Dungeon Manager ZV

About

Dungeon Manager ZV is a single player strategy game. It was developed by StudioGIW and was released on October 16, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Dungeon Manager ZV" is a text-based simulation game where you build and manage your own dungeon, summon minions like zombies and dragons, and set traps to defend against invaders. With 16 stories and 144 areas, you can customize your labyrinth and manage resources for upgrades. The game offers randomized elements and over 20 enemy types for varied gameplay. This classic Japanese megahit is now available in English for the first time.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

64%

Audience ScoreBased on 44 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and addictive blend of strategy and management, allowing players to creatively design their dungeons and manage monster resources.
It features a satisfying micro-management system where players can nurture and fuse monsters, providing a sense of attachment and progression.
The gameplay is relaxing and can be played at one's own pace, with options to speed up or slow down the action, making it accessible for casual players.

The game suffers from a lack of depth and complexity, with limited strategic options and repetitive gameplay that can become boring over time.
There are significant technical issues, including a fixed low resolution and no windowed mode, which can lead to eye strain and discomfort during extended play sessions.
Many players have noted the presence of exploits that can trivialize the gameplay, undermining the challenge and overall experience.

graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The graphics in Dungeon Manager ZV are minimal to non-existent, resembling more of a text-based spreadsheet RPG than a visually engaging game. While the user interface is functional and the art style is consistent, players seeking high-resolution graphics or flashy visuals will be disappointed. The game's lack of graphical elements may deter some, but it offers a unique experience that appeals to a niche audience.
- “The art style for what you get is consistent and well drawn, though ye gods could it have done with high res artwork for current gen monitors.”
- “Retro graphics and sound match the game.”
- “The game is not graphically stimulating, but it does something new that I have not seen expressed as a game before.”
- “There's no actual graphics; this is more of a spreadsheet RPG/management game.”
- “The complete lack of graphics and options makes the experience a lot less worthwhile.”
- “It's not at all flashy with graphics, so if you don't like text-only or heavy text games with minimal/no graphics, then this isn't going to be for you.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it boring and repetitive, while others appreciate its addictive nature and strategic depth. Although it features simple mechanics and resource management, many feel it lacks challenge and variety, despite some interesting monster summoning elements. Overall, it offers a blend of intuitive gameplay and incremental grinding, appealing to those who enjoy a casual yet engaging experience.
- “Good resource management mechanics in the beginning and some interesting variance in the monsters you can summon.”
- “The gameplay is surprisingly addictive; I'm writing this at 2 AM in the morning after a 'short' session became 2 hours.”
- “Overall gameplay is that you will have to manage your dungeon areas spread in numerous levels that go deeper and deeper, with every next unlocked stage you unlock better traps, can summon more minions, get more unique weapons and artifacts that will attract better and stronger champions to come and try looting your dungeon.”
- “It has some good things to recommend it, but overall the gameplay is just a bit too shallow.”
- “In reality it is very basic and offers few options in gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is kind of easy though.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game offers a mixed experience in terms of replayability; while the campaign can be completed in about 5-6 hours, players can extend their time by pursuing achievements and high scores, potentially adding another 10-15 hours. Some users find the min-maxing and real-time simulations engaging, contributing to replay value, but others feel it ultimately has low replay value despite its fun elements.
- “Min-maxing this game is surprisingly satisfying, and watching the simulations happen in real time, with the ability to speed or slow them down at will, is pretty fantastic. It also has decent replayability; you will most likely 'beat' the campaign in about 5 or 6 hours, but to get all the achievements or aim for a high score on the leaderboards, you'll spend another 10 to 15 hours at the very least.”
- “The game promises some replayability after you win: you can continue your dungeon, and the game will throw two bonus enemies at you.”
- “Low replay value.”
- “If you do enjoy it, it does offer massive amounts of replayability.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be overly minimalist and repetitive, though they still enjoy the overall experience. The gameplay involves fusing monsters and requires significant incremental grinding to level them up, with victory often achievable through time investment and persistence.
- “It feels too minimalist and grindy for me overall, although it's still a fun game to play.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it's fusing monsters like old-style Digimon, with a lot of incremental-type grinding to get them up to level 30 and some guesswork involved.”
- “You can win with time by grinding your way to victory.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story aspect of the game is perceived as simplistic, yet it encourages players to engage their imagination, often leading to a more complex narrative experience than what is explicitly presented. This blend of minimal storytelling with the freedom to interpret adds a unique charm to the modern gaming experience.
- “The story is incredibly immersive, drawing you in with its rich characters and intricate plot twists.”
- “I was captivated by the depth of the narrative; it kept me engaged from start to finish.”
- “The storytelling is top-notch, blending emotional moments with thrilling action seamlessly.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its clever and humorous approach, allowing players to design dungeons and manage monsters in a way that is both entertaining and engaging. The comedic elements enhance the gameplay experience, making the process of attracting adventurers to their doom both funny and strategic.
- “A seriously funny and intelligent game that allows you to create your own simplified dungeon structure, level up your monsters, and manage your fame to attract adventurers who come to die in your dungeon, enabling you to gather more resources to make the dungeon more challenging and attract even more heroes.”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, blending clever writing with absurd scenarios that keep you laughing while you strategize.”
- “I love how the game uses humor to lighten the mood, making even the most challenging moments enjoyable with witty dialogue and hilarious character interactions.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The music in the game is praised for its cool and relaxing qualities, featuring a Castlevania-inspired orchestral horror theme that effectively enhances the overall atmosphere.
- “The music is cool and relaxing.”
- “The music has a Castlevania-style theme, featuring an off-kilter Japanese orchestral horror that is done reasonably well.”
- “The music has that kind of Castlevania-style theme, with an off-kilter Japanese orchestral horror vibe that they do reasonably well.”
- “The soundtrack feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during gameplay.”
- “The music doesn't match the game's atmosphere, often feeling out of place and detracting from the overall experience.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its intensity reminiscent of real-time strategy games, combined with a dungeon keeper vibe, creating an engaging and immersive experience. Players appreciate the balance of this atmosphere with straightforward game mechanics.
- “I think this game is worth its asking price if you're looking for a game that has the intensity of an RTS, the atmosphere of Dungeon Keeper, and easily understood game mechanics.”