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.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic 80s RPGs, with engaging gameplay and a variety of character builds.
- It features a deep skill and class system, allowing for extensive customization and replayability.
- The developer is highly responsive to community feedback, frequently updating the game and addressing player concerns.
- The user interface is clunky and can be overwhelming, making navigation and understanding game mechanics difficult.
- Combat can become tedious, especially with the inability to move diagonally, which limits tactical options.
- The game suffers from pacing issues, particularly in the later chapters where difficulty spikes can lead to frustrating gameplay.
- gameplay40 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its depth and complexity, featuring a tactical turn-based combat system, extensive customization options, and a variety of achievements that enhance replayability. While some users note challenges with understanding certain mechanics, the overall experience is described as engaging and reminiscent of classic RPGs, offering hours of strategic gameplay. The game successfully combines old-school elements with modern improvements, making it enjoyable for both casual and dedicated players.
“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.”
“In my experience, the indie game developers who are geniuses at game mechanics, produce unplayable games because either the user interface is totally unknowable, there is no tutorial or help interface, the game is only designed for expert-level players, or there is no gameplay beyond the mechanisms.”
“- hard to understand underlying game mechanics (i.e should I increase strength or proficiency in my chosen weapon to improve my combat skills?)”
- story39 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 67 % 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 motivate continued play, 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 that, 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.”
- graphics38 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are predominantly retro pixel art, which some players find charming and fitting for the gameplay, while others consider them overly simplistic and reminiscent of older titles. While the visuals may lack modern polish, they are described as serviceable and effective in conveying information without overwhelming the player. Overall, the graphics cater to a niche audience that appreciates classic RPG aesthetics, but may deter those seeking high-end visuals.
“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.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often feeling forced to engage in repetitive battles and skill leveling that detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the auto-battle feature for alleviating the monotony, many still feel that the frequency of combat and lack of variety contribute to a frustrating experience. Overall, the grinding mechanics are seen as a significant drawback, with calls for a more balanced approach to combat and experience gain.
“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.”
“The auto feature helped me to breeze through battles that would otherwise have felt too grindy and made me bored from enjoying the storyline.”
“If you don't magically know how the developer intended things to be, you can pick/design a rather redundant or useless party that leaves you trapped and unable to progress without some insane grinding.”
- 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 feeling of monotony over time. While some players appreciate the soundtrack and find it fitting, others criticize it for feeling like a prototype lacking depth. Overall, the music is considered a mixed bag, with standout moments but also notable shortcomings.
“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
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % 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 character builds, indicating a strong desire to revisit the game for new experiences. Overall, it offers a rich and rewarding environment that keeps players coming back for more.
“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.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently praised for being laugh-out-loud funny and well-integrated throughout, enhancing the overall experience. Many players appreciate the updates that have added more comedic elements, noting that the humor is a significant improvement compared to earlier games in the genre.
“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
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % 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 is complemented by non-linear quests and a rich narrative filled with diverse NPCs and gear. Overall, it offers a satisfying experience for fans of traditional role-playing games.
“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.”
“Makes character development fun.”
“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.”
“Despite the potential for deep character arcs, the development feels rushed and underexplored.”
- 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 adventure setting captivating, making it a standout feature of the game.
“The atmosphere and the immersion are true to the 80s-90s.”
“The atmosphere and 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.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game evokes strong emotions through its heartfelt homage to classic titles while successfully expanding the genre's style, creating a deep connection with players.
“This game is a heartfelt homage to the classics and adds so much more to the style of the genre.”
“The emotional depth of the characters truly resonated with me, making every decision feel impactful.”
“I was moved to tears by the story; it beautifully captures the complexities of love and loss.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization model is well-received, offering over 100 hours of content with unlockable achievements and perks without relying on ads or in-app purchases, enhancing the overall player experience.
“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.”
