DUNGEONS OF CHAOS

About

DUNGEONS OF CHAOS is a single player tactical role playing game with a violence theme. It was developed by Volker Elzner and was released on September 15, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

Retro turn-based 2D pixelart RPG. Exploration, character choices, riddles and challenges. 80+ hours of gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 169 reviews

gameplay9 positive mentions

grinding17 negative mentions

Deep and complex character customization and development with extensive class and skill variety.
Engaging, tactical turn-based combat with flexible automation options that speed up easy battles and allow manual control for tougher fights.
Strong replayability fueled by achievements, birth feats, and multiple pathways, supported by an active and responsive developer.

User interface is clunky, overwhelming, and poorly designed with inconsistent fonts, large text, lack of tooltips, and cumbersome inventory management.
Combat can be slow and repetitive due to large battle maps with limited movement speed and low variety of enemies, leading to grinding and tedium.
Steep learning curve and poorly explained game mechanics, along with spikes in difficulty that can frustrate players and require external guides.

gameplay
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
77%
6%
The gameplay of this RPG is deep, strategic, and highly customizable, featuring tactical turn-based combat, multiple character builds, and extensive replayability through achievements and modifiers. While the mechanics are engaging and evoke classic RPG nostalgia, some players find the pacing slow and repetitive, with limited terrain impact and a somewhat hands-off approach that favors short play sessions. Despite a lack of narrative depth and technical polish, the game delivers satisfying mechanics and a rich RPG experience for fans of old-school design.
- “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.”
story
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
67%
7%
The story in this game is generally viewed as basic and functional rather than deeply character-driven or complex, focusing more on exploration and gameplay mechanics than narrative depth. While some find it engaging and nostalgic with classic fantasy tropes and meaningful choices, others note its simplicity, occasional directionlessness, and lack of strong character arcs or hand-holding. Overall, it provides an enjoyable but not groundbreaking story experience that complements the game's rich mechanics and open-ended quests.
- “Awesome RPG with deep and addicting storyline!”
- “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 the 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.”
- “While the world lacks the rich narrative layering found in more story-focused RPGs, it succeeds in creating a consistent and believable setting that supports its gameplay-first approach.”
- “Narratively, Dungeons of Chaos provides a functional framework rather than a deeply character-driven story.”
- “Early on, the story felt bland as the party members have zero input into the story.”
- “Another example is that often quest givers will say something simple like 'you will find x in the mountains to the west' so you go to the west part of the mountains and the location is locked off.”
graphics
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
73%
10%
The graphics are consistently described as simple, retro-style pixel art that prioritizes clarity and functionality over visual flair, evoking a nostalgic, old-school RPG feel. While some may find the visuals too basic or outdated, many appreciate their charm and how they complement the deep gameplay without causing visual overload. Overall, the graphics are serviceable and fitting for the game's focus on mechanics rather than flashy presentation.
- “Pixel art graphics are simple and utilitarian, prioritizing clarity over visual flair.”
- “It looks fine, maybe some people will be turned off by the very simple retro pixel art, but I like it; everything is instantly recognizable, magic items look cool, I have nothing to say against the graphics.”
- “The graphics are in retro-style pixel art and look fairly nice.”
- “4) visuals: combat effects are really, really, really limited.”
- “Very simple graphics, the UI is overly simplified and may be confusing at first, no mouse scrolling or zooming, 1988 all over!”
- “Initially, I did not notice this game because of the poor graphics.”
grinding
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in this game is often described as tedious and repetitive, with limited enemy variety and frequent battles leading to a monotonous experience. While the auto-combat feature alleviates some of the grind's frustration, players still face excessive skill leveling and navigation challenges that can hinder enjoyment. Overall, grinding requires significant time investment and strategic knowledge to avoid feeling overly burdensome.
- “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, and grinding a skill I can use once a day about 300 times to level it up feels even worse.”
- “Battles tend to lack variety; it would be better with fewer battles and more XP per battle to reduce grinding.”
- “If you don't magically know how the developer intended things to be, you can pick or design a redundant or useless party that leaves you trapped and unable to progress without some insane grinding.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
47%
20%
The music in the game is generally atmospheric and fitting, providing a relaxing background that complements gameplay without being intrusive. While some find it lacking in passion or variety over time, others praise standout tracks like the "chaos rift" theme and appreciate the quality of the soundtrack, which is notably rare for an indie title. Overall, the music enhances the experience but is not a central highlight.
- “Sound design and music are similarly restrained, offering atmosphere without drawing attention away from gameplay.”
- “The chaos rift music is just epic.”
- “Great music and sound effects (not 8 bit at all)”
- “Music and sound lack passion and talent, feeling like a prototype for an older Ultima-style game but missing the skill of a story writer.”
- “Lack of diversity or context for sound effects and music, which began to get annoying as more time was invested in the game.”
- “Weak on the sound and music department, although it is not a critical factor for me.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game offers exceptional replayability through a mix of random and static dungeons, challenging achievements, and unlockable feats that enhance party customization. Players report spending extensive hours across multiple playthroughs, driven by deep gameplay and strategic options that keep each experience fresh and engaging. Overall, replayability is highlighted as one of the game's strongest features.
- “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.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The character development in this game is deeply detailed and thoughtfully designed, emphasizing tactical growth over simple leveling. It captures the essence of classic 2D turn-based RPGs, making progression engaging and meaningful. Players appreciate its complexity and non-linear approach, which enhances the overall immersive experience.
- “Developed and published by Volker Elzner, it is clearly inspired by the golden age of 2D, turn-based fantasy RPGs, where exploration, tactical combat, and long-term character development were central to the 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, Golden Box, the 'Ultima' series, and all the 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.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-received, often eliciting genuine laughter and enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the thoughtful and occasional comedic touches, finding them perfectly balanced and a welcome addition compared to older games lacking humor.
- “Humor - sometimes it's laugh out loud funny.”
- “Love all the humor and am deeply grateful for the updates.”
- “The occasional humor is just perfect.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its authentic 80s-90s fantasy vibe, with sound design and music that enhance immersion without overshadowing gameplay. Overall, players find the atmosphere engaging and nostalgic, perfectly capturing the spirit of classic adventure games.
- “Sound design and music are similarly restrained, offering atmosphere without drawing attention away from gameplay.”
- “The atmosphere and the immersion is 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.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a heartfelt and emotionally resonant experience, paying sincere homage to classic titles while enhancing the genre with its own meaningful additions.
- “However, none of these personal concerns tarnish what is a heartfelt experience.”
- “This game is made with heartfelt homage to the classics and adds much more to the style of the genre.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers over 100 hours of content with unlockable achievements and perks without relying on ads or in-app purchases, providing a fair and enjoyable monetization approach.