Summary
Dungeon crawling is a frequent pastime in the world of video games, predominantly in RPGs, no doubt thanks to the popularity of dungeon crawls in tabletop role-playing games such asDungeons & Dragons. With titles such asRogueand multi-user dungeons (MUDs) helping to popularize the familiar gameplay loop, dungeon crawling has become a staple of video games.
While modern games tend to squash and stretch the sub-genre of dungeon crawling, much of the same hack-and-slash gameplay, interspersed with puzzle-solving, looting, and exploration, can be found. Dungeon crawlers tend to be challenging experiences, with their roots in hardcore RPGs and roguelikes. Games such asDarkest Dungeon, for example, aren’t the most accessible. However, there are a variety of accessible modern dungeon crawlers that are perfect for newcomers.
ENDLESS Dungeonmay not be cut from the same cloth asDungeon Of The ENDLESS, but what it lacks in complexity it makes up for in accessibility, providing an action-packed experience thatfocuses on atmosphereand excitement over thoughtful strategy. This, along with the game’s roguelite progression system, allows players to get into the twin-stick action quickly and easily.
Fans of tower defense, twin-stick shooters,and online co-opwill certainly find something to enjoy withENDLESS Dungeon. While the dungeon crawling elements are simple, the addition of resource management and tower defense strategy helps to make the experience more strategic.
7Guild Of Dungeoneering
A Roguelike Dungeon Crawl With A Unique Twist
AlthoughGuild Of Dungeoneeringis a fairly simple experience, both on the surface and in the mechanics of its gameplay, it’s elevated by a unique twist and a level of accessibility that makes it great for newcomers to the genre.Guild Of Dungeoneeringis a light roguelike deckbuilder that tasks players with building the dungeon itself, creating the most profitable path to the objective while simultaneously trying not to get their dungeoneer killed.
Despite the fact that dungeoneerscan permanently die,Guild Of Dungeoneeringisn’t too punishing, as — unlike games such asXCOMorDarkest Dungeon— it’s not all that hard to get new dungeoneers up to speed with the rest of the crew. Newcomers to the genre should enjoyGuild Of Dungeoneering’sshort-form offerings, and it features plenty of mechanics that are sure to prepare them for more challenging experiences.
Designed around local multiplayer,Crawlis an asymmetric dungeon crawler that puts a single player in the role of the hero, tasking them with facing off against their friends in hack-and-slash combat. Should the hero be killed, their attacker becomes the new hero, resulting in a truly unique gameplay loop that’s constantly changing in pace.
Crawlis a decidedly old-school experience with its nostalgic pixel-art and retro sound effects, not to mention the chiptune soundtrack. This fits perfectly with its accessible local co-op gameplay, resulting in asynergistic arcade experiencethat’s easy to pick up and play.
Hadesisn’t necessarily an easy game, but its nature as a roguelite makes it tremendously more accessible than it otherwise would be. Thegame’s meta-progressionensures players are always progressing, and the well-crafted narrative provides ample reason to keep playing.
The hack-and-slash combat ofHadesis relatively easy to learn, though its boss fights can take some time getting used to, providing much of the game’s challenge. Players who don’t enjoy the structure of roguelites won’t have their minds changed byHades, but it’s arguably one of the best efforts in the genre.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fateis an accessible roguelite in the vein ofgames such asHades, but with a focus on co-operative play that suitstheTMNTpackagingperfectly. Battling enemies in hack-and-slash combat and slowly accumulating a combination of meta-currencies and passive upgrades will be instantly familiar to fans of Supergiant’s smash-hit roguelite, butSplintered Fatestands out on its own with itsTMNTtheme and co-op gameplay.
Battling classicTMNTfoes as one of the four iconic turtles is a great experience for fans, and the intuitive combat and slick animations make for smooth gameplay. However, fans ofHadesthat may have exhausted themselves on its gameplay could quickly find themselves tired withSplintered Fate, as the latter clearly borrows from the former.
Tiny Roguesis a top-down roguelite with RPG elements that focuses on minimalist dungeon crawling through simplistic rooms,battling enemies in a bullet-hell environment. The game’s simplistic visuals, however basic, keep the frantic action readable, allowing players to make intentional use of the game’s dodge mechanic to avoid damage with ease.
Stamina management also plays a part in the moment-to-moment gameplay, allowing for some skill expression, butTiny Roguesis perfect for beginners thanks to its roguelite structure and minimalist nature. While decision-making is necessary when leveling up and choosing the next room to travel to,Tiny Rogueskeeps this process relatively stress-free, and players are never forced to dwell on their mistakes for too long thanks to the run-based gameplay loop.
This bright and colorful action roguelite tasks players with battling through corporate dungeons, fighting a variety of enemies in chaotic combat encounters. The game’s focus on moment-to-moment action rather than overarching strategy makes it much more accessible, and players are actively encouraged to experiment with a variety of weapons thanks to the durability system.
Weapons break constantly, meaning players aren’t able to rely on one good drop, but this also reduces the amount of luck needed to win and instead places emphasis on player skill. This does result in a game that can’t be won by accident, butGoing Under’sbrawler combat is easy to learn, and the colorful art-style, quirky characters, and tongue-in-cheek tone take the bitter sting out of losing.
Fans of both strategy RPGs and roguelikes are more than likely to enjoyFor The King’sunique style — overworld exploration via a hexagonal map, traditional questing, boss battles, and, of course, dungeon crawling, are all par for the course.
The game’s combat, despite having plenty of strategy nestled within its systems, is remarkably simple, combining tactics, teamwork, and luck in near-equal measure. The strategic use of abilities and items keeps combat engaging, but it rarely gets more complicated than choosing which ability to use on which enemy, and the abilities themselves are often easy to understand.
