Dungeon Lords

About

Dungeon Lords is a single player and multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by Heuristic Park and was released on December 21, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Dungeon Lords Steam Edition" is a fantasy RPG where players can embark on a co-op story campaign with up to 7 other players, or play solo. The game features new hero classes, improved skills, and revised spells, as well as enhanced inventory, spellbook, and difficulty settings. As the potential Great Champion, your mission is to save the kingdom from dark forces and fulfill a prophecy.

Genres & Tags

Role Playing

Play Modes

Skip User Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 492 reviews

story29 positive mentions

stability65 negative mentions

Dungeon Lords offers a unique blend of action RPG mechanics with a variety of classes and subclasses, allowing for diverse character builds.
The game features an engaging combat system with satisfying knockback effects, making each hit feel impactful.
The nostalgic charm and retro graphics appeal to fans of classic RPGs, providing a sense of adventure and exploration.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer mode, leading to crashes and connectivity issues.
Inventory management is cumbersome, with limited space and the inability to drop certain quest items, causing frustration.
The random enemy spawn system can disrupt gameplay, making exploration tedious and combat encounters overwhelming.

story
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
74%
5%
The story in the game is generally viewed as basic and filled with typical fantasy tropes, lacking complex character arcs or deep narrative elements. While some players appreciate the engaging quest design and the sense of adventure across diverse locations, many criticize the lack of clear guidance and the frustrating inventory system that complicates quest progression. Overall, the narrative is seen as decent but not particularly memorable, often requiring players to rely on external guides to navigate the game's quests effectively.
- “The story, though delivered without unnecessary pomp, draws you in, and the variety of locations — from towns and castles to mysterious forests and dark dungeons — evokes a genuine sense of adventure.”
- “I felt the story was really good and it kept me engrossed in the game.”
- “It's no blockbuster title with giants smashing down city walls or anything, but there are a lot of great story beats and it was certainly ahead of its time.”
- “The plot is basic; there are no complicated relationships or character arcs like in a JRPG, no romance, no complex politics.”
- “The story is the same old 'evil warlord and wizard have a bromance and wants to rule the land, and you're the chosen one who must stop them.'”
- “The story is bizarre (but that is probably not the focus of this game); the gameplay 'jutters' if that's even a word, and there are better 'action' games released in the same era.”
gameplay
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
45%
4%
The gameplay is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the variety of gear, character progression, and unique mechanics, while others criticize its jankiness, balance issues, and inventory limitations. Many appreciate the casual, retro feel and the fun combat system, despite acknowledging the game's lack of polish and occasional bugs. Overall, while the gameplay can be enjoyable and engaging, it is often marred by design flaws and outdated mechanics.
- “The gameplay is fantastic and the character development is great as well.”
- “Features a huge open-world, incredible class and character progression mechanics, a very rewarding loot system and maybe the most fun combat I've ever played in a game like this.”
- “If you like 3rd person action RPGs with a decent loot system, decent graphics and smooth gameplay, then give this one a go between titles or throw it on your wishlist and wait for a sale!”
- “The entire gameplay consists of looting, left-clicking and reloading your save, 10/10.”
- “It's old, made by a small team and has some offputting mechanics and problems with the game design.”
- “The game has enjoyable RPG features and quests but it is also frustrating, annoying and uniquely lacking in quality of life gameplay.”
stability
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes, particularly in multiplayer mode, making it frustratingly unplayable for many users. While some players find enjoyment in the chaos and humor of the bugs, the overall consensus is that the game remains a buggy mess, lacking the polish needed for a smooth experience. Despite occasional fun moments, the persistent technical issues detract significantly from the gameplay.
- “The original game was unfinished and buggy, but it was very fun; this one is just unfinished and buggy without any fun.”
- “Unfortunately, although fun, the co-op mode of this game is quite buggy and requires quite a bit of patience and clever work-arounds: players lagging, morphing through walls and objects, and crashing out of the game.”
- “The game is so buggy that it's unplayable the moment you start the game, literally for 2 minutes.”
graphics
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
69%
9%
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, reflecting its 2005 release, but many players appreciate their nostalgic charm and retro aesthetic. While some reviews note that the visuals are not modern and can appear simplistic or low-resolution, others highlight that they still hold up reasonably well and contribute to the game's overall atmosphere. The recent version has made some enhancements, improving visual fidelity and fixing bugs, which has been positively received by fans of classic RPGs.
- “The graphics still hold up today; they're not modern, but they are decent enough that even the low poly isn't a problem.”
- “The screenshots presented on the game page may look a bit rough, but the game is still gorgeous and gives you that nostalgic feeling about classic RPGs.”
- “The graphics have been updated somewhat so they don't look horrible, and the inventory system has been overhauled to make it clear how much stuff you can carry.”
- “The graphics are not good.”
- “Graphically, it was average, and could barely keep up to 20fps; the draw distance wasn't that far, the controls were a little clunky, and the difficulty was insanely brutal if you weren't playing a tank build.”
- “It has outdated graphics.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality and high production value, contributing significantly to the overall experience. While some users noted a limited number of tracks and issues with abrupt cuts, many found the soundtrack enjoyable and relaxing, with specific praise for the main menu music. Overall, the music enhances the game's dark and immersive atmosphere, despite some criticisms regarding polish and variety.
- “It has cool characters, a very dark and at times scary atmosphere, great skill progression and magic system, an insanely good class system, great music, and a fun lockpicking system.”
- “Atmospheric music and high-quality sound design.”
- “The music is very nice and atmospheric and is probably a major reason why it isn't until now that I've decided to stop playing it.”
- “It's lacking polish in so many areas; there are 3 music tracks, enemies and animations are the jankiest things you'll ever see, but the gameplay loop is surprisingly fun.”
- “Much like Two Worlds (the first one), but faster, smoother combat, though less polished and a bit janky feeling at times (music cuts in and out abruptly, UI is a bit dated looking, etc.).”
- “The main menu music was a big turn off since the collector's edition's music was ten times better.”
optimization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and stability, others experience significant issues such as crashes, momentary freezes, and unresponsive combat mechanics. Overall, it appears that the game has improved since earlier versions, but it still struggles with optimization on modern systems, particularly during high-demand moments.
- “The game runs smoothly and seems to be working as designed.”
- “The combat is fantastic in this; the character runs smoothly in any direction you want him to, allowing for fast, furious fun in combat.”
- “Now it has an MMO taste and runs smoothly somehow.”
- “The game suffers from crashes and performance issues, with large moments where the game will momentarily freeze as it generates new monsters or loads an area.”
- “Doesn't seem properly optimized, so if you do not have a latency of around 30-50ms, you will likely experience issues.”
- “Some performance issues persist, affecting the overall gameplay experience.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky voice acting, amusing character interactions, and the comedic potential of its numerous bugs and glitches, which often lead to unexpected and funny moments. While the game suffers from significant technical issues, players find enjoyment in its absurdities, likening it to cult classics that are entertaining despite their flaws. Overall, the humor adds a layer of fun that can make the experience enjoyable, even if the game itself is not well-crafted.
- “The little video that plays before the game starts shows two wizards fighting, one banishing the other through some portal spell and then laughing maniacally.”
- “The goblins have differing personalities, and are funny to watch.”
- “I would compare it to movies like 'The Room' or 'Spider-Man 3', as I don't think either of these movies are good, though they're hilarious fun.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a dark and immersive fantasy setting, enhanced by atmospheric music and high-quality sound design that evoke nostalgia for classic RPGs. Players appreciate the intense ambiance, reminiscent of titles like Dark Souls, alongside engaging mechanics and character customization that contribute to a rich, challenging experience. Overall, the combination of eerie environments and compelling audio creates a captivating atmosphere that resonates with fans of the genre.
- “The moment you hear its magical melody and distinctive sound effects, memories of a distant, warm, and atmospheric world come alive — a world built back when RPGs were more demanding and immersive.”
- “The game's atmosphere in certain dungeons really has that Dark Souls and Severance aesthetic and eeriness.”
- “An old school hack 'n slash RPG with an intense dark fantasy atmosphere.”
- “Dungeon Lords Steam Edition is a treat for those who appreciate the challenge and atmosphere of classic RPGs.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
34%
22%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, offering a fun experience with numerous classes and skills that encourage experimentation. Players appreciate the ability to return with new knowledge, enhancing the replay value significantly. Despite some quirks, the game remains engaging enough for multiple playthroughs.
- “Really fun and replayable, though rife with quirks.”
- “A highly replayable RPG experience.”
- “The way skills and classes work allows for a lot of experimentation and replayability.”
- “This is the sort of game that actually has replay value, to go back knowing more than you did the first time.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
88%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is a mixed experience; while some players enjoy the lively city tasks and class building, others find the repetitive combat and respawning enemies tedious and boring. The lack of quest markers and the removal of certain rewarding experiences from previous editions contribute to a sense of grindiness, making it feel less engaging for some players. Overall, the enjoyment of grinding seems to depend on individual preferences for gameplay style and narrative engagement.
- “I was having decent fun in the city, because there were some tasks people wanted you to do for them (not tedious), and it feels more lively than the other parts of the world I went to.”
- “This game was pretty tedious and boring, and I was starting to lose steam after collecting 4/5 relics. I accidentally managed to climb on top of one of the many mountain walls segmenting the world and then climbed into the endgame zone to kill the final boss, bypassing what I could only assume was even more hours of tepid dungeoneering.”
- “However, it gets tedious to fight off three goblins just three to five minutes after you've killed five rats while staying in the same spot because you wanted a closer look at your map or inventory.”
- “Get's grindy due to respawns, but good graphics and loot.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
Character development in the game has received mixed feedback; while some players appreciate the streamlined options and find them engaging, others feel that the lack of explanation can hinder the experience. Despite this, many reviewers highlight the overall quality of character development as a strong point, noting its interesting depth and integration with gameplay.
- “But the character development and gameplay are really good.”
- “Dungeon Lords: The Kingdom Cracked, the Collector's Edition release from 2006, was a great game, even though it received horrible criticism for being 'unfinished.' But in truth, it was a well-composed ballad with a great story and interesting character development.”
- “I really like the character development options in this game.”
- “On the downside, I was happy that I read through the character development options beforehand, as the game does not explain a lot.”
- “Character development - before it was more 'free' where you had a lot more choices (you had 'exp' which you could redistribute between attributes and skills) - now it's more streamlined, like in every other RPG game.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with players noting a lack of enthusiasm and emotional range in the voice acting, leading to a disheartening experience. Despite this, some players express a deep affection for the game, feeling a bittersweet connection that makes them want to revisit it, highlighting a potential for greater emotional impact if the game were re-mastered.
- “This flaw in the base game synergizes with a flaw introduced in the Steam version to truly make you want to cry while playing this game.”
- “And to play it again is very heartwarming.”
- “I absolutely love this game, and it's a little heartbreaking just how different this version is, and it just isn't fun =(”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy has received criticism for misleading advertising, as users feel that the lack of multiplayer features undermines the game's value and overall experience.
- “The monetization model is overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “I feel like I'm constantly bombarded with ads and in-game purchases, which ruins the experience.”
- “The game is designed to push players towards spending money, rather than rewarding them for their time and effort.”