Dungeons of Edera
- June 16, 2022
- Monster Tooth Studios
- 9h median play time
Get on Steam"Dungeons of Edera" is a 2D, pixel art, open-world RPG that offers a blend of action-adventure and strategic combat. Explore the vast continent of Edera, battling monsters, completing quests, and uncovering the mysteries of this sprawling fantasy world. With a variety of character customization options and a dynamic day-night cycle, each playthrough promises a unique experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a lot of potential and offers a fun gameplay loop with a mix of dungeon crawling and loot collection.
- Combat is engaging and satisfying, with a variety of weapons and spells to choose from.
- The developer is active and responsive to community feedback, regularly updating the game.
- The game feels unpolished and has numerous bugs, including issues with combat mechanics and AI behavior.
- Dungeons can become repetitive quickly, with limited enemy variety and similar layouts.
- The loss of all non-soulbound items upon death can be frustrating and discouraging for players.
- story442 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally considered minimal and underdeveloped, primarily consisting of repetitive fetch quests and loosely connected narrative elements. While some players appreciate the comic-style cutscenes and world-building, many find the overall plot uninteresting and lacking depth, often viewing it as a mere backdrop to the gameplay. The game is better enjoyed as a dungeon crawler focused on loot and combat rather than a story-driven RPG.
“Enjoyable action RPG romp with an interesting story with an ending that hints at more in the future.”
“The voice acting is quite hit and miss, but there's some interesting world building going on, and you can find and collect lore books on missions that help flesh things out if that's something that interests you.”
“The story is well thought out and interesting.”
“And for story, there basically isn't one; you're only really doing randomized side quests like 'get 6 boxes' or 'save 3 guys' most of the time.”
“There are a few loosely connected 'storyline' quests with single lines of voice acting.”
“The story is thrown at you quickly through dialogue, and has no real bearing on the game itself.”
- gameplay214 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Dungeons of Edera" presents a mixed bag of experiences, with some players enjoying the fun and addictive core mechanics, while others criticize the clunky combat, repetitive nature, and unpolished elements. Many reviewers note that while the game has potential with its loot system and procedural generation, it suffers from frustrating mechanics and a lack of depth that detracts from overall enjoyment. Overall, the game is seen as a work in progress, with hopes for improvements in future updates.
“The gameplay is fun with enough variety to keep you engaged.”
“Beautiful gem with great potential - very fun gameplay and loot system - dev attentive - worth it.”
“Awesomely addictive hack n slash affair with plenty of well designed loot and very good gameplay even at this early stage.”
“The movement, invisible walls, quest quality, map quality, combat mechanics, sound, loot system equates to a bad forgettable game in the 90s - not one of the cult classics, I assure you.”
“I always feel like I am fighting this game's UI and controls, and the difficulty spikes sprinkled into otherwise repetitive gameplay feel like it's punishing you for having the tenacity to want to actually finish a run.”
“Everything about the gameplay feels very low effort; from the floaty movement and combat, to the lackluster environments, the godawful map and poorly written/translated text descriptions.”
- graphics184 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players describing them as outdated or subpar, often comparing them to Nintendo 64-era visuals. While some appreciate the art style and find the environments well-designed, others criticize the graphical performance, including issues like pop-in, low-resolution textures, and inconsistent frame rates. Overall, the graphics are seen as needing significant improvement to meet modern standards, despite some players finding them acceptable for an indie title.
“Especially I don't understand the reviewers who bashed the graphics; visuals are really nice and definitely better than the majority of the FPS medieval games too.”
“The graphics are great because (especially if you lower the resolution threshold) they look semi-realistic but still 'fantasy-ish'.”
“The environments are well designed and I love the art style.”
“Graphics are just tragic... Nintendo 64 in 2022, c'mon.”
“The game is not even remotely like in the videos and screenshots on the shop page; the graphics shown in the shop do not reach the game at all (I have all graphics settings on max).”
“Awkward AI, horrendous graphical pop-in (even with all the settings on high), a weak skill system, extremely sluggish combat.”
- optimization80 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including stuttering, lag, and frame drops, making it borderline unplayable for some. While a few users noted smoother performance on lower settings or specific hardware configurations, the overall consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization improvements to enhance gameplay experience. Despite some positive aspects, the technical performance detracts from the enjoyment, leading to refunds and frustration among players.
“I've had no stuttering or framerate issues.”
“At that level I was getting smooth performance at around 100fps.”
“Expect this to improve as optimizations and polish get added throughout early access.”
“Garbage performance and feels disgusting, which is weird because the game doesn't even look good.”
“Extremely janky and absolutely atrocious optimization.”
“The game's performance is so bad, it's borderline unplayable at this point.”
- stability32 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, particularly in combat mechanics and level design, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly without crashes, others highlighted persistent graphical glitches and unresponsive controls that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game appears to require substantial polishing before it can be considered stable and enjoyable.
“The game seemed to run smoothly with no crashes or other oddities that I observed.”
“Fairly bug free.”
“The game was not buggy that I could see, and it ran smoothly.”
“Dungeons of Edera manages to join an unconventional control scheme and buggy level design in an unholy matrimony to create the dreaded offspring of getting stuck on level design.”
“Trees that don't render more than a meter away, objects only visible from a single angle (resulting in a bunch of invisible walls where it seems like there should be a pathway), and the arguably worst part being the character randomly refusing to swing or block, making the first half hour more of a slog than it should be, and the rest a buggy, unplayable mess.”
“Yes, but not in its current state, it's quite buggy and still has a long way to go.”
- grinding30 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players enjoy the process of leveling up and acquiring new gear, many find it tedious and repetitive, often leading to frustration. The lack of variety in enemies and abilities contributes to a sense of monotony, making the gameplay loop feel more like a chore than an engaging experience. Overall, it can be a fun way to spend hours, but the grind may deter some players due to its repetitive nature and the potential for losing hard-earned loot.
“The whole loop has rapidly become painstakingly tedious, and has just left a bad taste in my mouth.”
“It makes running dungeons feel tedious and almost makes you rush through it just to get another boon.”
“There just isn't currently enough variety or interesting abilities to make me keep grinding for marginal stat increases.”
- music22 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while many players initially enjoy the soundtrack and find it relaxing, it tends to become muted early in the gameplay. Some praise the music as the standout feature, noting its pleasantness and contribution to the atmosphere, while others find it forgettable or lacking in variety, with some tracks being reused from other games. Overall, the music is appreciated but not universally acclaimed.
“Anyways, I enjoyed it for the first 45 minutes; the music and the voice acting were very nice.”
“Nice work, devs! Kudos for the great music as well.”
“It's somehow relaxing to walk through the levels, accompanied by the fantastic soundtrack and the beautiful graphics.”
“The music muted pretty early into my playthroughs.”
“Sound effects and music are diggable enough, but kind of meh.”
“A soundtrack (currently has literally 3 of the same tracks as Gedonia, which I assume are a premade asset).”
- humor16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding the voice dialogue and ragdoll physics—such as NPCs hilariously launching into the air upon defeat—particularly amusing. However, some critiques point out that the reliance on human-like behaviors and skills for creatures feels overused and detracts from the overall comedic effect. Despite these mixed feelings, the humor contributes positively to the game's enjoyment.
“Most of the time it's quite funny though and doesn't necessarily have to be a huge downside to your enjoyment of the game.”
“Voice dialogue is quite funny, but I respect the effort.”
“Physics can be hilarious - NPCs flying after being killed and when walking on uneven surfaces, your character appears to be walking at odd angles.”
- replayability16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is noted for its strong replayability, with many players finding it satisfying and enjoyable to revisit. However, some critiques highlight a lack of addictive elements typically found in successful roguelites, suggesting that while the replay value is solid, it may not fully capture players' long-term interest. With potential for growth, the game could evolve into a more compelling experience.
“This is a game with hugely long replayability.”
“But this game is really satisfying and extremely replayable.”
“I can already feel that this game would have a very solid replayability value.”
“I can see where the core gameplay loop is headed, but it's lacking the addictive replayability that good roguelites use to keep you playing run after run.”
“Edit: upon playing further, they released a patch that made the game more playable (didn't notice any game breaking bugs), however the game itself is pretty meh.”
“Easily worth early access due to replay value, but if we get to see this game grow, this could be a true gem.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its competence, with many reviewers highlighting its captivating visuals and sound design. It effectively creates an engaging environment, often described as having a gothic feel, which enhances the overall experience despite some functional gameplay issues.
“The atmosphere created in the game is what fascinates me most.”
“A good EA title for the right price: great atmosphere, good combat, nice loot mechanic, and as a bonus, it has a gothic feeling.”
“The visuals, atmosphere, sound, etc., are all competent.”
“My primary gripes are with the actual ability to functionally play the game, though the visuals, atmosphere, sound, etc., are all competent.”
“And beside that, the atmosphere created in the game is what fascinates me most.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is primarily driven by resource management and fortification building, allowing players to invest in their character's growth through crafting and preparation for conflict. However, the character design options are notably limited, with minimal customization available, leading to a disconnect between the character's age and how they are referred to in dialogue. Overall, while the development mechanics are robust, the character design aspect feels underdeveloped but acceptable for an early build.
“In the campaign game, the dungeons form a constellation of adventuring/resource harvesting nodes that feed the development of your fortification and what becomes a town for your faction. This provides opportunities for investment in ways to advance your character development and opportunities to craft armor, weapons, potions, and who knows what else as you prepare for a contest with an oppressor, an empire to the south that desires your land and killed your parents.”
“Character design is very limited (male, change between a few faces & colors, move along), but that particular portion of a game is distinctly polished and not necessary, so it's perfectly acceptable for alpha/beta.”
“The dialogue in the game keeps referring to you as being young, despite the very few character design choices indicating that you're old.”
“Middle: very few character design choices and most of them, you're old, yet the dialogue in the game keeps referring to you as being young.”
“Character design is very limited (male, change between a few faces & colors, move along), but that particular portion of a game is distinctly polished and not necessary (so perfectly acceptable for alpha/beta).”
“In the campaign game, the dungeons form a constellation of adventuring/resource harvesting nodes that feed the development of your fortification and what becomes a town for your faction, providing opportunities for investment in the ways to advance your character development.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has been criticized as exploitative, with players feeling that the developers have prioritized profit over player experience, leading to a perception of abandonment after initial sales.
“Cash grab, developers vanished.”
“Cash grab, developers vanished.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a sense of frustration with the game's hitbox mechanics, comparing it to the exaggerated flexibility of Stretch Armstrong, which detracts from the emotional immersion and realism of the gameplay experience.
