DUNGEONS OF CHAOS
- September 15, 2017
- Volker Elzner
- 83h median play time
Get on Steam"Dungeons of Chaos" is a turn-based fantasy RPG with strategic combat. Explore dungeons, complete quests, and build a party of up to 5 characters from 13 classes. The game features procedural generation, allowing for varied and replayable experiences. Upgrade your equipment, learn new skills, and face numerous enemies in your journey.
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Reviews
- The game captures the classic feel of old-school RPGs, reminiscent of titles like Ultima and the SSI Gold Box games.
- It offers a deep character customization system with various classes and advanced options, allowing for unique party builds and strategies.
- The developer is highly engaged with the community, providing regular updates and responding to player feedback.
- The user interface is clunky and can be overwhelming, making navigation and understanding game mechanics difficult.
- Combat can become tedious, especially with the limitation of movement and the inability to attack diagonally, which detracts from tactical gameplay.
- The game suffers from pacing issues, particularly in the later chapters where difficulty spikes and design choices can lead to frustrating experiences.
- gameplay52 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Dungeons of Chaos" is characterized by its depth and complexity, offering a variety of customization options and a tactical turn-based combat system that enhances player engagement. While the game encourages multiple playthroughs with achievements that impact gameplay, some players find the core mechanics can become tedious over time, suggesting a preference for shorter gaming sessions. Overall, it successfully combines classic RPG elements with modern mechanics, providing a rewarding experience for those who appreciate strategic gameplay.
“The mechanics are fun and in depth.”
“The game is designed with multiple playthroughs in mind, and it has a vast assortment of achievements that unlock additional birth feats and gameplay modifiers (bonus XP, higher loot value, etc.).”
“Fun, easy to understand but somewhat deep mechanics, tactical turn-based combat, and multiple character build progressions are all integral to the success of this game.”
“But the gameplay dies a death of a thousand cuts.”
“It’s a shame then that the gameplay encourages a more hands-off approach as well as focus on shorter attention spans from its tedious core design.”
“Dungeons of Chaos, however, suffers an entirely different issue as the core gameplay, namely combat, encourages passive players to avoid the tedium.”
- story40 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as basic and classic, with some players finding it enjoyable despite its lack of groundbreaking elements and character development. While it offers a variety of quests and optional content, many reviewers noted that the narrative can feel bland and lacks player agency early on, leading to confusion in later chapters. Overall, the story is considered entertaining enough to keep players engaged, though it may not rival more complex narratives found in other RPGs.
“The story is entertaining and there is no lack of content.”
“Awesome RPG with a deep and addicting storyline!”
“The storyline, gameplay, and wide variety of items/classes/abilities really made playing this game fun.”
“The story is very basic; maybe it throws some curveballs in the later chapters, but so far it's a simple, classic plot, which, while not groundbreaking, is enjoyable and gives me a reason to play.”
“Early on, the story felt bland as the party members have zero input into the story.”
“Diablo-simplicity for quests and story.”
- graphics39 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are predominantly described as simple, retro pixel art that may not appeal to everyone, but many find them charming and fitting for the gameplay style. While some reviewers criticize the limited visual effects and basic design, they acknowledge that the graphics do not detract from the game's depth and engaging mechanics. Overall, the visuals are seen as serviceable, prioritizing gameplay over graphical fidelity, making it a nostalgic experience for fans of classic RPGs.
“The graphics are in retro-style pixel art, and look fairly nice.”
“Don’t let the primitive graphics fool you, the mood is quite well set and very efficient.”
“The graphics are simple, but that keeps information overload at a minimum.”
“Initially, I did not notice this game because of the poor graphics.”
“1, no fancy graphics - unlike expensive PC games like the Witcher series which have awesome graphics, this game only has very simple, tile-based graphics.”
- grinding16 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often feeling compelled to engage in repetitive tasks to level up skills or characters. Navigation and combat can become monotonous, with many wishing for more streamlined systems to reduce the grind, although some appreciate the auto-battle feature that alleviates some of the tedium. Overall, the game encourages a hands-off approach, but the frequent and repetitive nature of battles detracts from the enjoyment of the storyline.
“I know I should just level up my spells with talent points instantly, but the fact that it is clearly the suboptimal path feels terrible. Grinding a skill I can use once a day and having to use it about 300 times to level it up feels even worse.”
“It’s a shame then that the gameplay encourages a more hands-off approach as well as focus on shorter attention spans from its tedious core design.”
“The auto feature helped me to breeze through battles that would otherwise have felt too grindy and made me bored from enjoying the storyline.”
- music14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as adequate, with some tracks being relaxing and enjoyable, while others lack diversity and passion, leading to a sense of monotony over time. While some players appreciate the soundtrack and sound effects, noting standout moments like the "chaos rift" music, others feel it falls short of creating a compelling atmosphere. Overall, the music serves its purpose but does not significantly enhance the gaming experience.
“The music is very relaxing and nice.”
“Great music and sound effects (not 8-bit at all).”
“The chaos rift music is just epic.”
“Music and sound lack passion and talent, so it feels like someone made a prototype for an older Ultima-style game, but it lacks the skill of a story writer.”
“The lack of diversity or context for sound effects and music began to get annoying as you invest more time into the game.”
“Weak on the sound and music department, although it is not an important factor for me.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, featuring a mix of random and static dungeons, an engaging achievement system, and deep gameplay mechanics that encourage multiple playthroughs. Players report spending extensive hours exploring various challenges and party creation options, ensuring a rich and varied experience each time they play. Overall, it is highly recommended for those seeking a game with significant replay value.
“Has random dungeons mixed with static dungeons to give an incredible replayability.”
“The achievement system offers some very interesting challenges and adds insane replay value.”
“Awesome replayability - although I have spent 120+ hours and have barely completed a single playthrough, I know that I will be playing this game a great many times to get all the achievements.”
“These add replayability.”
“Birth feats that you can unlock via achievements add extra flavor and replayability to the party creation.”
“Dozens of hours of adventure and some replayability.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently praised for being genuinely funny and well-integrated, with many players expressing appreciation for the updates that enhance its comedic elements. Overall, the humor adds a delightful touch that contrasts with earlier games that lacked this quality.
“Humor - sometimes it's laugh-out-loud funny.”
“I also love the humor you've added in many parts.”
“The occasional humor is just perfect.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised for its engaging and thoughtful design, reminiscent of classic pixel art RPGs. Players appreciate the depth and complexity of character progression, which enhances tactical gameplay and complements a rich narrative filled with diverse quests and NPC interactions. Overall, it is considered a standout feature that adds significant enjoyment to the gaming experience.
“All aspects of character development have been well thought out, and over-leveling does not replace tactics for big fights.”
“A must-have for everyone who has loved the old pixel art role-playing games (SSI fantasy games, Gold Box, the 'Ultima' series, and all games somehow D&D-related). Very detailed character development, non-linear quests, a complex and satisfying story with a lot of NPCs, monsters, skills, and gear.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful choices that impact the story.”
“I found the character progression to be tedious and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“There are limited options for character customization, which makes the development feel restrictive.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its authentic 80s-90s vibe, creating a strong sense of immersion that enhances the overall experience. Players find the nostalgic fantasy setting of "Dungeons of Chaos" particularly enjoyable, making it a standout aspect of the game.
“The atmosphere and the immersion are true to the 80s-90s.”
“There's no way you're not going to enjoy Dungeons of Chaos; nothing beats an old fantasy adventure and such atmospheres.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for delivering a heartfelt experience that pays homage to classic titles while enhancing the emotional depth of the genre. Users appreciate its ability to evoke strong feelings, making it a memorable journey despite any personal concerns.
“However, none of these personal concerns tarnish what is a heartfelt experience.”
“This game is made with a heartfelt homage to the classics and adds much more to the style of the genre.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization model is well-received, as the game offers over 100 hours of content with unlockable achievements and perks without relying on ads or in-app purchases.
“The game is riddled with aggressive monetization tactics that ruin the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it feel like a cash grab.”
“The constant push for in-app purchases detracts from the enjoyment of the game.”
