Minecraft Dungeons
- September 22, 2021
- Double Eleven
- 24h 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
- story290 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of Minecraft Dungeons is generally viewed as simple and straightforward, revolving around the quest to defeat the arch-illager, a villain corrupted by power. While some players appreciate the lighthearted tone and engaging gameplay, many criticize the narrative for being basic and lacking depth, often feeling repetitive after the main campaign, which is relatively short without the additional DLC content. Overall, the game offers a fun experience, but those seeking a complex or immersive storyline may find it lacking.
“The story of an adventurer that travels the world to defeat the arch-illager is one for the books.”
“The story slaps -- I won't spoil it for you, but you go from feeling like a small, insignificant warrior fighting small fry to battling giant golems and god-like figures.”
“The game features a simple yet engaging story that follows a group of heroes as they battle the arch-illager and his minions to save the land from darkness.”
“The story is very simple, and that's okay.”
“The story overall is practically non-existent.”
“The story is boring, when there is one, and I typically just ignore the story because it really doesn't matter.”
- gameplay275 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Minecraft Dungeons is generally praised for its accessibility and engaging mechanics, making it suitable for both casual players and newcomers to the action RPG genre. While many enjoy the cooperative elements and the variety of weapons and gear, some find the gameplay repetitive over time, with a lack of depth compared to more complex titles like Diablo. Overall, it offers a fun and polished experience, though some players wish for more content and variety to sustain long-term interest.
“While it doesn’t have the depth of more complex action RPGs like Diablo, Minecraft Dungeons nails its core mechanics, making it approachable for beginners and casual gamers.”
“The gameplay is smooth and the combat is satisfying, with a good variety of weapons and enemies to keep things interesting.”
“This action-adventure gem from Mojang Studios offers a new perspective on the Minecraft universe, combining its iconic blocky charm with exhilarating gameplay and captivating exploration.”
“The gameplay is not very engaging and quickly becomes tedious, especially when you're replaying the same levels over and over again.”
“Far too simple mechanics, lack of any meaningful, long-lasting progression, no skill tree, no classes... boring maps that feel like they drag on far too long.”
“Repetitive, boring, and clunky gameplay; too short and just not worth it.”
- graphics170 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and charming art style, which retains the iconic blocky aesthetic of Minecraft while enhancing it with polished visuals and colorful environments. Many players appreciate the game's ability to create a nostalgic yet innovative experience, with smooth performance and minimal bugs. However, some critiques mention a desire for more elements from the original Minecraft, as well as occasional graphical issues, but overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature that complements the engaging gameplay.
“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 voxel-style graphics are beautifully reimagined, creating a visually appealing experience that's both nostalgic and innovative.”
“The graphics are beautiful, the story is great, and the combat is fun.”
“For how lackluster the graphics are, the game should not run this poorly, especially so far out from release after a ton of updates.”
“The graphics didn't impress me either.”
“Ok... this game has terrible graphics.”
- grinding135 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 16 % neutral mentions
- 82 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding, often requiring players to invest extensive hours to obtain better gear and complete challenges. While many players find the grinding enjoyable, especially in co-op mode, others describe it as tedious and repetitive, particularly when farming for specific items or enchantments. Overall, the experience of grinding can vary widely, with some players appreciating the depth it adds to gameplay, while others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment.
“It has simple mechanics and builds that are just as simple but isn't too grindy either. Honestly, if Minecraft Dungeons was given even more time to stew with its developers rather than have the focus taken to its cousin Minecraft Legends, I could see this being actually popping off even for ARPG veterans.”
“My friend is pissed too because we aren't grinding a whole month again just for our character to be deleted again, do not recommend.”
“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, drop out co-op.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“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.”
- music54 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, creating a calming and immersive atmosphere. However, some players find certain tracks, particularly those associated with specific gameplay elements, to be repetitive or annoying over extended play sessions. Overall, the soundtrack is generally considered enjoyable and fitting for the game's aesthetic, though some players wish for a more memorable or dynamic composition.
“The soundtrack, composed by Peter Hont, evokes the adventurous and eerie atmosphere of the dungeons, enhancing the immersive experience.”
“The music is perfect!”
“The graphics are charming, the music is on point, and it has enough loot and variety of enemies to keep itself interesting for the time being.”
“The music isn't memorable; this game deserved Minecraft's level of music quality.”
“The stronghold's music is pretty annoying.”
“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+).”
- replayability49 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a mixed perception of replayability in the game, with some players praising the extensive content and variety of difficulty levels that enhance replay value, particularly with the addition of DLCs. However, others express disappointment, noting that the core gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth compared to other titles in the genre. Overall, while many find the game enjoyable and replayable, especially with customization options and seasonal events, some feel it falls short in long-term engagement.
“Amazing spin-off, tons of fun and replayability.”
“The different difficulty levels mean there’s always a new challenge waiting, which keeps the game fresh and replayable.”
“The level design in this game is just flawless and is very replayable in the base game, but the DLC just adds even more to enjoy and more levels to rotate through to suck as much fun from this good game as you can.”
“Fun game, albeit a bit lacking in terms of replayability.”
“Even with the DLCs, I see little replayability value in this game.”
“As a roguelike lover, this game sucks; the controls are poor, the replayability gets boring super fast, and it's just overall not fun.”
- humor20 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players noting its funny designs, quirky animations, and amusing gameplay elements that enhance the overall experience. Many reviews highlight the comedic aspects of character interactions and damage displays, contributing to a lighthearted atmosphere that makes the game enjoyable both solo and with friends. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm that resonates well with players, making it a standout feature.
“As such things get kinda funny (my damage numbers will do maybe 20 million at most but at the end of the level total damage will glitch and show 9.2 quintillion or more specifically 2^63 when it's supposed to be like 4 billion) and the only downside for me is that the achievements make me feel poor (when they require DLC content to do) which is still an emotion so it works.”
“Their designs are very funny and unique.”
“It’s an entertaining dungeon crawler with a funny art style.”
- stability17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with many users reporting bugs, glitches, and performance issues, particularly on the Switch version, which suffers from low frame rates and input problems. While some players have not experienced significant issues, the overall consensus indicates that the game feels rushed and requires substantial fixes to improve its stability and performance.
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or bugs.”
“I haven't encountered any stability issues during my gameplay.”
“The performance is consistent, making for a seamless gaming 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.”
“Additionally, the game can be quite buggy, with lag and loading problems.”
“The Switch version is so very bad, especially when it comes to FPS, frame time consistency, and general buggy behavior such as eating inputs.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % 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 game's narrative and overall atmosphere, drawing players in for extended gameplay. The combination of realistic enemy presence and engaging sound design enhances the sense of challenge and adventure, reminiscent of the beloved Minecraft aesthetic.
“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.”
“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
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 64 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant stuttering and performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems and the Switch version. While others report great visuals and solid performance, many suggest that adjustments like lowering resolution or using mods are necessary for a smoother experience. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary widely depending on the platform and individual hardware.
“Great visuals and fantastic performance.”
“Enhancing overall performance and smoothness of the game can certainly help with the overall enjoyment for lower-end systems.”
“Bought for Switch which has some performance issues; much better experience on PC if you download a mod to increase your FOV.”
“Horrible optimization, like all things Mojang.”
“You have to drop the resolution below native and use FSR just to stop the stuttering, and it's still pegging the fan hard.”
“About 20 hours in, and all of a sudden I have freezing and stuttering every time I take damage now.”
- monetization7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users initially perceiving it as a cash grab due to its price point and microtransactions. However, many have found the game to be well-polished and enjoyable, suggesting that while monetization practices are present, they do not detract significantly from the overall experience.
“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
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Character development in this game is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with some reviewers noting that it does not align with traditional RPG standards. While one user rated it highly, the consensus suggests that the game prioritizes gameplay mechanics over meaningful character progression.
“Character development: 5/5”
“The character development is engaging and adds depth to the gameplay experience.”
“The way characters evolve throughout the game is truly impressive and keeps you invested.”
“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.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game particularly impactful, with the first arch delivering a compelling story that evokes a strong sense of heroism and personal connection.
“The first arc has the most wonderful story and really made me feel like a hero.”
“The emotional depth of the characters left a lasting impact on me.”
“I was moved to tears by the heartfelt moments throughout the game.”