Dungeons & Dragons: Krynn Series

About

"Dungeons & Dragons: Krynn Series" is a role-playing game set in the fantasy world of Krynn. The first game, "Champions of Krynn," follows a group of heroes defending the land from evil forces seeking to establish the Dark Queen's tyranny after their defeat in the War of the Lance. The sequel, "Death Knights of Krynn," challenges players to face the Lord of the Death Knights, Soth, who plans to unleash a wave of evil upon the world. These games offer strategic combat, character development, and intricate storylines for an immersive experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Dungeons & Dragons: Krynn Series screenshot

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 90 reviews

story8 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience for fans of classic D&D RPGs, with engaging gameplay that remains enjoyable even after 30 years.
The Gold Box Companion enhances the experience with quality-of-life improvements, such as automapping and access to manuals and journals.
The trilogy allows for character transfer between games, creating a cohesive and immersive campaign experience.

Combat can become tedious and bogged down, especially with overwhelming enemy encounters and frustrating mechanics.
The graphics and sound are outdated, which may deter new players unfamiliar with the classic style.
Some players find the gameplay cumbersome and unbalanced, particularly in the later games of the trilogy.

story
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
52%
13%
The game's story continues the Dragonlance narrative from the first six books, receiving mixed reviews for its average quality and vague timeline. While some players find the storytelling engaging and compelling enough to enhance gameplay, others note that certain titles in the series, like "Death Knights of Krynn," offer a more disjointed plot with fewer narrative elements. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop to the tactical gameplay, with some players appreciating the depth and intrigue it provides despite the game's age and graphics.
- “This game continues the Dragonlance story after the first six books.”
- “The storytelling is great.”
- “As I got older, I started to focus on the storylines of games and I found myself taking notes, which I have never done at my TTRPGs before.”
- “The game's story is average.”
- “Overall while everything looks nice in Death Knights of Krynn and functions better (and has nice features like not having to pay for temple healing), the story falls behind Champions of Krynn.”
- “Tdqok suffers though in what a lot of high-end AD&D adventures do; you have to keep scaling everything up, and it is incredibly combat-heavy and story-light, which makes it the weakest game in the Krynn series in terms of story.”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
41%
18%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, with many users noting their inferiority compared to modern titles. However, this retro aesthetic evokes nostalgia for fans of classic games, and some players appreciate the focus on gameplay and story over visual fidelity. While there is a desire for graphical enhancements and quality-of-life improvements, the overall experience remains enjoyable for those who value the game's historical context.
- “I would love to see an updated version (graphics and engine-wise, not version-wise).”
- “8-bit graphics never looked so good.”
- “Sure, the graphics suck compared to modern games, but the strategy and gameplay are still relevant.”
- “This game will not compete graphically against any other current games, but will inject a huge dose of nostalgia if you loved these old AD&D games!”
- “Just so you're aware, the graphics are horrible.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience, with some enjoying the challenge while others feel it becomes tedious, particularly due to excessive random encounters and overwhelming enemy numbers. The need for grinding to level up can lead to frustration, especially when facing powerful foes that outmatch the player's character level. Overall, the grinding can be seen as a necessary but often tedious part of gameplay, with some players opting to embrace it for the potential rewards.
- “Dark Queen was a slog; however, as I said, the Auraks made some segments tedious.”
- “It would be amazing to have far less random encounters in dungeons that become far more tedious than fun, especially when they can be a waste of time (far beneath your character level) or way too many (10-20 dragons or several arch-mages and high clerics with an army in tow, casting delay blast fireball sometimes several times before you can even react).”
- “This is a min-max game, a grinding machine.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The gameplay is described as compelling and reminiscent of old-school D&D mechanics, appealing to fans of turn-based strategy and tactical elements. However, it faces criticism for balance issues, outdated copy protection, and potentially frustrating instant death effects, which may deter younger players unfamiliar with these mechanics. Overall, while the core gameplay is engaging, it may not resonate with everyone due to its retro design and challenges.
- “So even if the story is average, they managed to make the gameplay compelling enough to keep me playing.”
- “While that is both a good and bad thing, the stories and core gameplay are quite good, even to this day.”
- “If you love turn-based strategy and tactics gameplay with some story and RPG elements included, I do recommend.”
- “Younger gamers born after 1995 may have issues with the mechanics of these games.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Reviews indicate a significant shift in the music style of the Dungeons & Dragons franchise following TSR's departure, moving from a darker, gothic sound to a more upbeat and lighthearted vibe, particularly noted in titles like Baldur's Gate 3 compared to earlier games like Eye of the Beholder. Many users express disappointment with this change, feeling that the new music lacks the thematic depth and atmosphere of its predecessors.
- “Since TSR left the world of D&D, it seems like the music and the art style have changed a lot. The old style had a much darker, grim, gothic music vibe, while the new stuff feels more happy-go-lucky.”
- “For example, Baldur's Gate 3 music compared to Eye of the Beholder 1, which both take place in Baldur's Gate, shows a significant difference. Eye of the Beholder 1 has a much darker and more gothic art style than the brand new Baldur's Gate 3 game.”
- “The music in Baldur's Gate 3 has a very different tone, with some tracks feeling out of place for a D&D theme, like 'come hang out down by the river, take a dip in my water.'”
- “Since TSR left the world of D&D, it seems like the music and the art style changed a lot. The old style had a much darker, grim, gothic music, while the new stuff feels more happy-go-lucky.”
- “For example, Baldur's Gate 3 music compared to Eye of the Beholder 1, which both sit in Baldur's Gate in the same world. Eye of the Beholder 1 has a much darker and more grim gothic art style than the brand new Baldur's Gate 3 game.”
- “What is with the music in Baldur's Gate 3? 'Come hang out down by the river, take a dip in my water'—what is that about, especially for a D&D theme song?”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report issues with stability, particularly noting frustrating interruptions that freeze movement when passing certain areas, such as inns, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience.
- “It's such a relief when he's gone, but in new Aurium, when you pass by areas, it interrupts to tell you it's an inn, freezes your movement, and you hit return.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without constant restarts.”
- “I often experience lag spikes that disrupt gameplay, especially during critical moments.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere in the games is generally praised, with players appreciating the engaging environment and challenging puzzles, despite some minor drawbacks.
- “The atmosphere in this game is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world with stunning visuals and haunting sound design.”
- “Every corner of the game is filled with detail, creating a rich and engaging atmosphere that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
- “The combination of eerie music and beautifully crafted environments makes the atmosphere truly unforgettable.”