Puzzle & Dragons

About

Puzzle & Dragons is a single player casual role playing game. It was developed by GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc. and was released on November 8, 2012. It received positive reviews from players.

"Puzzle & Drags" is a free, addictive match-3 puzzle RPG with over 2000 monsters to collect. Its intuitive gameplay involves matching orbs to attack enemies, with various monster abilities and team combinations enhancing combat. The game now includes a multiplayer mode, but beware of bugs and grinding.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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81%

Audience ScoreBased on 11,486 reviews

gameplay184 positive mentions

monetization88 negative mentions

gameplay
457 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
55%
5%
The gameplay of the game is widely praised for its engaging and addictive mechanics, combining match-3 puzzle elements with RPG and team-building strategies. While many players appreciate the depth and variety of gameplay, some express frustration with the increasing complexity and the introduction of mechanics that can feel unfair or overly punishing, particularly for new players. Overall, the game maintains a strong core gameplay loop, with frequent updates and a generous free-to-play model, though it may require a significant time investment to fully grasp its intricacies.
- “Gameplay is genius.”
- “It's the best puzzle combat game I've ever played due to its clever press and hold to match mechanic.”
- “The gameplay itself is a unique take on match 3 gameplay that one can either approach completely casually and as a way to kill a few minutes or get completely immersed in the meta and building the strongest team possible.”
- “I love collecting units and leveling them and the orb matching game, but over time they add more and more annoying mechanics that are very anti-fun to cater to the 1% that try to play this game like a competitive esport.”
- “This game has potential... but the overuse of insta-kill mechanics makes this game extremely unfair and near impossible to play unless you are a wallet warrior.”
- “Dungeons are absolutely unplayable at all with overly complicated mechanics and outrageously boss buffs and status effects.”
graphics
276 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
26%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning artwork and character designs, with many users highlighting the beautiful and creative visuals that enhance the gameplay experience. While some reviews note that certain graphical elements show their age or could use improvement, the overall aesthetic appeal and variety of monster designs are consistently appreciated. The game's art style, often described as anime-inspired, contributes significantly to its charm and addictiveness, making it a standout feature for players.
- “The visuals are gorgeous and there are a variety of cute and stunning monsters for you to collect.”
- “The graphics are amazing and the dungeons rock.”
- “Beautiful artistry and graphics.”
- “The graphics are very cluttered and overboard.”
- “Didn't like...kinda childish looking and the graphics are far too like Atari late 1980s to me or first Nintendo late 80s; just looks like an outdated game.”
- “My only very small complaint is that the UI graphics are dated compared to newer offerings, but this has the best gameplay and is generous with in-game currencies.”
monetization
174 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
21%
51%
The monetization model of the game is largely praised for being non-intrusive, with ads only appearing as optional bonuses rather than interrupting gameplay. Players appreciate that in-app purchases are not necessary for progression, allowing for a fully enjoyable experience without spending money, while still offering generous rewards and events. Overall, the game is considered very free-to-play friendly, avoiding the common pitfalls of aggressive monetization seen in many mobile games.
- “The events are the big seller of the game; they constantly have events and collaborations (for example: Fist of the North Star, Final Fantasy, Power Rangers, etc.) that make you want to keep playing. You don't even need to do any microtransactions, and it's a fun experience overall.”
- “It's not 'pay to win,' although the in-game purchases will help you advance, and they don't constantly nag you to spend money.”
- “You don't have to spend money to succeed, and there are no ads.”
- “The in-game purchases are way too expensive, thank god I don't have kids.”
- “So if you spent $100s or more on in-game purchases you basically lose it all.”
- “You can only request monsters from a small preset list, yet another cash grab.”
story
142 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
60%
13%
The game's story aspect receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the sweet storylines and engaging dungeons, while others criticize the lack of depth and emotional connection. New players often find the story mode challenging and punishing, leading to frustration, especially with overpowered enemies and a cluttered interface. Overall, while the game offers a variety of content and collaborations, there is a strong desire for a more cohesive and rewarding narrative experience.
- “For the past 8 years, this game and its story are vastly superior and amazing!”
- “So much fun this game appeals to young and old and is never-ending fun, the characters are those out of fantasy and reality and it is jaw-dropping to see how much is accomplished throughout the story. It is the best game to play if you love adventure, fun mystery, and excitement.”
- “The game was already entertaining, but with the addition of story mode, I've been enthralled all day!”
- “The story mode is riddled with bad mechanics that are way too punishing.”
- “Game has no story whatsoever and all you do in 'dungeons' is fight a string of battles in a linear fashion.”
- “It's a good game, but it can give you overpowered things at the start of the game; it also gets kind of repetitive after a while. Note: play the 3DS version, it actually has a story and isn't just infinite repetitive levels.”
grinding
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
1%
98%
The grinding aspect of the game is a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as both essential and excessively tedious. While some find the grind rewarding and addictive, especially when obtaining rare items or monsters, others criticize it for being overly punishing and a poor investment of time, particularly for free-to-play users. Overall, the game requires substantial grinding for progression, which can lead to frustration, especially with the need for constant farming and the randomness of character acquisition.
- “It's not grindy, and it's easy but not too easy to make progress.”
- “The 'progression' in this game is beyond punishing and grindy.”
- “This results in a pay-to-keep-up cycle which is grindy, hugely luck-based and a poor investment of time/money.”
- “Overall the game is good, though a few things are difficult such as making an ideal team that's good working together, to make this you need to spend countless days grinding.”
music
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
78%
5%
The music in the game has received mixed feedback from users, with many expressing frustration over persistent audio issues, including complete silence or music that only plays with headphones. While some players appreciate the charming soundtrack and sound effects when they work, numerous reports highlight bugs that prevent audio from functioning properly, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game's music is well-liked when accessible, but technical problems significantly hinder enjoyment for many players.
- “Love the puzzle game with a passion, great graphics, nice music, and interesting development with the story.”
- “Easy to pick up but more challenging to master; I love the art style and the character designs, the music is very charming too!”
- “Love the music, great art and collectibles.”
- “I enjoy puzzle games a lot nowadays, but I'd like to actually hear the sound effects and music, which I cannot hear at all. I would give this game a full 5 stars if this issue could be resolved.”
- “There's no sound or music unless I use earphones, even if I turn my volume all the way up when my headphones are disconnected and I turn the game's BGM and SFX all the way up.”
- “Every time I load this game, it has no audio; the background music and sound effects do not work whatsoever, even when I have my phone turned all the way up.”
stability
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
4%
89%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting frequent freezing, crashes, and bugs, particularly after recent updates. While some players enjoy the game and find it runs well on certain devices, others express frustration over persistent issues that hinder gameplay, such as freezing during tutorials and lag when performing actions. Overall, the game's stability appears to be a significant concern for a substantial portion of the player base.
- “Little to no glitches or interface errors, smooth and simple animations.”
- “Game runs great!”
- “Great game, so much detail and runs great.”
- “My game freezes on a white screen when trying to start the game, and then it closes.”
- “Worst game I ever played in my entire life. How are people supposed to enjoy a game that freezes during the second tutorial lesson and never stops freezing?”
- “A bit buggy and crashes a lot since version 8.0.0, which is frustrating because it's an amazing game.”
character development
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
32%
The character development in the game is highly praised for its stunning and detailed designs, which enhance the overall visual appeal. Players appreciate the variety of characters and team combinations available, making collection a compelling aspect of the gameplay. While the game is primarily a puzzle experience, the engaging character designs and art style contribute significantly to its charm and addictiveness.
- “The character designs are beautiful even though nowadays it lacks the amount of dragons one would expect this game to contain.”
- “Easy to pick up but more challenging to master; I love the art style and the character designs, the music is very charming too!”
- “Ridiculous collaborations, flexible controls, pretty awesome character designs, and a lot of gacha.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
88%
13%
Players find the humor in the game to be a highlight, particularly enjoying the funny monster designs and amusing crossovers, which add a lighthearted touch to the gameplay. However, some users feel that the overpowered monsters can detract from the fun, making certain aspects of the game feel less engaging. Overall, the humor is appreciated, but opinions vary on its impact on the game's balance.
- “I love collecting monsters and the matching orbs combo deluge is constantly hilarious.”
- “Aside from that, the game is a solid match-three game with hilarious crossovers and promotions like Puzzdroid and the DC Universe crossover (I have a Flash, myself...).”
- “Very fun game; the monsters are funny looking.”
- “I get so many duplicates it's not funny.”
optimization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
8%
23%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many users report smooth performance and enjoyable gameplay, there are notable issues, particularly on Android devices, including poor battery optimization and inconsistent performance across platforms. Some players express frustration with recent changes that have negatively impacted performance, while others highlight the need for better support for specific devices. Despite these concerns, the game's features and graphics are generally well-received.
- “The app runs smoothly, collecting monsters is fun, running dungeons is fun, making teams is fun.”
- “It runs smoothly, and there are a lot of features.”
- “Everything runs smoothly, and the graphics are beautiful.”
- “The worst flaw is the poor battery optimization of the game.”
- “Played on and off for nearly a decade on both iOS and Android, but they do not put the effort into making both clients equal in performance.”
- “The game itself is fun, but what's the point in giving you end game stuff immediately with nothing challenging at all for a while? I know I'll hate when things do get hard because it forces me to think about end game optimization without actually playing the game, which makes me want to cry.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
30%
10%
The game is praised for its exceptional replayability, attributed to its easy-to-learn gameplay, extensive team-building elements, and ongoing developer support. Players appreciate the constant influx of content, events, and freebies, which contribute to a virtually endless gaming experience. However, some users suggest that an offline mode could enhance replay value further.
- “Zero ads, gorgeous artwork, virtually endless replay value, constant freebies, nonstop events... I can't think of a bad thing to say about it.”
- “It's easy to learn, fun to play, has amazing art, and has tons of replay value.”
- “Easy to learn gameplay with a near unlimited amount of replay value due to team building elements as well as GungHo's continued support for the game.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express a lack of emotional engagement in the game, citing the absence of a narrative as a significant drawback that prevents any meaningful connection. While the gameplay is described as heartwarming and balanced, the overall experience feels hollow without a story to foster emotional investment.
- “The game is not easy or hard, but a heartwarming level of medium.”
- “In my personal opinion, I think you should add some sort of story or emotional attachment so there's not only a reward for beating up random monsters.”