Dungeon Defenders: Awakened

Does Dungeon Defenders: Awakened take a strong step forward for the classic tower defense RPG franchise? Our review.

69%Game Brain Score

graphics, gameplay

stability, grinding

68% User Score Based on 6,798 reviews

Critic Score 72%Based on 8 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $11.20

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About

"Dungeon Defenders: Awakened" is a co-op tower defense action RPG, where players choose from unique heroes to defend Etheria from an ancient evil. With updated visuals and gameplay, players must strategically place defenses and fight against hordes of enemies to protect the precious crystals. Upgrade heroes, collect loot, and survive through endless waves in this thrilling sequel to the original Dungeon Defenders.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+31

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,806 reviews

graphics185 positive mentions

stability289 negative mentions

Dungeon Defenders: Awakened offers a nostalgic experience for fans of the original game, with familiar characters and maps.
The game features quality of life improvements, such as auto-loot and a hero deck system that allows for shared experience across characters.
The graphics and art style have been updated, providing a visually appealing experience.

The game has been criticized for being a downgrade from the original, with less content and a simplified gear system that limits character customization.
Many players have reported bugs and performance issues, particularly in multiplayer, leading to a frustrating experience.
The decision to cap tower attack speeds and reduce enemy density to accommodate the Switch version has disappointed many fans.

graphics
707 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
67%
7%
The graphics in "Dungeon Defenders: Awakened" have received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant improvements over the original game, including enhanced lighting and a more polished aesthetic. However, some critics feel that the new art style lacks the charm of its predecessor, describing it as overly shiny or sterile, and expressing disappointment in the overall visual quality compared to expectations. While the updated graphics are generally appreciated, they are often seen as the only notable upgrade in a game that some feel lacks the content and depth of earlier installments.
- “The graphics are improved and updated, but there is something about it that doesn't sit well with me, and it might be the post-processing effects and filters or it may be the way everything looks a little like rubber or plastic.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, even if the apprentice and monk are a little uglier than the originals.”
- “The graphics in this title have easily surpassed its predecessors.”
- “They stripped away so much of what made the first game special... even the graphics aren't as charming... this is newer and more expensive than the original but the only reason I can fathom them creating such a downgraded (side-graded at best) version is to try getting in on the mobile market because all they've accomplished is simplifying and streamlining the game they made before.”
- “The graphics are somehow worse than a 360 game, the customization experience is so stripped down that it's ridiculous, the defenses appear to be nerfed, and virtually all of the unique charm/aesthetic is sucked out of it to turn it into a generic low-poly fantasy game.”
- “I kickstarted a game that was supposed to be the definitive enhanced re-imagining of dd1 and what we're left with is muddy graphics, terrible design choices, and lack of understanding from the developers who would focus on making a mobile game accessible on steam.”
gameplay
620 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The gameplay of "Dungeon Defenders: Awakened" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it retains the core mechanics of the original game, it feels less polished and lacks the depth and variety found in its predecessors. Critics highlight issues such as unbalanced difficulty, repetitive gameplay, and numerous bugs, which detract from the overall experience. However, some players appreciate the updated graphics and the nostalgic elements, finding the gameplay enjoyable, especially for fans of the series, despite its shortcomings.
- “The gameplay is rather simplistic and at first easy but slowly requires strategic placement of towers and clever movement in order to succeed, alongside the alternative game modes which gives every map a new life.”
- “The gameplay is engaging and challenging.”
- “Gameplay is solid, though not especially innovative.”
- “The gameplay is also more similar to DD2 than DD1, but instead of blending DD1 and DD2, it has blended DD2 with a slightly new direction that in my opinion felt like it leaves hero-based combat feeling underwhelming and the overall balance out of whack.”
- “Worse gameplay/mechanic than DD2, too much grind of boring uncharacteristic waves.”
- “It's a shame the gameplay doesn't match up to it, though.”
stability
291 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues that significantly detract from the overall experience. Many players describe it as feeling unfinished and unpolished, with frequent game-breaking glitches, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some acknowledge that the developers are actively working on fixes, the consensus is that the game remains too unstable for a full recommendation at this time.
- “This is a total dumpster fire of a game, it's riddled with bugs and glitches and the feel of the game screams unfinished.”
- “The game is buggy and unpolished and probably won't be fixed considering it's already been 2 years since launch.”
- “The game is currently very buggy, so much so that I haven't even been able to launch a game since it left closed beta.”
grinding
266 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
1%
98%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and time-consuming, often leading to frustration rather than enjoyment. While some appreciate the depth and potential for hundreds of hours of gameplay through loot farming and character progression, others criticize the lack of rewarding experiences and the repetitive nature of grinding for gear. Overall, the game appeals to those who enjoy grind-heavy mechanics, but it may deter casual players or those seeking a more balanced experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I'm not grinding to level 90 just to put on gear I should be able to already equip.”
- “My main issue with the game is the redundant grinding required to achieve some of the achievements, namely the one requiring several different character builds to be at least level 105.”
- “The whole thing sacrifices much of the DD personality for pure dull grinding for gear.”
- “I don’t mind grinding in games, but this is not rewarding at all but rather frustrating.”
story
198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
77%
10%
The story in "Dungeon Defenders: Awakened" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it feels like a rehash of content from the original game, lacking depth and character development. While some appreciate the nostalgic elements and updated graphics, others criticize the narrative for being disjointed and underdeveloped, with a significant portion of gameplay relying on recycled maps and missions. Overall, the story is seen as a weak point, with many hoping for future updates to enhance its quality and coherence.
- “I loved the characters' new models and how each cutscene had a very good backstory and a few funny bits.”
- “The story takes you back in time as we are thrown into the old DD1 maps with a new refreshing graphic and a twist to the story but still keeping the same characters and monsters we knew from the past DD games, an honest story and remake of DD1 perfectly aligning.”
- “It really does justice to Dungeon Defenders 1, being a small team Chromatic Games did a fantastic job, I'm curious to see where the story goes, and I'm waiting for new maps and heroes, keep up the good work!”
- “The latest update did not contribute to the story at all.”
- “Once you beat the main story, which is 80% re-used content from dd1, that's it.”
- “The story feels like it has no meaning, like it's thrown together in bits and pieces with little to no character development.”
optimization
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
58%
34%
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues, especially during multiplayer sessions and high enemy waves. Users have noted that the game feels downgraded, particularly on PC, due to adjustments made for the Switch port, leading to lower frame rates and increased bugs. While some players have experienced smooth performance on high-end systems, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized and requires substantial improvements to meet player expectations.
- “Let's say this game has the potential to be the most promising cooperative action tower defense game of the year if these issues were to be optimized.”
- “1) Optimization (fps), I am playing on a laptop with a GTX 980m and an i7-4710HQ inside, which was a high-end GPU and CPU in the laptop market 5+ years ago, and it runs super good on 1080p and epic settings on my machine.”
- “Feels very smooth to play, very optimized, few expected bugs here and there but the game has just been released, what else do you expect?”
- “The multiplayer, on the other hand, is not optimized at all.”
- “The biggest problem to keep in mind is that any future updates that will be released will be optimized for the Switch version, meaning the PC version will take a hit.”
- “This latest patch has pretty much ruined the few good things about the game, and now hard-capped its performance to what a Switch is capable of.”
monetization
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
17%
80%
The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with many users labeling it as a blatant cash grab that prioritizes profit over quality and player experience. Reviewers express frustration over the game's perceived lack of content, numerous bugs, and the developers' failure to deliver on promises, leading to a sentiment that the series has devolved into unfinished products aimed at quick financial gain. While some appreciate the absence of microtransactions compared to previous titles, the overall consensus is that the game feels incomplete and exploitative.
- “The microtransactions are manageable and completely optional; if you don't want to spend money, just play the second one.”
- “All the fun of Dungeon Defenders without the microtransactions of DD2.”
- “It's a hybrid of the first and second Dungeon Defenders without all the microtransactions.”
- “The game is an absolute cash grab.”
- “For those who want a functional Dungeon Defenders experience, I can recommend DD2; it may be a bigger cash grab than the 2017 Star Wars Battlefront 2 pre-patch, but it beats paying $40 for this game that's on the brink of giving out and is held together by duct tape from its creators.”
- “It was nothing but a cash grab and they failed to deliver all the promises and goals.”
music
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the tavern music and overall soundtrack as enjoyable and fitting, while others criticize it for being largely recycled from previous titles without any significant updates or originality. Although the sound design pays homage to the original game, many players feel that the music lacks memorability and freshness, with some even noting issues like music not playing properly in certain levels. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it seems to fall short of expectations for a polished remake.
- “The game is much more beautiful and the tavern music is a banger.”
- “Dungeon Defenders Awakened's visual and sound design is a homage to the original game with a delightful soundtrack and enhanced graphics alongside a welcomed change to Unreal Engine 4.”
- “This game has an amazing soundtrack by the same person who made the OST for DD1 (and DD2, I believe!).”
- “Also, no new music, just the same old songs, not even remixes or built-upon versions.”
- “Reused music from dd1.”
- “Changes feel questionable or random; they added two new acts to the campaign, and they are the most random assortment of crap possible, some of them have pathfinding bugs, and even missing content where levels don't play music properly or have no enemy path previews.”
replayability
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
52%
6%
The game is widely praised for its high replayability, with many players noting its almost infinite replay value, particularly for those who enjoy grinding and loot collection. While the core mechanics and frequent updates enhance the experience, some users express a desire for more playable characters and content to further enrich replayability. Overall, it offers a fun and engaging experience that encourages repeated playthroughs.
- “If you like grinding games with a lot of replay value and loot, this is the game for you.”
- “I love this game because of its immense amount of replay value and action tower defense style.”
- “It has addictive RTS meets tower defense mechanics, this with the 4 player co-op creates a great replayable experience.”
- “All this making replayability a bit limited.”
- “Perhaps in the future when the game receives more content updates, there will be some more changes to the game that add more depth and replayability, but for now it's pretty much just a nice nostalgic gimmick of a game that could have been much more.”
- “That kills replayability, you have 4 characters in the base game, and 4 cards, so... well, let me explain like this, I only played as apprentice and I'm level 35 with him, with the squire and level 30 on huntress and monk (created them later), why would someone play these characters if they are all evolved?”
humor
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players enjoying various comedic moments such as character mishaps, funny cutscenes, and unexpected ragdoll physics. While some players appreciate the lighthearted elements and amusing character designs, others feel that the humor does not compensate for the game's shortcomings compared to its predecessor. Overall, the game delivers a mix of laugh-out-loud moments and quirky interactions that resonate well with fans of the franchise.
- “Great game, great developers; Phil falling off the map is still funny.”
- “Sometimes this is funny ragdoll reactions (stools shooting away at 100mph in the tavern when you bump into them), sometimes it's enemies zooming across the map despite their slow walking animations, sometimes it's turrets not shooting at flying enemies right in front of it, sometimes it's archers clumping up under a rooftop and refusing to budge because there's a turret on it that they can't seem to hit.”
- “We've had some hilarious moments discovering the new creatures and learning how to handle them, and it's been exactly what I loved from the Dungeon Defenders franchise: a tactical and rewarding tower defense game with a lot of depth.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is polarizing, with some players experiencing a significant emotional rollercoaster, while others express strong dissatisfaction and recommend avoiding the game and its developer altogether. Despite some acknowledging the developers' kindness, there are concerns about their decision-making and priorities. Overall, the emotional responses range from disappointment to moments of wholesome enjoyment.
- “75$ Kickstarter backer here - so far, this game has given me an emotional rollercoaster.”
- “And that is saying something: wholesome fun that is great to look at.”
- “They are all kind and wholesome people, but they need to work on their priorities and decision making a lot.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for effectively recapturing the engaging elements of its predecessor, DD1, while introducing quality-of-life improvements. Although some players find the tone to be more serious and less vibrant than before, the overall ambiance, enhanced graphics, and features like individual player chests contribute to a friendly and immersive experience. The game's pacing and character diversity further enrich the atmosphere, keeping players invested in the story.
- “Dd1 was a nicely placed game with wonderful pacing, quite some heroes, fantastic atmosphere, character, and plenty of content.”
- “This game recaptures the dd1 atmosphere and feeling while adding some nice quality of life features, like the hero deck from dd2 (all heroes in your deck gain XP, and you can swap heroes in and out of your deck).”
- “Atmosphere is a bit more lame and serious than previous settings, but I still like the towers and graphics.”
- “There's more to a story than just the words; you gotta set the atmosphere right as well to keep people invested, otherwise it'd be easier to just make a game and ignore a story.”
- “To absorb the atmosphere of dd1 and to transition it into dd:a.”
character development
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
42%
33%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players feeling that it lacks depth and meaningful progression, while others appreciate the return to original character designs and enhanced art styles. Many users express disappointment in the overall character design changes, viewing them as a downgrade, and criticize the story for feeling disjointed and lacking substance. However, there are positive notes regarding the challenges and character development introduced in the latest iteration, suggesting a potential improvement in this aspect.
- “Now we have DDA, which sees a return to the original character designs, an enhanced art style that pops like DD1's did (only perhaps less 'glowy' if you know what I mean, but still looks good if not way better), and even many of the original locations/maps - plus some new maps added in.”
- “Overall though, they seem to be staying on top of squishing bugs and I do enjoy the character development and challenges they've brought on.”
- “Every attempt since has been meh... changing the character design was probably their hugest mistake.”
- “Character design feels like a downgrade across the board.”
- “The story feels like it has no meaning, like it's thrown together in bits and pieces with little to no character development (not that I was expecting a whole lot) and very little customization.”
- “Every attempt since has been meh... changing the character design was probably their biggest mistake.”

72%Critics’ scoreBased on 8 critic reviews

Buy Dungeon Defenders: Awakened

89h Median play time

184h Average play time

12-250h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 48 analyzed playthroughs

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