Dungeon Merchant
- June 8, 2023
- Monster Shop Games
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreIn "Dungeon Merchant," manage a shop by buying and selling items while hiring adventurers to explore dungeons for gold and loot. Adapt to the shifting demands of the dungeon to make profits, but be cautious of the dangerous monsters that lurk in the lower levels. With each adventurer you hire, you'll learn more about the game's world and uncover hidden secrets, all while striving to pay off your debt to the king. This is a hybrid idle/dungeon crawler/shop simulation game.
Reviews
- The game features a fun and engaging core loop with a unique concept of managing adventurers and a shop.
- The pixel art style and graphics are charming and add to the overall enjoyment of the game.
- There is potential for replay value, especially with the survival mode and character upgrades.
- The game suffers from significant bugs, including broken achievements and issues with losing equipped gear upon saving.
- Gameplay can become repetitive and tedious, with a slow progression that may lead to boredom after a few hours.
- Limited options for sending multiple heroes into dungeons and a clunky inventory UI detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily idle, with players watching their hero navigate dungeons, which can feel simplistic and clunky at times, particularly with the drag mechanic. While the gameplay loop offers satisfying and casual fun, some players find the end goals overly ambitious, potentially requiring several hours to achieve. Overall, it combines a rewarding progression system with a charming pixel art style, making it appealing for those seeking a laid-back gaming experience.
“The gameplay loop is satisfying and it's good for some mindless fun, but I think the end goal of the game is too high a money count and I don't see myself paying it off for at least another 3-6 hours.”
“A great little indie gem that has a very casual play style and fun gameplay.”
“The core gameplay is simple but rewarding as you level up and get further into the dungeon, and the consistent pixel art style keeps everything cozy.”
“90% of the gameplay is idling, watching a hero mosey through a dungeon on 1/6th of your screen.”
“The gameplay is simple, and even if you take a break, the developer included an info page to remind you of what causes what.”
“The drag mechanic for moving an item around the screen feels quite clunky.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a striking graphics style complemented by catchy music, creating an engaging aesthetic. The consistent pixel art enhances the cozy atmosphere, making the simple yet rewarding gameplay experience even more enjoyable.
“It has a cool graphics style and catchy music.”
“Game goes hard, aesthetics of the game go hard, enjoyed.”
“The core gameplay is simple but rewarding as you level up and get further into the dungeon, and the consistent pixel art style keeps everything cozy.”
- story3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game features a singular narrative with a clear objective and gradual progression, which some players find engaging. The survival mode, unlocked after completing the main mission, adds depth to the experience, with a compelling story premise that enhances the exploration of deeper dungeon levels.
“Loved trying to push into deeper floors of the dungeon and it has a really cool story premise.”
“There is one story, one objective, and one slow progression.”
“I got excited for survival mode, something you unlock after completing the main mission of the game.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and monotonous, with initial excitement quickly fading due to a lack of variety in challenges and encounters. The increased time required to sell higher-value items further exacerbates the grind, making it feel pointless and frustrating. Overall, the repetitive nature of grinding detracts from the game's enjoyment.
“Tedious and monotonous; what starts out as a neat idea gets stale quickly. The game hints at rare things in the background but never has any boss fights or anything new to fight. I think the worst part is that the time an item takes to sell increases when it's worth more, so late game you could stock the shelves and come back in 10 minutes to collect if not for having to click each time your loot minion changes floors.”
“Shame it's so grindy.”
“Making grinding pointless :/”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers some replayability, particularly with the unlockable survival mode; however, many users find it repetitive and lacking in depth, which limits its overall appeal for repeated playthroughs.
“The game offers multiple endings and choices that make each playthrough feel unique.”
“With various character builds and strategies to explore, I find myself coming back for more.”
“As you can already tell from the previous comments, I cannot currently recommend it. I would go as far as saying that even if the bug mentioned is fixed, I would only recommend this game if you don't mind repetitive gameplay with not a lot of replayability.”
“There is definitely some replay value here, especially once you unlock survival mode.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for being catchy and complementing the cool graphics style, though some users have reported issues with sound effects occasionally maxing out unexpectedly.
“It has a cool graphics style and catchy music.”
“The music often feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The sound effects are poorly balanced, often drowning out the music.”
“My music or sound effects would randomly max out without warning.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highly praised, complementing the fantastic pixel art style.
“The humor is great, and the pixel art is fantastic.”
“The witty dialogue and hilarious situations kept me laughing throughout the game.”
“I love how the game blends clever puns with absurd scenarios for a truly entertaining experience.”
