The Dwarf Run

About

The Dwarf Run is a fast-paced, arcade-style running game. Players control a dwarf on a mission to reclaim stolen gold, avoiding obstacles, battling enemies, and collecting power-ups along the way. With simple controls and procedurally generated levels, each playthrough offers a new challenge.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 123 reviews

story18 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The game features charming humor and engaging dialogue, making it a fun experience.
The combat system is deep and requires strategic thinking, providing a satisfying challenge.
Exploration and puzzle-solving elements add variety to the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.

The arena section of the game is overly long and can feel like a grind, detracting from the enjoyment.
The graphics and interface are outdated, which may turn off some players.
Combat can be frustrating due to RNG elements and unbalanced difficulty, especially in later stages.

story
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
59%
6%
The game's story is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its humor, engaging plot twists, and unique scenarios that set it apart from typical RPGs. However, some critiques highlight that the narrative can be undermined by clunky gameplay mechanics and a lack of player choice in dialogue. Overall, while the story is often described as fun and interesting, its execution may be hindered by gameplay frustrations.
- “The story is humorous, engaging.”
- “It's not perfect, but good writing, well-designed scenarios, and a rather twisty plot all work together to make for an excellent game.”
- “The story is very unique in such a way that it separates from most turn-based RPG medieval games.”
- “The graphics, sound (and there's very little sound and no voices), and interface are 1990s to early 2000s and the story is okay, but has lots of cheese.”
- “This game barely has graphics from 1990, a non-existent and nonsensical storyline with the facial rendering of the devs slapping semi-human parodies of themselves on bodies like they did in Basement Jaxx - where's your head at?”
- “The story is nothing special and there are a lot of small sidequests.”
humor
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised as its strongest aspect, featuring engaging and quirky writing that often elicits genuine laughter. While the dialogue may lack depth and the overall story can be nonsensical, the witty banter between characters and unexpected twists contribute to a fun and lighthearted experience. Players appreciate the unique blend of old-school RPG elements with a comedic flair, making it an enjoyable, if sometimes frustrating, adventure.
- “The humor is its biggest strength; the graphical style works very well with this. No one will call it a pretty game, but it makes it work, and the way it works with the humor gives it a very unique style that's a blast to play.”
- “The writing is very good as well, with elements of humor throughout.”
- “Enjoyable characters, light-hearted writing, and funny dialogues.”
graphics
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
67%
10%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they resemble those from the 1990s to early 2000s, often describing them as simple or outdated. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and how the graphics complement the humor, others criticize them as lacking detail and creativity, with a few finding them creepy or unappealing. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they can still contribute positively to the game's unique style and enjoyment.
- “The humor is its biggest strength; the graphical style works very well with this. No one will call it a pretty game, but it makes it work, and the way it works with the humor gives it a very unique style that’s a blast to play.”
- “Dwarf Run may have simple 3D graphics and sound, but it boasts bags of personality.”
- “I actually liked the graphics, maybe because I'm nostalgic for older games; and the humor is often pretty good, which makes it okay that the story doesn't always make sense.”
- “The graphics, sound (and there's very little sound and no voices), and interface are 1990s to early 2000s and the story is ok, but has lots of cheese.”
- “This game barely has graphics from 1990, a non-existent and nonsensical storyline with the facial rendering of the devs slapping semi-human parodies of themselves on bodies like they did in Basement Jaxx - where's your head at?”
- “The dev did use only standard assets, so also graphically the game is very boring.”
gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
42%
12%
The gameplay is characterized by original and deep mechanics that offer a mix of challenging combat and engaging puzzle-solving, appealing to players who enjoy strategic elements. However, the experience is marred by instability and minor bugs, which detract from immersion and overall enjoyment. While the humor and writing add charm, some players find the mechanics not fully streamlined, making it less accessible for casual gamers.
- “The game has a lot of humor in its writing, the core combat and puzzle-solving gameplay is fun, and you really notice that this is one man's labor of love.”
- “Admittedly, the combat mechanics are meaningful, deep, challenging, and damn close to perfect.”
- “The puzzles are fun and not too hard, rewarding when you work them out, and the overall gameplay is great if you like a party RPG where you are constantly trying to get better loot.”
- “Thumbs up for gameplay, but ruined by instability.”
- “It's a playable game, but due to minor bugs and the way the gameplay fails to immerse or show off any skills in level design, mechanics, or even a fresh idea.”
- “Cons: dull humor and dialogue, broken gameplay mechanics, and a difficulty curve that puts it out of the range of casual gamers.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is generally catchy and memorable, with some players praising its ability to create atmosphere. However, there are mixed opinions, as some find the music adequate but lacking depth, while others criticize it for being overly loud and of poor quality. Overall, the soundtrack has its highlights but could benefit from improvements.
- “Either way, you're gonna have the music stuck in your head; it's catchy.”
- “Nice music and graphics.”
- “The music is excellent, and the game does a good job of creating atmosphere.”
- “The music was super loud and also not very good.”
- “Most of the music was adequate but could have been stronger to add more atmosphere.”
- “+ limited score for music and sound effects.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
80%
Reviews indicate that the game features minimal to no grinding, making it accessible for completionists who can gain sufficient experience through side quests. Players appreciate the absence of mindless grinding, as there are no random encounters or repetitive monster battles, contributing to a more enjoyable gameplay experience. Overall, the lack of grinding is seen as a positive aspect that enhances the game's appeal.
- “No grinding for an easy playthrough; you can only collect arrows/ammo once, and there's no way to grind your characters up.”
- “The game offers a refreshing experience with minimal grinding, allowing players to focus on the story and exploration.”
- “I appreciate how the game balances progression without excessive grinding, making it enjoyable and engaging.”
- “Light-hearted story, with teeth-grinding gameplay.”
- “If you're playing this game as a completionist, then there shouldn't be any grinding done at all, because you've already done all the side quests which should give you enough experience to be fine.”
- “There is also no mindless grinding in this game as there are no random encounters or random monsters.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its rich storytelling and appealing visuals, contributing to an immersive experience. While the music is considered excellent and enhances the atmosphere, some users feel it could be stronger to further elevate the overall ambiance.
- “This game was well thought out; the story actually feels rich, with the atmosphere looking pretty nice.”
- “The music is excellent, and the game does a good job of creating atmosphere.”
- “Most of the music was adequate but could have been stronger to add more atmosphere.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
50%
The game's optimization is mixed; while it runs smoothly and features appealing visuals and enjoyable combat, many users report performance issues and a lack of tactical depth due to ineffective perks and attributes, leading to a frustrating experience overall.
- “Runs smoothly, looks nice, and the combat system is fun.”
- “The optimization really enhances the overall gameplay experience.”
- “I appreciate how well the game performs on lower-end hardware.”
- “Most perks are absolutely useless, most attributes are also, many items don't work as they should. All in all, the game has no tactical depth, performance is bad; well... a waste of time.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game may initially appear to be a cash grab due to its presentation, but players find that it is a well-crafted experience that plays competently, suggesting that the value justifies its pricing.
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development is praised for its quality, indicating that the characters are well-crafted and undergo meaningful growth throughout the game.
- “The character development is incredibly well done, allowing players to form deep connections with the characters.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
- “The depth of character development adds layers to the story, making each character's growth feel meaningful and impactful.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with users reporting it as rarely buggy; however, there are occasional instances of pop-in issues and minor shoddiness.
- “Rarely buggy, but there are occasional pop-ins and shoddiness.”
- “The game experiences frequent crashes, making it frustrating to play.”
- “I encountered several stability issues that disrupted my gaming experience.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong sense of nostalgia, feeling emotionally connected to the game as it evokes memories of classic Sierra On-Line adventures and Gold Box RPGs. This emotional resonance enhances their overall gaming experience.
- “This game made me feel like I'm back in the good old days of Sierra On-Line adventures and Gold Box RPGs.”

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2h Median play time

2h Average play time

2-2h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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The Dwarf Run

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