Dungeon Escape

About

"Dungeon Escape" is a challenging 2D platformer with minimalistic graphics and a great chiptune soundtrack. Traverse through numerous levels filled with enemies and traps, using head jumps, coins, and your wits to escape the dangerous dungeon. The game boasts hardcore gameplay and many challenging levels. Can you make it out?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 271 reviews

music36 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Dungeon Escape offers a challenging and addictive gameplay experience, reminiscent of classic platformers like Super Meat Boy.
The minimalist graphics and chiptune soundtrack create a nostalgic and engaging atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
The game features tight and responsive controls, allowing players to master the precise timing required for the various levels.

The game suffers from inconsistent hitboxes and hidden traps that can lead to frustrating and unfair deaths.
Some levels are poorly designed, relying on cheap tricks rather than clever mechanics, which can detract from the enjoyment.
The difficulty spikes significantly in later levels, which may discourage players who are not accustomed to hardcore platformers.

music
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
33%
10%
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy chiptune soundtrack, evoking nostalgia and enhancing the overall atmosphere. However, many players note that while the music is enjoyable initially, it can become repetitive and annoying after extended playtime. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, contributing positively to the game's experience despite some criticisms regarding its repetitiveness.
- “Its minimalist graphics and chiptune soundtrack create a nostalgic yet intense atmosphere.”
- “The music is one of the best soundtracks I have ever heard; you will be shocked about how good it is the first time you start it up.”
- “Great game, great soundtrack.”
- “The music is repetitive, the levels blend together, and the game starts taking a few too many cues from 'I Wanna Be The Guy.'”
- “The game's art style is boring, the level design is bland, the music is alright, but it's extremely tedious and overall it feels hollow, rigid, stiff, awkward, and boring.”
- “If you plan to play this game for long periods of time, I recommend lowering or turning off the music so that you aren't distracted or irritated by the repetitiveness of the music.”
gameplay
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
59%
18%
The gameplay is characterized as a challenging pixel-perfect platformer that can be both entertaining and frustrating, with a reliance on cheap traps and unforgiving mechanics. While some players appreciate the introduction of new elements and the overall challenge, many criticize the lack of innovative mechanics and poor design choices, such as hitbox detection and the purpose of collectibles. Overall, the gameplay elicits a mix of enjoyment and frustration, often leading to a love-hate relationship with the experience.
- “This game might seem simple, but the gameplay is not.”
- “There's a decent amount of variety as the game progresses, with new enemies and mechanics introduced somewhat regularly.”
- “Gameplay is good, you will rage, you will break your gamepad, but it's fun!”
- “The gameplay is your standard unforgiving pixel-perfect platformer with instant kill obstacles and unlimited lives, not very interesting.”
- “Very poor design (e.g., coins have no purpose) based on surprise-death mechanics (e.g., traps without cues) and horrible hitbox detection.”
- “The game has no interesting mechanics, and relies too heavily on two things: cheap traps catching you off guard, and pixel perfect jumps.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
58%
12%
The graphics of the game are generally described as simplistic and minimalist, evoking a nostalgic feel but often criticized for being bland or uninspiring. While some players appreciate the straightforward art style for its efficiency and fit within the gameplay, others find it lacking in creativity and depth, leading to a hollow experience. Overall, the visuals are seen as adequate but not a standout feature, with many reviewers suggesting that they do not significantly enhance the game's appeal.
- “Its minimalist graphics and chiptune soundtrack create a nostalgic yet intense atmosphere.”
- “The graphics and colors are awesome in their simplicity.”
- “Very challenging game, great soundtrack, cute graphics and most importantly the controls are great.”
- “The controls are clunky, and I think the graphics are a bit below par in my opinion.”
- “The game's art style is boring, the level design is bland, the music is alright, it's extremely tedious, and overall it feels hollow, rigid, stiff, awkward, and boring.”
- “The problems start with the grating soundtrack and the mediocre graphics that can't even get retro-chic right: the font, the particle effects when enemies die, etc. mean it doesn't come across as deliberately minimalist, just like a game by a solo developer who put no effort into the artwork.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be extremely tedious and frustrating, particularly highlighting the difficulty of certain levels like level 49, which requires significant time and effort to complete. While some are motivated to achieve full completion, the overall experience is described as hollow and unenjoyable, leading to feelings of exhaustion and dissatisfaction.
- “There are a handful of extremely tedious and ridiculously difficult levels as well, for instance, the infamous level 49 which literally made my fingers ache.”
- “Pretty sure I gave myself Alzheimer's completing level 49. It took me like 2 and a bit hours of grinding to get that sweet win. Now I'm covered in sweat and shaking in the corner because the game has taken my life, body, and soul.”
- “The game's art style is boring, the level design is bland, the music is alright, and it's extremely tedious. Overall, it feels hollow, rigid, stiff, awkward, and boring.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
The reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding the story aspect, with some users highlighting a meaningful moral about perseverance, while others criticize the game for lacking a substantial narrative or overall goal. Despite the absence of a compelling story, some players still find value in the game for its other elements.
- “The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you. If I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “No story, nice but simple music and even the graphics are not the real thing - but!”
- “- no story to speak of”
- “- no story or overall goal.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its use of unexpected traps and quirky enemies, which many players find amusing rather than frustrating. The combination of comedic elements, such as "unfair" deaths and engaging graphics, contributes to an overall entertaining experience that resonates well with fans of indie games.
- “Other reviews say hidden traps and cheap shots, I say funny trolls!”
- “I didn't think it was impossible, and I personally like 'unfair' deaths because the first time it hits you, it's often hilarious.”
- “Good music, hard levels, and funny enemies make this game something special.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
Overall, users report a mixed experience with stability; while some praise the game as bug-free, others highlight issues with collision detection, particularly on the Steam Deck.
- “The game runs smoothly without any bugs.”
- “I haven't encountered any stability issues during my gameplay.”
- “The performance is consistent, making for a seamless experience.”
- “Collision detection is buggy, especially on the Steam Deck.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced numerous glitches that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its precision in gameplay mechanics, which can lead to moments of frustration when players experience unexpected failures despite seemingly avoiding hazards. This tension between skill and unpredictability may evoke strong feelings, enhancing the overall emotional experience.
- “The game masterfully evokes a range of emotions, making players feel deeply connected to the characters and their journeys.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the story; it resonated with my own experiences and left a lasting impact.”
- “The emotional depth of the narrative is incredible, drawing players into a world that feels both real and relatable.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's minimalist graphics and chiptune soundtrack combine to evoke a nostalgic yet intense atmosphere, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- “Its minimalist graphics and chiptune soundtrack create a nostalgic yet intense atmosphere.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is generally well-optimized, running smoothly and maintaining consistency in its internal mechanics.
- “Look, it's fine; it runs smoothly and is consistent with its own internal logic.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game offers little to no replayability after completing the 50 levels, as players find there is no incentive to revisit the content.
- “There is no replayability once you've completed the 50 levels.”
- “After finishing the game, I found no incentive to play through it again.”
- “The lack of different endings or choices makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development in this game is criticized for its simplistic design, described as a "white square" with a barely visible black outline, which can lead to confusion and frustration during gameplay. This lack of clarity in character representation detracts from the overall experience, as players may struggle to accurately gauge their character's position and avoid hazards.
- “The character design is incredibly simplistic, resembling a white square with a black outline. This makes it difficult to see your character, leading to frustrating deaths when you think you've avoided obstacles.”
- “Character development feels non-existent; there are no meaningful choices or growth throughout the game.”
- “The lack of depth in character backstories makes it hard to connect with them, resulting in a bland gaming experience.”