Dwarven Realms

About

"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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+14

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,112 reviews

gameplay104 positive mentions

grinding158 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay loop with satisfying combat and progression.
Great value for the price, offering hours of entertainment.
Active and responsive developers who listen to community feedback.

Lacks polish and depth, with repetitive gameplay and minimal story.
Frequent character wipes every season can be frustrating for players.
Technical issues such as crashes and performance problems detract from the experience.

gameplay
267 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
56%
5%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a fun and addictive loop that combines elements from action RPGs and survival games, allowing players to grind and progress at their own pace. While the mechanics are generally intuitive and engaging, some players find them repetitive and lacking depth over time, with occasional jankiness and balance issues. Overall, the game offers a satisfying experience with a variety of skills and crafting options, though it may require some patience to fully appreciate its complexities.
- “As a new player, this game has the perfect balance of difficulty, progression, and gameplay.”
- “Engaging gameplay: the mechanics are intuitive, making it easy to pick up yet challenging enough to keep you invested.”
- “The gameplay loop hits all the right dopamine buttons, but then doesn't go anywhere with it.”
- “The development of the game is extremely unstable, changing base mechanics and meta between seasons in ways that amount to an almost totally new game.”
- “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
159 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
99%
The game's grinding mechanics are a central focus, with many players noting that it can feel excessive and repetitive, often lacking meaningful rewards. While some enjoy the mindless farming and the thrill of incremental power increases, others find it tedious and unfulfilling, especially when compared to more narrative-driven titles. Overall, the experience is highly dependent on individual preferences for grinding, with some players embracing it as a fun time sink, while others criticize it for its lack of depth and variety.
- “Grinding in this game feels rewarding and keeps me engaged for hours.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels like a chore.”
- “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.”
- “The game's pretty fun, just brainless farming.”
- “Without story -- without context -- you are just grinding for nothing.”
graphics
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
62%
14%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the charming art style and vibrant environments reminiscent of classic RPGs, while others criticize the visuals as outdated and poorly optimized, likening them to early 2000s titles or even mobile games. Despite the graphical shortcomings, many players find that the fun gameplay and engaging mechanics compensate for the visual limitations, suggesting that the graphics do not detract significantly from the overall experience. Overall, while the graphics may not meet modern standards, they are often described as adequate for the game's style and purpose.
- “Beautiful graphics: the art style is charming, capturing the essence of a vibrant dwarven world with attention to detail that enhances immersion.”
- “The graphics in the game are amazing and the environments are so detailed.”
- “The game has beautiful graphics and satisfying effects and animations, which make the gameplay experience very enjoyable.”
- “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.”
- “All in all it just feels like a cheap mobile game with outdated graphics.”
- “Clunky and boring combat, with boring loot, boring crafting, boring enemies, identical-feeling 'builds', a gigantic but incredibly uninspired passive tree, and graphics so bad and charmless that I'm left wondering if this is a school project.”
story
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
69%
14%
The game's story is largely absent, with many players noting a lack of meaningful narrative, quests, or character progression. Instead, it focuses on repetitive grinding and combat, appealing to those who prefer action over storytelling. While some appreciate the straightforward gameplay, the consensus is that the absence of a compelling story detracts from the overall experience.
- “Rich lore: the storytelling in the game adds depth to the characters and settings, making each quest feel meaningful.”
- “The story is also really interesting and kept me hooked from start to finish.”
- “Will love to see how this evolves as a more rich set of graphics, maybe a story and variety of enemies would make this game even more fun.”
- “The world tells no story and progression is empty of meaning.”
- “There is no story or character progression, no motivation to replay almost the same level and squish almost the same enemies for almost the same loot each time.”
- “The game has no real story (insofar as I can tell), it has no quests, no campaign...nothing.”
optimization
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
64%
27%
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including low frame rates and graphical glitches, even on high-end systems. While some users find the gameplay enjoyable, the lack of effective optimization and balancing detracts from the overall experience, leading to frustration, especially in high-intensity scenarios. Despite the potential for engaging gameplay and build diversity, the current state of optimization is seen as a major flaw that needs urgent attention from the developers.
- “The talent tree is pretty large and, while there are definitely 'optimized builds', you can go it alone or check out their Discord for help.”
- “The game is really good; I was pleasantly surprised at the level of depth the game offers the further you progress. I've had no performance issues other than the occasional frame drop when nuking a particularly large pack of enemies and would recommend it to ARPG enjoyers.”
- “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 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, an 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.”
- “Very poor optimization for a game that has pretty dated graphics. I don't mind the graphics, but the performance is significantly worse than it has any right to be.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of crashes, freezes, and various bugs affecting gameplay, including issues with combat mechanics and graphical glitches. Many users describe the game as feeling unfinished and unoptimized, leading to a frustrating experience. 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).”
- “It's also quite buggy and looks unfinished.”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
21%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players enjoying the simple yet addictive gameplay loop, diverse character customization, and extensive content that encourages repeated play. However, some critiques mention that the streamlining of certain elements may detract from the depth and complexity that typically enhance replay value. The inclusion of seasonal content and a ladder system further contributes to its longevity and engagement.
- “Simple gameplay loop with endless replayability.”
- “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.”
- “Some full-price games do not offer this playtime and replayability opportunities!”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it forgettable and lacking in variety, often resorting to their own playlists while playing. Some users noted that the dramatic music could be more epic and engaging, while others appreciated the soundtrack for enhancing their gaming experience. Overall, the consensus suggests that the music is basic and could benefit from improvement to better complement the gameplay.
- “This game is great to play while vibing to some music.”
- “Loving the soundtrack.”
- “I love to just turn on the music and grind.”
- “I can't actually recall what the music sounds like during a rupture; it's that forgettable.”
- “The music kind of sucks.”
- “Would it kill you to put music in the game?”
monetization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
25%
58%
The monetization model of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the absence of intrusive microtransactions and ads, while others criticize the presence of costly cosmetics and a subscription option. Despite a focus on upfront payment, some users feel the game leans towards a cash grab mentality, reminiscent of mobile games with excessive monetization strategies. Overall, the approach to monetization appears inconsistent, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “And seasonal gameplay with no shoddy 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
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players praising the comedic voice acting and amusing character interactions, such as riding a chicken and encountering funny ragdoll physics. While some attempts at humor may fall flat, the overall experience is filled with lighthearted moments and entertaining bugs that add to the fun. The diverse build options also contribute to the humor, allowing for both absurd and overpowered combinations.
- “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 to be a surprisingly emotional experience, as its engaging systems and active community foster a sense of belonging and connection. Despite initial reservations about the graphics and gameplay, the developer's openness and the wholesome community contribute to a fulfilling and enjoyable atmosphere.
- “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 engaging, as players can customize their skills and stats, making each playthrough feel unique and tailored to their style.”
- “The progression system allows for meaningful character development, where every choice impacts gameplay and encourages players to think strategically about their builds.”
- “The character development feels shallow, with limited options for meaningful growth.”
- “I found the progression system to be confusing and not very rewarding, making it hard to invest in my character.”
- “There are too few choices in character development, which makes each playthrough feel repetitive and uninspired.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its realism, immersing players in a believable and engaging environment that enhances the overall experience.
- “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 sense of immersion.”
- “The environment feels lifeless, making it hard to connect with the game's setting or story.”