on a level of its own.”
- “Can't get the music out of my head :)”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
14%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its eerie and immersive soundtrack, which complements the charming pixel art and surrealistic aesthetics. Players appreciate the unique control scheme and expansive exploration that enhance the overall experience, creating a captivating and mysterious environment reminiscent of classic metroidvania titles. Overall, the game delivers an atmospheric and enjoyable experience that resonates well with fans of the genre.
- “The soundtrack is eerie and atmospheric, and the pixel art is simple and charming.”
- “It's a full-on metroidvania with an expansive map, a really unique but well polished movement/attack system, intriguing surrealistic pixel-art aesthetics and a super atmospheric soundtrack.”
- “Amazing, atmospheric and unexpected experience.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
Dandara is praised for its monetization model, as it features no ads or in-app purchases, providing a seamless gaming experience that prioritizes gameplay over profit. Reviewers appreciate the absence of microtransactions, highlighting it as a refreshing change in the mobile gaming landscape. Overall, the game is seen as a fully fleshed-out experience that avoids common pitfalls of mobile monetization.
- “I wish more games were like this for mobile, just a fully fleshed out game with no ads or IAP nonsense.”
- “No in-app purchases is a plus that should be followed by all premium games.”
- “Finding cellphone games that are addictive and that don't have ads to ruin your concentration are rare.”
- “No microtransactions or advertisements.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is highly praised for its cool designs and satisfying progression through new abilities. While some players note sharp difficulty spikes, the overall experience is enhanced by unique bosses and excellent controls, contributing to a top-tier gameplay experience.
- “The character designs are super cool, and getting new abilities feels satisfying.”
- “In general, the game features great world and character designs, unique bosses, and fun gameplay that proves it is top tier.”
- “Simply an amazing game with fantastic controls and wonderful scene and character design that complements the uniqueness of the entire game experience.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Players appreciate the replayability of the game, noting that completing it unlocks modifiers that increase difficulty and enhance replay value. However, there is a strong desire for additional content, such as new maps, DLC, and features like New Game+ and a mirrored world, to further enrich the experience.
- “I just wish there had been more to it; please release more content. A new game plus with double the level cap would be incredible and add so much replay value. Maybe a truly mirror world too; I like the special room!”
- “It took me just over 8 hours to complete on standard difficulty, but there are modifiers that can be added after completing the game for the first time, which adds additional difficulty and replay value.”
- “Possibly more maps or a DLC in the future would increase its replayability value.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
The game is highly praised for its excellent optimization, featuring tight controls, great performance, and beautiful graphics. Players appreciate the challenging yet fair combat and the sublime exploration experience, highlighting it as a benchmark for other developers in terms of gameplay optimization.
- “The controls are tight, performance is great, the combat is tough but fair, and exploration is sublime.”
- “Some of these developers on the app store could learn a thing or two about gameplay optimization from you.”
- “Performance is great on mobile; the graphics are beautiful, and so is the music.”
- “Some of these clown devs on the app store could learn a thing or two about gameplay optimization from you.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits some stability issues, particularly with movement glitches, but overall, it is considered very good despite feeling somewhat short.
- “There are some glitches with the movement, and it felt kind of short; otherwise, it was very good.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
- “I encountered several bugs that disrupted gameplay and affected my overall enjoyment.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the humor in the game to be well-balanced, with engaging mechanics that add to the fun, particularly enjoying the act of swiping as a humorous element.
- “The humor in this game is perfectly balanced, making every interaction enjoyable.”
- “The mechanics are really interesting and it's hilarious to swipe through the challenges.”
- “I love how the game incorporates humor into its gameplay, keeping me entertained throughout.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding in "Dandara" to be somewhat frustrating due to its difficulty, yet they appreciate the game's metroidvania elements, such as unlocking new abilities and character leveling. While some feel the grinding is tedious, others see it as a necessary part of the open-world experience that enhances exploration and progression.
- “But the developer thinks making tedious tasks is equivalent to fun.”
- “Somewhat frustrating due to the difficult level; Dandara is an excellent full Metroidvania with new abilities unlocking new areas, character leveling up through some grinding, and an open-world map with extensive backtracking.”