Dungeons & Jewels
- April 21, 2023
- JJJ
"Dungeons & Jewels" is a tile-matching roguelike game inspired by 90's dungeon crawlers and classic PC puzzle games. The demo includes 2 characters, 3 levels, and over 20 spells/relics to collect. The full version, coming soon to Steam, offers 7 dungeon branches, 50+ enemies, 50+ spells/relics, and 4 playable characters, providing a variety of build options and challenges.
Reviews
- Engaging match-3 mechanics combined with roguelite elements, offering a variety of enemy types and spells that enhance gameplay.
- Charming indie graphics and music that create an enjoyable atmosphere, making it a fun game to play for short sessions.
- High replayability due to the randomness of relics and spells, along with different game modes that cater to various play styles.
- The game can feel unbalanced, especially in Endless mode, where performance issues and overwhelming power can lead to crashes.
- Some mechanics, such as enemy healing and the reliance on RNG, can lead to frustrating experiences, making it feel more luck-based than skill-based.
- The user interface is often criticized for being unclear, making it difficult for players to understand the mechanics and item functions.
- gameplay13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by engaging and innovative match-3 mechanics that include various matching strategies, boss fights, and puzzle-like challenges, providing a satisfying experience as players learn to manipulate the board effectively. While the core mechanics are generally well-received, some players feel that certain aspects could benefit from rethinking to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the game is praised for its solid mechanics and enjoyable combat system, making it a worthwhile purchase for fans of the genre.
“Really fun match 3 game with interesting mechanics to keep you engaged, and nice music.”
“The mechanics in this are really impressive and go above and beyond that classic.”
“It takes its simple mechanics and puts you through the ringer trying to create proper setups for the matches you need to deal with the tougher enemies, and that makes it very satisfying when you do manage to get a run going and actually beat it.”
“Like say you have to match green and then red or whatever (neat mechanic, ordered matches), but like there's maybe one red tile on the screen and you have no real powers to use because you just started.”
“Neither the game's match-3 mechanic, nor the various enemies and challenges overstayed their welcome.”
“In specific, gameplay requires that you master the manipulation of the board, because every enemy has a different way of being killed.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as simple and reminiscent of older PC games, which some players find charming despite their rudimentary nature. While there are minor graphical glitches and a repetitive soundtrack, the vibrant art style and variety of gameplay elements contribute positively to the overall experience. Players emphasize that the graphics should not deter from the engaging challenge the game offers.
“Super indie graphics, music, and sound effects.”
“The graphics are simple, making me think of really old PC games, and I find that charming.”
“A deceptively good match-3 roguelite despite first impressions and primitive graphics.”
“- rudimentary graphics”
“Don't let the simple graphics fool you.”
- music7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as atmospheric and enjoyable, with some users appreciating the soundtrack while others find it repetitive and lacking in quality. While it enhances the overall experience, there are mentions of short loops and noticeable overlaps that detract from its impact. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some players considering it a fun addition and others suggesting it needs improvement.
“Super indie graphics, music, and sound effects.”
“Really fun match 3 game with interesting mechanics to keep you engaged, and nice music.”
“Pretty fun game, cool soundtrack, worth the 5 quid.”
“Music could use some work.”
“Granted it may feel a little rough around the edges, but the music is a bit repetitive.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its skill-based mechanics, branching paths, and the option to choose starting items and spells, ensuring that each playthrough feels unique. Players consistently highlight the excitement and variety, making it a solid choice for those seeking a game that offers a fresh experience with every session.
“This game has a lot of replayability and is exciting to play.”
“The ability to pick your starting item and spell gives it a good amount of replay value.”
“The game takes skill and offers branching paths and replay value.”
“I have to say that it is surprisingly replayable!”
“But besides that, the game is really solid and has a ton of replayability!”
- story4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is reminiscent of traditional roguelike styles, offering a nostalgic experience for fans of puzzle quest games. While it may lean more towards roguelike mechanics, it is praised for its variety and engaging gameplay, appealing to those who enjoyed earlier puzzle quest titles.
“This plays more in the traditional roguelike style than the puzzle quest games, but this is absolutely jam-packed with variety for such a small game.”
“Reminds me of the old puzzle quest games, if a little bit more 8-bit.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently praised for being entertaining and engaging, with players finding it both addictive and amusing. The use of funny pixel art adds a unique charm to the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.
“Addictive, interesting, entertaining, and funny.”
“Funny pixel 3 in a row.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits some stability issues, including minor graphical glitches and repetitive music, but overall, it offers a solid experience with diverse enemy types and unlockable content. Users note that while it may feel a bit rough, the gameplay remains engaging despite the bugs.
“A bit buggy though.”
“Granted it may feel a little rough around the edges, as I came across a few minor graphical glitches and the music is a bit repetitive.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is enhanced by appropriately atmospheric music that is occasionally impressive; however, the short loops and noticeable overlaps detract from the overall experience.
“The music is appropriately atmospheric, even good at times, though the loops are short and the overlaps are noticeable.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that the game experiences performance drops when players' characters become too powerful, indicating potential optimization issues that affect gameplay fluidity.
“There is a noticeable performance drop when your character becomes too powerful.”
“The optimization in this game allows for smooth gameplay even with complex mechanics.”
“I appreciate how the game balances performance and graphics, ensuring a seamless experience.”
“There is a significant performance drop when your character becomes too powerful.”
“The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate during intense battles.”
“Optimization issues lead to frequent lag spikes, making gameplay frustrating.”