KeeperRL

About

KeeperRL is a single-player role-playing game with stellar gameplay and perfect visuals. As an evil wizard, build and manage your dungeon, equip minions, and explore the world to murder villagers and research black magic. With roguelike mechanics, turn-based combat, and customizable dungeons, KeeperRL offers plenty of humor and high replayability.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,330 reviews

gameplay50 positive mentions

grinding30 negative mentions

Engaging mix of Dungeon Keeper and Dwarf Fortress mechanics, providing a unique gameplay experience.
Active developer support with frequent updates and a responsive community.
High replayability with different factions and the ability to raid other players' dungeons.

Lacks depth and complexity compared to its inspirations, leading to repetitive gameplay.
User interface can be confusing and unintuitive, making navigation and management cumbersome.
Combat mechanics can feel unbalanced, with sudden difficulty spikes and permadeath leading to frustrating experiences.

gameplay
207 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
71%
4%
The gameplay of the game is a blend of dungeon management and roguelike elements, offering a unique experience with procedural generation and multiple factions that enhance replayability. However, many players feel that the mechanics lack depth and polish, leading to repetitive gameplay and a sense of incompleteness. While the core gameplay loop is enjoyable and reminiscent of classics like Dwarf Fortress, it suffers from clunky controls, unbalanced mechanics, and a steep learning curve that may deter some players.
- “The game blends dungeon management with roguelike elements, offering deep strategic gameplay and high replay value through its procedural generation and multiple game modes.”
- “There are quite a few different scenario options to choose from in terms of gameplay, plus a few more you can unlock through playing the game in certain ways and/or completing challenges.”
- “The gameplay is addictively fun in terms of the ownership and progression you feel toward your keep as a whole.”
- “The gameplay has about two levels to it, and then you're through the discovery phase and everything is just repetition with different-colored sprites.”
- “There isn't much depth to the game mechanics.”
- “The tutorial doesn't cover all the basics, the menus and mechanics of them are not intuitive, and the progression is a series of plateaus and walls.”
graphics
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
69%
4%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a simple, retro tile-based style that evokes nostalgia, reminiscent of classic titles like Dwarf Fortress and Dungeon Keeper. While some players appreciate the charm of the pixel art and find it suitable for the game's mechanics, others feel that the visuals lack polish and could benefit from enhancements. Overall, the graphics serve the gameplay well, but opinions vary on their appeal, with some players enjoying the aesthetic while others find it off-putting.
- “Keeperrl is a delightful mess - a chaotic mix of strategy, management, and role-playing, all wrapped up in a retro-graphics package that makes you nostalgic for the days when your biggest worry was whether you had enough quarters for the arcade.”
- “The retro tile-based graphics and dark fantasy setting add to the immersive atmosphere.”
- “Awesome pixel-art graphics, a lot of different things and species, skills and mechanics to explore.”
- “The UI is terrible, the graphics unspeakable, the gameplay uninteresting.”
- “Graphics, music, and sound are all pretty bland and forgettable but not terrible.”
- “Graphically, the game is extremely simple and at this time most of the assets are the same free assets we've seen in half a dozen games in the last year.”
replayability
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
53%
5%
The game boasts high replayability due to its unique mechanics, including the ability to create and share dungeons, procedurally generated maps, and diverse factions that offer varied gameplay experiences. While many players appreciate the depth and strategic elements that enhance replay value, some express concerns about a lack of content and depth in certain areas, suggesting that improvements could further elevate the replayability. Overall, the combination of roguelike elements and community engagement contributes to a rich and engaging experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “Lots of replayability, and a very unique mechanic that allows you to set your own dungeon as an adversary for future playthroughs (or download other players' dungeons).”
- “The procedural generation and multiple factions provide extensive replayability, ensuring that each playthrough is unique and engaging.”
- “It combines the fun of being able to raid an evil dungeon with building it, all the while offering countless hours of replayability.”
- “The randomly generated maps don't add replayability; they add endless boring maps which are all designed to have everything I need to win.”
- “The sessions are tough but they don't last as long as I'd like and there's almost no replay value, which, especially for a game like this, is pretty devastating because I have next to no desire to start over again since there's no unlockables, no carrying over of saves/characters, no new game plus or anything of the sort.”
- “At the moment I don't feel there's a ton of replay value, as I'm pretty sure I could now use my knowledge of the game mechanics to easily beat another campaign.”
grinding
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
9%
86%
Reviews highlight that grinding in the game can be excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to engage in repetitive tasks for resource management and combat preparation. While some players appreciate the depth of customization and strategy, many find the micromanagement and user interface cumbersome, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the game offers a mix of enjoyable mechanics but is marred by the grind-heavy nature that can detract from the fun.
- “Decent grinding.”
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “Starts off promising, which lasts long enough for the refund window to pass, then devolves into the most tedious time-wasting game I've encountered.”
- “I'm not sure if that's a bug or intended but it feels that the game is just a slow tedious crawl of hoping you don't run into awful overpowered enemies while hoping that you find resources you need in order to make it through basic starter villains.”
- “By 30 minutes in you'll have experienced most of what the game has to offer, the rest is needlessly tedious farming for research.”
story
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
77%
12%
The game's story is characterized by a dynamic, procedural world that offers unique challenges and experiences in each playthrough, often leading to tragicomic outcomes. Players assume the role of a villain in a roguelike setting, where the narrative is less about a linear plot and more about emergent storytelling through gameplay, though some reviewers express a desire for more structured quests and goals. Overall, while the game provides engaging and bizarre adventures, it lacks a traditional narrative depth, leaving some players wanting more in terms of story content.
- “The story is driven by the dynamic nature of the procedural world, where each playthrough offers different challenges and opportunities.”
- “This story and many more are at your fingertips; do yourself a favor and play this clear, labor of love, one-of-a-kind game.”
- “After several necromancer playthroughs, I have noticed that the necromancer main villain is a nightmare to fight, with a several story tower, staggered levels, and finally a portal into a single corridor killing field of balsamed vampire warriors fully stacked in adamantite bearing stats 50+ in attack and defense.”
- “You'll also have cases of defeating almost the entire evenly matched enemy army but then their significantly stronger tribe leader turns up and is just powerful enough to be immortal, and you get to choose between trying to escape (never works) and ending the quest meaning all loot lost and most minions captured.”
- “- The campaign/story mode needs to have some goals to accomplish; right now this is like a sandbox and needs a little more development (like quests or a guide).”
- “☑ No story”
music
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
68%
12%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the atmosphere, while others find it bland and forgettable. Many users recommend purchasing the original soundtrack, highlighting its quality despite the game's shortcomings. However, the lack of volume controls for music can be frustrating for players trying to engage in conversations.
- “The soundtrack is a banger, so I do recommend getting that. Plus, even though the game isn't what I wanted, I still want to give the dev of this game something, because I know what it's like to pour my soul into projects like this only for it to be mid at best.”
- “Love the OST though, so I do recommend buying that if nothing else.”
- “Great atmosphere with clear, clean graphics and excellent music which doesn't become irritating.”
- “The soundtrack is a bit boring.”
- “Graphics, music, and sound are all pretty bland and forgettable but not terrible.”
- “There aren't volume controls for music and sound, only on/off.”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its dark and absurd comedic elements, such as bizarre situations and unexpected outcomes that lead to laughter. Many reviews mention specific funny moments, like the cyclops testicle helmet and humorous character interactions, contributing to an overall entertaining experience. The game appeals to those with a taste for dark humor, making it a standout in its genre.
- “That's what this game is about, a learning curve of complex mechanics, bizarre and funny stories, malignancy and world conquest, but ultimately, an awesome game.”
- “First 5 minutes was the game crashing, everything else was just me laughing at every run I tried doing and someone dying in some stupid way.”
- “There are a few different ways to play, and it can be very funny in some of the things that can happen, my current favorite was when I was trying to help an ally village with some dark elves, and one of the friendly archers saw that I was hurt gravely, so he thought he would be nice and toss me a potion to heal me... only for the potion to heal me, and then break my neck causing a game over.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The optimization of the game is generally stable, but users report occasional bugs and performance issues, especially in complex dungeon designs. Many feel that the game lacks sufficient optimization options and requires further refinement, particularly when compared to a long-established free competitor. Overall, while the game has potential, its current optimization shortcomings make it difficult to justify its price.
- “Peak gameplay and performance.”
- “Generally stable, though occasional bugs and performance issues can arise, particularly with complex dungeon designs.”
- “However, it's poorly optimized.”
- “It definitely still needs more optimization options, and some parts of the game still need to be fleshed out more, but it's a good game nonetheless :)”
- “Optimization is very bad.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while players report significant bugs when managing large armies and issues with stockpiles, many are pleasantly surprised by the overall lack of glitches for an early access title. However, it remains unfinished and somewhat confusing, suggesting that players should be prepared for a buggy experience, with potential improvements in the future.
- “The game gets too buggy when you have more than 20 units in an army.”
- “It's still buggy and confusing.”
- “But it's not finished, is still a little buggy, and lacks proper instructions.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a surprising emotional depth in the game, forming attachments to characters like the goblin chef and experiencing genuine sorrow during pivotal moments, such as the death of a dragon. These emotional connections enhance the overall gaming experience, making players feel invested in the outcomes of their characters.
- “But here's the kicker: when you least expect it, you might just end up getting emotionally attached to your little goblin chef who's struggling to make a meal out of thin air.”
- “The dragon died.. and I shed a tear, as I thought I would not see a single one of my men alive and that the keeper would have fallen.”
- “(Yes.. I did actually shed a tear when my men killed the dragon.. I'm the feeler type, okay :p)”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its retro tile-based graphics and dark fantasy setting, which create an immersive experience. Players appreciate the clear graphics and excellent music that enhance the overall ambiance without becoming irritating. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that captivates players.
- “The retro tile-based graphics and dark fantasy setting add to the immersive atmosphere.”
- “Great atmosphere with clear, clean graphics and excellent music that doesn't become irritating.”
- “But even back then, the atmosphere of the game sold me.”
- “It definitely has the atmosphere.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviewers express a desire for the game to be ported to mobile without the inclusion of microtransactions, highlighting a preference for a complete experience over monetization tactics. They appreciate the developer's commitment to continuous improvement and updates, contrasting it with the typical monetization practices seen in other alpha games.
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel exploitative, which is refreshing in today's gaming landscape.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of content without forcing players to spend extra money. It's nice to see a developer prioritize player experience over profit.”
- “I'd love it if they ported this to mobile as a full game with no microtransactions.”
- “What really gets me is the developer; this game is a proper alpha game. It has been in development with constant huge additions and changes since I first found it about a year and a half ago. I actually have faith that it will be finished—a weird thought for an alpha game in 2017, where it would normally be riddled with microtransactions and money-gouging DLCs.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Character development in the game offers more features compared to Dungeon Keeper, but it lacks the depth found in Nethack, resulting in a more superficial experience.
- “The character development is rich and engaging, allowing players to truly connect with their avatars.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful.”
- “The depth of character customization and growth adds a layer of strategy that keeps me invested.”
- “It has more features than Dungeon Keeper, but less depth for character development than NetHack.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful choices.”
- “I expected a rich narrative for the characters, but it ended up being very one-dimensional.”