The Dweller

About

The Dweller is a single player casual strategy game with a horror theme. It was developed by Plug In Digital and was released on May 19, 2016. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"The Dweller" is a strategy survival game where players delve deep into a generated dungeon, gathering resources, battling monsters, and upgrading their gear. As the dweller, players must balance the need for exploration and resource gathering with the risk of encountering dangerous foes. With permanent death and a variety of difficulty settings, each playthrough offers a unique challenge.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 436 reviews

gameplay49 positive mentions

The game offers a unique twist on the puzzle genre, allowing players to embody a monster and creatively eliminate archaeologists.
Puzzles are well-designed with a good difficulty curve, introducing new mechanics at a satisfying pace.
The atmosphere is engaging, complemented by an interesting narrative revealed through collectible notes.

The game is quite short, with many players completing it in under three hours, leading to a feeling of abruptness.
Some levels can feel repetitive, and the final level is criticized for being a letdown compared to earlier challenges.
The graphics and sound design lack variety, which can make the experience feel monotonous over time.

gameplay
153 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
65%
3%
The gameplay is characterized by a steady introduction of new puzzle mechanics that keep the experience fresh and engaging, with a balance of simplicity and strategic depth. While the difficulty can be inconsistent, players often find satisfaction in overcoming challenges, and the narrative enhances the overall experience. Despite some requests for additional mechanics and levels, the game is praised for its clever design and enjoyable mechanics, making it a worthwhile adventure for puzzle enthusiasts.
- “The gameplay transcends sheer brute force; it evolves into a symphony of strategy.”
- “With its strategic gameplay and captivating narrative, it's a must-play for anyone in search of a fresh gaming adventure.”
- “As you progress, new mechanics and more complex puzzles are introduced, so things are kept fresh and don't stagnate.”
- “The gameplay is very simple, challenges can get difficult at times, but they make you feel really rewarded once you complete them.”
- “Enjoyable and simple but the difficulty is very inconsistent (disregarding the levels introducing new mechanics) it spikes a lot.”
- “I feel like some new mechanics were introduced a bit too late and not explored as much as I'd prefer (like the portals and the stealth stages toward the end), but if you go into this with reasonable expectations, you'll more than get your money's worth.”
story
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
54%
3%
The game's story unfolds through hidden fragments and notes collected during gameplay, revealing the fate of archaeologists and the mysteries surrounding a secretive organization. While the narrative is engaging and adds depth to the puzzle-solving experience, some players found the ending to be rushed and lacking in excitement. Overall, the story is considered a solid addition that enhances the atmosphere and intrigue of the game, despite some mixed feelings about its execution.
- “Your journey through the game will lead you to discover hidden story fragments, gradually unveiling the fate of the archaeologists and unraveling the mysteries of a secretive organization.”
- “As you clean the ancient house, you’ll come across research notes and letters regarding their mission, and you’ll be able to follow along as the situation escalates in a direction you might not expect.”
- “The pacing of intriguing puzzle gameplay is punctuated with snippets of progressing storyline in just the right way.”
- “The only two issues I have with this game are a boring color/model design and the plot that gets really messy towards the end - it's quite literal and anyone can get it, but the ending definitely feels too dull and rushed.”
- “The story, told through the archaeologists’ notes found after certain levels, was unobjectionable but fairly cliché: the characters spend ages insisting nothing is wrong and everyone’s just being superstitious, even up to the midpoint of the game where you must have killed most of the expedition.”
- “My one gripe has to do with the story text, specifically the ending.”
graphics
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
58%
5%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist and simplistic style, often described as basic or cheap-looking, yet they effectively contribute to the game's dark atmosphere. While there is a lack of aesthetic variety, the retro art style and smooth performance are generally well-received, with some players appreciating the nostalgic feel reminiscent of 90s PC games. Overall, the graphics may not be visually stunning, but they serve their purpose in enhancing the gameplay experience.
- “First of all, the dweller scores a mega-hit in the atmosphere department, where the bleak visuals, the moody music, and the to-the-point representation of the game's protagonist work perfectly together to put the player in the mood of an eldritch cave system haunted by something horrible.”
- “I like the art style although it would have been nice to have more variation.”
- “The graphics are simple but good looking.”
- “The graphics are minimalist and there is zero visual variety across its short, 2 hour play time.”
- “The (admittedly very cheap-looking) graphics have a fittingly dreary tone.”
- “Cons: music is kind of bland, as well as the art style being slightly dull.”
atmosphere
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
34%
5%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its dark, macabre, and immersive qualities, enhanced by effective sound design and level design that captivates players. Despite basic graphics, the combination of music, sound effects, and narrative elements creates a compelling and eerie environment that aligns well with the game's themes. Overall, players find the atmosphere to be a standout feature, contributing significantly to the enjoyment of the puzzle-solving experience.
- “I found myself surprisingly captivated by the game's atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere and sounds of the game are brilliant and add flawlessly to the mood of the story.”
- “Despite basic graphics, the music, sound effects, and game actions create a dark, macabre, and sinister atmosphere that fits the game theme very well.”
- “First of all, the dweller scores a mega-hit in the atmosphere department, where the bleak visuals, the moody music, and the to-the-point representation of the game's protagonist work perfectly together to put the player in the mood of an eldritch cave system haunted by something horrible.”
- “If the background music sticks with the atmosphere of the scenario, it is the only thing that didn't please me, as it is way too monotonous for me.”
music
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
78%
11%
The music in the game is described as ominous and atmospheric, effectively enhancing the dark and macabre themes, though some players find it repetitive and bland. While the sound effects complement the overall experience, there are calls for more variety and the ability to adjust sound settings. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, despite some criticisms regarding its monotony.
- “The music and sound effects enhance this effect.”
- “Despite basic graphics, the music, sound effects, and game actions create a dark, macabre, and sinister atmosphere that fits the game theme very well.”
- “First of all, the dweller scores a mega-hit in the atmosphere department, where the bleak visuals, the moody music, and the to-the-point representation of the game's protagonist work perfectly together to put the player in the mood of an eldritch cave system haunted by something horrible.”
- “Music is...meh :)”
- “If the background music sticks with the atmosphere of the scenario, it is the only thing that didn't please me, as it is way too monotonous to me.”
- “Cons: music is kind of bland, as well as the art style being slightly dull.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its unique and darkly humorous approach, combining engaging puzzles with amusing characters and lore notes that enhance the comedic experience. Players appreciate the blend of humor and challenge, making it a recommended choice for those with a quirky sense of humor who enjoy puzzle-solving. Overall, the lighthearted yet twisted atmosphere contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “A funny and original puzzle game with interesting lore notes.”
- “The puzzles keep you thinking, the little men kept me laughing, and the letters were enjoyable to read.”
- “The graphics and sound, while not exactly AAA level, add to that darkly humorous atmosphere, as do some journal notes you unlock along the way.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game features mouse-only controls that generally function well, though some users experienced occasional performance issues, such as difficulty moving objects. However, these issues were typically resolved with a few clicks and did not impact overall gameplay or level completion.
- “The game is controlled entirely with the mouse, and it all works rather well. There were some performance problems where I couldn't move a rock I was possessing, but a few clicks remedied that, and there was never any time where that issue caused me to fail a level.”
- “The game is controlled entirely with the mouse and it all works rather well, but there were some performance problems where I couldn't move a rock I was possessing. A few clicks remedied that, and there was never any time where that issue caused me to fail a level.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers high replayability with 59 levels that can be completed in multiple ways and around 30 story-telling documents to unlock, making it an engaging experience. Its old-school graphics and competitive pricing further enhance its value, especially considering it is the debut title from its creator, villainousgames.
- “With 59 levels to beat and around 30 story-telling documents to unlock, the replayability is great as many can be completed in several ways. The good old-school graphics and competitive price make this game definitely worth buying.”