Dungeons of Dredmor

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,536 reviews
  • humor
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Dungeons of Dredmor Game Cover
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In Dungeons of Dredmor, you're the world's only hope against the imminent return of the Dark Lord Dredmor. Navigate treacherous dungeons, battle surreal enemies, and choose from a variety of mystical skills and weapons to aid you in your quest. Embrace random side quests, bizarre weaponry, and even worship quirky deities to aid you in your journey. Your destiny awaits in the ever-changing, procedurally generated dungeons of Dredmor.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,536 reviews
humor1,115 positive mentions
grinding70 negative mentions
  • Dungeons of Dredmor offers a unique blend of humor and gameplay, making it a fun and engaging roguelike experience.
  • The game features a vast array of skills and character customization options, allowing for endless replayability and varied playstyles.
  • The lighthearted tone and quirky art style contribute to an enjoyable atmosphere, making even frustrating deaths feel entertaining.
  • The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes and save file corruption, which can be frustrating for players.
  • Inventory management can be cumbersome due to the sheer number of items and lack of organization options.
  • Some skills and mechanics are poorly explained, leading to confusion and a steep learning curve for new players.
  • humor1,117 mentions

    The humor in "Dungeons of Dredmor" is widely praised for its quirky, tongue-in-cheek style, reminiscent of classic comedic films and internet memes. Players appreciate the clever item descriptions, character skills, and enemy taunts that often reference pop culture, creating a lighthearted atmosphere that balances the game's challenging mechanics. While some find the humor excessive or dated, many agree that it adds a unique charm and replayability to the roguelike experience.

    • “This game is a top-down turn-based roguelike set in a downright goofy and sometimes hilarious setting.”
    • “The humor here is really good and the various skills you have are excellent, each with its own flavor and surprising uniqueness.”
    • “A delightful, turn-based dungeon crawl with peak 2010's humor.”
    • “Bad, buggy, unfunny.”
    • “Calling the currency 'zorkmid' is not funny - it's annoying.”
  • gameplay473 mentions

    The gameplay of *Dungeons of Dredmor* is characterized by its deep mechanics, extensive character customization, and a blend of humor that enhances the experience. Players appreciate the variety of skills and crafting options, which contribute to high replayability and engaging dungeon-crawling sessions. However, some critiques highlight the lack of clear explanations for certain mechanics and the potential for repetitive gameplay, particularly in later stages. Overall, it offers a fun and accessible introduction to the roguelike genre, appealing to both newcomers and veterans.

    • “Very fun, highly replayable, rock solid, engaging yet approachable mechanics and a unique charm to the world in terms of flavor, lots to explore.”
    • “The gameplay in Dungeons of Dredmor is top-notch, with deep character customization and a wide range of skills and abilities to master.”
    • “With its deep gameplay mechanics, quirky sense of humor, and punishing difficulty, it's a game that will keep players coming back for more.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics themselves can be a comedy act.”
    • “There's being a roguelike and discovering elements, and then there's just artificially lengthening gameplay time where the humor runs thin.”
    • “The game doesn't explain its mechanics and there's no way to read them up online.”
  • graphics434 mentions

    The graphics of "Dungeons of Dredmor" are characterized by a colorful, pixel art style that evokes a whimsical and humorous atmosphere, appealing to both newcomers and seasoned roguelike fans. While some players appreciate the charming retro aesthetic, others find it inconsistent or simplistic, leading to mixed opinions on its overall visual appeal. Despite the varied reactions, the game's graphics are generally seen as a significant improvement over traditional ASCII representations, enhancing accessibility and enjoyment.

    • “The graphics in Dungeons of Dredmor are simple but effective, with colorful pixel art that perfectly captures the game's whimsical tone.”
    • “The pixel graphics and unique art style create a great atmosphere of pure adventure throughout the dungeon, each with a unique tileset and monsters.”
    • “Dungeons of Dredmor brings nontrivial graphics and an odd sense of humor to the classic roguelike formula.”
    • “The graphics are terrible and some of the content is goofy (I have no idea what the developers' fascination with lutefisk is), but this is a solid game.”
    • “The style of graphics is really, really bad, and that put me off of the game initially.”
    • “The graphics suck (think basic Nintendo maybe a tad better, but not by much).”
  • replayability313 mentions

    The game boasts exceptionally high replayability, with players praising its diverse character builds, randomly generated dungeons, and extensive mod support that enhance the experience. Many reviews highlight the fun and engaging mechanics, along with a humorous tone, making each playthrough feel fresh and rewarding. Overall, it is regarded as a must-play for fans of the roguelike genre due to its near-infinite replay value.

    • “The sheer number of class combinations makes this infinitely replayable.”
    • “With so much to do and different ways to build your character, it has great replay value.”
    • “This game has almost infinite replayability, with dozens of skills in nearly endless combinations and enough mods out there to keep the game going long after you've played the whole shebang.”
    • “Dungeons of Dredmor is simultaneously an addictively expansive roguelike with heaps of replay value and a disappointingly shallow experience, and in this way, it is the World of Warcraft of its genre.”
    • “I've mentioned in other reviews that I don't like games with a short lifespan and little replayability; well, this game then is an absolute wonder to me because not only does it provide almost an endless amount of gameplay and tons of replayability, it is incredibly addictive and fun to play.”
    • “The sheer variety of playstyles makes it absolutely replayable.”
  • music173 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its catchy and quirky soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere and humor of the game. However, some users noted that the music can become repetitive over time, and a few found it irritating or not fitting for the gameplay. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-regarded, there are calls for more variety to keep it fresh throughout longer play sessions.

    • “I can't express how much I love the music that I even have it on my phone to play from time to time.”
    • “The atmosphere and music are perfect.”
    • “The music is a bit repetitive, but the sound effects of the enemies and spells are sometimes as silly as their descriptions.”
    • “The music is definitely background music and hardly noticeable.”
    • “The music is butchered, and playing it on mute loses some charm.”
    • “The music ranges from decent to just plain grating; the same couple tracks play over and over and over.”
  • story106 mentions

    The story in "Dungeons of Dredmor" is largely minimal and simplistic, revolving around the generic premise of defeating an evil overlord in a dungeon. While some players appreciate the humor and quirky elements woven into the gameplay, many express disappointment over the lack of a substantial narrative, noting that the game prioritizes mechanics and exploration over storytelling. Overall, the light-hearted and comedic tone may appeal to some, but those seeking a deep or engaging plot will likely find it lacking.

    • “The story is comical and background noise at best, and the real strength of the game is in exploration and advancement.”
    • “Set in a universe of mustache golems and malevolent vegetables, lead your eyebrowed hero on the quest to defeat the evil overlord Dredmor.”
    • “The story behind this game is that the evil lich Dredmor was imprisoned beneath the world for being a meanie but has slowly eroded away his bonds and you are asked to enter into his prison (or dungeon) and stop him!...again!”
    • “The main story is as simplistic as it is uninspired: you are the hero (or heroine) who has to slay the evil king who is in charge of the (also evil) dungeons and you shall bring an end to its (ever-so evil) reign of evil.”
    • “Yes, I know rogue-like games are light in the story department, but this game is so severely and conspicuously lacking a story that I have to mention my disappointment somehow.”
    • “The story is your typical roguelike story setup, but let's be honest; who cares about the story in a roguelike except for the opening and the ending?”
  • grinding70 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as tedious and repetitive, particularly after several levels. While some appreciate the humor and quirky elements that accompany the grinding, others find the gameplay overly drawn out and frustrating, especially during difficulty spikes. However, options to reduce grind time and streamline gameplay are available, making it more accessible for those who prefer a less grind-heavy experience.

    • “Outdated and tedious.”
    • “The gameplay alternates between long periods of easy grinding, followed by a crazy difficulty spike that very much could get you killed, to backtracking multiple floors to sell and craft.”
    • “Not even the above-average attempts at humor can save the game from horrifically tedious gameplay.”
  • stability33 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting frequent glitches and bugs that can be both frustrating and occasionally charming. While some players have experienced significant issues, others note that the game runs well on various platforms, including Steam Deck and Windows, and that many bugs have been patched over time. Overall, while the game is playable and enjoyable for some, its stability remains a concern for many players.

    • “A great roguelike that runs great on the Steam Deck.”
    • “Runs great on Windows and Linux.”
    • “It runs well, with no glitches, crashes, or lag; the controls are easy to master.”
    • “There have been a number of glitches, annoyances, and bugs that can be game-breaking, beneficial, and unfair, included in this game and have never been fixed.”
    • “The only negatives really are glitches (there's an achievement for crashing the game) and the ones that are inherent to roguelikes, such as it being absolutely unforgiving.”
    • “It will make you love the game, and a few moments later you will hate it dearly and want your money back so you can go get a burger instead of this buggy, unplayable game.”
  • atmosphere18 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its perfect blend of music, unique pixel graphics, and engaging art style, which collectively create an immersive experience filled with adventure and humor. While many players appreciate the nostalgic and captivating ambiance reminiscent of classic titles like Diablo, some express a desire for additional music tracks to enhance the overall atmosphere. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's enjoyment.

    • “The pixel graphics and unique art style create a great atmosphere of pure adventure throughout the dungeon, each with a unique tileset and monsters, for the most part at least.”
    • “Story is minimal, but the atmosphere the game creates with every little thing it does is unparalleled.”
    • “The music for this game is perfectly fitting for the atmosphere and the gameplay.”
    • “The atmosphere the game creates also doesn't really click with me.”
    • “I would like to see some more music in this game that matches the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “It's very much like Diablo 1, but with a campy atmosphere and lots of character customization.”
  • optimization11 mentions

    The optimization of "Dungeons of Dredmor" has received significant criticism, with players reporting frequent crashes, lag during larger battles, and overall poor performance regardless of hardware capabilities. While the game runs smoothly at times, many users feel it lacks necessary optimizations, leading to frustrating input lag and unresponsive controls, particularly during critical moments like autosaving. Overall, the game is seen as needing substantial improvements in its technical performance.

    • “In terms of technical performance, Dungeons of Dredmor runs smoothly and is relatively bug-free, although there are occasional issues with crashing or freezing.”
    • “Stats are present, but they do not seem to reflect your performance in different scenarios.”
    • “The game still has work to be done to fix bugs and performance issues.”
    • “The game is poorly optimized, often lagging on machines no matter their power level.”
    • “The more hours I spent playing, the less patience I had with the game's poor performance and input lag.”
    • “It has not been optimized for anything, and as far as the retro visual aesthetics go, clunkiness and non-responsiveness to the keyboard is one more thing that cannot be accepted in a game that has been out there for so long.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The emotional impact of the game varies among players; while some feel a nostalgic connection reminiscent of classic RPGs, others find it challenging to immerse themselves fully due to its overhead perspective. Despite lacking high-end graphics and a deeply provocative storyline, many still recall the game's gripping nature and fun, adrenaline-pumping adventure long after playing.

    • “Eight years on, I can still recall how profoundly that game gripped me, and I am not an overly emotional person.”
    • “It may not have the high specs like more popular mainstream games do, and it might not have an incredibly developed, emotionally provocative storyline like other games, but there's no denying that it has every element necessary to make it a fantastic, fun, and adrenaline-pumping adventure RPG.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Players appreciate the flexibility and depth of the character design system, highlighting the hundreds of skill combinations that enhance replayability. The character development is likened to rogue-like games, offering a fun and engaging experience with a cartoonish aesthetic.

    • “I love the flexibility of the character design system, which makes replaying with a new character so interesting.”
    • “There are hundreds of skill combinations in character development.”
    • “Think Nethack (or similar rogue-like) with fun cartoony graphics and enhanced RPG character development.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired.”
    • “There are limited options for character growth, making it hard to feel invested.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy includes microtransactions and encourages social media engagement, which some users find intrusive or excessive.

    • “The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel intrusive, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers a variety of cosmetic items for purchase, but they don't affect gameplay, which keeps the experience balanced.”
    • “The developers have done a great job of providing free content updates while also offering optional paid features that enhance the game.”
    • “The game is riddled with microtransactions that feel exploitative.”
    • “I feel pressured to spend money just to keep up with other players.”
    • “The monetization strategy ruins the overall experience, making it feel more like a cash grab than a game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

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Play time

55hMedian play time
76hAverage play time
15-123hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 20 analyzed playthroughs

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