Dungeons of Sundaria
- July 17, 2022
- Industry Games
- 8h median play time
"Dungeons of Sundaria" is a first-person dungeon crawler game set in a richly detailed fantasy world. Fight dangerous monsters, solve puzzles, and collect treasures as you delve deeper into the mysterious dungeons. With its immersive atmosphere and challenging gameplay, this game offers hours of engaging exploration and thrilling combat.
Reviews
- Fun dungeon crawler with a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic RPGs.
- Great for multiplayer, allowing up to four players in local or online co-op.
- Massive dungeons filled with loot and unique bosses, providing a satisfying gameplay loop.
- Numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with hitboxes and enemy AI.
- Lack of a map or clear navigation system, making it easy to get lost in dungeons.
- Combat can feel clunky and unresponsive, with little feedback on hits and abilities.
- gameplay222 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of enjoyment and frustration, with many players appreciating the unique mechanics of bosses and the engaging dungeon-crawling experience. However, issues such as unclear mechanics, delayed action responses, and repetitive gameplay loops detract from the overall experience. While some find the core gameplay fun and addictive, others criticize it for being clunky, lacking depth, and suffering from bugs and balancing problems.
“The gameplay loop of going into a dungeon, collecting loot, going back to town, salvaging/selling the loot and crafting better gear is really addicting, and every class feels unique and offers a different experience.”
“I had a blast playing a champion; the armor actually makes me look badass, the animations are mostly cool, and there's good variety of enemies and ambiance. Most bosses and mini-bosses are unique and have different mechanics.”
“This game has solid foundations, ideas, designs, and mechanics that keep you going, filling an important niche that hasn't had much in the last years.”
“The tooltips and quest objectives are also not very clear, which can lead to some confusion during gameplay.”
“The game is a bit rough around the edges, has certain bugs that need to be fixed, and certain mechanics that are either poorly scaled or not very descriptive.”
“There's no narrative to pull you through the game, and there's also a pretty dauntingly repetitive gameplay loop of grinding through the same dungeons over and over if you want to get the higher level gear, which is not very enticing to me.”
- story122 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally considered weak and lacking depth, with many players finding it easy to skip or ignore. Quests often feel irrelevant and bug-ridden, leading to frustration, while the overall narrative is described as generic and unengaging. Despite these shortcomings, some players appreciate the nostalgic dungeon-crawling experience, focusing more on gameplay than on story.
“I enjoy dungeon crawlers; sure, the story is not complex, but this brings back a nostalgic feeling of just playing a game with some buddies, slaying monsters and having fun.”
“The quest dialogue is well written, and it tells you exactly what's going on and where you have to go and what you have to do if you take your time to read it.”
“There are some dialogues that add more depth to the motives of each quest or chore you’ll be tasked with, but in general, there isn’t a lot of depth lore or character-wise; that’s alright for this subgenre of RPG, and expected.”
“The game doesn't have much story to it; it does have quests, but with little relevance - much like LOTR: with the story becoming irrelevant on new game plus/higher difficulties.”
“Story: next to none, don't expect meaningful dialogue, quests, or 'story'; it's filler content to give the player direction and cheap rewards.”
“I didn't find the quests drawing me in; they were there, and I clicked through dialogue if I had the option.”
- graphics109 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as dated, reminiscent of early 2000s titles, with many reviewers noting low-resolution textures and basic animations. While some appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic and find the visuals charming, others criticize them as lacking polish and detail, often comparing them unfavorably to more modern games. Overall, the graphics are seen as a mixed bag, appealing to those who enjoy retro styles but disappointing for players seeking contemporary visual fidelity.
“The graphics and art of the game are great, and I say that because it has that old-school feel and look where you can tell the artists spent a lot of time crafting quality-looking icons and models.”
“The graphics are beautiful and goofy with strong colors and thick graphics.”
“No amount of adjustments to the graphical settings or resolution seems to have any impact.”
“The graphics really bring me back to 2004; I don't think it was intended to be retro graphics, but they are.”
“Starting with graphics, this game looks like something straight out of the early 2000s with low-res textures and outdated animations, yet there are still random frame rate drops.”
- stability48 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of glitches, bugs, and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. Players have encountered problems such as floating enemies, camera issues, and crashes, leading to a consensus that while the game can be entertaining, it is plagued by significant technical shortcomings. Despite these flaws, some users find charm in its jankiness, suggesting it may appeal to those looking for a quirky, albeit unstable, gaming experience.
“No glitches.”
“Sweet and simple game, runs great on Steam Deck.”
“Game runs great on the Steam Deck as well.”
“A buggy mess with awful camera issues and garbage combat.”
“The game could be good, but it is literally the most buggy, laggy, and glitchy game I have ever played in 33 years.”
“Full of bugs, glitches, and crashes.”
- grinding47 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The game is characterized by a significant amount of grinding, which can be both rewarding and tedious depending on the player's perspective. While some players enjoy the addictive nature of leveling up and farming for better gear, others find the repetitive dungeon runs and slow progression to be a deterrent. Overall, it appeals to those who appreciate grind-heavy RPGs, but may not be suitable for players seeking a more streamlined or narrative-driven experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This game is very addicting too because having your character get stronger makes it rewarding from dying and grinding.”
“There's no narrative to pull you through the game, and there's also a pretty dauntingly repetitive gameplay loop of grinding through the same dungeons over and over if you want to get the higher level gear, which is not very enticing to me.”
“In short, this is extremely grindy for a game that doesn't have much to offer after you've finished the main story quest.”
- optimization20 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with players reporting severe performance issues, including excessive heat generation on mid-range hardware, frequent lags, and crashes during gameplay. Many users express frustration over the lack of optimization despite the game's relatively simple graphics, suggesting that the developers have not adequately addressed these concerns. While some players note improvements in specific areas, the consensus remains that the game is currently poorly optimized and requires further updates to enhance performance.
“Character optimization is mostly gear-centric.”
“Some things need to be worked out like melee combat, desync, some bugs here and there but the game is pretty well optimized and looks decent enough for the price of 19.99.”
“Hell, for some reason, this is even so unoptimized that my 2060 gets hotter playing this than 'No Rest for the Wicked' or 'Lies of P'.”
“The game has a lot of potential, but sadly is bogged down by a lot of gameplay and performance issues.”
“Needs optimization though; my PC is very budget, but even so, the game makes my fans kick into hyperdrive and sounds like it's taxiing down the runway...”
- humor20 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its amusing bugs, such as enemies twitching or flying absurd distances upon defeat, which players find entertaining, especially when playing with friends. Additionally, the quirky dialogue and character choices, like a knife-throwing goblin and a short king wizard, contribute to the overall comedic experience, making for memorable moments despite the game's janky design. While the humor can be hit or miss, many players appreciate the lightheartedness it brings to the gameplay.
“The few bugs of enemies sticking in the ground or twitching after you annihilate them is hilarious.”
“There are lots of bugs that happen to NPCs you've killed (spinning, wobbling, twitching, etc.) that make for absolutely hilarious moments.”
“Dungeons of Sundaria scratches the dungeon crawling itch, it looks okay graphics-wise, it sounds good, and it has some funny dialogue and references thrown in here and there (the goblin king still has me chuckling).”
- replayability16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is bolstered by the distinct playstyles of each class, encouraging players to explore different approaches and strategies. While some players find the grind for gear and hidden discoveries rewarding, others note that the overall linearity and lack of diverse endgame content may limit long-term engagement. Suggestions for enhancing replayability include introducing additional challenges and modes, which could further enrich the experience.
“Each class feels different, so you won't approach enemies the same way, which provides great replayability.”
“The game can be a bit grindy, but to obtain set pieces, you can either farm tokens for crafting or defeat different bosses in various dungeons. Each class has different weapons and gameplay styles, adding diversity and replayability. There are also many hidden things to discover, so you'll end up revisiting dungeons and finding something new each time.”
“Levels are fairly replayable; I've completed three stages front to back so far and tried out three of the five current classes, and I'm probably not even close to halfway done.”
“Maybe add some more replayability with a mode like boss rush or something endgame to work towards.”
“Low replay value as there isn’t stuff that would keep it fresh.”
“However, solo play is doable but I don’t think you will get a lot of replay value out of it.”
- music10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it either forgettable or out of place compared to the whimsical visuals. However, others appreciate the atmospheric scores, particularly in specific environments like the crypt dungeon, which enhance the overall experience. Overall, while the sound design has its limitations, it can contribute positively to the game's ambiance when executed well.
“I relaxed for 5 ♥♥♥♥ minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“True, there is some polish needed for things like moaning corpses (after an enemy dies they keep moaning) and I can see weapon racks through walls, but these are minor things to be honest. The crypt dungeon I played through had great creepy music, the enemies looked awesome, and the boss fights felt about the right difficulty (I died plenty of times but once I learned the mechanics the fights were very doable).”
“This game offers you a blast into the past with stylish armor sets, high-resolution graphics, and awesome environments and great music scores that create that perfect atmosphere.”
“The music seems out of place with the more whimsical look of the creatures, but that's easily solved by shutting it off and playing your own.”
“I honestly don't even know if there was music, come to think of it.”
“Why does the music loop in such a way?”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its nostalgic early 2000s vibe, well-designed environments, and engaging dungeon crawler elements, complemented by a fitting soundtrack. However, some players feel that certain areas, like the town center, lack depth and immersion, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, while the atmosphere is generally well-received, there are calls for more environmental effects and interactive elements to enhance it further.
“This game has really cool mechanics and bosses, and a rich early 2000s atmosphere.”
“The environments are well-differentiated and the atmosphere is good.”
“This game offers you a blast into the past with stylish armor sets, high-resolution graphics, and awesome environments and great music scores that create that perfect atmosphere.”
“There was a really nice town center where you entered a tavern, met merchants, and crafted at a blacksmith, but now your town is just a clickable set of buildings you enter without much atmosphere and is quite jarring.”
“Not enough traps or puzzles, no atmosphere like smoke, weather, effects.”
“It would be interesting to see the combat and movement overhauled to feel more fluid with the game's atmosphere.”
- monetization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is criticized as a blatant cash grab, yet it notably lacks microtransactions or subscription fees, which some players appreciate. The absence of these monetization tactics suggests a departure from previous titles that relied heavily on such practices, indicating a more straightforward approach to gameplay.
“I didn't see any microtransactions or monetization ploys like paying more for additional character slots or expanding inventory or bank space.”
“It means there is no need for microtransactions or subscriptions, and most importantly, the game cannot 'die' like K&H did, because there are no servers that can be shut down.”
“This is 100% a cash grab.”
“This is a cheap re-skin of the first cash grab game they put out and abandoned.”
“I didn't see any microtransaction or monetization ploys like: pay more for more character slots or expand inventory or bank space.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a lack of emotional investment in the game's narrative, with players feeling disconnected from their characters and the story, leading to a diminished desire to complete the game. However, the engaging action combat system provides a sense of confidence and agency, allowing players to tackle challenges beyond their skill level, which adds a layer of enjoyment despite the emotional shortcomings.
“The emotional depth of the characters really drew me in, making me feel connected to their struggles and triumphs throughout the game.”
“I was genuinely moved by the story; it resonated with me on a personal level and left a lasting impact long after I finished playing.”
“The game masterfully weaves emotional moments into the gameplay, making every victory feel earned and every loss deeply felt.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game lacks significant character development, as it follows a pre-structured format typical of hack and slash titles, offering limited opportunities for players to engage with or evolve their characters. It is not recommended for those seeking a deep narrative or character growth experience.
“This is a hack and slash game through and through; there is no character development as it is all pre-structured. Normal setting dungeons range from 2 to about 4 hours, and while there are save points, they feel lackluster.”
“At the moment, I can't say this is a game for people who enjoy deep character development, like in Path of Exile.”