Dungeons & Dragons Online

About

"Dungeons & Dragons Online is a free, 3.5 edition RPG game with authentic gameplay and iconic monsters from the beloved tabletop game. Experience danger and adventure, test your skills in combat, and play alone or with friends in this massively-multiplayer online game."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 120 reviews

story10 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

The game captures the true spirit of Dungeons & Dragons with clever mission design and a strong emphasis on teamwork.
Highly customizable character builds and a vast world filled with quests and lore provide a rich gameplay experience.
Despite its dated graphics, the game offers a unique charm and a welcoming community, making it enjoyable for both new and returning players.

The game has significant paywalls that can hinder progression, especially after the initial levels, making it feel pay-to-win.
Many players experience technical issues, including difficulties with the Steam launcher and server connectivity problems.
The graphics and some mechanics feel outdated, which may deter new players looking for a modern MMO experience.

story
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
67%
8%
The game's story is enriched by a vast array of quests featuring intricate dungeons, puzzle-solving, and engaging narratives, appealing to both solo players and groups. While the initial experience is rewarding, progression becomes paywalled after a certain point, requiring purchases for further content, which can be frustrating for some players. Overall, the storytelling and quest design are praised for their depth and creativity, reminiscent of classic Dungeons & Dragons adventures.
- “This and the great stories in some quest lines.”
- “Most quests have you go through intricate dungeons that have puzzle solving and traps and interesting storylines.”
- “It is worth your time and your money - the adventure system used with its narration was a genius touch at the time and is more satisfying than the story modes a lot of later MMOs used.”
- “I was really hoping for a vast game adventure, but it's so paywalled after completing levels around 5 that any further progression or quest requires purchases.”
- “The only times that locked content may be a pain is if you are farming for specific loot, and that loot is only available in a certain part of the game world that you do not have access to, or when you may want to do a quest with your friends, and you don't have access to those quests because you haven't unlocked them.”
- “Although some of it is hard, some of it is easy. I can't say for sure what part is the easiest, but when you first get in the game, it's easy. The community and the players are 100% friendly, just like World of Warcraft. Some of the quests are harder than others, but I recommend this game because of the dragons and fighting big bosses. Sadly, the game died a lot, and the community is slowing down.”
gameplay
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
56%
9%
The gameplay of this MMORPG is praised for its complexity and depth, offering a unique blend of classic mechanics and innovative features that cater to dedicated players. While the character building and combat systems are rewarding, they can be difficult to understand due to a lack of clear explanations, leading to a steep learning curve. Despite some bugs and outdated combat mechanics, the game provides a smooth experience and encourages teamwork, making it enjoyable for those willing to invest time in mastering its intricacies.
- “It's got the classic MMORPG feel that I love, but with all kinds of mechanics unique to this game that make it pretty special.”
- “DDO has the most complex, demanding, and rewarding game mechanics I've seen - by far.”
- “Though the gameplay is pretty good and requires teamwork in later levels.”
- “Though the mechanics are extremely complex and fair [both the character building system and combat], the game nevertheless has a wide variety of minor yet annoying bugs.”
- “Combat mechanics: outdated, but true to form for Dungeons and Dragons.”
- “The other part of me knows...this type of gameplay is not a positive example for a real-time game like DDO.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
63%
13%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, with many users noting repetitive animations and a lack of modern visual appeal. Despite this, some players appreciate the unique charm and dream-like quality of the graphics, suggesting that they do not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the game. Overall, while the visuals may not meet contemporary standards, they still hold nostalgic value for long-time fans.
- “Still an absolute gem of a game, the graphics may be out of date but they possess a dream-like quality all of their own.”
- “The graphics were amazing, the dungeons were awesome as well.”
- “The graphics aren't 'modern,' but they have always had an ineffable charm.”
- “This game is dated as all hell, and it shows mostly in the graphics department.”
- “By today's standards, it is like World of Warcraft in that it should be scrapped and a completely new, graphically intense game of the same name needs to replace it, like yesterday.”
- “For the graphics and all that stuff, this game should be free and not under development anymore.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while it can be intimidating due to its complexity and the presence of pay-to-win elements, it is not strictly necessary for enjoying the game or finding challenges. Some players criticize the repetitive nature of combat, describing it as tedious, while others appreciate the ability to farm powerful items through specific events. However, locked content can hinder progress, especially when trying to access certain quests or loot.
- “Some will find this system of standing in a room and holding down the left mouse click to kill something... tedious... boring... overdramatized when it should be that contact with the enemy produces some kind of visible reaction from the enemy whether I miss or not... I have friends who have told me the exact same thing.”
- “It is all about grinding; it has pay-to-win elements, but a free player can achieve so much now.”
- “The only times that locked content may be a pain is if you are farming for specific loot, and that loot is only available in a certain part of the game world that you do not have access to, or when you may want to do a quest with your friends, and you don't have access to those quests because you haven't unlocked them.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
Overall, users find the current microtransactions to be fair; however, there is uncertainty about potential changes in monetization practices following Daybreak Games' acquisition of the publishing rights.
- “The microtransactions are fair.”
- “With Daybreak Games acquiring publishing rights recently, it's unclear how bad microtransactions will become.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The humor in the game is highlighted as a key element, contributing to its quirky and engaging atmosphere. Players appreciate how it complements the overall experience, enhancing the suspense and problem-solving aspects rather than relying on traditional action or grind.
- “The game is built with humor, quirkiness, and discovery in mind, making it a refreshing break from grind or plain action.”
- “The humor in the game adds a delightful layer to the overall experience, enhancing the fun of problem-solving and exploration.”
- “With its clever writing and quirky characters, the game delivers laughs that keep you engaged and entertained throughout.”