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Dungeons 4

Buckle up and grab something pointy; the new Absolute Evil is hungry for some hero meat.
Dungeons 4 Game Cover
85%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
optimization, grinding
87% User Score Based on 1,388 reviews
Critic Score 83%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCXbox Game PassPlaystation 5CloudXbox Cloud GamingXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
Dungeons 4 Game Cover

About

Dungeons 4 is a single player and multiplayer strategy game. It was developed by Realmforge Studios and was released on November 9, 2023. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

The Absolute Evil and its trusted cough servant, the Dark Elf Thalya, return.

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87%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,388 reviews
story101 positive mentions
optimization14 negative mentions

  • The campaign is fun, goofy, and full of charm, with unique objectives that keep gameplay feeling fresh.
  • The humor lands well, with witty references and a playful tone that enhances the overall experience.
  • The game strikes a great balance between strategy and light-hearted chaos, making it enjoyable for both casual and hardcore players.
  • The game feels like a step down from Dungeons 3 in terms of gameplay depth and variety, with some mechanics feeling overly simplified.
  • There are issues with pacing and difficulty spikes, particularly in certain missions that can feel frustrating and tedious.
  • The reliance on the 'evilness' system for upgrades can lead to resource starvation, making progression feel grindy and unbalanced.
  • story
    456 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Dungeons 4" is characterized by its lighthearted, humorous tone, filled with pop culture references and a cheeky narrator, which some players find entertaining while others consider it repetitive and lacking depth. The campaign consists of 20 missions that vary in difficulty and design, but many reviewers note that the narrative often feels like a vehicle for gameplay rather than a compelling story, with some missions dragging on or becoming tedious. Overall, while the humor and charm are appreciated, the story's execution has received mixed feedback, with some players wishing for more substantial content and variety.

    • “The campaign is fun, goofy, and full of charm, with each mission offering unique objectives that keep the gameplay feeling fresh.”
    • “The story is charming and I love how often it breaks the fourth wall.”
    • “The story is written with the seriousness of a Monty Python skit that is self-aware of its ridiculousness.”
    • “The game's story is really just trying to get away with the fact that this game is, in fact, a cash grab.”
    • “Mission design together with the story got worse and worse throughout the game.”
    • “The story is cheesy and lighthearted but stole too many chuckles and groans with its references and banter.”
  • gameplay
    288 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in Dungeons 4 is a mix of engaging dungeon management and real-time strategy elements, offering a blend of humor and strategic depth that appeals to both new and returning players. While many reviews highlight the fun and addictive nature of the gameplay, some criticize the balance and pacing, noting that certain mechanics feel simplified or underdeveloped compared to its predecessor, Dungeons 3. Overall, the game provides a charming and entertaining experience, though opinions vary on the effectiveness of its new mechanics and mission design.

    • “The campaign is fun, goofy, and full of charm, with each mission offering unique objectives that keep the gameplay feeling fresh.”
    • “The gameplay keeps players engaged while offering both depth and accessibility, making it as entertaining as it is challenging.”
    • “It's delightfully funny and quirky combined with genuinely interesting and fun challenging gameplay that is pretty unique compared to most other base-building games.”
    • “The main gameplay loop consists of constantly dragging your army in and out of the dungeon because your attempts to wipe the surface outposts get constant interruptions from invaders that keep spawning in some unreachable location.”
    • “Right now both the overworld and the underworld gameplay feel somewhat undercooked.”
    • “Gold mining/income is way too slow and is a huge speed bump to most aspects of gameplay; could benefit from increased rates, otherwise it's a horrible time-gating mechanic to rely on to slow down people rushing through the campaign.”
  • humor
    259 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Dungeons 4" is a defining feature, characterized by its irreverent, self-aware style filled with witty references and fourth wall breaks that resonate well with fans of the series. While many players find the humor to be consistently entertaining and a perfect complement to the gameplay, some critiques point to moments where the jokes feel forced or overly juvenile. Overall, the game successfully balances humor with strategic gameplay, making it a fun experience for those who appreciate its quirky comedic tone.

    • “The mechanics are solid, the humor lands, and the overall experience strikes a great balance between strategy and light-hearted chaos.”
    • “One of the game’s most distinctive features is its irreverent humor, filled with witty references and nods to the earlier entries in the series.”
    • “The humor is clever and consistent, providing a light-hearted atmosphere that perfectly complements the strategic gameplay.”
    • “The 'Meet the Spartans' style jokes, where referring to something everyone knows is supposed to be funny, are blessedly, incredibly rare.”
    • “And Thalia herself says downright stupid (not funny stupid), just ridiculously stupid stuff over and over, and it can get annoying when you have to replay levels.”
  • graphics
    133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in Dungeons 4 have received mixed reviews, with some players praising the vibrant art style and improved visuals compared to its predecessor, Dungeons 3, while others criticize the lack of significant upgrades and performance issues. Many noted that the new art direction feels overly simplified or reminiscent of mobile games, detracting from the distinctiveness of units and environments. Overall, while some players appreciate the charming aesthetics and detailed animations, others feel the graphics fall short of expectations for a 2023 title.

    • “The graphics are commendable, showcasing detailed environments and captivating visuals that effortlessly immerse players in the game's world.”
    • “The art style is amazing, as well as the soundtrack.”
    • “Stunning visuals: the graphics are impressive and don’t sacrifice performance, making the game visually appealing without any lag.”
    • “Despite 2015 graphics, the devs failed to optimize the game; the CPU for a top-end system runs hot.”
    • “The art style is off-putting compared to previous titles... this feels like a mobile game.”
    • “When your dungeons get big, the FPS drops, and graphic glitches happen a lot.”
  • optimization
    40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing smooth performance and impressive graphics, while others report significant lag and performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems and during intense gameplay moments. Many users noted that the game struggles with high unit counts and lacks sufficient graphical settings to improve performance. Overall, while the PC version shows commendable performance, the game still requires further optimization to address the various bugs and performance inconsistencies reported by players.

    • “Stunning visuals: the graphics are impressive and don’t sacrifice performance, making the game visually appealing without any lag.”
    • “In my entire playthrough, I ran into like 2 minor bugs, and it runs very smoothly with minimal performance issues.”
    • “The performance on the PC version is commendable, with no crashes or stuttering observed, showcasing a game that runs smoothly even during busy and resource-intensive moments.”
    • “Really underwhelming sequel to Dungeons 3, improving none of the features and having some of the drawbacks with poor performance and half-baked new mechanics.”
    • “There's definitely some optimization to do; at higher unit counts (max creatures, plus a few freebies), the game starts to lag and get choppy.”
    • “Very poorly optimized; it gets very laggy on Ryzen 7 3700X and 3060 Ti.”
  • music
    31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its quality, variety, and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. The soundtrack features a mix of grungy, heavy metal riffs and thematic compositions that align well with the game's visuals and narrative, making it a standout element. However, some players noted a few missing tracks from previous installments, which slightly detracted from the experience.

    • “I love the soundtrack for this game, and that is not something I have ever said about any other game.”
    • “The soundtrack deserves special mention, as it complements the game's atmosphere flawlessly.”
    • “The dark and whimsical world of Dungeons 4 immediately drew us in, with stunning environments, creative creature designs, and an atmospheric soundtrack that set the stage for an immersive gaming experience.”
    • “Oh, I forgot one more thing: music, sounds (as well as the background ones), are surprisingly lacking (some of the old ones are even absent!).”
    • “The soundtrack is well done this time, but there are just so many flaws and no real improvements that I can't recommend it.”
    • “Music-wise, they went for something new here, this grungy music with edgy guitar riffs.”
  • grinding
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often leading to frustration. The need to farm resources and upgrade units can feel like a chore, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game. While some appreciate the intricate gameplay mechanics, many agree that the grind can become overwhelming and detracts from the fun.

    • “But hot damn, is it tedious to have to farm evil just to have something in your dungeon, whether it be a new room type or a monster.”
    • “But when you need hundreds for each upgrade, this is a terribly tedious process.”
    • “It is tedious and frustrating and just not fun.”
  • stability
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and crashes that detract from the overall experience. While some users noted that major game-breaking issues were absent, others experienced frequent soft locks and unresponsive units, particularly on larger maps. Overall, the game is described as "buggy" but not unplayable, with performance varying significantly based on system specifications and map complexity.

    • “I haven't tried co-op, so I can't comment on the stability problems some people report, but the game runs great for me.”
    • “In general, this game performed really well for me with very few snags. If this game was bug-free and optimized so well that I could run it problem-free on a low-end PC, I would have given it a score of 10 out of 10.”
    • “Looks a lot better too and bug-free so far, loving it.”
    • “The last but not the least couple of arguments that conclude this review are: multiple tech issues, glitches, soft locks, and other scary words that prevent some players from playing this game as it was intended by the devs. Most of them got fixed, but some of the most annoying ones persist and flourish.”
    • “The game is buggy, and the bugs that exist wear on you; for example, you have to re-click things 2-3 times to get them to 'stick'; the game crashes frequently, sometimes units become unresponsive, etc. (though some of this may be on larger maps where there is more building going on).”
    • “There's been no graphical improvements; the story is basically a sequel; mechanic and gameplay 'improvements' are clunky, counter-intuitive, buggy, laggy, and honestly not polished.”
  • replayability
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game exhibits a mixed level of replayability. While many players appreciate its high replay value due to varied challenges and engaging content, some express concerns about the lack of additional scenarios and workshop support, which could limit long-term replayability. Despite these issues, the game remains enjoyable for multiple playthroughs.

    • “This game has a very high replay value.”
    • “Great game with tons of replay value.”
    • “Fun story, good humor, lots of replay value.”
    • “It's an RTS... it shouldn't be without those... 100+ hours in the game without it, but still, RTS games are supposed to be known for replayability.”
    • “Really cuts down on replayability.”
    • “Replayability is questionable from what I've seen so far, as I don't see workshop support for additional scenarios; however, one playthrough is worth anyone's time that enjoys this kind of genre.”
  • atmosphere
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in Dungeons 4 is characterized by a blend of cozy charm and dark whimsy, enhanced by solid voice acting, clever humor, and a captivating soundtrack. Players appreciate the immersive environments and engaging character interactions that create a lighthearted yet dangerous ambiance, making the gameplay experience enjoyable and memorable. Overall, the game's atmosphere successfully balances comedic elements with darker themes, drawing players into its richly detailed world.

    • “Moody lighting, atmospheric detail, a world soaked in danger and decadence—it’s like the dungeon itself wants to be touched.”
    • “The dark and whimsical world of Dungeons 4 immediately drew us in, with stunning environments, creative creature designs, and an atmospheric soundtrack that set the stage for an immersive gaming experience.”
    • “The soundtrack deserves special mention, as it complements the game's atmosphere flawlessly.”
    • “That being said, Dungeons 4 carries on the tradition -- solid voice acting with a few real laughs, a cozy atmosphere, and predictable gameplay that fans will enjoy.”
    • “The abundance of dialogue, both from the narrator and in-game characters, contributes to the comedic atmosphere.”
  • character development
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is visually appealing, with well-designed characters and environments that enhance its comedic tone. However, the plot lacks complexity and depth, making it unsuitable for those seeking intricate character arcs and substantial storytelling. Overall, while the aesthetics are impressive, the character development does not offer significant depth or surprises.

    • “The game features stunning visuals, perfectly matching character design, simple but thought-provoking plot with tons of healthy humor, twists, and 'evil' storytelling.”
    • “For now, I can only give a tentative recommendation if you can stomach the freemium mobile character designs.”
    • “The attention to detail in character designs, landscapes, and spell effects contributes significantly to the overall aesthetic charm of the game.”
    • “The attention to detail in character design, environments, and visual gags enhances the overall comedic impact.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is criticized as feeling like a cash grab, with players expressing disappointment that it deviates from the quality of previous titles in the series. Despite enjoying the game, many feel that the monetization strategy undermines the overall experience.

    • “The game's story is really just trying to get away with the fact that this game, is in fact, what it is - a cash grab.”
    • “I've always absolutely loved the dungeon series, and I do like this one, but if I'm being honest, it feels a bit cash grabby.”
    • “Just play Dungeons 3 and hope Kalypso doesn't release another cash grab and goes back to the golden formula of 3.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a nostalgic and wholesome experience, though some players feel that the repetitive jokes about poor mission design detract from the overall emotional engagement, leading to a sense of disconnection.

    • “Great classic wholesome nostalgic fun.”
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54h Median play time
41h Average play time
20-63h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Dungeons 4 is a strategy game.

Dungeons 4 is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 41 hours playing Dungeons 4.

Dungeons 4 was released on November 9, 2023.

Dungeons 4 was developed by Realmforge Studios.

Dungeons 4 has received positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Dungeons 4 is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Dungeons 3, Dungeons 2, War for the Overworld, Orcs Must Die! 3, Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD and others.