Soda Dungeon
- February 6, 2017
- Poxpower
- 14h median play time
Get on Steam"Soda Dungeon is a free-to-play game where players manage a tavern and recruit heroes to delve into a dangerous dungeon. The game features a variety of enemies to fight and loot to collect, which can be used to improve the tavern and attract better-equipped adventurers. With no paywalls or timers, it offers a relaxed, enjoyable experience for fans of dungeon-crawling RPGs."
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Reviews
- gameplay254 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Soda Dungeon" is characterized by a simple yet addictive loop involving recruiting party members, raiding dungeons, and upgrading gear, which appeals to fans of idle mechanics and RPGs. While the game offers engaging progression and charming pixel art, many players note that the combat mechanics can become repetitive and lack depth, leading to a grind-heavy experience. Overall, it is recommended for casual gamers looking for a lighthearted and entertaining time-waster, despite its limitations in variety and strategic depth.
“This game has a very satisfying yet simple gameplay loop.”
“You recruit party members to raid dungeons, upgrade your tavern to attract stronger allies, and seek out legendary gear while battling bosses with distinct mechanics.”
“Soda Dungeon delivers addictive and lighthearted dungeon-crawling fun with its charming pixel art style and strategic gameplay.”
“However, the lack of depth and variety in combat mechanics means the fun factor doesn't reach its highest potential.”
“First ~15 minutes are bearable when you discover the mechanics and items, but after that it quickly becomes a braindead cycle of repeating the same thing over and over with no sense of progression, it's just a hassle meant to waste your time with no satisfaction.”
“There's no actual RPG stuff going on; the gameplay is incredibly mindless and shallow.”
- graphics194 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of Soda Dungeon are characterized by a charming retro pixel art style that evokes nostalgia, appealing to fans of classic games. While some players appreciate the simplicity and humor in the visuals, others criticize them as lazy or lacking depth, suggesting that the character designs could be improved. Overall, the graphics are generally seen as serviceable and fitting for the game's lighthearted and casual nature, though opinions vary on their execution.
“Soda Dungeon delivers addictive and lighthearted dungeon-crawling fun with its charming pixel art style and strategic gameplay.”
“The pixel art style is charming, and the progression is addictive.”
“The art style and music, together, form an impeccable retro vibe with a modern mindset, without coming off as too aesthetically polished.”
“The developer didn't even bother doing any proper graphics for this train wreck; instead, they phoned in the graphics and used ugly, lazy retro pixel art.”
“The graphics are not charming pixels; they are rushed and lazy amateurs copy/pasting other people's designs poorly.”
“Poor design choices were given to players under the mask of 'retro' style; for some reason, developers think that pixel graphics means you can be lazy.”
- grinding177 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a prominent feature, with many players noting it can be both tedious and enjoyable. While some appreciate the satisfaction of grinding for loot and upgrades, others find the progression slow and repetitive, particularly in the later stages. Overall, the game offers a mix of auto-battling and manual grinding, appealing to fans of idle games, but may frustrate those seeking a more dynamic experience.
“A fun and humorous idling game with a good amount of variety, content, and achievements that aren't grindy.”
“After playing for 2.5 hours, I was able to get to my first warp, which seems to be the 'end-game' content as the game begins to get progressively more difficult and there's no grinding involved; progression is linear enough that it's enjoyable.”
“The progression felt very slow, tedious, and unfulfilling.”
“The game is fine, but after a while you get to see why it's free, because in addition to having microtransactions, the game decides to also waste the player's time by bringing overall progression to a grinding halt.”
“I enjoyed the game until late game; the last dimension becomes just pure grinding with no motive or objective, so it kinda sucks.”
- music159 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many players praising its catchiness and nostalgic quality, particularly in levels 80-99, while others find it repetitive and occasionally grating. The soundtrack is often described as fitting and enjoyable, enhancing the overall experience, though some users wish for separate volume controls for music and sound effects. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's charm, despite some criticisms regarding its repetitiveness and volume issues.
“The stage music for levels 80-99 was surprisingly catchy and I let it play on loop for way longer than I probably should have.”
“A phenomenal soundtrack, a nostalgic art-style/atmosphere and genuinely a great time.”
“The music is amazing, the pixel art is lovely, and it's also still a challenge to get further down the levels - especially a certain boss that heals constantly!”
“The music... well... I found the music sort of monotonous and grating.”
“The graphics are fairly generic and the music is a bit grating.”
“The only thing I can't stand about it is the music.”
- monetization111 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is generally viewed positively, with many players noting that while there are optional microtransactions available, they are not necessary for progression and do not detract from the overall experience. Most reviews highlight the absence of intrusive ads and paywalls, making it a fair free-to-play title that allows players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money. Overall, the game is praised for its balanced approach to monetization, offering in-game purchases that enhance the experience without being exploitative.
“It also manages to have in-game purchases without them feeling exploitative or needed to win, which is pretty impressive.”
“All microtransactions are optional meaning none of them are required to finish the game.”
“For a free game, it is impressive to see no paywalls, no ads, no annoying timers, and optional purchases that I haven’t had to use yet.”
“Sadly just another pay-to-win idle game cash grab.”
“Hit the grind and the monetization extended speed bump and decided it wasn't worth going forward.”
“It just feels like a massive cash grab as this game is loaded with microtransactions!”
- story94 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story in "Soda Dungeon" is generally viewed as simplistic and lacking depth, often described as thin or barely engaging, with many players opting to skip it altogether. While some appreciate the quirky premise and colorful characters, the overarching narrative is often overshadowed by the gameplay mechanics, making it feel secondary to the loot collection and idle mechanics. Overall, the game offers a light and humorous storyline that serves its purpose without being a focal point for players.
“This game is the best story-driven game I've ever played!”
“The story goes like this: you're a coward without a penny to your name; luckily there's a tavern that has soda which makes people easy to convince to do dangerous things for you.”
“Add on a huge pool of clever monsters, a predictable but enjoyable 'story' campaign, and a ton of loot to collect, the game has gone far and above my expectations.”
“Oh, the story is as deep as a puddle after a light drizzle.”
“Honestly, the plot is so thin it's practically transparent, but hey, at least it doesn't bog down the important stuff: collecting loot and mindlessly clicking.”
“The story is virtually non-existent, and the game doesn't throw many new combat options, making it a total button masher.”
- humor82 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky and entertaining nature, with players enjoying the funny concepts, amusing dialogues, and humorous character designs. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to blend idle mechanics with lighthearted humor, making it a delightful experience for casual play. While some find the humor simplistic or repetitive, the overall consensus is that it adds significant charm and enjoyment to the gameplay.
“With its quirky humor and endless adventures, Soda Dungeon is a delightful journey for players of all ages.”
“The concept of hiring soda-loving heroes to battle in dungeons is both hilarious and entertaining.”
“This game is a hilarious good time.”
- replayability33 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its dimensional progression system and random dungeon generation for keeping the experience fresh, while others criticize the finite content and repetitive mechanics that limit long-term engagement. Many enjoy the fun gameplay and customization options, but some feel that the overall replay value is low or could benefit from additional content. Overall, it offers a decent replay experience, particularly for casual play, but may not sustain interest for extended periods.
“The game excels in replayability, thanks to its dimensional progression system and the introduction of relics that offer permanent boosts.”
“The random dungeon generation also keeps the game fresh and provides a good level of replayability.”
“Replayability is fantastic; it goes forever, but it has a genius game mechanic that keeps you going on and on without feeling pointless.”
“However, the finite number of dimensions and bosses limits the game's long-term appeal, capping its replay value score.”
“The idea of the game is great; I have no problem with it, however, the reason I'm not recommending it is because of its appalling replayability value.”
“Game is kinda simplistic and after a while gets rather stale, but it still is fun to play if you have nothing else to do or just run it in the background and look at what you got. I would like if they added more things to it, like new enemy types, more loot types, maybe give it an upgradable classes option or skill tree for classes that can unlock a few new skills and passives; it would give the game much more replayability.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its smooth and stable performance, with minimal bugs or glitches, contributing to an engaging gameplay experience. While some users noted that further optimizations could enhance the game, it is generally regarded as one of the best-optimized mobile games available. The solid technical performance supports its addictive nature and replay value.
“The game's engaging progression system and gear optimization kept me playing longer than expected.”
“Soda Dungeon boasts a smooth and stable performance, with minimal bugs or glitches interrupting gameplay.”
“What surprised me is the game actually runs smoothly and almost all necessary things are there.”
“The game could use some optimizations, but Soda Dungeon 2 is already in beta, so I'm looking forward to seeing how the sequel turns out.”
“Technical performance is lacking, with noticeable bugs and glitches interrupting gameplay.”
“While the gameplay mechanics are repetitive, the overall optimization leaves much to be desired.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its phenomenal soundtrack and nostalgic art style, contributing to an engaging experience, especially for a free dungeon crawler. While some players note that the gameplay can become grindy, the overall ambiance and content richness are well-received, with ratings around 6/10 for atmosphere.
“A phenomenal soundtrack, a nostalgic art style, and genuinely a great time.”
“Overall, a great dungeon crawler, with a great atmosphere and unbelievable amounts of content for a free game.”
“The style of the game really fits its atmosphere, but the game can get grindy at times. That's fine with me as you can just set it in the background, put it on automode, and do something else while checking back later.”
“The style of the game really fits its atmosphere, but the game can get grindy at times. That's fine to me as you can just set it in the background, put it on automode, and do something else, checking back later.”
“Atmosphere: 6/10”
- stability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, "Soda Dungeon" is praised for its smooth and stable performance, with users reporting minimal bugs or glitches. However, some players have experienced occasional freezing on the loading screen, indicating a need for improvement in that area.
“It runs great minimized and has an autoplay feature for dungeons.”
“Game freezes on loading screen, please fix this.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, with some experiencing tears of joy upon completion. However, the repetitive nature of hiring champions can hinder the development of lasting emotional bonds with the characters, as players must frequently replace them.
“I shed a tear when I beat it.”
“I had one dungeon run go for 48 hours without me touching it at all; I'm up to nearly floor 78,000.”
“You can't hire a champion forever; you have to do it again and again, so you don't get that emotional connection with your team.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is characterized by simple yet nostalgic design reminiscent of classic titles, allowing players to customize their teams and gear. This feature enhances engagement for those seeking a balance between casual gameplay and personal input in character progression. Overall, it appeals to players who prefer a less time-intensive gaming experience while still enjoying customization options.
“The character design reminds me of the old Super Dodgeball, which I always enjoyed!”
“A lot of the free games are boring because they are super easy, but this one allows you to customize your team, gear, etc. I recommend it for those of you who don't want to spend a lot of time focused on the game but like to have some input on character development and action.”
“Character design: simple and basic.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“While the game allows for some customization, the overall character progression is limited and uninspired.”
