Dicey Dungeons
- August 13, 2019
- Terry Cavanagh
- 24h median play time
A dice-rolling roguelike that is a cut above the rest.
Dicey Dungeons is a roguelike dice-based adventure game. In this game, you play as a character who has been turned into a dice by a malicious dinner-show host. Your goal is to battle monsters, level up, and defeat the host in order to regain your original form. Each character has unique abilities and gameplay mechanics, adding a layer of depth to the strategic dice-rolling combat.
Reviews
- Unique and clever dice mechanics that add depth to the gameplay.
- Charming art style and an engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Variety of characters and episodes that keep the gameplay fresh and interesting.
- Heavy reliance on RNG can lead to frustrating experiences, especially in later episodes.
- Some characters, particularly the Witch, can feel unbalanced and less enjoyable to play.
- Limited replayability once all episodes are completed, as the core gameplay can become repetitive.
- gameplay1,224 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Dicey Dungeons" is characterized by its innovative use of dice mechanics, offering a unique blend of strategy and luck that keeps players engaged. Each of the six characters features distinct gameplay styles and abilities, providing a variety of experiences across multiple runs and episodes. While the game is accessible and easy to learn, some players note that it can become repetitive over time, with a heavy reliance on RNG that may frustrate those seeking deeper strategic gameplay. Overall, the combination of charming visuals, catchy music, and diverse mechanics makes for a fun and addictive experience.
“Unique runs - there are six characters, each with a different gameplay style.”
“Approachable gameplay - the game isn't as complicated as other roguelike deckbuilders out there, so I'd consider it very newcomer-friendly.”
“The gameplay is so easy to grasp that it literally changes its own rules every run, and yet it's still simple to follow, despite having room to be incredibly complex.”
“The gameplay is very RNG dependent and that can be frustrating at points, but once things start to click, they are very, very satisfying.”
“The gameplay might look a little bit simple and boring but it does a good job of keeping one entertained.”
“The gameplay is quite dull and not really immersive.”
- music891 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Dicey Dungeons," composed by Chipzel, has received widespread acclaim for its catchy, upbeat chiptune and jazzy elements, enhancing the game's playful atmosphere. Many players noted that the soundtrack is a standout feature, often prompting them to stop and appreciate the tunes during gameplay, although some mentioned that it can become repetitive over extended sessions. Overall, the music is described as a major highlight, contributing significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“The soundtrack is absolutely incredible with chipzel returning to work their magic to pump you up with chiptune jazziness.”
“The music is catchy, the artwork is fun and whimsical, and the gameplay itself is pretty well balanced.”
“The music is fantastic! The art style is cute and the music is amazing.”
“The music can also become repetitive.”
“It is simply too repetitive and the soundtracks get really annoying after a while.”
“The in-game sounds and music were a huge no for me, and the 'gameshow' setting just didn't work for me.”
- graphics533 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, cartoonish art style that complements the gameplay and enhances the overall experience. Many players appreciate the cute and colorful visuals, which evoke a playful atmosphere, although some find the aesthetic simplistic or unappealing. Overall, the art style, combined with a catchy soundtrack, contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a delightful experience for fans of whimsical design.
“The art style, the music, the character designs; it's such a satisfying roguelike that keeps you on your toes while letting you turn your brain off at the same time somehow.”
“The game's colorful art style and wacky enemy designs add to the overall charm of the game, even though in the beginning I saw it as cheap, it really grew on me.”
“The art style is incredibly charming, the characters are so diverse in both personality and gameplay mechanics, and there are plenty of modes to play through!”
“The theme and aesthetic of this game I find completely unappealing.”
“Graphics and animation that would have been cheap browser-based game worthy in 2003.”
“The art style is very childish, which might be a plus in the beginning, but after an hour or two, the bright colors and cutesy characters get boring pretty fast.”
- replayability264 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The reviews for "replayability" in this game present a mixed picture. While many players appreciate the variety offered by different characters and episodes, which can lead to enjoyable and unique runs, others feel that once the content is completed, the incentive to replay diminishes significantly. Overall, the game has high replay value for those who enjoy exploring different strategies and challenges, but it may not satisfy players seeking endless replayability typical of other roguelikes.
“While RNG can definitely tank a run from time to time, you're rewarded for planning out your equipment carefully and with so many modifiers to the runs and several different characters with different equipment and rulesets, there's a ton of replay value.”
“The episodic nature is fun, the characters are really neat, and replay value is very high.”
“Each character has multiple levels, each with different rule sets, giving great replay value.”
“Barely replayable - despite each episode being unique, once I beat the game and completed all content, the idea of going through any episode again didn't feel worth it.”
“What you see is what you get for the entire time you'll be playing this game, and because replayability just didn't really happen for me here, I can't recommend it.”
“Not much replay value; after I beat a level, I don't feel the urge to replay.”
- story241 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered light and simplistic, often taking a backseat to gameplay mechanics, but it features charming characters and humorous dialogue that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the quirky premise of being contestants in a game show run by Lady Luck, with each character having their own motivations and unique missions that contribute to a minimal yet engaging narrative. While some find the story repetitive and lacking depth, others enjoy its whimsical nature and the way it integrates with the gameplay, making it a fun addition rather than a focal point.
“The story is simple, but adorable and hilarious.”
“The solid gameplay is complemented by an underlying story - five contestants enter the dungeon, looking to win their heart's desire, before slowly beginning to realize they've bitten off more than they can chew.”
“The story aspect was more than I expected, and the finale is awesome!”
“The plot ends up being a nothingburger.”
“The start of the game actually feels quite story heavy but then about midway it starts to get really really light on dialogue and other story stuff and I feel that's a bit of a shame.”
“No regrets, as with most of the games in the genre the story is so thin as to be hardly existent.”
- humor191 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and cleverness, with many players enjoying the quirky dialogue, funny character interactions, and lighthearted tone. While some found the humor to be hit-or-miss or occasionally repetitive, the overall consensus is that it adds a delightful layer to the gameplay experience, complemented by a vibrant art style and engaging mechanics. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to balance humor with strategic gameplay, making it both entertaining and memorable.
“The characters are all unique and have several playstyles, the chapters shake things up in a way that is [mostly] very enjoyable, and the humor and style are top notch.”
“The battle system tasks you with combining skill and luck to take down a hilarious group of adversaries.”
“The humor is spot on, the combat mechanics is a beautiful blend between optimization and having to improvise to deal with random chance screwing the player over, and the pacing is absolutely perfect.”
“The jokes don't always land with me, but I never find them to be aggressively unfunny.”
- grinding38 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with many players finding it tedious and frustrating, especially in later levels where progress feels slow and reliant on luck rather than skill. While some appreciate the strategic depth and replay value, others feel that the grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment, making certain sections feel like a chore rather than a rewarding experience. Overall, the game offers fun gameplay but can become excessively grindy, particularly for those who dislike repetitive mechanics.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“Impossibly grindy for so very little progress.”
“Let me be clear, it starts out fun then turns into a grinding chore.”
“When you die a couple of times on the same level, the game becomes grinding and repetitive, since each run of the same level only differs in the randomly chosen enemies and equipment.”
- character development31 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its charming and unique character designs, which are often described as adorable and memorable. While the gameplay offers interesting character progression and diverse mechanics, some players feel that the depth of character development could be improved, as it tends to focus more on visual appeal and humor rather than intricate storytelling. Overall, the combination of delightful art, engaging music, and fun character designs contributes to a satisfying experience, even if it lacks profound character arcs.
“Interesting character designs unlocked through game progression.”
“A game with hilarious writing and even character development (the twist final character blew me away), a fantastic villain, beautiful art, and that drips with love and attention to detail throughout.”
“Beautiful visual style combined with unique game mechanics and diverse character design.”
“I don't like the character designs, the animations, and with the color used, it all falls flat to me.”
“I appreciate that later levels probably have more weapons, spells etc, but I prefer a bit of character development in my games and this seems to be just a case of play/reset/play again.”
“The mechanical depth, the character design and animations, the writing, the music, just everything!”
- atmosphere29 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming and whimsical qualities, characterized by a cute art style, jazzy tunes, and a playful tone that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the unique mechanics and humorous elements that contribute to a lively and engaging environment, making it enjoyable for both short and extended play sessions. Despite some critiques regarding the game's tonal shifts, the overall sentiment highlights a delightful and stress-relieving atmosphere that keeps players coming back for more.
“The unique mechanics, the humor, the cute art style, and the jazzy tunes give this game a really nice atmosphere.”
“Between these deck-building elements, the dice, the fantastic soundtrack, and the adorable art, Dicey Dungeons offers a unique atmosphere in the genre that had me coming back for another run—even after stepping away for weeks.”
“Its cute art style and slick music make for a nice atmosphere.”
“I'm just disappointed about the end; the atmosphere changes and is sad.”
“I kept finding myself being taken out of the atmosphere because of it.”
“While it may have less complexity than STS, the game show atmosphere is a little more refreshing to me.”
- stability16 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting significant bugs, glitches, and UI issues that can disrupt gameplay, including freezes and unresponsive menus. While some users note that these problems are minor and do not severely impact the overall experience, many others describe the game as a "horrible buggy mess," leading to a general consensus that stability needs considerable improvement. Despite its enjoyable elements, the prevalence of technical issues detracts from the game's potential.
“Runs great on Linux (yay for native support!).”
“I do not recommend the game because of this buggy nature.”
“Horrible buggy mess of a game.”
“I've encountered a number of bugs, including all music stopping, continuing to play the game at 0 HP, status conditions not working properly, UI elements becoming unresponsive, menus failing to open, freezes/soft locks, and other occasional bugs.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with smooth performance on various devices, including older hardware. However, some players noted occasional lag and optimization issues, particularly related to gameplay mechanics that can lead to frustrating experiences. The developers are actively addressing these concerns through updates and bug fixes, contributing to a positive long-term outlook for performance.
“The humor is spot on, the combat mechanics are a beautiful blend between optimization and having to improvise to deal with random chance screwing the player over, and the pacing is absolutely perfect.”
“Also well-optimized: quick and responsive on my 10-year-old PC/5-year-old graphics card.”
“It's also great to see the devs themselves still actively supporting their game, releasing bug fixes and optimizations of their own with the occasional new enemy or set of abilities.”
“It immediately stops being a zany, 'try to build your best strat to reach the end' adventure, and starts being 'how can I make the most optimized build when the RNG is out to get me at every possible second, and any errors result in a complete wipe.'”
“Disliked: some optimization issues/lag.”
“The performance is also not an issue here; the game was just brought to iOS and Android devices.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be heartwarming and wholesome, with a touching story and creative mechanics that enhance the overall experience. The game's quirky charm and engaging soundtrack contribute to a feel-good atmosphere, making it a delightful and clever roguelike that resonates positively with players.
“There's even some touching story going on.”
“After 39 hours, I've beaten the game; the mechanic of the final episode was really creative and, along with the flavor text of the last challenge, was really wholesome.”
“Honestly, it's just a wholesome rogue-like!”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism for its reliance on microtransactions, which some players equate to gambling, detracting from the overall experience. While the game itself is enjoyable, the additional randomness introduced by these mechanics has led to frustration, particularly with certain characters.
“Screw microtransactions, this is how you do gambling in video games!”
“I seriously don't feel this counts as a 'rogue-like' at all and I feel advertising it as such is deceptive at best and immoral at worst.”
Critic Reviews
Dicey Dungeons review
Endearing, compulsive, and just weird enough to want to keep exploring.
81%Dicey Dungeons Review
Terry Cavanagh has done it again with Dicey Dungeons; this is easily one of the best roguelike titles you can currently purchase for the Switch. Loads of gameplay variety, fantastic music, a high skill ceiling and friendly visuals make this a thoroughly gripping and fun experience you won’t want to miss out on. If you like roguelikes or card games, we’d highly recommend you pick this up as soon as you can – and even if you don’t, we’d still encourage you to check it out regardless.
90%Dicey Dungeons (Switch) Review
A dice-rolling roguelike that is a cut above the rest.
95%