Pixel Dungeon

About

Pixel Dungeon is a single player casual role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Retronic Games and was released on May 29, 2015. It received positive reviews from players.

"Pixel Dungeon" is a traditional roguelike game with pixel-art graphics. The player explores randomly generated dungeons, battling enemies, collecting items and leveling up their character. With permadeath and many different heroes to choose from, each playthrough is a unique challenge.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 269 reviews

graphics7 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Pixel Dungeon is a classic roguelike that offers addictive gameplay with a high level of challenge, making each run feel rewarding.
The game features a variety of character classes and randomly generated dungeons, ensuring that no two playthroughs are the same.
It's a great game for casual play, allowing players to pick it up and put it down easily, while still providing depth for those who want to master it.

The PC version suffers from bugs, including a disappearing cursor and crashes, which significantly detract from the gameplay experience.
Many players recommend the free mobile versions or modded versions like Shattered Pixel Dungeon, which are better maintained and offer more features.
The game can be excessively difficult, with a reliance on RNG that can lead to frustrating experiences, especially for new players.

graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
44%
17%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a simplistic pixel art style that, while not groundbreaking, effectively conveys gameplay elements and evokes nostalgia. Many users appreciate the charming and functional visuals, noting that they enhance the overall experience despite lacking high-end detail. Overall, the graphics are seen as a fitting choice for the game's design, contributing to its appeal without aiming for flashy aesthetics.
- “The pixel graphics are far from the best ever, but the visual cues tell you what's coming, what's happening, and what you're getting clearly and easily.”
- “The graphics are charming and look great even for pixel characters; if you have been with this for a while, you know the extra efforts put into little things like background, lighting, and etc. over the bunch of updates it had since being created.”
- “The controls are simple, the graphics nostalgic, and the soundtrack superb.”
- “The graphics are sweet and simple, but they feel very cheap.”
- “This is a simplified rogue-like with simple graphics thrown on it, as simplicity is the core idea.”
- “Artwork is standard and lacks any significant detail.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
47%
20%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and simplistic, often expressing a desire for more variety. While some appreciate the soothing quality of the soundtrack and the sound effects, others prefer to play without music altogether. Overall, the music is described as middle-of-the-road, with a few standout moments, but it generally lacks the depth and engagement expected by players.
- “The controls are simple, the graphics nostalgic, and the soundtrack superb.”
- “This is an awesome game, from the soundtrack to all the mysterious items you can find.”
- “Personally, I find the music to be really soothing and the graphics remind me a lot of those from the era of Ultima V.”
- “The music, however, is banal and repetitive.”
- “One major con is the music... there is only one song for all levels in the dungeon.”
- “Music is middle-of-the-road.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay is reminiscent of classic mystery dungeon games, featuring turn-based movement and combat that encourages strategic thinking. While it offers streamlined mechanics and a strong roguelike experience, some players feel it lacks innovation, relying heavily on RNG for item and enemy generation. Overall, it provides an engaging and addictive experience, particularly for those who appreciate traditional mechanics without the burden of microtransactions.
- “You could compare the gameplay to a mystery dungeon game - the movement and combat is all paced by turns, and you're welcome to think combat through and weigh your odds.”
- “The pixel art, mechanics, and the different subclasses all contribute to this perfect gem of a game, but what makes it the most interesting is the RNG factor in map, enemy, but mainly item generation.”
- “Streamlined mechanics mean less time in inventory and more time adventuring.”
- “The base gameplay is fine, but there is literally nothing new here.”
- “An actual game on my phone that didn't try to drown me in microtransactions and had decent roguelike gameplay, though the difficulty is highly luck-based more than any skill or strategy whatsoever.”
- “It's quite traditional in its mechanics and is most comparable to the original Rogue and Brogue.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The story in the game is described as obscure and lacking a compelling overarching quest, which detracts from the overall experience. While players enjoy the freedom of exploration and the thrill of discovering high-quality items, they express a desire for more structured quests and a deeper narrative, similar to classic RPGs. Some players appreciate the inclusion of backstory in other games, suggesting that a more developed narrative could enhance engagement.
- “The fun of finding a high-quality weapon, wand, armor, or ring always keeps me coming back for more, and how each game is really its own story with a different play style required from the player every time.”
- “I like that this game reminds me of good old RPG types of games without forced quests to win the game and non-stop NPCs.”
- “Even though the story is a bit obscure and difficult to grasp.”
- “However, some hints of an overarching quest or purpose for going into the underworld would help; it is just not compelling enough to continue playing.”
- “It even has a little bit of backstory that doesn't impose on the gameplay itself.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers high replayability, with many users praising its endless gameplay and reasonable pricing. However, some players find it frustrating to master, and there are free alternatives available that may provide a better experience. Overall, the inclusion of Steam features like achievements enhances its replay value.
- “I'm glad the developer incorporated some Steam features such as achievements for additional replayability.”
- “Great replay value.”
- “It has tons of replayability.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is noted for its smooth performance, indicating effective optimization that enhances the overall gameplay experience.
- “It runs smoothly.”
- “The game is well-optimized, providing a seamless experience even on lower-end hardware.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the performance, making it accessible for a wider audience.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game is praised for its monetization model, being available for free on mobile without intrusive microtransactions or ads, which enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the lack of pressure to spend money, making it a standout title in the mobile gaming landscape.
- “An actual game on my phone that didn't try to drown me in microtransactions and had decent roguelike gameplay.”
- “This game and Shattered Pixel Dungeon are on mobile for free, or you can be like most of us here and pay for it anyway because the dev doesn't push microtransactions or ads.”
- “An actual game on my phone that didn't try to drown me in microtransactions and had decent roguelike gameplay (though the difficulty is highly luck-based more than any skill or strategy whatsoever).”
- “This is one of the best phone games I've ever seen and it's totally free and free of ads.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect enjoyable initially, but it quickly becomes tedious and frustrating over time. The requirement to manually bind controller controls adds to the overall sense of tedium.
- “It's fun for the first few hours, but then it gets tedious and annoying.”
- “It is very tedious, to say the least.”
- “First off, I'm told I have to manually bind controller controls, which is tedious, but I'm okay with that.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability on iOS and Android platforms, with users reporting no glitches. However, the Mac version suffers from frequent crashes and issues with corrupted game saves, making it less reliable for PC players.
- “In addition, the mobile versions seem to be bug-free, so if you want an up-to-date version of this game, download those.”
- “This game is incredibly fun and runs great, and is one of the few mobile ports that I have bought for PC.”
- “I've played on iOS and Android without glitches, but the Mac version crashes constantly and game saves become corrupted.”
- “The game is incredibly unstable on my PC; it crashes frequently and I've lost progress multiple times.”
- “Every time I try to load the game, it freezes and I have to restart my console, making it unplayable.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it funny and enjoyable, though some note that it can be frustrating until players grasp the mechanics. The randomness adds to its comedic appeal, making it easy to play and entertaining.
- “Funny game; it can be frustrating until you understand how to handle it.”
- “Very funny, easy to play and enjoy, and very random.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players highlight the game's ability to evoke strong emotional responses, often leading to feelings of turmoil. One humorous suggestion for coping with these intense emotions is to assert control through playful expressions, such as making "constipated gorilla noises." Overall, the emotional impact of the game is significant and multifaceted.