Dungeons of Hinterberg

Dungeons of Hinterberg immaculately captures the idyllic spirit of a small mountain village with its vibrant characters, and the heightened sense of adventure that comes from exploring its many intricately designed magical dungeons.

88%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding

95% User Score Based on 1,880 reviews

Critic Score 76%Based on 22 reviews

Platforms

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About

In "Dungeons of Hinter," explore the Austrian Alps as Luisa, a law student turned monster slayer, taking on dungeons and puzzles while enjoying outdoor activities like snowboarding and zip lining. Equip yourself with swords and magic to defeat lurking monsters, and discover hidden treasures in this charming alpine setting. Your goal: become a Master Slayer and uncover Hinterberg's secrets. * 309 characters * Explory-action game in Austrian Alps * Luisa progresses through dungeons, using skills, swords, and magic vs monsters

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+20

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,902 reviews

story272 positive mentions

grinding52 negative mentions

Charming art style and vibrant graphics that create an immersive atmosphere.
Engaging gameplay that combines Zelda-like dungeon exploration with Persona-inspired social mechanics.
Well-designed puzzles that are satisfying to solve, with a good balance of challenge and accessibility.

Combat can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with limited enemy variety and basic mechanics.
Some characters and dialogues may come off as shallow or clichéd, lacking depth in their development.
The pacing can feel uneven, especially towards the end, with a potential grind to max out relationships.

story
686 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
59%
1%
The story of "Dungeons of Hinterberg" is described as a cozy and engaging narrative that blends elements of exploration, character interaction, and light combat, reminiscent of classic dungeon crawlers like Zelda. While the plot is generally simple and at times predictable, it features relatable characters and themes surrounding tourism and self-discovery, with some players appreciating its depth and emotional resonance. However, some critiques mention that dialogue choices often lack significant impact on the story's outcome, and the pacing can feel uneven, particularly in the early stages. Overall, the game offers a charming and immersive experience, appealing to those seeking a relaxing adventure with a meaningful narrative.
- “The story was surprisingly engaging once it starts moving, the characters are very charming and relatable, and the dialogue can get surprisingly heartfelt, introspective, thoughtful, touching on things like mental wellbeing, human connections, the effects of tourism and commercialization on nature etc. it's all just great stuff, and since there's no time limit, the day structure is never too stressful, if you don't see a character you wanted to spend time with one evening, you just do something else and talk to them the next evening instead.”
- “The story is engaging and very enjoyable, as well as all the characters, regardless of who you choose to get close to.”
- “The story was interesting and thought-provoking, and the characters were written so well I started caring deeply about some of them.”
- “The interactive story part of the game has dialogue trees, but I never got the sense that the dialogue you choose affects the outcome of the story in any way.”
- “The plot is very generic, evil money hungry mayor, yadda yadda.”
- “Story: story is absent, plot is unbelievable in a way that is not fanciful but just plainly something you want to ignore, dialogue is boring and tedious, characters are shallow and forgettable.”
gameplay
527 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
58%
2%
The gameplay in "Dungeons of Hinterberg" is a blend of action RPG mechanics and social simulation, reminiscent of titles like "Persona" and "Zelda." Players engage in a satisfying loop of dungeon exploration during the day and character interactions at night, with each dungeon offering unique mechanics and puzzles that keep the experience fresh. While some mechanics may feel simplistic or repetitive, the overall charm, engaging story, and cozy atmosphere make it a relaxing and enjoyable adventure.
- “If you're looking for an adventure with charm, solid gameplay, and a unique setting—or simply a break from the day-to-day—this game is a solid pick.”
- “The gameplay loop is pretty satisfying and always gives you something to do next, so it's easy to stay and play a while.”
- “Each dungeon is distinct and satisfying in terms of style and mechanics, and combat is just the right amount of crunchy to feel fun throughout the adventure.”
- “Combat mechanics are simplistic and clunky.”
- “The dungeons that I played were a bit too short and repeated a lot of the same mechanics.”
- “Gameplay is sloppy and slow as a turtle on some meds.... there is not much difference between dungeons or the enemies.... very few special abilities for the character you play as....”
graphics
436 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
48%
3%
The graphics of "Dungeons of Hinterberg" are widely praised for their vibrant, cel-shaded art style that beautifully captures the charm of the Austrian Alps, creating a unique and engaging atmosphere. Many players appreciate the game's artistic design over graphical fidelity, noting its colorful visuals and whimsical character designs, although some have mentioned minor performance issues and occasional stiffness in animations. Overall, the art style is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and immersive experience.
- “Set against a graphically stylish backdrop of the Austrian Alps and infused with Austria’s signature charm, it offers plenty of variety—from quirky yet well-developed NPCs and intriguing environments to puzzles that stay engaging throughout.”
- “The beautiful cel-shaded graphics bring the Austrian landscape of Hinterberg alive, accompanied by a highly ambient soundtrack that enhances the experience.”
- “The art style is thoroughly charming and helps create an almost serene, otherworldly atmosphere that lends itself well to the story and persona-like life sim aspects between the dungeons.”
- “There are graphic settings that can be tweaked to improve the framerate, but I did not see any options that fix the vanishing act of townsfolk or the occasionally low draw distance of foliage and other prop-based objects.”
- “The graphics of this game are not good enough to warrant these kinds of performance issues.”
- “When you play this game, what stands out the most is how ugly the graphics are.”
music
143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
27%
2%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ambient and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience without being intrusive. While some players found it to be relaxing and fitting, others noted that it could become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack complements the game's beautiful visuals and engaging gameplay, making it a standout feature for many players.
- “The art and music are beautiful and each dungeon feels so unique.”
- “The soundtrack is wonderful, sometimes very much in the background but always fitting and perfectly adapted to the atmosphere.”
- “The music is phenomenal.”
- “The soundtrack is very bland.”
- “Music adds to the adventure with each area having a different style, but it can get old after a while.”
- “Music: nothing stood out to me up to the second dungeon, just forgettable background noises.”
atmosphere
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
44%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its cozy, vacation-like vibe, enhanced by charming art style, engaging music, and well-crafted world-building. Players appreciate the relaxing setting that complements the gameplay, with many noting the delightful blend of exploration, puzzle-solving, and character interactions. While some find the dungeons' atmospheres somewhat repetitive, the overall immersive experience and aesthetic appeal are consistently highlighted as standout features.
- “The monster slaying gameplay is solid but very much takes a backseat to the unbelievably cozy atmosphere crafted here.”
- “The art style, graphics, music, and gameplay - everything matches perfectly together and gives a wonderful vibe and atmosphere!”
- “This game offers a refreshing blend of puzzles and mystery with a dark, intriguing atmosphere that makes it stand out.”
- “It rarely contributed to the atmosphere.”
- “Only thing I'm not a fan about so far is how similar some of the dungeons' atmospheres are.”
- “I suppose the game is all about atmosphere and style (if you're into this kind of visual presentation), because, in my opinion, the gameplay does not do very well: the fighting lacks momentum and inertia, the acrobatics are quite tedious, the camera moves all over the place (at least when using mouse), and the battles are both scarce and beyond easy.”
optimization
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
74%
11%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as camera stuttering and lag, particularly during combat. While it generally runs well on various systems, including the Steam Deck, users noted occasional frame drops and graphical glitches, especially in open-world areas. Overall, while some players found the performance satisfactory, others felt that the game requires further optimization to address its inconsistencies.
- “Performance wise, the game is very lightweight. I was able to play max settings 1080p at 60 fps locked with a 1650 Super. There were some very selected moments where it did drop in some environments, but only to 50-55 fps and very rarely.”
- “I've played most of the game in Linux Mint 22, and performance is surprisingly on par with Windows given we are playing over Proton on Linux, which is a compatibility layer. It was supposed to lose performance, so if you intend to play on the Steam Deck, it will probably work without issues and with surprising performance.”
- “Steam Deck performance was pretty solid with only a few minor drops below 60 fps, mostly in the parts where a lot of the zone was visible.”
- “I loved playing through all the content, but there is one major issue that the devs haven't fixed: camera stuttering/lag.”
- “Even if you limit your frames to 60 FPS, you're still going to experience inopportune moments of stuttering/lagging in the middle of tricky fights.”
- “The graphics have hardly been optimized. It's not like high-resolution textures are used here, etc., but it eats up too much performance.”
grinding
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
96%
Reviews indicate that grinding in this game varies in intensity, with some players finding it minor and manageable, while others describe it as tedious and repetitive. Many appreciate the balance between gameplay depth and grinding, though some express frustration with unnecessary grinding achievements and the overall pacing. Overall, the game seems to offer a mix of enjoyable social interactions and resource management, but it can become tedious, particularly in later stages.
- “The grinding aspect of the game is engaging, with fun puzzles that are interesting but not tedious.”
- “I love how the grinding feels rewarding, with enjoyable challenges that keep me hooked.”
- “The game strikes a perfect balance in its grinding mechanics, making it fun and engaging without feeling repetitive.”
- “Unfortunately, the only thing that pissed me off is that it's easy to get to the last dungeons, and you will have a lot of social links to improve and quests to do which require grinding, which is the opposite compared to Persona 4 Golden.”
- “Changing this to negative for randomly adding obnoxious grinding achievements for no reason.”
- “I suppose the game is all about atmosphere and style (if you're into this kind of visual presentation), because, in my opinion, the gameplay does not do very well: the fighting lacks momentum and inertia, the acrobatics are quite tedious, the camera moves all over the place (at least when using mouse), and the battles are both scarce and beyond easy.”
emotional
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its wholesome and cozy narrative, which fosters strong attachments to its charming characters. Players appreciate the heartfelt storytelling that touches on themes of mental wellbeing and human connections, often leading to introspective moments and emotional responses, including tears during poignant farewells. Overall, the game is celebrated for its engaging plot and relatable characters, creating a memorable and heartwarming experience.
- “Both relatable and heartwarming experience!”
- “Story was surprisingly engaging once it starts moving, the characters are very charming and relatable, and the dialogue can get surprisingly heartfelt, introspective, thoughtful, touching on things like mental wellbeing, human connections, the effects of tourism and commercialization on nature. It's all just great stuff, and since there's no time limit, the day structure is never too stressful; if you don't see a character you wanted to spend time with one evening, you just do something else and talk to them the next evening instead.”
- “I cried so hard during this because it felt really like saying goodbye to them as you learn to know them quite a lot.”
character development
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
39%
15%
Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and well-structured narratives, with players enjoying the tactical decisions involved in character progression. However, opinions on character design are mixed; while some appreciate the diversity and visual style, others find it uninspired and lacking in creativity. Overall, the game strikes a balance between combat, exploration, and character development, though some characters may not experience significant growth throughout the story.
- “The upgrade and character development trees are well thought out and expansive.”
- “Getting to know these characters was a lot of fun and I wasn't expecting the game to have such good character development and well-structured narratives.”
- “Perfect balance of combat, exploration, and character development.”
- “Through the game, she has zero character development; she stays the same woman that came to Hinterburg.”
- “It's very visually-stylized, which works for the setting, but the character designs are very uninspired, instead falling under the corporate Memphis brand of progressive quirk.”
- “Just overall don't like the character designs, low poly non-textured cell shading/dithering, etc... I do like the color palette though at least.”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
36%
7%
The game's replayability is generally viewed positively, with features like New Game Plus and multiple choices enhancing the experience. Players appreciate the variety in paths and side quests, which contribute to a fresh feel in each playthrough. However, some reviewers feel that while the game is enjoyable, it may not have significant replay value for everyone.
- “Currently about halfway through after about 12 hours, but seems like there is a good amount of replayability with how many different choices you can make throughout each day.”
- “It didn't just increase enemy stats, but introduced newer and more difficult attack patterns, which added a lot of replay value.”
- “Dungeons of Hinterberg really feels like a game the developers care about and put a ton of effort to make a fun, replayable experience.”
- “I would say the game is not replayable, but not every game needs to be.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Dungeons of Hinterberg" is characterized by precise writing and expressive character animations, creating a charming and funny atmosphere. Players appreciate the meaningful and humorous dialogue that addresses real-life issues, alongside the lighthearted exploration and adventure in a cozy Austrian setting. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with engaging social interactions and imaginative dungeon crawling.
- “Love the details in the facial expressions, and the humor in the writing.”
- “Each day is split between exploring, dungeon delving, preparation, and social interaction with meaningful and humorous dialogue with memorable characters.”
- “Dungeons of Hinterberg is a breezy, funny, charming take on dungeon crawling and adventure, with cozy Austrian mountain town vibes, several endearing characters to befriend and spend time with, and numerous fun, imaginative dungeons to explore and conquer in between.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
Overall, the game demonstrates impressive stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, where it runs smoothly even on low-powered hardware. Players report minimal glitches, with most experiencing a bug-free experience throughout their playthroughs, highlighting its reliability for an indie title.
- “The game runs great on the Steam Deck, so even low-powered hardware won't have an issue running it.”
- “Surprisingly bug-free for an indie game - I haven't encountered any in my whole playthrough.”
- “Game runs great on Steam Deck, only one non-breaking bug I've noticed.”

76%Critics’ scoreBased on 22 critic reviews

Buy Dungeons of Hinterberg

16h Median play time

12h Average play time

3-18h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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