Dungeon Lords Steam Edition

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 373 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Dungeon Lords Steam Edition Game Cover
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"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.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 373 reviews
story21 positive mentions
stability44 negative mentions
  • Nostalgic experience that brings back memories of classic RPGs.
  • Offers hundreds of hours of gameplay with complex puzzles and character progression.
  • Fun combat mechanics with a variety of spells and abilities.
  • Numerous bugs and crashes, especially in multiplayer mode.
  • Awkward controls and dated graphics that may deter modern players.
  • Inventory management is cumbersome, leading to frustration during gameplay.
  • story99 mentions

    The game's story is described as a mix of engaging and cliché elements, with some players appreciating its twists and character development while others find it confusing and poorly executed. Many reviews highlight issues with quest design, such as unclear objectives and inventory management problems, which detract from the overall narrative experience. Despite its flaws, the game retains a nostalgic charm for some players, particularly those who enjoy classic RPG elements and dungeon crawling.

    • “I felt the story was really good and it kept me engrossed in the game.”
    • “The story seemed pretty cliché at first, but I felt it had a very nice twist I wasn't expecting.”
    • “Its areas were well designed, the story was well thought out, and the gameplay was great.”
    • “The story itself is quite weird; I had the feeling that the writer tried to do some anime twists, but it wasn't really successful.”
    • “Every element that you can think of - from UI to story - is half-cocked or simply broken.”
    • “The engine really does not hold up to modern standards, and the lack of proper lore, plot hooks, or anything to make the player interested leads to a quick uninstall.”
  • gameplay46 mentions

    The gameplay is generally praised for its fun mechanics, engaging combat, and character progression, with many players appreciating the open-world design and unique class systems. However, some reviews highlight issues such as dated mechanics, bugs, and a lack of polish, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game retains a nostalgic charm and offers enjoyable RPG features, making it appealing to fans of the genre.

    • “As an RPG fan, the multi-class system is really awesome; some of the spells are pretty cool, and the gameplay and environment are just fun, honestly.”
    • “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.”
    • “The gameplay is fantastic, and the character development is great as well.”
    • “The game has enjoyable RPG features and quests, but it is also frustrating, annoying, and uniquely lacking in quality of life gameplay.”
    • “In terms of gameplay, it just feels off.”
    • “We can put up with crashes, bugs, faulty mechanics, and whatnot, but the game cannot be played to completion in its current state.”
  • graphics46 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, reminiscent of early 2000s titles, yet they evoke a sense of nostalgia for fans of classic RPGs. While some players appreciate the charm of the old-school visuals, others find them lacking in complexity and polish compared to modern standards. The recent updates have improved some graphical elements, but the overall aesthetic remains simple and may not appeal to those seeking high-resolution graphics.

    • “The graphics: the game now has fancy bloom and fog, and working particle effects!”
    • “The screenshots presented in the game page may look a bit like crap but man is this game good, the graphics may be a bit old but it's still gorgeous and gives you that nostalgic feeling about classic RPG games.”
    • “It's basically a bunch of animated 3D models that keep swinging at each other, and stats are being computed behind the graphical scene.”
    • “Please do not allow the 2006 visuals throw you.”
    • “The graphics have been updated somewhat so they don't look horrible, and the inventory system has been overhauled somewhat to make it clear how much stuff you can haul around before needing to get rid of something.”
  • stability44 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with many players reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and performance issues, particularly in multiplayer mode. While some users find the game enjoyable despite its glitches, others describe it as unplayable due to game-breaking bugs and significant loading stutters. Overall, the consensus is that the game remains a "buggy mess," lacking the polish needed for a smoother experience.

    • “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 workarounds: players lagging, morphing through walls and objects, and crashing out of the game.”
    • “Every version of Dungeon Lords is super buggy and just feels poorly implemented in every way, and that's just tragic because I really wanted to like this game.”
  • music9 mentions

    The game's soundtrack has received mixed reviews, with some players praising it as enjoyable and impactful, while others criticize the limited number of tracks and abrupt transitions. The main menu music, in particular, has been noted as a disappointment compared to the collector's edition. Overall, while the music enhances the experience for some, it lacks polish and variety for others.

    • “This game has an incredible soundtrack that really enhances the experience.”
    • “I relaxed for 5 minutes to this music long enough to realize that I was going to be okay.”
    • “The main menu music was so good.”
    • “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 with 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.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is often derived from its quirky glitches and the amusing personalities of NPCs, particularly the goblins, which provide a comedic backdrop to the gameplay. While the game is criticized for its technical issues and graphics, players find it entertaining and funny, likening it to cult classic films that are not necessarily good but are enjoyable for their absurdity. Overall, the humor adds a layer of charm that enhances the fun despite the game's shortcomings.

    • “The goblins have differing personalities, and are funny to watch.”
    • “The way I was able to increase my speed so my jump attacks would shred the enemies like a wood chipper was also hilarious.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, with players noting the ability to experiment with various skills and classes, enhancing the overall experience. Many users highlight that the game encourages multiple playthroughs, as returning players can leverage their prior knowledge for a richer experience.

    • “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.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it generally runs smoothly and offers enjoyable combat mechanics, users report occasional performance issues, including crashes and momentary freezes during monster generation and area loading. Overall, the game performs well but could benefit from further stability improvements.

    • “The game runs smoothly and seems to be working as designed.”
    • “Now it has an MMO taste and runs smoothly somehow.”
    • “The combat is fantastic; the character runs smoothly in any direction you want him to, allowing for fast, furious fun in combat.”
    • “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.”
    • “Some performance issues.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its depth and engagement, with players appreciating the interesting narratives and choices available. While earlier versions offered more freedom in customizing attributes and skills, the current streamlined approach aligns with typical RPG mechanics, still maintaining a strong focus on character growth. Overall, the character development is considered a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “I really like the character development options in this game.”
    • “Character development used to be more 'free,' allowing for a lot more choices with experience points that could be redistributed between attributes and skills. Now, it's more streamlined, similar to every other RPG game.”
    • “The character development feels limited compared to previous iterations, lacking the depth and variety that made it engaging.”
    • “I miss the old character development system that offered more customization and flexibility in building my character.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for its lackluster voice acting and limited emotional range, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite this, some players express a deep affection for the game, finding it heartwarming and nostalgic, though they lament the differences in the newer version that diminish its impact.

    • “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.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be tedious and may lead to player fatigue, particularly after collecting a few relics. While some players appreciate the experience system and the satisfaction of class building, others find the lack of quest markers and the absence of traditional grind elements refreshing. Overall, the grinding experience varies significantly among players, with some enjoying the challenge while others find it monotonous.

    • “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.”
    • “What I accomplished in the game in 2005-2006 was grinding arena for 2 weeks in midgame.”
    • “But by far the most redeemable quality of the game was the experience system: seeing the last skill needed for a tier three class highlighted in gold after farming billions of experience killing minotaurs was a priceless experience that has been removed from this edition.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game is praised for its intense dark fantasy atmosphere, reminiscent of classic titles like Dark Souls, which enhances the overall experience. While the graphics are relatively simple, the engaging mechanics, character customization, and eerie dungeon settings contribute to a compelling old-school RPG vibe, making it enjoyable both solo and in multiplayer.

    • “Great fun in LAN multiplayer (didn't try other multiplayer modes), great fun solo with the old school atmosphere and the character customization (a rare feature in this kind of game).”
    • “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.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy has received criticism for misleading advertising, particularly regarding the absence of multiplayer features, which has left users feeling disappointed.

    • “The monetization model is overly aggressive, making it feel like the game is more about making money than providing a fun experience.”
    • “I feel pressured to spend money just to keep up with other players, which ruins the enjoyment of the game.”
    • “The in-game purchases are way too expensive for what they offer, and it feels like a cash grab.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

15hMedian play time
31hAverage play time
9-70hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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