Dwarven Realms

About

Dwarven Realms is a single player casual hack and slash game. It was developed by Crater Studios and was released on September 27, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

"Dwarven Realms" is a third-person ARPG that features innovative gameplay through its dynamic itemization system and strategic combat. With a community-centric development approach, the game offers a unique skill tree for diverse weapon professions, ensuring an immersive and personalized experience for each player. Players can expect constant updates aligned with community feedback, enhancing the overall gameplay and providing a labor of love from the developers.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+17

Skip User Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,435 reviews

gameplay128 positive mentions

grinding191 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay loop with satisfying progression and endless grinding.
Offers a mix of ARPG and survivor mechanics, making it fun for fans of both genres.
Active development and community support, with frequent updates and responsive developers.

Graphics and performance issues, with reports of crashes and low frame rates.
Repetitive gameplay with limited enemy variety and shallow combat mechanics.
Character wipes at the end of each season can be frustrating for players seeking long-term progression.

gameplay
318 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
55%
5%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a fast-paced, engaging loop that combines action RPG elements with mechanics reminiscent of survival games, offering a satisfying experience for players who enjoy grinding and character progression. While many players appreciate the straightforward mechanics and the thrill of battling hordes of enemies, some express concerns about repetitiveness and a lack of depth in skill variety, with many mechanics remaining unexplained. Overall, the game is seen as fun and addictive, particularly for those who enjoy the genre, but it may require further development to enhance complexity and player engagement.
- “The gameplay loop is just pure fun, smashing through enemies, dealing massive damage, and always pushing for more until you hit that next wall.”
- “The core gameplay loop is fast, satisfying, and absolutely packed with loot.”
- “Engaging gameplay: the mechanics are intuitive, making it easy to pick up yet challenging enough to keep you invested.”
- “This 5-minute gameplay loop goes on forever and seemingly never changes.”
- “Gameplay is completely mindless to the point where you could get up to take a dump after triggering the auto-attack bug, then return to find you have gained levels and not lost a single hit point.”
- “But the gameplay itself is incredibly stale... it's grindy as hell, but there's no reason to want to go through with the grind.”
grinding
192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The grinding aspect of the game is a significant focus, with many players noting its addictive nature for those who enjoy watching their progress through numbers and loot accumulation. While some find the grind rewarding and engaging, others criticize it for becoming tedious and repetitive, especially in the mid-to-endgame stages where the effort required often feels disproportionate to the rewards. Overall, the game caters well to fans of grind-heavy mechanics, but may not appeal to those seeking a more varied or story-driven experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The mid-to-endgame progression can become tedious, requiring significant investment of time without a proportional sense of reward.”
- “The gameplay itself is grinding and dodging through waves of mobs with little skill required.”
- “It's a fine game, but you should know exactly what you're going into; it is farming, doing the same thing with the same spells and same weapons for hours on end, with the reward being only higher numbers.”
graphics
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
59%
17%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players praising the charming art style and improvements in lighting and textures, while others criticize the cartoonish black outline filter and overall dated visuals reminiscent of early 2000s games. Many users noted performance issues and a lack of optimization, leading to frustration during gameplay, although some found the graphics acceptable given the game's fun mechanics. Overall, while the graphics may not meet modern standards, they are seen as a nostalgic element that contributes to the game's unique appeal.
- “The graphical improvements and the overall look and feel since the initial release have been massive – lighting, textures, the little environmental details, everything just looks sharper and more alive.”
- “Beautiful graphics: the art style is charming, capturing the essence of a vibrant dwarven world with attention to detail that enhances immersion.”
- “The game has beautiful graphics and satisfying effects and animations, which make the gameplay experience very enjoyable.”
- “The new update with black outline graphics similar to Borderlands needed to go (because you can't turn it off), so f***ing trash making my eyes hurt.”
- “The graphics are barely one step from a mobile game, it plays like a mobile game with no real depth or strategy, and it runs terribly, even on good hardware.”
- “Game looks like it was made with free assets in 1 week by 1 person, empty, boring, trash graphics, no content, all you do is just auto-attack boxes with a life bar.”
story
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
66%
16%
The game's story is largely absent, with many players noting a lack of meaningful narrative or quests, reducing the experience to repetitive grinding and combat. While some appreciate the straightforward action and gameplay loop, others express disappointment over the absence of a compelling storyline or character progression. Overall, it caters more to those seeking immediate action rather than an immersive story-driven experience.
- “Rich lore: the storytelling in the game adds depth to the characters and settings, making each quest feel meaningful.”
- “It's great if you are looking for something to pass the time and don't really need to think too hard to play, but I have no idea what the story is behind the game.”
- “I'm very excited to see what the developers have in store for this game and what can be accomplished between story and gameplay, interactivity and community, and I can't wait to see how far this game goes.”
- “No story, just a little fluff hidden in hover text of arenas.”
- “The world tells no story and progression is empty of meaning.”
- “It's an ARPG with all of the story/adventure stripped away.”
optimization
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
57%
33%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many users reporting severe performance issues, bugs, and low frame rates even on high-end hardware. Players express frustration over the lack of optimization passes, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience characterized by lag and unresponsive mechanics. Overall, the consensus is that the game is in dire need of significant optimization improvements to enhance performance and stability.
- “The game deserves a little more optimization.”
- “Only con right now is the optimization; there are lots of effects which can cause lag even on high-end systems, but the devs are more focused on content building at the moment, so it's understandable.”
- “The math for damage is a bit opaque, but for casual playtime, it's still fun... and more and more people are building community resources for the depth and optimization.”
- “Badly coded, poorly optimized, and full of bugs.”
- “The game is so unoptimized, walking around your hideout can't reach over 60fps.”
- “Optimisation and performance is terrible in this game, I have a 7800x3d and 4070ti, indie game like this should work flawlessly on my rig; it does not. When I'm in rapture farming (where you spend 99% of your gameplay time), my fps are 15-20, which is unacceptable.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
66%
17%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players finding it basic and forgettable, lacking the depth and engagement expected from a full release. While some appreciate the soundtrack as a pleasant backdrop for gameplay, others criticize the absence of sound effects and the overall inconsistency in audio quality. Overall, the music serves more as a filler for casual play rather than a standout feature.
- “Nice graphics, nice soundtrack, smooth gameplay, everything an ARPG needs to be successful.”
- “This game is great to play while vibing to some music.”
- “Loving the soundtrack.”
- “The music is pretty basic.”
- “I can't actually recall what the music sounds like during a rupture; it's that forgettable.”
- “Would it kill you to put music in the game?”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many users highlighting its simple gameplay loop, extensive character customization, and engaging progression systems. The combination of seasonal content, diverse play styles, and a wealth of loot keeps players coming back for more, despite some concerns about the loss of complexity in certain areas. Many reviewers feel that the game offers exceptional value for its price, making it a standout in terms of replayability.
- “For $10, there is pretty much endless replayability in my eyes.”
- “Combining Dynasty Warriors with Diablo 2, this game has amazing replayability and it is so easy to get lost in the grind in the best way possible.”
- “The seasons and ladder system makes the game replayable and there is enough content to keep you occupied for a good while.”
- “The problem with it is that it has streamlined literally everything and in the process removes a lot of the texture and complexity that makes these kinds of games so replayable.”
- “The crafting is simple, the stats are easily understandable, and the skill tree makes it so that you can have a decent amount of customization and/or replayability.”
- “Keep up the replayability in end game and endless progression and tons of loot and more places!”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and a multitude of bugs affecting gameplay, including issues with combat mechanics and graphical glitches. Many players feel the game is unfinished and poorly optimized, leading to a frustrating experience marred by unbalanced gameplay and technical hiccups. While some acknowledge the typical bugs associated with early access, the overall sentiment leans towards disappointment in the game's current state.
- “Either fatal error or just freezes and crashes with no window informing you why it crashed.”
- “Very buggy, (collisions, attacks, spells, UI, every aspect of the game is buggy).”
- “But in reality this is a buggy and confusing mess!”
monetization
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
34%
53%
The monetization model of the game has received significant criticism, primarily due to the presence of numerous microtransactions and a perceived cash grab mentality, reminiscent of mobile games. While some players appreciate the upfront payment structure as a potential improvement over pay-to-win models, the extensive range of paid cosmetics and the overwhelming presence of ads detract from the overall experience. Many users feel that the monetization strategy undermines the game's enjoyment and originality.
- “And seasonal gameplay with no sh++y microtransactions!”
- “No microtransactions!”
- “The only potential upside compared to a mobile game is that you pay up front; instead of microtransaction pay-to-win, some sort of gacha system, or loads of ads.”
- “A single player, indie, vampire survivor-like game with around $500 worth of day-one microtransactions (one of them costs $100, so not all that micro).”
- “It seems like the game wants to have a monetization model like a clicker/idle game, but it doesn't land and it just sucks the fun out of the game.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding the voice acting and character interactions genuinely hilarious, particularly the dwarf guide and amusing ragdoll physics. While some attempts at humor may fall flat, the overall experience is enhanced by funny gameplay elements, such as quirky mounts and unexpected bugs that add to the comedic charm. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone and the fun of leveling up with absurd builds.
- “The dwarf guide is very humorous.”
- “It really is a lot of fun and the voice acting is absolutely hilarious.”
- “The leveling felt nice, the mounts were funny (I ended up riding a chicken around) and just a ton of monsters spawning and slashing them all down.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game surprisingly emotional, as its engaging systems and active community foster a sense of belonging and connection. Despite initial reservations about graphics and gameplay, the developer's openness and the wholesome community contribute to a fulfilling experience that resonates deeply with players.
- “He was open to talking for a bit, and made me feel like a part of the community.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Character development is facilitated through the allocation of stat and skill points at each level, encouraging players to experiment and refine their builds, often requiring trial and error or community engagement for optimal results.
- “The ability to allocate stat points and skill points at every level adds a deep layer to character development, encouraging players to experiment through trial and error or seek advice from the community.”
- “Character development is incredibly rewarding, as each level up allows for meaningful choices that shape your playstyle and strategy.”
- “The depth of character customization and growth keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging, making every decision feel impactful.”
- “The character development feels shallow, as the choices you make don't significantly impact the gameplay or story.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful progression; it seems like the characters don't evolve in any interesting way.”
- “While there are stat points and skill points to allocate, the overall development system feels tedious and requires too much trial and error.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its realism, immersing players in a believable environment that enhances the overall experience. This attention to detail contributes significantly to the game's engaging and authentic feel.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're truly part of the world.”
- “Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
- “The game's atmosphere is rich and layered, drawing you into its mysterious environment.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth that would draw players into the game world.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion or engagement.”
- “The environment feels lifeless, making it hard to immerse myself in the game's setting.”