In "Dungeons 4," players take on the role of the Absolute Evil, who has returned with the help of the Dark Elf Thalya. Together, they build and manage their own dungeon, recruit creatures for their army, and venture above ground to conquer the land. The game is a unique blend of real-time strategy and dungeon management, offering a humorous and engaging experience.
The game retains the humorous and quirky writing style of its predecessors, making it enjoyable and entertaining.
Gameplay improvements streamline the experience, allowing for easier management of resources and units.
The graphics and art style have been upgraded, providing a visually appealing experience.
The game feels too similar to Dungeons 3, lacking significant innovation or new content.
Some missions have frustrating difficulty spikes, making them feel unbalanced and tedious.
The reliance on the narrator's humor can become tiresome and repetitive over time.
story
803 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
70%
8%
The story in "Dungeons 4" is characterized by a light-hearted, humorous tone filled with pop culture references, though many players find it repetitive and lacking depth compared to previous entries in the series. While some appreciate the quirky narration and comedic elements, others criticize the plot for being cliché and poorly executed, often feeling like a vehicle for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. Overall, the campaign offers a mix of engaging missions and frustrating mechanics, leading to a varied reception regarding its storytelling quality.
“From the moment I dove in, I was captivated by the rich storytelling and stunning visuals.”
“The story is charming and I love how often it breaks the 4th wall.”
“I really enjoyed the rich storyline and humor along the way.”
“Storyline is rubbish and it gets to a point where it's impossible to play.”
“The main issue with that is, the story missions will be forcing you because of 'plot' (nonexistent, the game knows it and tries to make fun of itself, but it just doesn't work for me, it's so bad, cheesy and cringe that it makes you want to skip every single cut-scene) to constantly come to the 'overworld' because of time-based events.”
“The story itself is literally 'hey what if we bring back the main villain from d3 and have him be the main villain, again.'”
gameplay
466 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
63%
5%
The gameplay in Dungeons 4 is a blend of engaging dungeon management and real-time strategy, maintaining the series' signature humor while introducing new mechanics and challenges. Players appreciate the streamlined mechanics that reduce micromanagement, allowing for a more immersive experience, though some feel the game lacks significant innovation compared to its predecessor. Overall, the gameplay is described as addictive and fun, with a variety of missions that encourage different strategies, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and certain mechanics.
“Engaging gameplay: the game offers a perfect mix of dungeon management and real-time strategy, ensuring that you are constantly engaged and challenged.”
“Dungeons 4 picks up where the third installment left off, expanding upon all aspects of gameplay while still keeping the core system that makes the game so addictive.”
“The gameplay, mixing light real-time strategy battles with dungeon keeper-esque dungeon-building, took a bit longer to grasp than I'd like to admit, but once I got ahold of it, I immediately began having an absolute blast with it.”
“The plot, the script, the gameplay, all of it feels like no one had their heart in it.”
“Gameplay-wise, nothing particularly new or groundbreaking, more of the same greatness as in the last one.”
“I'm about 5 hours into the game and to be honest I feel Dungeons 4 falls short of expectations; I dislike how evilness is obtained, I preferred the mechanic of Dungeons 3.”
humor
438 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "Dungeons 4" is a defining feature, characterized by clever writing, fourth wall breaks, and a mix of pop culture references that elicit a range of reactions from players. While many find the humor to be hilarious and engaging, others feel it can be heavy-handed or cringe-worthy at times, leading to a mixed reception. Overall, the game successfully maintains the light-hearted and irreverent tone of its predecessors, making it a fun experience for fans of the series.
“I haven’t played the previous games (shame on me), but oh my goodness, just the intro had me laughing to tears.”
“Top-notch voice acting and hilarious dialogue: the game is filled with endearing sarcasm and witty lines that keep you entertained throughout.”
“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.”
“That's the D4 I was waiting for... not the other, clunky and unfunny one.”
graphics
227 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The graphics in Dungeons 4 have received mixed reviews, with many players noting improvements over its predecessor, Dungeons 3, particularly in detail and visual appeal. However, some users feel that the art style has become oversimplified or reminiscent of mobile games, leading to a lack of significant graphical upgrades. Overall, while the visuals are generally praised for their charm and vibrant aesthetics, performance issues and limited graphical settings have been highlighted as drawbacks.
“From the moment I dove in, I was captivated by the rich storytelling and stunning visuals.”
“The graphics are commendable, showcasing detailed environments and captivating visuals that effortlessly immerse players in the game's world.”
“The art style is vibrant and detailed, capturing the essence of a dark fantasy world while maintaining a playful and cartoonish aesthetic.”
“Unfortunately, graphics and wiz bangs didn't really change but very fun.”
“Visually, it looks identical to me, with little to no graphics or art style changes.”
“Animation and graphics are a disaster.”
optimization
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
49%
35%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing commendable performance on PC, reporting smooth gameplay and minimal bugs, while others faced significant lag and stuttering, particularly during late-game scenarios with high unit counts. Many users noted that the game struggles on lower-end systems and criticized the lack of graphical settings to improve performance. Overall, while the visuals are praised, the optimization issues detract from the experience for a portion of the player base.
“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.”
“In my entire playthrough, I ran into only 2 minor bugs, and it runs very smoothly with minimal performance issues.”
“Looks great, runs smoothly, and has more depth and a larger scale than the previous games.”
“It was laggy and poorly optimized.”
“Very poorly optimized; it gets very laggy on Ryzen 7 3700X and 3060 Ti.”
“In late game stages, I ran into strange stuttering issues when large amounts of units were moving at the same time. My specs are far above the recommended, and the game was using less than half my GPU and CPU, so whatever is going wrong seems to be an engine problem.”
music
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
40%
8%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the heavy metal soundtrack and its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. The variety of soundtracks tailored to different environments and events adds depth, while the edgy guitar riffs and immersive compositions create a captivating experience. Overall, the music is considered a significant improvement over previous installments, contributing positively to the game's presentation and enjoyment.
“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.”
“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.”
“From the art style to the mechanics to the bad humor to the soundtrack, you are in for a treat, as it feels even better than Dungeon Keeper in some aspects (like the fact that there is a reason to build rooms and not just zones).”
grinding
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious, frustrating, and often boring, with players noting the repetitive nature of tasks and the high resource requirements for upgrades. Many reviews highlight the game's bugs and lack of engaging dialogue, which further detracts from the experience. Overall, players feel that the grind detracts significantly from enjoyment, making progress feel like a chore rather than a rewarding challenge.
“But when you need hundreds for each upgrade, this is a terribly tedious process.”
“If you lose your army one time, you might well be on an unwinnable, tedious, and frustrating path to destruction, and you just don't know it yet.”
“It is tedious and frustrating and just not fun.”
stability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
77%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent bugs and crashes, particularly on larger maps. While some users experienced significant issues like unresponsive units and graphical glitches, others noted that they encountered no major game-breaking bugs, suggesting that stability may vary based on individual experiences and system performance. Overall, while the game shows promise, it suffers from a lack of polish and optimization, impacting the gameplay experience for many.
“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.”
“Really good, like 3 but streamlined all the stuff I hated, made spells much better with a convenient unobtrusive sidebar to use, workshops faster to set up and traps to get going because of it, little snots faster to bring up to numbers, etc. Looks a lot better too and bug free so far, loving it.”
“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 problem-free on a low-end PC, I would have given this game a score of 10 out of 10.”
“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 builder/worker units become unresponsive, etc. (though some of this may be on larger maps where there is more building going on).”
“Really buggy and crashes constantly.”
“When your dungeons get big, the FPS drops, and graphic glitches happen a lot.”
replayability
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
31%
16%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players highlighting its engaging story, humor, and varied level submissions that encourage multiple playthroughs. However, some users express concerns about the lack of workshop support for additional scenarios, which may limit long-term replay value. Despite this, the game remains enjoyable enough to warrant at least one complete playthrough.
“This game has a very high replay value.”
“Fun story, good humor, lots of replay value.”
“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.”
“Replayable with each level having different submissions.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
14%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a clever and consistent humor that creates a light-hearted ambiance, effectively balancing the darker themes present in the gameplay. Players appreciate the abundance of witty dialogue and quirky character interactions, which enhance the overall enjoyment. Additionally, the stunning environments and atmospheric soundtrack contribute to an immersive experience in the whimsical yet dark world of the game.
“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.”
“I found myself chuckling at the clever dialogue and quirky interactions, creating a lighthearted atmosphere that perfectly complements the darker themes of the game.”
“The soundtrack deserves special mention, as it complements the game's atmosphere flawlessly.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is generally lacking, with reviewers noting that it does not offer a complex plot or well-crafted surprises. However, the character designs are praised for their aesthetic appeal and attention to detail, which enhances the game's overall charm and comedic elements.
“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.”
“Be aware that if you want a complex plot, great character development, and well-written surprises, you're not looking in the right place for that here.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a sense of nostalgia and wholesome enjoyment, though some players feel that the repetitive critique of the game's design detracts from the overall experience, leading to a mixed emotional response.
“Great classic wholesome nostalgic fun”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization in the game has been criticized as feeling "cash grabby," suggesting that players perceive it as prioritizing profit over player experience.
“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.”