Dungeons of Blood and Dream

About

Dungeons of Blood and Dream is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Lori Vornoy and was released on November 11, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

In "Dungeons of Blood and Dream," a weakened Blood Wizard trapped in a Mind Prison must rely on unstable sleep magic to escape perilous, procedurally generated dungeons. Battle undead creatures using diverse weapons and cursed rings with unique effects while uncovering secrets and seeking guidance from mysterious NPCs. Each playthrough offers fresh challenges and roguelike progression.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 813 reviews

gameplay56 positive mentions

optimization4 negative mentions

Unique and creative gameplay mechanics, including a ring system that changes effects based on which finger they are worn on.
Engaging atmosphere with a captivating art style and a haunting soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
Challenging yet rewarding gameplay that encourages exploration and experimentation with spells and potions.

Frequent crashes and performance issues, particularly during intense combat situations, which can disrupt gameplay.
Combat mechanics can feel janky and unresponsive, making it difficult to judge attack ranges and hitboxes.
Lack of variety in enemy design and level layouts can lead to repetitive gameplay experiences.

gameplay
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
59%
2%
The gameplay of this roguelike dungeon crawler is characterized by its unique mechanics, such as the ring system and spellcasting, which offer depth and encourage exploration. While many players find the core gameplay loop engaging and addictive, some criticize the combat mechanics as janky and the overall experience as repetitive, particularly once players become familiar with the gameplay loop. Despite its charm and intriguing aesthetics, the game may frustrate newcomers due to its convoluted mechanics and lack of variety in procedural generation.
- “The dungeon synth art style is awesome, the OST fits perfectly, and every mechanic or feature is well thought out and serves a purpose.”
- “Gameplay is fun and engaging, enemies keep you on your toes while not providing too difficult a challenge too early on.”
- “The gameplay loop is satisfying and the amount of that discovery feeling is very nice.”
- “It appears to be a game with a lot of depth and intrigue in its mechanics, but it is actually disappointingly shallow.”
- “The gameplay itself (namely the combat) can be a bit hit or miss - the guarding mechanic is difficult to understand, and while I'm not expecting the fluidity of something AAA, the strikes you deal don't feel amazing and the foes you fight have movement AI that swings between 'slug' to 'psychotic terrier' depending on the fight.”
- “Some of the mechanics which should otherwise vary the game, such as spells, underperform to the point of being irrelevant.”
graphics
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
48%
3%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a gritty, retro aesthetic that evokes nostalgia for older gaming eras, blending elements of dark fantasy and surrealism. While some players appreciate the unique and trippy visuals, others find them challenging or "ugly," with a consistent "dreamlike" quality that enhances the overall atmosphere. The art style, reminiscent of titles like "Cruelty Squad," is polarizing but generally well-received among fans of unconventional dungeon crawlers, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “The dungeon synth art style is awesome, the OST fits perfectly, and every mechanic or feature is well thought out and serves a purpose.”
- “Dungeon of Blood and Dream's grimy, lo-fi art style perfectly lends itself to the gameplay it offers up; mad dashes circling around little goblins and other strange creatures only a blood wizard could dream about as they sit and rot away in their cell.”
- “The atmosphere provided by the graphics and sound are absolutely perfect.”
- “12 FOV, crusty visuals, and blaring sounds make me feel like I'm having an aneurysm.”
- “Ugly as feet and feverish as malaria, it matches aesthetically with its proposal, making it holistically consistent.”
- “There's no interaction with them, no change between levels, just different assets and visuals - which already help, but once you've grown accustomed to those, every room in every level looks the exact same to you.”
music
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
31%
5%
The music in "Dungeons of Blood and Dream" is widely praised for its captivating and atmospheric qualities, with many reviewers highlighting its dungeon synth style that enhances the game's immersive experience. The soundtrack is described as both haunting and psychedelic, fitting the themes of various levels perfectly, and is considered a standout feature that complements the game's visuals and lore. Overall, players find the music to be a significant factor in the game's charm and appeal, often expressing a desire for the soundtrack to be more widely available.
- “The atmosphere, music, sound design, and art design are amazing, top notch even.”
- “The world and lore are rich, the dungeon synth soundtrack is beautiful, and the characters are so esoteric and fun.”
- “Dungeons of Blood and Dream is a rogue-like that captivates right from the start with its immersive atmosphere and a soundtrack that truly enhances the sense of mystery.”
- “The soundtrack is so weird but it somehow is still a vibe, and the combat is actually quite interesting.”
- “-weird but fitting (albeit a bit repetitive) music.”
- “Dungeon's of blood and dream is a dungeon crawling romp that serves as a fair challenge and a delight to the senses, quite pretty and enjoyable to look at- my only complaint is that the OST is still yet to be put on Spotify.”
story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
49%
13%
The game's story is praised for its depth and engaging world-building, with players appreciating the intricate backstories of enemies and items that enhance the overall experience. While some find the storytelling mechanics frustrating due to reliance on RNG, many highlight the captivating narrative progression and the immersive presentation that ties together visuals, music, and lore. Overall, the story is seen as a significant draw, encouraging players to explore and uncover its mysteries, despite some initial confusion.
- “There's this story arc that you are learning about as you pick up items.”
- “Each enemy and item has a great little backstory that informs you so deeply of the world it inhabits!”
- “I also want to mention the presentation, as the story and lore tie in perfectly with the music, art direction, and characters scattered throughout the dungeons.”
- “I'm not against RNG for the actual mechanics in the game; it's what makes this game so fun, but when the story is locked behind arbitrary RNG, it sucks.”
- “I won't spoil it as there isn't a lot of text that defines the plot or lore, but I can say it made me want to know more about the world, the jesters, the feast, and what the real world looks like compared to... wherever we are right now.”
- “This is just a small example of what makes getting into this game an unnecessary challenge, not making it challenging through the joy of discovering what these powers or gameplay mechanics could do over gameplay, environmental storytelling, or even a tutorial of sorts, but rather it just tells you off the bat how to do it, then trying to do it is a pain in the ass, and once you do it, it doesn't work.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
22%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its incredible music, immersive sound design, and unique art style, creating a captivating and often eerie experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a sense of mystery and personality, with a blend of dark themes and engaging lore that enhances the overall gameplay. Despite some criticisms regarding certain gameplay elements, the atmospheric qualities remain a standout feature that draws players in.
- “The atmosphere, music, sound design, and art design are amazing, top notch even.”
- “Dungeons of Blood and Dream is a roguelike that captivates right from the start with its immersive atmosphere and a soundtrack that truly enhances the sense of mystery.”
- “This game has an amazing atmosphere and really cool disturbing lore; the world feels grimy and horrible.”
- “The first couple of hours may feel a little disorienting, but it goes with the theme and atmosphere of the game so well.”
- “The atmosphere provided by the graphics and sound are absolutely perfect.”
- “The music is appropriately dungeony and fits with the weird and dark atmosphere and environments.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate its unique aesthetic, fun unlockables, and solid roguelite elements that encourage multiple playthroughs, others feel that the initial shock factor diminishes quickly and that it lacks the long-term engagement found in more dynamic roguelikes. Frequent updates and a wealth of secrets contribute positively to replay value, but some users express concerns about the game's depth and potential bugs.
- “Low fi, creepy, replayable, unique.”
- “I've only scratched the surface of this game but I really enjoy the replayability it offers.”
- “There's a solid roguelite here with good replayability, fun unlockables, a really interesting magic system, and so many rings that modify your run.”
- “Not a ton of replayability, and the 'shock factor' wears off rather quickly, but I liked the game for what it is.”
- “I enjoyed my time, but I don't think it has long-term replay value because it lacks a dynamic evolution of gameplay that greater roguelikes have.”
- “Still early access; I did have a softlock and had to force close, but it's already more playable than certain PSX era dungeon crawlers.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
30%
40%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues, particularly during intense moments involving multiple projectiles, leading to significant frame rate drops. Many users express disappointment over the lack of in-game settings to improve performance, and while some have noted gradual improvements with patches, crashes and freezes remain common, especially on platforms like the Steam Deck. Overall, there is a strong desire for future updates to address these optimization concerns.
- “I have been playing exclusively on my Steam Deck, and have had a lot of very promising runs thwarted by crashes and freezes. However, even if the game isn't officially supported on the Deck yet, every patch has improved performance to where I can get a little further every time.”
- “Even if I haven't succeeded in getting to the end in spite of my playtime due to the aforementioned performance issues, I have yet to feel frustrated to the point of wanting to stop playing.”
- “Very excited for further updates focused on the things mentioned in the recently posted roadmap, especially content expansions and performance optimizations.”
- “There's some very bad performance issues that I think happen when there's a lot of projectiles, so if you decide to summon a lot of golems for some bosses or in the final area, the FPS can often drop into the single digits.”
- “There are no real in-game settings to optimize the performance, which is very disappointing.”
- “The performance is absolutely horrible; from smooth 90+ FPS, the game can suddenly drop to 10. The slime caves are broken, especially the enemies that shoot slime at you and leave toxic trails behind. Their AI loves to jank out, rendering them unhittable due to their hitbox starting to breakdance and mock you. The game is cool, but it needs more time and issue fixing.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players enjoying a mix of funny characters, quirky moments, and absurd situations that elicit genuine laughter. The comedic elements, such as the goofy appearances of enemies and the absurdity of certain interactions, contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere, even amidst the game's brutal challenges. Overall, the humor enhances the experience, making it both entertaining and engaging.
- “Super super cool game with some really funny, scary, and unique moments.”
- “I love bleeding and dungeons so this game is great for me, the vibe is immaculate and the goblin's funny little face makes me happy every time I stab one.”
- “You will keep finding new funny characters and seeing so many things that genuinely made me laugh, feel surprised and honestly just get excited.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with users reporting frequent crashes and severe frame drops that hinder gameplay. While some improvements have been noted with patches, many players still experience frustrating freezes, particularly on the Steam Deck, making the game feel unplayable at times. Overall, the combination of bugs and performance issues detracts from the otherwise intriguing gameplay experience.
- “It's also a buggy, broken mess that likes to constantly crash.”
- “The game looks really interesting, but extreme frame drops and freezes every few seconds make it unplayable, sadly.”
- “I have been playing exclusively on my Steam Deck and have had a lot of very promising runs thwarted by crashes and freezes. Even if the game isn't officially supported on the Deck yet, every patch has improved performance to where I can get a little further each time.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While some players appreciate the underlying concept of grinding in the game, many find it to be a dull and tedious experience, detracting from the overall enjoyment despite high marks for gameplay and aesthetics.
- “I liked the concept behind it, but I personally found this system to be the most dull and tedious of all.”
- “Grinding to get upgrades feels like a chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay motivated to continue playing.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers appreciate the character designs and overall aesthetic of the game, highlighting that the music and atmosphere contribute positively to the character development experience.
- “I love the character designs, music, and the overall feel of everything.”
- “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form a genuine connection with each character.”
- “Each character's journey is unique and well-crafted, making their growth throughout the game truly engaging.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the emotional depth of the game, noting that it evokes feelings that are rare in gaming experiences, which enhances their overall enjoyment.
- “It's something not many games have made me feel, so I love it.”

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Dungeons of Blood and Dream
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13h Median play time

98h Average play time

9-365h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Dungeons of Blood and Dream is a role playing game.

Dungeons of Blood and Dream is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 98 hours playing Dungeons of Blood and Dream.

Dungeons of Blood and Dream was released on November 11, 2024.

Dungeons of Blood and Dream was developed by Lori Vornoy.

Dungeons of Blood and Dream has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its optimization.

Dungeons of Blood and Dream is a single player game.

Similar games include Lunacid, Ancient Dungeon, Mortal Sin, Witchfire, Dread Delusion and others.

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