KeeperRL

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,176 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • replayability
KeeperRL Game Cover
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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.

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Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,176 reviews
gameplay43 positive mentions
grinding28 negative mentions
  • Engaging gameplay that combines elements of Dungeon Keeper and Dwarf Fortress, providing a unique dungeon management experience.
  • Active developer support with frequent updates and a responsive community, enhancing the game's content and mechanics over time.
  • High replayability with various factions to play as, each offering different playstyles and strategies.
  • Lacks depth and complexity compared to its inspirations, leading to a feeling of repetitiveness after a few playthroughs.
  • Combat mechanics can be clunky and frustrating, with issues in AI behavior and unit control during battles.
  • The game can be punishingly difficult, with sudden spikes in enemy strength that can lead to quick and unexpected game overs.
  • gameplay180 mentions

    The gameplay of "KeeperRL" offers a blend of dungeon management and roguelike elements, featuring procedural generation and multiple factions that enhance replayability. However, many players find the mechanics to be shallow and repetitive, with a lack of depth and polish that detracts from the overall experience. While the game has a solid core concept and enjoyable gameplay loop, it often feels unfinished and in need of more content and refinement to fully realize its potential.

    • “The game blends dungeon management with roguelike elements, offering deep strategic gameplay and high replay value through its procedural generation and multiple game modes.”
    • “The overall gameplay loop is enjoyable (though not terribly deep) and a variety of starting factions (including a necromancer, goblin king, and goody-two-shoes knight) provide enough variety for several playthroughs.”
    • “I consider this game a hidden gem, it's incredibly fun and not overly complex in its mechanics while maintaining a solid gameplay progression, different playable classes provide a lot of gameplay variation and unique challenges.”
    • “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 is no point to playing this game for more than 1.9 hours; in 1 hour of gameplay, you can experience the same as what it's like 100 hours in.”
    • “The ui is terrible, the graphics unspeakable, the gameplay uninteresting.”
  • graphics68 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by simple, retro tile-based visuals that evoke a nostalgic charm, reminiscent of classic titles like Dwarf Fortress and Dungeon Keeper. While many players appreciate the unique art style and its compatibility with the game's complex mechanics, some feel that a bit more visual polish could enhance immersion. Overall, the graphics are seen as functional and fitting for the genre, appealing primarily to those who value gameplay depth over high-end visuals.

    • “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.”
    • “Great atmosphere with clear, clean graphics and excellent music which doesn't become irritating.”
    • “The UI is terrible, the graphics unspeakable, the gameplay uninteresting.”
    • “Wildly underappreciating the amount of work it would take, it would be nice to have better graphics that scale up (or when you zoom in don't become difficult to work out what it is as the detail gets lost).”
    • “Cons: music, battle, controls, instructions, notifications, constant auto save, 15 dollars wasted, graphics worse than Minecraft, no story.”
  • replayability51 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability due to its procedurally generated maps, multiple factions, and diverse starting conditions, ensuring each playthrough feels unique. While many players appreciate the depth and variety offered, some express concerns about the current lack of balance and depth in gameplay, suggesting that replayability may improve with future updates and mod support. Overall, the combination of strategic elements and roguelike mechanics contributes to a rich and engaging experience that encourages repeated play.

    • “The game blends dungeon management with roguelike elements, offering deep strategic gameplay and high replay value through its procedural generation and multiple game modes.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “Minion combat AI can be improved, the replayability is rather small at the moment, and I wish there were more objectives than simply 'kill everyone.'”
  • grinding33 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is often seen as tedious and time-consuming, with many players expressing frustration over micromanagement and inventory management. While some appreciate the depth of customization and options available, the overall experience can feel like a slow crawl, particularly in the late game where resource gathering becomes monotonous. Despite these criticisms, a few players find the game enjoyable, suggesting that the grinding may be manageable for those willing to invest the time.

    • “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.”
  • story25 mentions

    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. While players appreciate the depth and bizarre adventures, many feel the lack of a structured narrative or clear objectives detracts from the overall experience, with some calling for more developed story elements and quests. Overall, the game is seen as a roguelike where players embrace their role as the villain, but it may leave those seeking a traditional story unsatisfied.

    • “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. You get to choose between trying to escape (which never works) or ending the quest, meaning all loot is lost and most minions are captured.”
    • “The campaign/story mode needs to have some goals to accomplish. Right now, this feels like a sandbox with little more development, such as quests or guidance.”
    • “Instead, you now have to destroy enemy bases in order to gain mana, which detracts from the narrative experience.”
  • music19 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the original soundtrack as excellent and worth purchasing, while others find it bland and forgettable. Despite the varied opinions, many agree that the soundtrack enhances the atmosphere, even if the overall experience of the game falls short of expectations.

    • “The soundtrack OST 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.”
    • “The music in this game has a depressing tone.”
  • humor15 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players highlighting its bizarre and absurd scenarios that lead to unexpected and hilarious outcomes, such as comically tragic deaths and quirky character interactions. Many reviews note that the game successfully blends dark themes with humor, creating a unique and entertaining experience that keeps players laughing throughout their gameplay. Overall, the humor is described as a significant and enjoyable aspect, contributing to the game's charm and replayability.

    • “It was hilarious.”
    • “First 5 minutes were the game crashing, but 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 gravely hurt, 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.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The optimization of the game is generally stable, but users report occasional bugs and performance issues, especially in complex dungeon designs. Many feel that it lacks sufficient optimization options and is poorly optimized overall, making it difficult to justify its price compared to a well-established free competitor.

    • “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.”
  • stability5 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while players report a significant increase in bugs when managing large armies and some issues with stockpiles, many are pleasantly surprised by the relative lack of glitches for an early access title. However, it is still considered unfinished and somewhat buggy, leading to a cautious recommendation for those who are tolerant of potential instability.

    • “The game gets too buggy when you have more than 20 units in an army.”
    • “But it's not finished, it's still a little buggy and lacks proper instructions.”
    • “So if you like a buggy game that may be stable in a year... or not, buy it.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game features a captivating atmosphere enhanced by retro tile-based graphics and a dark fantasy setting, complemented by clear visuals and excellent, non-intrusive music. Overall, players find the atmosphere to be immersive and engaging.

    • “The retro tile-based graphics and dark fantasy setting add to the immersive atmosphere.”
    • “Great atmosphere with clear, clean graphics and excellent music which doesn't become irritating.”
    • “It definitely has the atmosphere.”
    • “Overall atmosphere.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Players express strong emotional responses to pivotal moments in the game, such as the death of a dragon, which evokes feelings of sadness and attachment to characters. The experience is described as deeply moving, highlighting the game's ability to elicit genuine tears and emotional investment from players.

    • “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”
  • monetization2 mentions

    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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

25hMedian play time
38hAverage play time
6-84hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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