Within a Dead City
- August 7, 2023
- Joshua Galecki
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreWithin a Dead City is a 4X game where you manage autonomous heroes exploring a cursed city for gold and glory. Heroes will act on their own, slaying monsters and raiding lairs, but it's up to you to keep them out of trouble and grow your outpost. With new heroes, game modes, buildings, spells, and a campaign in the expanded version, there's plenty to discover in this tiny 4X game.
PC
Web Browser
Windows
Reviews
- Charming art style and music that enhances the overall experience.
- Quick to pick up and play, making it a great 'coffee break' game.
- Offers a nostalgic experience for fans of Majesty, with a fun and unique gameplay premise.
- Limited content and replayability, with many players feeling they have seen everything after a short playtime.
- Gameplay can feel fast-paced and chaotic, lacking depth in strategy and mechanics.
- Some mechanics are not well explained, leading to a learning curve that may frustrate new players.
- graphics11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their charming pixel art style and haunting color scheme, contributing to an oddly satisfying visual experience. While the graphics are simple and reminiscent of old-school games, they effectively complement the fun premise and gameplay. Overall, the aesthetic direction is well-received, with potential for enhancement through mods.
“Combine this premise with the haunting color scheme, charming pixel art visuals, and minimalist soundtrack and you have yourself a bonafide victory in my book.”
“The game is very oddly satisfying; it has a charming art style.”
“A fun RTS-light that has a charming art style and fun premise.”
“An old school Majesty clone, the game uses simple graphics, buildings, and heroes.”
“The graphics are outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games.”
“The color palette feels dull and uninspired, making the visuals less engaging.”
- music10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its awesome vibe and ability to complement the visuals, creating a cohesive and engaging atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the minimalist soundtrack and how it enhances the overall experience, particularly in conjunction with the charming pixel art and haunting color scheme. Overall, the art and music contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a worthwhile experience for players.
“The music for this game is awesome.”
“The music has a great vibe and the color palette sets a good tone.”
“Combine this premise with the haunting color scheme, charming pixel art visuals, and minimalist soundtrack and you have yourself a bonafide victory in my book.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a notable learning curve due to insufficient explanations of various mechanics, though players can grasp the basics. Once familiar with the flow, many find success even on higher difficulty levels without relying on certain mechanics like the bounty system.
“A bit of a learning curve since many of the mechanics aren't explained, but enough is explained so you at least understand the basics.”
“Never needed the bounty mechanic and beat the highest difficulty by simply keeping ahead of the tide once I learned the flow.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability, which is reasonable given its low price point of $2.99. However, players can enhance their experience through self-imposed challenges, such as completing the game on higher difficulties or with specific restrictions, which can extend the game's longevity.
“I'm currently trying to beat the game on the highest difficulty and map size using only one hero type (except that I allow myself a single merchant). Seeing which ones that works for and which ones it does not, that sort of self-imposed challenge extends replayability as well.”
“The game offers a variety of challenges that encourage players to experiment with different strategies, enhancing its replayability.”
“Each playthrough feels unique due to the random elements and different character builds, making me want to dive back in for more.”
“It isn't going to provide you with limitless replayability, but that isn't a reasonable expectation for $2.99.”
“I'm currently trying to beat the game on the highest difficulty and map size using only one hero type (except that I allow myself a single merchant), seeing for which ones that works and for which ones it does not, and that sort of self-imposed challenge extends replayability as well.”
