Summary
Dungeon crawlers typically feature hack-and-slash combat, occasional puzzles, plenty of loot, and labyrinthine exploration, stemming from the world of tabletop role-playing games. This gameplay loop tends to fit perfectly with RPGs.
While there are a variety of indie games that feature dungeon-crawling, not all of them feature RPG systems. These games, however, offer a variety of dungeon-crawling experiences alongside RPG character progression.
Games that are not purely RPGs but that have RPG elements in them will also be considered.
Baronyis a roguelikedungeon-crawling RPGthat tasks players with battling through dungeons from a first-person perspective. The game features deadly traps, a variety of enemies, and a broad ensemble of character classes, resulting in a diverse experience.
As an action roguelike,Baronyis a naturally tough experience; being killed by traps can be especially frustrating. However, players that enjoy first-person dungeon-crawlers and roguelikes in the same breath should find plenty to love withBarony, and the game even features online co-op to boot.
7Guild Of Dungeoneering
Top-Down Dungeon-Crawling With A Unique Twist
Guild Of Dungeoneeringis a unique combination ofroguelike deck-buildersand dungeon-crawling RPGs, with a scratchy hand-drawn art style that offers a distinctive look. Rather than having the player battle through each dungeon manually,Guild Of Dungeoneeringtasks players with building the dungeon itself.
This added twist provides a puzzle-like gameplay loop that’s equal parts strategic and relaxing. While it’s not the most complex experience, and the game can get somewhat repetitive,Guild Of Dungeoneeringis a lighthearted dungeon-crawler that’s perfect for short play sessions.
Tiny Roguesis an action-packed roguelite with aminimalist visual styleand a focus on arcade top-down combat. The game’s visuals may be simplistic, but they help to keep the bullet-Hell action readable, preventing frustration and keeping the emphasis on skill.
AlthoughTiny Roguesis a roguelite, it features a variety of RPG elements, classes, and Soulslike trappings, such as a dodge roll and stamina system. All this is to say thatTiny Roguesis a unique experience, and the distilled dungeon-crawling loop is perfect for beginners, offering simple but engaging decision-making to intersperse the arcade action.
Fans of strategy RPGs and roguelikes will likely get a kick out ofDarkest Dungeon, a game that combines resource management and tactical turn-based combat with a hand-drawnGothic art styleand grim-dark tone. Players should be warned, however, thatDarkest Dungeoncan be a tremendously challenging game, and it isn’t afraid to kick the player while they’re down, but the juice is certainly worth the squeeze.
The sheer variety of character classes and the interactions that they have with each other keep party management an engaging task, and the diversity of the dungeons and the enemies within ensures the gameplay rarely feels stale. All in all, fans of strategy games and Gothic art styles who aren’t afraid to tackle a challenge are more than likely to enjoyDarkest Dungeon.
For The Kingis a roguelike RPG that combines open-world exploration on a hexagonal grid with old-school, party-based dungeon-crawling. The game features a unique turn-based combat system that combines luck-based dice rolling with strategic decisions and resource management, resulting in an easy-to-learn system that remains engaging.
One ofFor The King’sgreatest strengths is the addition of online co-op, allowing each player to take control of one or more characters in the party, elevating the experience by incorporating teamwork into the loop. The variety of classes, items, enemies, and bosses also ensuresFor The Kingis a replayable experience.
This extraction RPG tasks players with delving into dark, dangerous dungeons packed with a variety of monsters and fellow adventurers alike, scavenging for loot while attempting to stay alive long enough to extract.Dark And Darkerfeatures relatively slower-paced combat that, while clunky, offers a unique and methodical system that can take time to get good at. Combined with the variety of classes and perks,Dark And Darkergives players plenty to chew on in and between looting.
Players who prefer tightly focused, single-player experiences may be disappointed withDark And Darker. However, players who enjoy slow-burning, high-intensity experiences and don’t mind losing high-quality loot to a dungeon crawl gone wrong should certainly give this title a go, especially since it features a free-to-play option.
Players who enjoyed FromSoftware’s earlier efforts, such asKing’s Fieldand/orShadow Tower, may enjoy thequiet, moody atmosphereand methodical first-person combat ofLunacid. Its combat may leave something to be desired for some, but this indie RPG succeeds with its variety of unique character designs and truly atmospheric world.
Dungeon-crawling fans looking for an intense experience with complex, tactical combat may be quickly dissuaded. However,Lunacidis perfect for fans of moody atmospheres, low-poly visuals, and first-person exploration.
Caves Of Qudisa traditional roguelikeRPG that tasks players with exploring a uniquely strangescience-fantasy worldreplete with weird and wonderful NPCs, distinctive locations, and powerful artifacts. Despite being a roguelike complete with permanent death,Caves Of Qudfeatures the option to play in “roleplay” mode, allowing players to take the pressure off and enjoy the game as they would a regular RPG.
Built first and foremost, however, as a traditional roguelike,Caves Of Qudnaturally features turn-based combat and grid-based movement. While the combat isn’t immediately engaging, its strong focus on resource management, threat assessment, and the tactical use of special abilities keeps each encounter tense. Though players will spend plenty of time exploring the surface ofCaves Of Qud, it’s the game’s underground networks and distinctive, challenging dungeons that are likely to kill off the most characters.
