The Dungeon Beneath
- October 23, 2020
- Puzzle Box Games
- 24h median play time
Get on Steam"The Dungeon Beneath" is a turn-based strategy game with puzzle elements. Players must navigate through a procedurally generated dungeon, using tiles to manipulate the environment and defeat enemies. With permadeath and a focus on resource management, each playthrough presents a new challenge.
Mac OS
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Very simple and fun gameplay that is easy to pick up and play.
- Offers a surprising level of depth with various strategies and character synergies.
- Great replayability with interesting unlocks and a charming retro aesthetic.
- Can feel repetitive after several runs, with some strategies being more viable than others.
- Balance issues, particularly with the final boss being overly difficult compared to earlier encounters.
- Limited character and item variety can lead to frustration when trying to build effective teams.
- gameplay91 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its strategic depth and addictive mechanics, blending elements of tactical RPGs and auto-battlers, which offers players a variety of builds and challenges. While many players appreciate the unique gameplay loop and the satisfaction of successful strategies, some express concerns about balance issues, the impact of luck, and certain mechanics that can lead to frustrating experiences. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging core mechanics and potential for creativity, though some players feel it lacks long-term depth and can become repetitive.
“On the surface, it looks like a simple auto-battler, but its depth and mechanics make this game extremely strategic and rewarding.”
“The game expertly blends tactical RPG elements with the tension of permadeath mechanics and the thrill of an auto-battler, creating a unique challenge that's both addictive and rewarding.”
“The core gameplay loop is completely unique, high in strategy, and presents a variety of different gameplay patterns for players to enjoy.”
“The gameplay loop gets stale after an hour or so.”
“The mechanics severely limit how much your decisions influence outcomes.”
“It's a puddle filled with annoying mechanics: tiny board, exhaustion, level 3 cap, poor items, luck-based odds of putting a decent party together.”
- music55 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy, retro-inspired soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While the soundtrack is often described as fantastic and reminiscent of classic 8-bit games, some players noted that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“The soundtrack has no right to be this good for a game so cheap.”
“Just hearing the music upon reopening the game months after beating it brings me great joy.”
“The aesthetic is like 8-bit Zelda and the music is a pulse-pounding synth vibe - really gets you into the action.”
“The music itself can get a little repetitive.”
“There appears to be only one song for the regular fights/rooms and another song for the dungeon boss fight at the end.”
“Also, the lack of soundtrack diversity is frustrating.”
- replayability39 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to a wealth of unlockables, diverse hero and troop combinations, and elements of randomness that encourage experimentation with different strategies. While many players appreciate the depth and variety, some note that the linear and repetitive nature may limit long-term engagement. Despite these concerns, the game's accessible design and frequent updates contribute to its enduring appeal.
“A lot of unlocks and just the right amount of randomness—all that adds up to great replayability!”
“Additionally, it has deep strategy and a huge number of hero and troop combinations, making for high replay value.”
“It's got a ton of characters and unlockables, and with the random elements and basically its built-in new game+, the dungeon beneath has incredible replay value.”
“Whatever way you play, it doesn't have enough replayability.”
“Biggest reason for not recommending is that the game really lacks the replayability rogue-lites have come to provide, for a few main reasons.”
“There are currently only a few viable team compositions which can put a burden on replayability.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic pixel art style reminiscent of classic 8-bit and 16-bit games, which many players find charming and well-executed despite some basic elements. While the visuals are generally clean and serve their purpose, they may not impress everyone, with some sprites appearing reused from other titles. Overall, the aesthetic complements the gameplay and is enhanced by a strong soundtrack, making it enjoyable for fans of retro-style graphics.
“I don't mostly like pixelated graphics, but this one is well executed, adding a nostalgic charm without compromising clarity.”
“The aesthetic is like 8-bit Zelda, and the music is a pulse-pounding synth vibe - really gets you into the action.”
“The art style is old school and suits the kind of game it is.”
“The graphics aren't going to amaze you.”
“Though readability of both text and visuals is high overall, there are some areas and some options that are lacking.”
“The visuals let this game down, but the design is solid.”
- story10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game lacks a meaningful story, with players noting that there is no narrative progression or character motivation throughout the experience. While the gameplay may be enjoyable, the absence of any lore or engaging storyline leaves many feeling uninvested. Overall, the consensus is that the game offers zero story elements, which may be acceptable for some roguelites but feels notably absent here.
“Not much more to say about the story either; if there is one, the 30+ levels I went through didn't advance it in the slightest, and the game is not engaging enough for me to care.”
“And if you're expecting a story, well... there really isn't one.”
“The game basically has no story at all, but the gameplay is fun.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, particularly noting that even on lower difficulty settings, significant effort is required to progress and unlock essential characters for the final boss. Many express concern that higher difficulty levels may exacerbate this grind, making the experience even more frustrating.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
“The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
“If the game is this much of a tedious slog on the babyhands difficulty, I can only imagine how unbearable it must be on the higher difficulties.”
“Beating the game at a lower difficulty than your skill level (or at least getting to Abbadon) so that you can get a good start with a large gift is very, very grindy.”
“It also feels like a lot of the characters needed to beat the final boss are locked behind hours of grinding.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the game has a humorous premise, many players feel it falls short of its potential, lacking the depth and variety needed to create consistently hilarious experiences. The absence of unique rewards and high-level achievements limits the comedic impact that could have been achieved through more inventive gameplay elements.
“Funny little game”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization of units in the game varies significantly, with some, like the elf archer with doom, showing marked improvements in performance upon leveling up, while others experience minimal enhancements, primarily in health or attack, which do not substantially impact their effectiveness.
“Leveling up an elf archer with doom makes a huge difference in performance, while leveling up some of the other units really doesn't do anything to change them outside of straight HP or attack on units that really don't make use of it.”
“The optimization in this game feels unbalanced; some characters shine while others remain stagnant, making the leveling system frustrating.”
“I expected a more refined optimization process, but it seems like certain units are just left behind, which diminishes the overall gameplay experience.”
