Dungeon of the Endless

About

"Dungeon of the ENDLESS™ is a rogue-like dungeon-defense game where players manage resources, explore levels, and battle enemies to survive. The Crystal Edition includes the 'Bookworm' add-on, original soundtrack, and exclusive badge for Games2Gether accounts. Players colonize the planet Auriga Prime, uncovering its mysterious past while defending their shipment of condemned criminals."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,179 reviews

gameplay567 positive mentions

stability134 negative mentions

Unique blend of tower defense and roguelike elements, providing a fresh gameplay experience.
Challenging yet rewarding, with a steep learning curve that encourages strategic thinking.
Great pixel art style and atmospheric soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.

Poor tutorial and lack of in-game explanations make it difficult for new players to understand mechanics.
Frequent crashes and bugs, especially in multiplayer mode, leading to lost progress.
Heavy reliance on RNG can lead to frustrating experiences, making runs feel unfair at times.

gameplay
1,709 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The gameplay of "Dungeon of the Endless" is a unique blend of tower defense, roguelike mechanics, and RPG elements, offering a challenging and strategic experience that requires careful resource management and tactical planning. While many players appreciate the depth and replayability, some criticize the steep learning curve and lack of clear tutorials, which can lead to frustration, especially for newcomers. Overall, the game is praised for its innovative mechanics and engaging gameplay loop, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its complexity and occasional balance issues.
- “Managing your limited resources while progressing deeper into the dungeon creates an addictive, edge-of-your-seat gameplay loop.”
- “The combination of tower defense mechanics with roguelike elements creates a deeply engaging experience that challenges players to think strategically while adapting to the unpredictable nature of the dungeon.”
- “That said, some parts feel a little unfinished or clunky, like they needed more time to refine the mechanics on items and characters.”
- “The gameplay loop of exploring floors, collecting resources, and fending off waves of enemies is addictive and keeps players coming back for more.”
- “The gameplay is an incoherent mix of mechanics that seems to have been just haphazardly thrown together.”
graphics
956 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
45%
4%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming pixel art style that blends retro aesthetics with modern polish, creating a visually appealing atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. While many players appreciate the nostalgic feel and vibrant colors, some critiques highlight issues with clarity and detail, particularly during chaotic moments, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received, contributing positively to the game's ambiance and immersive qualities.
- “The pixel-art aesthetic is gorgeous, blending retro charm with modern polish.”
- “The graphics are pixel perfect.”
- “The pixel art style is charming, and the soundtrack sets the perfect mood for exploration.”
- “The graphics are ugly.”
- “The graphics are so blurry you can't make out what you are looking at.”
- “The graphics are truly terrible - not in terms of the style, the style is very nice - but they are wholly unsuitable for the job they need to do, which is show you what the heck is going on.”
music
809 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
38%
1%
The music in "Dungeon of the Endless" has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many reviewers praising its ability to enhance the game's tension and overall experience. Composed by Flybyno, the soundtrack features a mix of haunting, futuristic tunes and relaxing ambient tracks that complement the pixel art visuals beautifully. While some players noted that the music can become repetitive over extended play, the majority found it to be a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The soundtrack complements the visuals perfectly, with haunting, futuristic tunes that enhance the tension and mystery of the dungeon.”
- “The music, atmosphere, and gameplay all come together beautifully.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing and the pixel art is gorgeous.”
- “The game has basic, boring, uninteresting graphics, even worse sound, irritating music... I will try it more but so far it's a no from me.”
- “The only real complaint with the game is that over time the music began to make me feel a tad nauseous but I can turn it off.”
- “I found myself turning the music off and turning on other sources for background noise after some time.”
replayability
500 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
46%
2%
The game is widely praised for its high replayability, attributed to its roguelike elements, randomized levels, and a diverse cast of unlockable characters and ships. Players appreciate the variety of strategies and playstyles available, which keep each playthrough fresh and engaging. However, some reviewers note that the replay value may diminish after extensive play, particularly once most content is unlocked.
- “This is a highly replayable little roguelike dungeon crawler set in the endless universe.”
- “Tons of replayability with unlockable heroes and randomized levels.”
- “With its challenging gameplay and endless replayability, I can't recommend this game enough for any gaming enthusiast.”
- “Nope nope nope, this is another one of those intentionally hard games that uses difficulty as a crutch for artificially boosting replayability.”
- “The game doesn't bother to really explain anything to you (I guess their idea of 'replayability' is just dying 100 times because they can't be bothered to write clear tooltips).”
- “The replayability isn't all that spectacular, so wasting much of the game's prime enjoyment time unlocking characters is not ideal.”
story
436 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
78%
5%
The game's story is generally considered minimal and often feels tacked on, with players primarily focusing on gameplay rather than narrative depth. While there are interesting character backstories and interactions that can unfold during gameplay, many reviewers note that the main plot is simplistic, revolving around escaping a crashed prison ship. The humor and character dynamics provide some entertainment, but the overall narrative lacks the depth and engagement that some players desire.
- “The story emerges the more you play, and you will die enough times that you'll have plenty of time to experience it all.”
- “Each character has a distinctive look and entertaining backstory, the pixel art is great, the soundtrack is memorable, and the in-game lore is intriguing.”
- “The characters follow the Fire Emblem rules in that certain characters surviving together will get a bonus and develop a personal story between them, but death means dead, no reviving.”
- “The storyline for the characters is also very minimal and they feel more like turrets rather than people.”
- “Despite the game having basically no story other than the ship crashing and the graphics are somewhat disappointing but functional and charming, the game delivers on its concept as a competent rogue-like experience with enough variety and difficulty to come back for more than a few more playthroughs.”
- “There isn't much of a story going on.”
humor
213 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its witty, sarcastic tone and clever references to pop culture, providing a light-hearted contrast to the challenging gameplay. Players enjoy the amusing character interactions, item descriptions, and the chaotic yet entertaining multiplayer experience, although some feel that the humor could be more consistently integrated throughout the game. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm that enhances the game's replayability and enjoyment, despite some critiques regarding its depth and execution.
- “The setting has a lot of witty, sarcastic humor, with some good references to video game and pop culture history, yet does not have any vulgar humor as far as I remember.”
- “But for whatever reason, Amplitude Studios duct taping all these genres and mechanics together, with an absolutely hilarious cast of characters and charming flavor text makes this one of the most fun, addictive, and unforgettable games on this entire platform.”
- “The humor is quirky, and the 16+ heroes are uniquely portrayed.”
atmosphere
196 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
34%
2%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning pixel art, immersive soundtracks, and a unique blend of sci-fi and dungeon-crawling elements that create a moody and captivating experience. Players appreciate the detailed environments and the tension that arises from exploring dark corridors filled with unknown dangers, enhancing the overall gameplay. The combination of atmospheric visuals and music effectively draws players into a richly crafted world, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The dungeon’s dark corridors, glowing crystals, and alien environments create a moody and immersive atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack sets the perfect mood, immersing you in its atmospheric depths.”
- “The atmosphere, soundtrack, and character roster are superb.”
- “The UI and other visual elements intermittently have issues, although they rarely influence my ability to play the game, the marred aesthetic does somewhat lessen the solemn and contemplative sci-fi atmosphere that the game typically pulls off spectacularly.”
- “The atmosphere fits very well, making you feel that resources really are limited and finding new people is fresh and rewarding.”
- “The atmosphere of exploring dark passages while still protecting home base and putting out fires makes this a beautiful port of the tension in FTL.”
stability
141 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
1%
95%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting a wide range of bugs and glitches that can severely impact gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some players have experienced minimal issues, many others have encountered game-breaking problems, such as crashes, freezes, and desynchronization, leading to frustration and loss of progress. Overall, the game's stability is described as inconsistent, with a strong recommendation for potential buyers to be cautious due to the prevalence of these issues.
- “The game is well polished with little or no glitches, bugs, or problems.”
- “The game isn't buggy and is rich enough to allow tens of hours to be sunk into without losing its fun aspect.”
- “The game is pretty much bug free and solid to play.”
- “This game is a bug-ridden disaster.”
- “The game is a buggy mess, which for a roguelike is simply unacceptable.”
- “I've had it for a week and already have run into numerous game-ruining bugs and glitches, on both single and multiplayer.”
grinding
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
2%
94%
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a significant aspect, often described as tedious and time-consuming, with many players feeling that it detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the depth and strategy involved in resource management and character progression, others find the repetitive nature of grinding for achievements and resources to be frustrating and overly drawn out. Overall, the game strikes a balance between engaging mechanics and a grindy experience that can lead to boredom over time.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “After battles, your heroes heal up almost immediately, so there is no tedious 'turn on power to the med-bay, walk each person there, wait for them to heal' dance that was all too common in FTL.”
- “In short, the game is worth it, but it's constrained by the fact that it has a lot of useless content due to poor balancing, and it gets tedious very fast.”
- “The various floors do seem pretty samey after a while, and with long runs that you are supposed to do over and over again, it does start to feel grindy.”
- “I get that some games can't just be picked up and played, that you need to sink hours into them before you're going to win, but when winning is locked behind random numbers and not skill, it becomes a tedious grind that loses all sense of fun very quickly.”
character development
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
48%
12%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its impressive character design and unique personalities, which enhance gameplay and player engagement. While the visuals and interactions among characters are praised, some reviewers note that the depth of character development and narrative exposition is limited, typical of the roguelike genre. Overall, the game excels in character aesthetics and mechanics but may fall short for those seeking a rich narrative experience.
- “It is obvious how much the creators enjoyed making this game because of the detail in random level programming and character design.”
- “As for the level and character design, not only does each character sport their own unique look, they also have their own whimsical personality to boot.”
- “Character design and dialogue is awesome; different characters interact with each other differently, and I found that the ones who worked well together mechanically had a more friendly dialogue than others.”
- “As a story person, I'm obligated to note that, typical for a roguelike, there is little exposition or character development (although this has been improved recently through some elevator banter amongst party members, but nothing serious).”
- “The one caveat is that if you are buying this game for the character development and RPG elements, this game may disappoint.”
- “I just wish they would work a bit more on character development, story, and variety of in-game events.”
optimization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players noting it runs smoothly even on low-end systems. However, some users experienced performance issues during large battles and when managing shared resources in multiplayer, indicating room for improvement. While the minimalist graphics contribute to its low demand on hardware, the gameplay mechanics may require better optimization for a more seamless experience.
- “A fun coop RPG tower defense roguelike that's not very demanding in terms of computer performance.”
- “Not to mention it runs great on any potato PC system with those top-notch optimization.”
- “The heroes are diverse and the stat system is very simple to understand and, best of all, stats have an incredible impact on the performance of heroes.”
- “It's a pretty cheap game, but even for that (and the 80+% rating) I expected more, since it's a pixel art game and these normally at least have decent gameplay if they already invested so little into graphics/performance balancing.”
- “When you're three, you start to see the problem coming: the resource management part of the game, perhaps the most important, interesting and time-consuming aspect of it is much better optimized if you delegate all the group's resources of a certain type to a single player.”
- “- poor performance in large battles and when a lot is happening on screen.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to their characters and experiences within the game, particularly through the touching and humorous backstories of their crew. Moments of triumph, such as overcoming challenges with friends, evoke nostalgia and deep feelings, while some players feel let down by the game's lack of multiplayer accessibility and tutorial guidance. Overall, the game successfully elicits a range of emotions, from joy to disappointment, enhancing the player's experience.
- “Being a roguelike made my emotional attachment to my little crew of misfits much greater.”
- “I leave you all with this; beating easy mode with my friend was probably the highest and most emotional moment I have ever experienced while gaming, and I am not being hyperbolic.”
- “Never got so emotional about opening a door!”
monetization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
82%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for incorporating intrusive advertisements for other titles during startup, which detracts from the user experience. While there are no microtransactions, the forced updates that include these ads have led some players to feel frustrated and disillusioned, impacting their overall enjoyment of the game.
- “No microtransactions, no nonsense.”
- “I probably wouldn't pay full price because it does have the feel of being a mobile game without in-game purchases with the classic 90s graphics.”
- “When I first loaded it up, I discovered that the latest update had added this very cringy advertisement for one of their other games.”
- “Why are you forcing me to download an update that shows me an advertisement every time I open your game?”
- “[b]Update 04/02/2023[/b]: Changed the review to a [b]negative[/b] one after Amplitude added a 250 MB advertisement video for their next game, 'Endless Dungeon', that runs on game startup every single time.”