Dungeon Defenders

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 7,864 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • grinding
Dungeon Defenders Game Cover
Dungeon Defenders is an addictive game that, while not a ton of fun when played alone, will provide you with several hours of entertainment.
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"Dungeon Defenders" is a tower defense action RPG where players choose from different hero classes to defend their Eternia Crystals from hordes of invading enemies. Customize and upgrade your defenses and abilities, and team up with friends in 4-player co-op to protect the crystal and complete quests. Explore the various realms in the game, earning rewards and unlocking new content as you progress.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 7,864 reviews
gameplay189 positive mentions
grinding241 negative mentions
  • gameplay418 mentions

    The gameplay of Dungeon Defenders is widely praised for its addictive blend of tower defense and action RPG mechanics, offering a variety of character classes and strategies that keep players engaged for hundreds of hours. While the game features a rich array of levels, upgrades, and cooperative play options, some players note that it can become grindy, especially in the late game. Overall, the combination of strategic tower placement, character customization, and engaging combat makes it a standout title in the genre, despite some dated graphics and occasional mechanical confusion.

    • “Best tower defense game ever made, very interesting mechanics, well-balanced enemies, interesting missions and maps, tons of weapons, upgrades, etc. Definitely a must buy for tower defense lovers.”
    • “The gameplay loop is addictive and stays fresh due to the leveling system introducing more options as you progress and incredibly varied map geometry that makes each new stage a unique challenge.”
    • “Dungeon defenders is an awesome game, RPG mixed with tower defense makes a great gameplay mode.”
    • “Tbf, the DLC inflated all the numbers with a power creep that broke the health of the gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay, to me, feels slow, imprecise, and grindy.”
    • “The gameplay is mediocre at best; it's not terrible but it's not particularly compelling.”
  • graphics303 mentions

    The graphics of the game are often described as charming and colorful, featuring a unique cartoonish art style that has aged well despite being somewhat dated. While some players appreciate the nostalgic and vibrant visuals, others find them overly saturated or simplistic compared to modern standards. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's fun and engaging atmosphere, making it appealing to a wide demographic, especially fans of the tower defense genre.

    • “The graphics are amazing for a game that has been around for 11 years; the graphics aren't realistic like Call of Duty, but still good.”
    • “The visuals are stunning for the year it released, the music is amazing, and the gameplay is absolutely riveting.”
    • “The art style, the colors, the cartoony look of everything, I love it all a lot.”
    • “Graphics are so over-saturated that they give me migraines.”
    • “The game hasn't aged too well; while the graphics are just okay, the UI and lack of resolutions above 1080p make it a nuisance for larger resolution monitors.”
    • “The graphics are ugly, bright, and basic.”
  • grinding244 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is a significant point of contention among players, with many finding it both enjoyable and tedious. Early gameplay offers a satisfying sense of progression, but as players reach higher levels, the grind becomes more pronounced and can feel repetitive, especially in the late game where specific strategies and setups are required for success. While some players appreciate the social aspect of grinding with friends and the rewards that come from it, others express frustration over the excessive time investment and the game's reliance on farming for gear and levels.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “One long, tedious grind.”
    • “The game can get a bit grindy at points while you try to acquire new loot, and some of the extended/additional levels really don't seem that well thought out, but there is still a lot of fun to be had with this game.”
    • “This game was just another pointlessly grindy game that got boring extremely fast and wasn't very fun at all, felt more like a chore with no reward.”
    • “The late game consists of grinding for those ult ++ items but with friends, the time passes by quickly.”
  • story244 mentions

    The story in Dungeon Defenders is generally considered minimal and somewhat cliché, revolving around four children tasked with defending crystals from evil forces. While some players appreciate the charming and lighthearted narrative, many feel it lacks depth and is not the main focus of the game, which emphasizes gameplay and cooperative mechanics. Overall, the storyline serves as a backdrop to the engaging tower defense gameplay, with additional content from DLCs providing more missions and character options.

    • “The story of this game is a great example of storytelling through gameplay, and because of that, this game has a high reputation. I recommend it to everyone.”
    • “The maps are gorgeous, the range of playable characters and abilities are interesting, and I love the little adventure story that goes along with the main boss maps.”
    • “The story is brief, but fun. I loved this game; it definitely kept me interested throughout the story mode and the multiplayer.”
    • “The story is somewhat poor, but what really makes this game is the gameplay itself.”
    • “The story uses countless clichés and predictable plot events that make it rather drab; however, the unique gameplay makes up for it.”
    • “The campaign is not the only quest set you are able to do; if you want to try out Buccaneer Valley because you beat the campaign and are bored, you can.”
  • replayability120 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players highlighting its diverse character classes, multiple difficulty levels, and a wealth of content that encourages repeated playthroughs. The combination of tower defense mechanics and RPG elements, along with cooperative multiplayer options, further enhances its replay value, making it a favorite for both solo and group play. Overall, players find the game endlessly engaging, with many noting its addictive nature and the variety of strategies available.

    • “Its character progression system, variety of enemy types, and randomly generated levels add replayability and variety to the game, and its cooperative multiplayer component makes it a great option for playing with friends.”
    • “The game has a lot of replayability, there are 8 classes to choose from (4 of them are DLC), and all have their unique gear and play differently.”
    • “Dungeon defenders is the first game to combine hardcore tower defense with hack-and-slash RPG elements to make a truly unique experience, and a massive replay value to boot!”
    • “The replayability of the game is there; however, it is as interesting as you are willing to let it be.”
    • “Very fun game, can get very boring when you're a high level, but much replayability... worth getting it... does get boring but it's enough fun for the price.”
    • “Not many levels, so low replayability.”
  • humor69 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its funny costumes, quirky weapons, and tongue-in-cheek commentary that enhance the overall experience. Many reviews note that the game is particularly enjoyable when played with friends, as the comedic elements and ridiculous scenarios contribute to a fun and entertaining atmosphere. Overall, the game's light-hearted humor and engaging gameplay make it a standout in the tower defense genre.

    • “This game is still hilarious after years of being out.”
    • “The hilarious costumes and DLCs they come up with just make it so addictive and always pulls you back in.”
    • “A great fun game for when a group of friends want to get together and defend a crystal from wave after wave of mythical beasts in this hilarious tower defense game which gets ridiculous very quickly depending on how far you choose to upgrade your defenses.”
  • music40 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and memorability, with many players noting its ability to evoke nostalgia and enhance the overall experience. While the soundtrack is often described as beautiful and engaging, some users mention that it can become repetitive during extended play sessions. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the game's vibrant visuals and enjoyable gameplay.

    • “It is a very great blend of tower defense and dungeon crawling, with excellent and colorful visuals, varied and fun levels, and to top it off: insanely good music.”
    • “I have so many wonderful memories of playing this game and a lot of the music is still stuck in my head.”
    • “This game's soundtrack is one for the ages, and continues to be my favorite.”
    • “If you play for hours on end in the same mission, the repetitive music can become annoying.”
    • “The music is repetitive.”
    • “While the game has its moments, the music often feels like it lacks variety and can become tiresome.”
  • stability26 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches across various platforms, particularly on Linux and macOS. While it runs well on lower-end hardware and can achieve high frame rates on Steam, issues like freezing, graphical glitches, and inconsistent performance can detract from the experience. Overall, while enjoyable with friends, the game suffers from longstanding coding problems that impact gameplay stability.

    • “Runs great on Steam and can run at 120fps!”
    • “This runs great on lower-end hardware.”
    • “Amazing game built on the twist of tower defense and RPG; runs great and is a blast with friends.”
    • “If you want to play this game under Proton, be notified that performance is not great and there are a few glitches here and there (for example - your mouse cursor is visible together with the in-game cursor and there is no way to turn that off).”
    • “The game is very buggy and there are quite a few exploits that players have abused over these long years, but if you're just playing with friends, it is an enjoyable experience.”
    • “Very buggy and slow game on Linux and OS X.”
  • optimization20 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant performance issues, particularly on systems like the Steam Deck and when using Proton, where glitches and low frame rates are common. While some players appreciate the game's optimization for lower-end systems, others experience severe stuttering and crashes, indicating that overall performance remains inconsistent and often unsatisfactory across various hardware configurations. Despite these challenges, hardcore players may find enjoyment in the game's optimization mechanics for builds and runs, suggesting a divide in user experience based on system capabilities.

    • “On the other hand, if you're a meta-loving high-end efficiency gamer, this game also offers a large level of optimization that will keep hardcore players coming back to optimize and perfect runs and builds while grinding out good items.”
    • “- good optimization, with a lot of chaos; no FPS drops at all!”
    • “+ good performance across a wide variety of PCs.”
    • “It really needs to be optimized for the Steam Deck in order to be a perfect score for me.”
    • “If you want to play this game under Proton, be aware that performance is not great and there are a few glitches here and there (for example, your mouse cursor is visible alongside the in-game cursor and there is no way to turn that off).”
    • “The graphics performance is incredibly bad compared to Windows on identical hardware.”
  • monetization18 mentions

    The monetization of the game is generally viewed positively, with many reviewers appreciating the absence of intrusive microtransactions and the focus on DLC and cosmetic skins. However, criticisms arise regarding the sequel, which is seen as a cash grab that heavily relies on microtransactions and pay-to-win mechanics, detracting from the original's experience. Overall, while the original game allows for a fulfilling experience without mandatory purchases, the sequel's monetization strategy has left many players disappointed.

    • “The monetization is done right, in the form of DLC and skins, unlike its successor, Dungeon Defenders 2, which is a downright shadow of a game compared to this.”
    • “This game can be grindy (especially in the late game), but can be completed solo, and the game doesn't rely on in-game purchases.”
    • “It's one of those games that you can stay immersed in for months, even though it doesn't have a bunch of cheesy tricks that 'force' you to keep playing every day like World of Warcraft or many popular microtransaction games do.”
    • “Shame the subsequent versions were cash grabs.”
    • “Well then they made a crappy sequel with microtransactions.”
    • “It feels like playing a free game on a phone; every time you start the game, it bombards you with DLC ads. In the character selection screen, it even shows you the characters from the DLCs.”
  • character development17 mentions

    Character development in this game is praised for its versatility and integration with RPG elements, offering a balanced progression system that enhances gameplay. While it involves a significant amount of grinding for optimal gear and stats, the engaging action and whimsical art style keep players invested. Overall, the combination of tower defense mechanics with RPG character development creates a unique and enjoyable experience, though some players desire more randomness and experimentation in character design.

    • “The character development has a lot of great versatility, the action and strategy elements are solid and enjoyable, and the progression is very well balanced - especially for an indie game.”
    • “If you enjoy tower defense and also like character development with gear and stats, this has it both!”
    • “This game is too cool for school: it's the best of RPG character development, tower defense, and 'horde mode' all rolled into one.”
    • “I have to warn though progression as far as character development goes is heavily based on grind and repeating but don't let this sway you from playing as you hardly notice you're doing this with all the action going on.”
    • “If there was more of a random element to this game, and if players were given incentive to experiment with character design, this game would be one in a million.”
    • “Character development and map selection”
  • atmosphere9 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its unique charm, evolving with gameplay and time, and is enhanced significantly when played with friends. Users appreciate the lighthearted and magical ambiance, which, combined with comedic elements, creates a fun and engaging experience, even during challenging moments. Overall, the atmosphere contributes greatly to the enjoyment of the game.

    • “The atmosphere and the gameplay just evolve the more gameplay and time you put into it.”
    • “Despite the basic medieval fantasy setting, it still has its own unique atmosphere.”
    • “If you love tower defense and a lighthearted and magical atmosphere, you're going to love this game.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking any real depth or engagement.”
    • “Despite the potential, the atmosphere fails to immerse players, leaving it feeling hollow.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is inconsistent, often breaking immersion and detracting from the overall experience.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    Players express a mix of emotional experiences with the game, highlighting both its ability to create strong connections and its capacity for heartbreak. While some appreciate the wholesome, high-fantasy elements and the skills learned through gameplay, others feel let down by the progression system and describe their journey as ultimately disappointing and disrespectful. Overall, the emotional impact of the game varies significantly among players, ranging from uplifting to deeply frustrating.

    • “This game has put me through an emotional roller coaster; I have learned so many real-world skills by playing this game.”
    • “This game is an extremely heartbreaking adventure.”
    • “End it with a strong emotional connection with that player.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

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Play time

152hMedian play time
310hAverage play time
15hMain story
459hCompletionist
52-500hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 32 analyzed playthroughs

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