Dungeon of the Endless
- October 26, 2014
- Amplitude Studios
- 14h median play time
Dungeon of the Endless combines many games, but emerges as something entirely its own.
"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."
Reviews
- Unique blend of tower defense and roguelike mechanics that keeps gameplay fresh and engaging.
- Challenging yet rewarding, with a steep learning curve that encourages strategic thinking and planning.
- Charming pixel art style and an excellent soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Frequent crashes and bugs, especially in multiplayer, leading to lost progress and frustration.
- Difficulty spikes can feel unfair, with RNG elements sometimes ruining otherwise successful runs.
- Lack of clear tutorials and explanations for mechanics, making it hard for new players to grasp the game.
- gameplay1,265 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Dungeon of the Endless" is a unique blend of roguelike, tower defense, and RPG mechanics, offering a challenging yet rewarding experience that requires strategic planning and resource management. While the charming pixel art and engaging mechanics draw players in, many reviews highlight a steep learning curve and a lack of in-game tutorials, which can lead to frustration for newcomers. Overall, the game is praised for its depth and replayability, though some players find the gameplay can become repetitive or overly reliant on chance.
“The pixel art style is charming, and the challenging gameplay requires careful resource management.”
“It's challenging, but unique gameplay gets pretty addicting the more you play it.”
“The gameplay is a perfect mashup of roguelike turn-based strategy and tower defense, with RPG elements.”
“Very little gameplay and what there is just isn't very engaging.”
“The gameplay is an incoherent mix of mechanics that seems to have been just haphazardly thrown together.”
“The gameplay loop is a trudge, and the pixelated sprites lack personality.”
- graphics698 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are predominantly described as charming pixel art, which evokes nostalgia and complements the gameplay's strategic elements. While many players appreciate the aesthetic and find it visually appealing, some critiques highlight that the pixelated style can occasionally hinder clarity during intense gameplay. Overall, the visuals are well-received for their artistic quality, though opinions vary on their effectiveness in enhancing the gaming experience.
“The pixel art style is charming, and the challenging gameplay requires careful resource management.”
“Visually it's beautiful, with lovingly crafted pixelated graphics and appears to be completely stable and the mechanics are intricately constructed.”
“The graphics are pixel-perfect, and the art style is a nostalgic delight, keeping you engaged with its unique charm.”
“As for graphics, well... it's pixel graphics, can't expect much.”
“The graphics are very bad, making it difficult to tell one object from another; and there is no help to explain the symbols and alerts that pop up.”
“I can accept simple clear graphics, so long as the gameplay makes up for it, but here the graphics are a horrible, pixelated mush, you can't see anything that is going on.”
- music613 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack is described as beautiful, immersive, and fitting for the game's aesthetic, often evoking nostalgia and creating a captivating ambiance. While some players noted a desire for more variety in tracks, the majority found the music to be a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's charm and replayability.
“The soundtrack sets the perfect mood, immersing you in its atmospheric depths.”
“The OST is one of the best I've heard and is in my constant rotation; it's got the beautiful melancholic sense of wonder that reflects the game's visual aesthetic flawlessly.”
“The music and artwork are both something to witness.”
“However, subjectively, it never really pulled me in, whether it is the graphics, the sound and music, the combat, the progression - the gameplay loop in general, every moment I played of this game, I couldn't say I openly disliked it, but I was thinking of other games which I'd rather play... as such, this gets a (very subjective) 'not recommended' from me.”
“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.”
- replayability401 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptionally high replayability, primarily due to its roguelike elements, randomized dungeons, and a diverse cast of characters, each offering unique abilities and strategies. Players appreciate the endless combinations and challenges presented in each playthrough, making it a compelling choice for both solo and multiplayer experiences. However, some users note that the reliance on randomness can occasionally diminish the overall replay value, particularly after unlocking most content.
“I think this game's biggest selling point is that it has so much replay value to it.”
“The game is endlessly replayable thanks to the randomized dungeons, various characters, and great multiplayer.”
“After all, it mixes a lot of elements from roguelike (e.g. randomness and permadeath) and tower defense (e.g. lots of mobs going towards a thing you need to protect with towers), and these genres are essentially designed to be infinitely replayable.”
“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).”
“Great idea, good execution, unfortunately after first completion it loses replay value, becomes repetitive and boring.”
- story357 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is often described as minimal and fragmented, primarily conveyed through character backstories and interactions during gameplay, particularly in the elevator sequences between levels. While some players appreciate the unique character arcs and the lore connecting it to the broader Endless universe, many feel that the narrative lacks depth and coherence, often resulting in frustration when character deaths occur due to forced story events. Overall, the story serves more as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a central focus, with players encouraged to piece together the lore through exploration and character combinations.
“Every hero has a unique story, stats, and perks that combo with each other so differently it makes every replay just as exciting.”
“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 story emerges the more you play, and you will die enough times that you'll have plenty of time to experience it all.”
“There is little to no story, but the devs try to compensate for it by making your heroes kill each other randomly.”
“The storyline for the characters is also very minimal, and they feel more like turrets rather than people.”
“I thought this game might be a decent compromise, with its RPG elements and sort of story, but dang!”
- humor166 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by a mix of light-hearted, dark, and tongue-in-cheek elements that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the witty item descriptions, character interactions, and the game's self-aware commentary on its difficulty, which often leads to amusing moments even in challenging situations. While some find the humor hit-or-miss, many agree it adds charm and replayability, making the game both fun and engaging.
“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.”
“None of this changes the fact that you always feel like the game is actively laughing at you, but it's still a lot of fun!”
“The game has a zany sense of humor.”
- atmosphere147 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive qualities, combining beautiful pixel art with haunting soundtracks that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the unique blend of genres, which contributes to a compelling and often tense environment, making each playthrough feel distinct and engaging. Overall, the atmosphere is described as captivating, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to draw players into its world through effective use of music and visual design.
“The game's art style is fantastic, with beautiful pixel graphics and a hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack.”
“The music and art will suck you into an amazing atmosphere.”
“The dreamy soundtrack and amazing art style craft a unique, otherworldly atmosphere to enjoy this marvelous strategy adventure in.”
“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.”
“It's addicting and challenging, and the artwork gives the game an atmosphere that honestly hits the spot for me.”
“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.”
- stability99 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting persistent bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some players have experienced minimal issues, many others have encountered game-breaking problems, such as freezing, desynchronization, and lost progress, leading to a general consensus that the game is currently too unstable for a reliable experience. Overall, the lack of updates and ongoing bugs have left many players frustrated and unable to recommend the game.
“The game is well polished with little or no glitches, bugs, or problems.”
“It's bug free for me and very playable for an alpha.”
“The game is pretty much bug free and solid to play.”
“This game no longer receives updates and is a buggy mess.”
“Been out for years, still full of game-breaking glitches.”
“The game in its current state is a buggy mess.”
- grinding64 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that while the game offers engaging mechanics and unique characters, it often falls into a grindy and tedious gameplay loop, especially during longer runs and achievement hunting. Players note that the repetitive nature of resource management and micromanagement can detract from the overall experience, leading to feelings of boredom and frustration. However, some appreciate the balance between challenge and enjoyment, suggesting that the grind can be rewarding for dedicated players.
“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.”
“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.”
“Leveling and equipping your team, improving structures and farming resources - all these things progress painfully slowly, the best you can hope for is to very slightly improve your crew on each floor and still break even on resources.”
- character development22 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its unique and whimsical character designs, which contribute to diverse play styles and interactions among characters. While there is some improvement in dialogue and personality traits, many reviewers note that the depth of character development remains limited, typical of the roguelike genre. Overall, the game's visual appeal and character mechanics create an engaging experience, though some players desire more narrative depth and variety in character progression.
“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).”
“This developer makes very pretty games with some fairly solid gameplay; I just wish they would work a bit more on character development, story, and variety of in-game events.”
“Character development with a wide range of characters.”
- optimization15 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with smooth performance on low-end systems and minimal demands on hardware. However, some players note issues with multiplayer resource management and performance drops during large battles, indicating room for improvement. While the game is fun and addictive, certain mechanics may require further refinement to enhance the overall 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.”
“It'll take numerous playthroughs to get used to the mechanics and optimization required to survive the lower levels.”
“- Poor performance in large battles and when a lot is happening on screen.”
- emotional11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, particularly through their attachment to characters and shared experiences with friends, which can evoke nostalgia and joy. However, some users feel misled by the lack of multiplayer support and a comprehensive tutorial, which detracts from the overall experience. Moments of triumph, such as completing challenges with friends, are highlighted as deeply impactful, showcasing the game's ability to elicit strong feelings.
“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.”
“It combines many of the emotional elements I love from other games, like Diablo 1 and Fallout, with tower defense mechanics.”
- monetization7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some players appreciating the absence of microtransactions and ads, while others express frustration over intrusive advertisements for upcoming titles that disrupt gameplay. The addition of a mandatory advertisement video at startup has particularly soured opinions, leading to negative reviews from users who feel it detracts from the overall experience.
“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.”
“I can deal with the deceptive advertising from the store page videos, but the game is simply too broken to enjoy with friends.”
“Update 04/02/2023: Changed the review to a negative one after Amplitude added a 250 MB advertisement video for their next game, 'Endless Dungeon', that runs on game startup every single time.”
Critic Reviews
Endless deaths; Dungeon of the Endless review
Dungeon of the Endless is a challenging and rewarding game that allows you to learn and grow with it. The more time you put in, the more enjoyment you will find.
70%Dungeon of the Endless PS4 review
An almost prohibitively complex roguelike without enough guidance for new players. If you're able to invest the time to the ins and outs of Dungeon of the Endless (or use a guide) there's so much unique strategy/tower defense gameplay to sink your teeth into.
75%Dungeon of the Endless review
Dungeon of the Endless borrows from many games to create something new, and it's a fun challenge, even if there isn't much reason to beat it more than once.
77%