Minecraft Dungeons
- September 22, 2021
- Double Eleven
- 17h median play time
Minecraft Dungeons is a fantasy hack-and-slash game that can be played as a single-player or with up to four players in multi-player co-op mode. Players explore action-packed, treasure-filled levels filled with varied environments, from canyons and swamps to mines, in a quest to save villagers and defeat the evil Arch-Illager. They can discover new weapons, items, and gear to help them take down a wide range of new and nasty mobs.
Reviews
- story317 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of Minecraft Dungeons is generally viewed as simplistic and straightforward, revolving around the quest to defeat the arch-illager, but it is complemented by engaging gameplay and vibrant graphics. While some players appreciate the lighthearted narrative and the variety of missions, others find it lacking depth and complexity, often feeling repetitive after completing the main storyline. The addition of DLCs expands the content and story, but many reviewers note that the base game’s narrative is short and may leave players wanting more.
“From the graphics and characters to the storyline and final bosses, this game is by far one of the best I've ever played, if not the best.”
“The story of an adventurer that travels the world to defeat the arch-illager is one for the books.”
“The quest to thwart the arch-illager's plans is a classic hero's journey, and the game's lighthearted tone adds an extra layer of enjoyment.”
“The story is very simple, and that's okay.”
“The story overall is practically non-existent.”
“After completing the main story and DLCs, there isn’t much to keep players coming back for more.”
- gameplay306 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Minecraft Dungeons is generally praised for its accessibility, smooth mechanics, and cooperative elements, making it enjoyable for players of all ages. However, many reviews note that it can become repetitive over time, especially in single-player mode, and lacks the depth found in more complex action RPGs. While the game features solid graphics and a satisfying combat system, some players feel it could benefit from more diverse mechanics and content to maintain long-term engagement.
“Honestly a very underrated Minecraft spinoff game with satisfying gameplay and progression.”
“The gameplay is smooth and well-balanced, with a simple yet satisfying combat system.”
“Minecraft Dungeons mixes fun gameplay with interesting mechanics and just builds on the world of Minecraft so much more.”
“The gameplay is not very engaging and quickly becomes tedious, especially when you're replaying the same levels over and over again.”
“Repetitive, boring, and clunky gameplay; too short and just not worth it.”
“Disappointingly, I can't grind it because there's just not enough unique mechanics to play for a long amount of time, and it doesn't take too long to get bored of all the current dungeons since there aren't too many overall.”
- graphics188 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of Minecraft Dungeons have received widespread praise for their vibrant and polished visuals, effectively maintaining the iconic blocky aesthetic of the original Minecraft while enhancing it with a colorful and charming art style. Players appreciate the smooth animations and immersive environments, which contribute to an engaging gameplay experience. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a standout feature, appealing to both fans of Minecraft and newcomers alike.
“The art style is colorful and charming, giving the game a unique, recognizable look, especially when combined with the action-packed environments of dungeons, castles, and lush landscapes.”
“The game’s visuals stay true to the iconic Minecraft aesthetic, but with a refined look that makes every level vibrant and immersive.”
“The voxel-style graphics are beautifully reimagined, creating a visually appealing experience that's both nostalgic and innovative.”
“Microsoft Dungeons uninstalled my graphics card driver.”
“It could be a fantastic game but the item upgrade system is the worst thing I've ever seen in my life and it dares to crash every 10 minutes despite the graphics being garbage.”
“The switch version sucks because it's optimized poorly and runs at 20fps on low graphics, so it's nice to have this version.”
- grinding146 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 16 % neutral mentions
- 82 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it both enjoyable and tedious. While some appreciate the fun of farming for better loot and leveling up, others feel that the grind can become excessively repetitive and time-consuming, often requiring significant hours to achieve desired gear. Overall, the game is best experienced with friends, as cooperative play can alleviate some of the grind's monotony.
“It has simple mechanics and builds that are just as simple but isn't too grindy either. Honestly, if MC Dungeons was given even more time to stew with its developers rather than have the focus taken to its cousin MC Legends, I could see this being actually popping off even for ARPG vets.”
“A damn spinoff is running nostalgia, amazing game and it's not too grindy and gives you that sense of victory constantly. You can take a damn 6-month break and it'll be fun as hell, and they didn't just give up on it like MC Legends; they released like 7 DLCs (correct me if I'm wrong) and each one containing effortful and entertaining missions, new gear, bosses, and nice cutscenes.”
“It has no mining, no farming (by that I mean crops and stuff), just pick up a friend and explore deep, visually stunning dungeons, caves, temples, roam the forests, soar with the elytra (to some extent in the void), gather breathtaking new pieces of legendary gear, just drop in and drop out co-op.”
“Game is fun but I deleted then reinstalled to play and found out that my save data was rolled back and all the time I spent farming and playing the game was for nothing, so yeah.”
“The gameplay is not very engaging and quickly becomes tedious, especially when you're replaying the same levels over and over again.”
“It gets boring, it's tedious, and it is so so so grindy.”
- music61 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and calming qualities, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's charm and variety, noting that it complements the game's environments and mechanics well, although some find certain tracks repetitive or less memorable compared to the original Minecraft. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, with many recommending it for its enjoyable and immersive qualities.
“It brings me nostalgia hearing the peaceful music when in the lobby.”
“The soundtrack, composed by Peter Hont, evokes the adventurous and eerie atmosphere of the dungeons, enhancing the immersive experience.”
“The music is perfect!”
“Edit: the stronghold's music is pretty annoying. Set video at 45 seconds (00:45) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brqc0dgnuru ... it fits as a cinematic soundtrack but as a gameplay soundtrack, it really is annoying.... especially when you do all the unlocked parts of it with the ender eyes (1h+).”
“The music isn't memorable; this game deserved Minecraft's level of music quality.”
“The music also feels odd.”
- replayability53 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its variety of content, customization options, and multiple difficulty levels that keep the experience fresh. However, some users feel that despite the available DLCs and seasonal events, the core gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth, leading to diminished replay value over time. Overall, while there are enjoyable aspects that encourage replaying, opinions vary significantly on how engaging the game remains after initial playthroughs.
“This game has a lot of replayability.”
“Great game, I used to have Dungeons on PS4 but I switched over to Steam. There's hours worth of unique content with all the DLCs and it's a very replayable game because of the customization.”
“The different difficulty levels mean there’s always a new challenge waiting, which keeps the game fresh and replayable.”
“Fun game, albeit a bit lacking in terms of replayability.”
“Even with the DLCs, I see little replayability value in this game.”
“Cool game but honestly after a while it just puts you to sleep, not much replayability either.”
- humor25 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it entertaining and often hilarious, especially when playing with friends. Many reviews highlight the game's funny art style, quirky character designs, and amusing glitches, such as exaggerated damage numbers and comical death animations. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted and engaging element to the gameplay, making it enjoyable for both solo and multiplayer experiences.
“Funny action RPG!”
“Their designs are very funny and unique.”
“It’s an entertaining dungeon crawler with a funny art style.”
- stability18 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes across various platforms, particularly on the Switch. While some players have not experienced major issues, many describe the game as clunky and rushed, leading to frustrating gameplay interruptions. Overall, the game is enjoyable but requires substantial improvements in stability to enhance the user experience.
“It always glitches, and one time when I was in the middle of the tower, it glitched so I had to lose an attempt.”
“This game is a mess - every time I want to play it with my kids (I have 3 versions of it), something doesn't work. Most of the time, it takes so long to fix that my kids lose interest, or as of now, it doesn't work at all. Two versions now give me the white window of death - no troubleshooting worked for me after 3 hours for nothing.”
“The Switch version is so very bad, especially when it comes to FPS, frame time consistency, and general buggy behavior such as eating inputs.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is highly praised for its immersive quality, effectively blending sound effects and music to create a compelling and adventurous environment. While the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they complement the overall atmosphere, drawing players into a world that feels both real and challenging. Many users appreciate the nostalgic Minecraft-like ambiance, which keeps them engaged for extended periods.
“The atmosphere makes the world feel real; the enemies you fight feel like a force that could exist despite the fantasy elements of the game, along with presenting a real challenge for the player.”
“The music and sound effects are also well done, adding to the atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere makes the world feel real, the enemies you fight feel like a force that could exist despite the fantasy elements of the game, along with presenting a real challenge for the player.”
“Music and sound: the soundtrack, composed by Peter Hont, evokes the adventurous and eerie atmosphere of the dungeons, enhancing the immersive experience.”
“The atmosphere is very much like Minecraft and it sucks me in for hours at a time.”
- optimization11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 55 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization varies significantly across platforms, with the PC version generally offering great visuals and performance, while the Switch version suffers from severe performance issues, including low frame rates and stuttering. Some players report minor stuttering on PC, likely due to individual hardware limitations, but overall, the game is well-optimized for higher-end systems. Enhancements and mods can improve the experience, particularly for those on lower-end rigs.
“Great visuals and fantastic performance.”
“Scalable levels based on your own performance.”
“Enhancing overall performance and smoothness of the game can certainly help with the overall enjoyment for lower-end systems.”
“You can't justify it being because they had to simplify it because of total enemies on screen, because that would mean they'd at least balance out the game for the performance to be unaffected by that.”
“The Switch version sucks because it's optimized poorly and runs at 20fps on low graphics, so it's nice to have this version.”
“About 20 hours in, and all of a sudden I have freezing and stuttering every time I take damage now.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players initially perceiving it as a cash grab due to its price point and microtransactions. However, many have been pleasantly surprised by the game's quality and gameplay, finding it polished and engaging despite the monetization concerns. Overall, while the presence of microtransactions is noted, the game's execution has led to a more favorable reception than expected.
“It's Torchlight, Microsoft edition, with microtransactions.”
“Pretty much a cash grab.”
“It feels quite a bit like a cash grab.”
“Microtransactions for a full experience.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Character development in this game is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with reviewers noting that it does not align with traditional RPG standards. While some players appreciate the overall experience, many feel that the character progression is insufficient and does not meet expectations for a detailed narrative or growth.
“[b] Character development: 5/5 [/b]”
“Do you want some fancy flashy dungeon crawl that takes hours to plan out your next move, and detailed character development? This is not the game for you.”
“However, since the items also result in the entirety of the character development, this is hardly sufficient.”
“Because, frankly, there isn't any character development... not in the traditional RPG sense of the word.”
“Do you want some fancy, flashy dungeon crawl that takes hours to plan out your next move, and detailed character development? This is not the game for you.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a compelling story that evokes a strong sense of heroism, creating a wholesome and uplifting experience for players. Users appreciate the narrative's ability to engage them deeply, contrasting it positively with more toxic gaming environments.
“The first arc has the most wonderful story and really made me feel like a hero.”
“Very mind-numbing; imagine League but less toxic and more wholesome.”