Tower of Kalemonvo

About

Tower of Kalemonvo is a single player hack and slash game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by osur and was released on March 28, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

"Tower of Kalemonvo" is a hardcore isometric ARPG, Diablo-like experience with randomly generated levels and slow-paced action. Battle challenging bosses and mobs, wield a variety of magical weapons, and discover unique items and spells throughout your climb to the top. Despite being in development and missing some features, the game currently offers a 2-3 hour gameplay experience with a focus on strategic combat.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 279 reviews

gameplay18 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Captures the essence of Diablo 1 with a modern twist, offering a nostalgic experience for fans of the original.
Engaging gameplay loop with a focus on resource management and strategic combat, making each decision impactful.
Unique art style and dark atmosphere enhance the overall experience, complemented by a solid soundtrack.

Lack of a town or respawning enemies can lead to frustrating moments, especially when resources are scarce.
Difficulty spikes can be punishing, particularly for melee builds, which may deter some players.
Some mechanics, such as potion management and hit accuracy, can feel unbalanced and lead to moments of frustration.

gameplay
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
61%
13%
The gameplay is characterized by a slower, more methodical approach reminiscent of classic ARPGs like Diablo 1, emphasizing strategic decision-making and resource management. While the atmosphere and unique mechanics are praised, some players find the balance lacking, leading to frustration with RNG and clunky mechanics. Overall, it offers a nostalgic yet challenging experience that may not appeal to those seeking modern conveniences or fast-paced action.
- “As someone that loves Diablo 1 and has likely played it for thousands of hours across various vanilla playthroughs, mods, speedruns, etc., I will say that in terms of gameplay and loot, this feels the closest to a successor to Diablo.”
- “The gameplay itself feeds into the atmosphere very well, too.”
- “Good resource management and a sense of self-preservation are half the battle, and this type of gameplay feels very refreshing in the current action RPG landscape that is flooded with games that rely on roll-dodging to create tension and allow the player to grind their way to victory without actually getting good at the game.”
- “Gameplay is slower and more methodical, and be prepared to die a lot!”
- “However, the gameplay - particularly the balance - is just not there.”
- “The core gameplay was actually very bad with almost no real skill expression or variety.”
atmosphere
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
54%
8%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, oppressive, and immersive qualities, reminiscent of classic titles like Diablo 1. Reviewers highlight the effective combination of unique art, sound design, and music that enhances the overall tension and engagement, creating a nostalgic yet fresh experience. While some suggest improvements in environmental details, the prevailing sentiment is that the atmosphere significantly contributes to the game's appeal and gameplay experience.
- “The atmosphere is enthralling and oppressive in the best way.”
- “The atmosphere, the music, the sound design, the layouts, the monsters, everything blends together to make a wonderfully oppressive atmosphere.”
- “Fantastic dark atmosphere.”
- “There are a few things that I feel could use improvement-- environmental atmosphere, sound effects, and general quality of 3D models.”
- “Both of these impact the overall environmental atmosphere and if they were improved the atmosphere of this game would improve too.”
- “With a horror atmosphere stuck in the 90s, Kalemonvo is something that probably feels familiar but with enough graphical enhancements to feel fresh.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
28%
11%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and set a foreboding tone, while others find it lacking in memorability and diversity. Some describe the soundtrack as excellent and immersive, contributing significantly to the game's oppressive environment, while a few critics suggest it could benefit from more energetic or varied styles. Overall, the music is generally considered good, with standout moments that elevate the gameplay experience.
- “Music is excellent and just gets better and better the further you get.”
- “The atmosphere, the music, the sound design, the layouts, the monsters, everything blends together to make a wonderfully oppressive atmosphere.”
- “The music is pretty good; mostly ominous dungeon ambience, but with a few moments of peace and some heavy, driving tracks that really push you forwards as the climax nears.”
- “The game is sonically empty after turning the music off.”
- “Music and sound are pretty basic, though they are somewhat nostalgic of Diablo 1.”
- “There's a severe lack of memorable music here; I think some heavy metal or rock would really pair well with it.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
78%
11%
The graphics of the game evoke a nostalgic, retro aesthetic reminiscent of early 2000s titles, successfully capturing a dark and oppressive atmosphere suitable for a dungeon crawler. While some players note the visuals as simple or low-quality, they appreciate the detailed enemy designs and the overall charm that aligns with the genre's roots. Despite some rough edges, the graphics contribute effectively to the game's eerie vibe and gameplay experience.
- “The visuals are grim and moody, using muted palettes, flickering torches, and ominous architecture to emphasize the sense of isolation inside the tower.”
- “The graphical style and music are also surprisingly good, they give you that serious oppressive medieval feeling typical of those amazing computer games of the 90s, so it is inspired by the golden era before the genre as a whole got transformed into an mtx slot machine.”
- “This game absolutely nails the 'diablo aesthetic'.”
- “The aesthetics are sometimes a bit low quality, but overall the game nails the dark dungeon crawler vibe.”
- “Ultimately it succeeds pretty well in delivering on its promise of a slow-paced action RPG dungeon crawl, and despite some rough visuals (especially the UI), the tower feels appropriately creepy and tense.”
- “At first, I was apprehensive, expecting the visuals to feel a bit too, well, budget-y.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
65%
21%
The game's story is generally considered an afterthought, with many reviewers noting that it lacks depth and complexity, often overshadowed by gameplay mechanics. While some appreciate the setting and the sense of urgency it provides, others feel it does not significantly enhance the overall experience. Overall, the narrative is described as "good enough" but not a focal point of the game.
- “Great setting and story.”
- “Because, while the story is certainly not the most important aspect of the game, it succeeds at endowing the experience with a sense of urgency and unease that would otherwise be undermined if the player could open a portal to town every time their pockets are full of gold.”
- “Rather than offering an expansive overworld or layered storylines, the game narrows its focus to a single, hostile environment where every step forward feels like a test of survival.”
- “The story is an afterthought and not really worth mentioning.”
- “Modern Diablo creates beautiful dungeons to ignore and enemies for you to run through, mowing down endless hordes and collecting loot from one quest marker to the next with nary a thought in your pretty little head, hardly appreciating any of it for even a moment.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express mixed feelings about grinding in the game, noting an initial reasonable balance that quickly shifts to a frustrating difficulty spike, particularly around the 4th floor. The lack of potion availability and tedious backtracking for resources contribute to a grinding experience that some find overly tedious, while others appreciate the absence of traditional MMO-style grinding and respawns, which encourages strategic gameplay. Overall, the game offers a blend of addictive combat and outdated mechanics that can lead to a frustrating grind.
- “The game starts off fine with reasonable balance, but a massive difficulty spike and suddenly impossible leveling around the 4th floor brings the game to a grinding halt.”
- “Walking back and forth between floors to convert mana potions to health gets very tedious very quickly.”
- “Very outdated and tedious gameplay.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The game offers high replayability through features like new-game+ mode, ironman mode, and despair mode, along with numerous secrets to discover. While not all issues have been resolved, the current version enhances playability, making it a worthwhile experience for players seeking to revisit the game.
- “With the Ironman mode, Despair mode, and tons of secrets to find, you will discover that the game has immense replay value.”
- “Super replayable.”
- “More replayability, especially with the potential for a new game+ mode.”
- “More replayability would be appreciated, perhaps with a new game+ mode.”
- “That's not to say everything has been fixed or improved upon, but in the current version (1.2a) it's far more playable and grants it a tepid recommendation.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is mixed, with some users reporting crashes when tabbing out and minor visual glitches, while others have experienced minimal issues overall. Notably, there are occasional gameplay quirks, such as being hit through walls, which may be attributed to its isometric design. Despite these concerns, many players still recommend the game.
- “I ran into some bugs, especially when tabbing out of the game, which crashed it.”
- “There were also minor visual glitches.”
- “I must point out that being hit through walls if near a door might be due to the game's isometrical nature.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game features a classless character development system that allows players to create and customize their characters freely without complex character trees. This flexibility enables players to invest points in various attributes as they see fit, though misallocating points can lead to challenges in gameplay.
- “Classless character development allows for a truly unique experience, with no convoluted character trees. You can create the character you want, your way. If you put points towards the wrong things, it's a learning experience for next time.”
- “Classless character development, no convoluted character trees. You can create the character you want, your way, but if you put points towards the wrong things, sorry, better luck next time.”
- “The lack of meaningful character progression makes it feel like my choices don't matter.”
- “Character development feels shallow and uninspired, leaving little room for growth or customization.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Players appreciate the game's older style, noting a refreshing absence of flashy effects and intrusive microtransactions commonly found in modern titles.
- “It is honestly refreshing to play an older style of game after playing the glitzy modern ones with all their flashy effects and slimy microtransactions.”
- “The monetization in this game feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy without spending extra money.”
- “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, which ruins the overall experience.”
- “The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the gameplay and makes it feel more like a cash grab than a fun experience.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional engagement with the game, experiencing excitement and tension during challenging encounters. The need for save scumming highlights a sense of desperation and anticipation, as players feel they are relying on luck to succeed.
- “This game made me feel so excited to play it.”
- “I had to resort to save scumming just to attempt to beat encounters time and again, which made me feel like I was waiting to get lucky in order to survive.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is noted for its strong optimization, delivering a smooth performance and a user-friendly interface, despite its retro aesthetic.
- “Despite its old school feel, it is well optimized in terms of both performance and user interface.”
- “Despite its old school feel, it is well optimized from both a performance and UI perspective.”