Dungeon Drafters
- April 27, 2023
- DANGEN Entertainment
- 10h median play time
Dungeon Drafters is sure to appeal to fans of RPGs and deck-building card games. With a fun grid-type battle mechanic, tons of cards/spells to collect, and different classes to use, this game will keep you busy for a long time!
"Dungeon Drafters" is a tile-based dungeon crawler with rogue-lite elements, where you play as a young adventurer using magic cards to battle enemies and traverse dungeons. Your unique spell deck is your weapon, allowing you to execute powerful combos and defeat enemies in turn-based combat. With six characters to choose from and various cards to collect, each run offers a new experience as you work towards building the ultimate spell deck and ridding the world of evil.
Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of deckbuilding and tactical gameplay, providing a refreshing experience for fans of both genres.
- The art style and presentation are charming, with well-designed characters and environments that enhance the overall experience.
- There is a strong sense of progression as players collect cards and build their decks, allowing for creative strategies and combos.
- The user interface can be confusing and unintuitive, making it difficult for players to navigate menus and understand card effects.
- There are numerous bugs and soft locks that can disrupt gameplay, leading to frustration and loss of progress during runs.
- The game can be excessively punishing, as dying in a dungeon results in losing all collected resources, which may deter some players.
- gameplay74 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of deckbuilding and tactical dungeon crawling, offering a rewarding and engaging experience with a variety of mechanics and puzzles. Players appreciate the strategic depth and charm of the game, though some criticize the steep learning curve and lack of clear explanations for certain mechanics. While the core gameplay loop is enjoyable, bugs and pacing issues have been noted, which can detract from the overall experience.
“This game has really solid card dungeon crawler gameplay.”
“The little tactical puzzles each fight presents were very entertaining to solve, and I love the way the game uses the map and movement/positioning mechanics as an integral part of how certain cards and enemies work, meaning that terrain and layouts actually matter quite a lot.”
“The battle systems are ingenious, the risk/reward is satisfying, the dungeons are fun to explore and full of puzzles, the town is cozy and evokes fond memories of MMO starter towns, the extra modes add a ton of gameplay variety, the deckbuilding is deep and scales in power over time, the cards are versatile and make you feel like a clever wizard.”
“The mechanics are very complex and the learning curve is steep.”
“The pacing of the gameplay is a bit too slow for my tastes as it is.”
“People looking for a simple pick up and play RPG may be frustrated by the sheer number of interlocking game mechanics and unflinching trial and error difficulty, but those willing to put in the time to embrace and understand the game will find an addicting, rewarding experience.”
- graphics29 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their charming pixel art style and vibrant visuals, which enhance the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the satisfying sprite work, engaging hub world, and appealing character designs, contributing to a well-crafted aesthetic that complements the gameplay. While some minor issues were noted, the overall consensus is that the graphics are a standout feature, making the game visually appealing and enjoyable.
“With a charming art style and great sprite-work all around and an equally enjoyable soundtrack that I would also highly recommend.”
“The graphics are excellent, the gameplay loop is fun, and it's a well-crafted experience all around.”
“The art style is gorgeous, the music tracks are banger, the 4 card archetypes are extremely unique and fun, each enriching a certain playstyle and countering a specific region of the world!”
“The visuals for an enemy having multiple health bars isn't obvious.”
“The visuals of the game involve some neat pixel art, so it's a shame that the gameplay didn't hold up for me.”
“The art style is pixel art done well, utilizing modern technology to not be stuck in the 16-bit era.”
- story26 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as light-hearted and simplistic, with a variety of quests and challenges that encourage strategic deck-building and exploration. While some players appreciate the unique challenges and lore hidden within the quests, others find the quest structure and navigation unintuitive, leading to frustration. Overall, the narrative is serviceable and crafted with care, but it may not appeal to those seeking a deep or complex storyline.
“The quests in this game are amazing in that they provide unique challenges for you to overcome while also teaching you the nuances of each archetype as you strive to complete them.”
“The quests and NPCs you have to talk to are not really intuitive, at least for me.”
“The lore/story/hub is cozy, but very light-hearted and simplistic; still, there are some quests/characters, even branching paths!”
“There is a storyline, but you really need to pay attention to lore and NPCs; there is a ton hidden in this game, and when I tell you to pay attention to detail, I mean like every single thing.”
- music25 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many users praising its catchy and engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, often describing it as "banger" and "earworm," complementing the charming visuals and rewarding gameplay. While a few comments suggest the music can become repetitive, the general consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
“With a charming art style and great sprite-work all around and an equally enjoyable soundtrack that I would also highly recommend.”
“There's a great game here with good visuals and music and a rewarding gameplay loop that has clearly been put together with a lot of care.”
“The art style is gorgeous, the music tracks are banger, the 4 card archetypes are extremely unique and fun, each enriching a certain playstyle and countering a specific region of the world!”
“The music is passable.”
“I can't say it's worth $25 especially when I'm listening to the same song over and over again on repeat.”
“= ok music”
- stability15 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been a significant concern among players, with many reporting frequent glitches, soft locks, and crashes that can result in lost progress. While some users have noted improvements following recent patches, the overall consensus is that the game remains buggy and unpolished, making it difficult to recommend for those seeking a stable experience. However, there is optimism that ongoing developer efforts will eventually resolve these issues.
“I would say 23 hours of gameplay with no freezes or soft locks.”
“Utterly fantastic - runs great on deck.”
“Love the game, but glitches are common and can lose around an hour of progress if they happen at an inopportune time.”
“The game is fun and is wonderfully designed, but the amount of soft lock glitches that cause loss of progress is just too much to recommend this right now.”
“Definitely the main issue with this game currently is the pre-release bug testing was not robust enough, which led to a very buggy launch.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the initial hours can feel tedious as they farm resources and experiment with cards, the enjoyable gameplay loop helps mitigate this frustration. Once players progress past the early grind, the game opens up with more varied challenges, though some still feel that the need for extensive grinding can lead to monotony. Overall, while grinding is seen as a necessary part of the experience, it is often balanced by the enjoyment derived from the game's mechanics and challenges.
“The starting period can feel a bit tedious to get through, especially if you go in with the mindset of optimizing to never spend any resources/cards other than the absolute minimum.”
“I opened deck after deck and only ever found a small handful of good cards, and deck sizes are so big you would need to find 5+ hours of grinding without dying to boost your deck power up.”
“This makes the game really slow and tedious.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its varied and visually engaging elements, featuring amusing characters like a quirky explorer rabbit and entertaining mini-games, such as a humorous fishing activity. Overall, players find the comedic aspects to be a delightful addition to the experience.
“Great variation and visuals plus the funny adol chadmaxxing in the hub world.”
“I like the explorer, he's a funny little rabbit.”
“What if there's a funny little fishing mini game?”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development for its unique and colorful designs, highlighting the impressive spritework and animations for both player characters and enemies.
“I also really like the character design of both player characters and enemies; the sprite work and animations are also very well done.”
“The character designs are all unique and colorful.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game features a monetization model that avoids microtransactions, allowing players to earn cards through gameplay or purchase them with in-game currency. This approach enhances the deckbuilding experience, making it intuitive and rewarding as players expand their collections through dungeon exploration.
“Scratches the booster itch without microtransactions.”
“Rather than piecing together a deck over the course of your run, you build your arsenal beforehand out of cards you earn on dungeon trips (or can buy at a shop in town - all in-game, no microtransactions or some such). The deckbuilding is intuitive and fun, slowly expanding the limits of what can go into a deck as you complete dungeons and grow your collection.”
“The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend more than they should to enjoy the game fully.”
“It's frustrating that essential content is locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending extra money.”
“The game heavily encourages microtransactions, which detracts from the overall experience and enjoyment.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that optimization is a significant concern, with some opting to disable certain features due to performance issues in games. This suggests that the game's performance may not be consistently smooth, impacting the overall experience for some players.
“Some players always disable this feature due to performance issues in the game.”
“The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering.”
“I often experience long loading times, which really detracts from the overall gameplay experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the emotional aspect of the game is polarizing, with some players feeling that the harsh penalties for death create frustration rather than meaningful emotional engagement. This design choice is perceived as a punishment for players, detracting from the overall experience and potentially leading to feelings of anger or disappointment.
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users highlight that the game offers a significant amount of replayability, suggesting that players can enjoy multiple playthroughs without losing interest.
“This game offers tons of replayability, keeping me engaged for hours.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that every playthrough feels fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple paths and endings, I find myself coming back to explore new strategies.”
Critic Reviews
Dungeon Drafters Review
Dungeon Drafters is sure to appeal to fans of RPGs and deck-building card games. With a fun grid-type battle mechanic, tons of cards/spells to collect, and different classes to use, this game will keep you busy for a long time!
80%Dungeon Drafters – Papercut
While the dungeon crawl, card mechanics, and nice pixel art would’ve been the trifecta to make this game stand out, Dungeon Drafter’s controls and design fail to make it as enjoyable as it should be.
50%Dungeon Drafters Review (PC)
Dungeon Drafters delivers on its core concept of mixing turn-based tactics with card play. It takes a little time to get going and get a clear idea of how to modify the deck and what kind of cards are best suited to a particular strategy. But there’s a wide variety of approaches and the tactical puzzles are fun and challenging. I would have liked some navigational aids for the hub town and more help from the game when it comes to deck building. But Dungeon Drafters rewards players who are willing to invest time with beautifully crafted dungeons and engaging card and tile-driven battles. A review key was provided by the publisher
85%