Welcome to the world of dungeon crawling! The classic dungeon crawler released back in 2006, returns to Steam with improved UI and more.
The game challenges players to carefully assemble a party of adventurers and navigate treacherous, grid-based labyrinths. Turn-based combat mixes JRPG-style actions like attacking and casting spells with the high-stakes danger of permanent character death. Even small mistakes can lead to a full party wipe, forcing players to start over from the beginning. Navigating these dungeons requires meticulous mapping and resource management, as players must regularly retreat to rest, heal, and resupply before venturing deeper.
Players can create their own party members, choosing from various classes like Fighter, Mage, and Thief, and allocating stat points to develop specialized roles. As characters gain levels and experience, they unlock new abilities and equipment, fostering a sense of attachment and investment as players witness their party grow more powerful. The ability to import custom character portraits further enhances this personalization.
The game features a main campaign of five official scenarios, each presenting new narratives, challenges, and dungeon layouts that players must overcome in sequence. Beyond this, a large and growing library of user-created scenarios provides an almost endless supply of content to explore, with each offering unique twists and obstacles to test players' skills.
The game rewards patience, planning, and a meticulous approach. Players must navigate dungeons cautiously, manage resources wisely, and make strategic decisions in combat. This deliberate style contrasts with more modern, fast-paced RPGs, resonating with players who appreciate the sense of challenge and accomplishment from overcoming obstacles through skill and perseverance. The need to hand-draw maps and take detailed notes further reinforces this thoughtful, immersive style of play.