Dwarf Journey
- October 8, 2021
- Orube Game Studio
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store
Get on Apple StoreIn "Dwarf Journey," players explore randomly generated levels in this action roguelite platformer to find the relic of immortality while defeating enemies and bosses to unlock new routes and character upgrades. Collect ores and weapon blueprints to forge better equipment and customize your dwarf's abilities. Each playthrough offers a unique experience with the chance to grow and power up your character.
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Reviews
- Dwarf Journey offers a fun and engaging gameplay loop with simple mechanics that are easy to learn, making it accessible for newcomers to the roguelite genre.
- The game features charming pixel art and smooth controls, providing a satisfying experience as players progress through the levels and defeat bosses.
- At its low price point, Dwarf Journey is considered a good value for a short, enjoyable gaming experience, with potential for replayability through different builds and upgrades.
- The game is very short, typically completed in 2-5 hours, which may leave players wanting more content and depth after finishing.
- Some players find the combat mechanics basic and repetitive, with limited enemy variety and a lack of secrets or innovative gameplay elements.
- Certain achievements, such as dying 500 times, are viewed as tedious and unnecessary, leading to frustration for completionists.
- gameplay30 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, featuring easy-to-understand mechanics and a short playtime of 4-6 hours. Players navigate through randomly generated rooms in search of bosses, with a focus on resource management and customizable playstyles through various weapon and armor types. While the core mechanics are engaging, some players note a lack of depth and challenge, particularly in boss fights where reflexes are less rewarded than survival.
“Fun platform/dungeon game with nice mechanics.”
“The core mechanics are engaging and, although there's some repetition, the game is short enough that you won't really feel it all that much.”
“It takes a solid RPG stat base, including more nuanced stats like movement speed and attack speed, and processes them through a roguelite gameplay loop as you platform your way through randomly generated maps of rooms.”
“It wouldn’t necessarily be a problem if it weren’t for the fact that your reflexes, especially during boss fights, are much less rewarded in terms of offensive maneuvers than just surviving. Some builds – weapons, armor, and stat distribution patterns – are based upon speed and said reflexes, and this mechanic hampers them from reaching their full potential.”
“But don't expect much depth in gameplay or story or anything else.”
“It doesn't have very difficult mechanics, nor was the design made to be hard; even the resources you use to upgrade your equipment are abundant.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of *Dwarf Journey* are highly praised for their charming blend of retro aesthetics and modern touches, showcasing detailed visuals and a well-executed color palette. Reviewers appreciate the artwork, character design, and the overall cozy atmosphere, distinguishing it from other retro games that often lack effort in their visuals. Overall, the game is noted for its impressive graphics that enhance the gameplay experience.
“While many so-called retro games found on the Steam store are lousy caricatures committed with the lowest of efforts, 'Dwarf Journey' stands out from the crowd by serving cozy visuals gracefully mixing stylistics of back then with a tint of modernity.”
“While many so-called retro games found on the Steam store are lousy caricatures committed with the lowest of efforts, [i]Dwarf Journey[/i] stands out from the crowd by serving cozy visuals gracefully mixing stylistics of back then with a tint of modernity.”
“The visuals are detailed where they should be and make good use of the color palette.”
“I love the artwork for it as well as the different weapons and armor you can use.”
- story12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story is minimal and serves primarily as a backdrop for gameplay, featuring a short narrative about a gentleman's quest for immortality with limited character development and only a few cutscenes. While it lacks complexity and depth, the simple and heartwarming elements of the narrative, along with the interactions with a handful of NPCs, provide a charming touch. Overall, players should not expect a rich story experience, but rather a fun and straightforward adventure.
“A short title about an equally short gentleman on his quest to immortality that includes venturing through a couple of regions inhabited by area-specific creatures, mining, sending resources through found shafts, boosting your stats in shrines, beating bosses, finding and upgrading gear and… that’s pretty much it.”
“I would love to see a sequel with more characters (playable and NPCs), more items, and a bit of a longer story.”
“If you're expecting something complex, like story, character progression or anything like that - this is not it.”
“While it’s true the story itself only serves a background role and doesn’t develop past a couple of cutscenes and several lines of script, this short narrative behind our hero’s motivation, a handful of NPCs we meet throughout the game as well as its ending(s) add a heart-warming touch of the genre.”
“But don't expect much depth in gameplay or story or anything else.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and excessive, particularly due to certain achievements that require repetitive tasks like eating 500 pieces of meat or dying 500 times. Many feel that the game reaches a level cap too early, leading to a lack of meaningful progression and forcing players to grind excessively to defeat enemies, which can become monotonous. Overall, while some enjoy the challenge, others see it as an unnecessary burden that detracts from the overall experience.
“Now if we talk about completing all the achievements, it requires you to find, craft, and upgrade all the weapons and armor. The problem is the achievements of eating 500 pieces of meat and dying 500 times; they are annoying to get and totally unnecessary for my taste. I would have liked them to have added another type of difficult achievement, but not annoying and requiring a lot of grinding. So if you are one of the people who like to get all the achievements, you have been warned that there are a couple of pretty annoying achievements.”
“Eventually, you hit the level cap and can no longer improve, and for my taste, this happened too early, as the latter two (of four) worlds remained quite tedious with few enemies being one-shottable.”
“This results in enemies being balanced purely around the lite side, meaning excessive grinding for your stats to be high enough, or else you will be stuck trying to chip away at an enemy for far too long.”
- music8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it lackluster or "meh," while others appreciate the option to mute it and play their own music. Despite the criticisms, a few users noted that the overall graphics and gameplay are enjoyable.
“Very nice graphics and music.”
“This game is cool, controls are snappy, the pixel art is charming, and the music is a nice touch. You can mute it and play your own music, which was a cool surprise! I hope there are more updates coming to the game.”
“Very nice graphics and music.”
“Four levels, the music is horrible, balance is all over the place.”
“The music is pretty meh, but if you'd like, you can mute it and play your own music. It was a little cool surprise.”
“The music is pretty meh, but if you'd like, you can mute it and play your own music. It was a little cool surprise.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game evokes a sense of emotional progression, allowing players to feel increasingly powerful with each run. Although the story is minimal and primarily serves as a backdrop, the hero's motivation, interactions with NPCs, and the game's endings contribute a heartwarming element that enhances the overall experience.
“While it’s true the story itself only serves a background role and doesn’t develop past a couple of cutscenes and several lines of script, this short narrative behind our hero’s motivation, a handful of NPCs we meet throughout the game, as well as its ending(s) add a heart-warming touch to the genre.”
- humor4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally appreciated for its short and amusing content, though some players feel that the later achievements become lengthy and less entertaining. Overall, the game is characterized as a funny experience, particularly in its initial stages.
“A funny, short little game that keeps you entertained.”
“This game is a hilarious little gem that packs a lot of laughs in a short playtime.”
“A delightful and funny experience that leaves you smiling.”
“The last achievements are going to be long and not funny to obtain.”
“The humor in the game feels forced and often falls flat.”
“I expected more laughs, but the jokes just didn't land.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates excellent stability, with smooth and responsive controls that operate without glitches, contributing to a well-balanced gameplay experience.
“Controls are very smooth and responsive, with no glitches and a well-balanced experience.”
“The game runs flawlessly, providing a stable and enjoyable gameplay experience.”
“I appreciate the stability of the controls; everything feels precise and reliable.”
