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
- Engaging gameplay with a variety of characters and synergies that keep each run unique and interesting.
- Great soundtrack and charming pixel art that enhance the overall experience.
- Easy to pick up and play, making it suitable for both casual and dedicated gaming sessions.
- Balance issues, particularly with the final boss and certain character classes, can lead to frustrating experiences.
- Limited depth and variety in gameplay can make runs feel repetitive after a while.
- RNG can heavily influence outcomes, making it difficult to rely on specific strategies consistently.
- gameplay182 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of tactical RPG elements and auto-battler mechanics, offering a strategic and addictive experience with a variety of builds and synergies. While many players appreciate the depth and unique core gameplay loop, some express concerns about balance issues, the impact of luck, and certain mechanics that can lead to frustrating gameplay moments. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable and engaging, though it may become repetitive over time.
“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.”
“Gameplay loop gets stale after an hour or so.”
“The exhaustion mechanic (if a character moves they won't attack that turn) leads to you having lots of dead turns where you just press 'fight'.”
“Ultimately, I can't endorse the game because the mechanics make the game frustrating, making the game feel at odds with itself.”
- music110 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, contributing significantly 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 sound design makes me think of my old SNES gaming days and is full of charm, though 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.”
- replayability78 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to a wealth of unlockables, diverse character combinations, and random elements that encourage experimentation with different strategies. While many players appreciate the depth and variety, some express concerns about repetitive gameplay and limited team compositions that may hinder long-term engagement. Despite these critiques, the general consensus highlights the game's ability to provide endless hours of fun and replay value.
“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.”
“Pixel art is simple but very nice to look at, the music is great, and the replayability is through the roof; this just does everything so right!”
“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.”
“Replayability needs some working on; you encounter a lot of the same bosses in runs, and I also wish it was a bit easier to get the party members you want.”
- graphics40 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game feature well-executed pixel art that evokes nostalgia, reminiscent of classic 8-bit and 16-bit styles, though some players note a lack of originality due to the reuse of character sprites. While the visuals are generally described as cute and functional, they may not impress everyone, with some finding them basic and lacking in depth. Overall, the graphics complement the game's fun and engaging gameplay, enhanced by a strong soundtrack.
“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.”
“The visuals let this game down, but the design is solid.”
“Though readability of both text and visuals is high overall, there are some areas and some options that are lacking.”
- story20 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for having virtually no story or narrative progression, with players noting that even after extensive gameplay, there is a complete absence of lore or character motivation. While the combat is described as enjoyable, the lack of any engaging story elements leaves many feeling uninvested in the overall experience.
“I feel the combat is fine, with plenty of variety and strategies, but I would have preferred it if there was more to it either in style, substance, story, exploration... just something.”
“And if you're expecting story, well... there really isn't one.”
“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.”
“Zero story or story progression, which is fine for most roguelites, but usually games will at least give a small nod to lore on the motivation of characters, all noticeably absent from this game.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, particularly on lower difficulty settings, suggesting that higher difficulties may be even more frustrating. Many feel that significant time investment is required to unlock essential characters and progress, making the experience feel like a slog. Overall, grinding is viewed as a major hurdle that detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
“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.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted as amusing but ultimately underwhelming, with players feeling that the potential for more comedic moments was hindered by limitations in gameplay mechanics and design. Many hoped for a richer experience that could have been achieved through unique items and character rewards, which would have enhanced the overall hilarity of the game.
“Funny little game”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % 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 offer minimal enhancements beyond basic health or attack increases, which may not be effectively utilized.
“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.”
