Summary
Dungeon crawlingis an integral part of many gameplay loops, providing players with a satisfying and easy-to-understand structure that revolves around combat encounters and problem-solving. Traps and puzzles are also common sights in dungeon crawlers, though some are more focused on pure combat.
Dungeon-crawling gameplay is often found in rogue-likes and RPGs, with roots in tabletop RPGs such asDungeons & Dragons. While some games, particularly RPGs, feature hand-crafted dungeons, many rogue-likes use procedural generation to enhance their replay value. From the first-person dungeon-crawls ofDevil Spireto the dice-rolling madness ofDicey Dungeons, there are all manner of dungeon-crawling games to explore.
7Devil Spire
A First-Person Dungeon Crawl Inspired By King’s Field
This unique dungeon-crawler combines thefirst-person RPGgameplay of old-school FromSoftware games such asKing’s Fieldwith a rogue-lite structure. The procedural generation prevents the game from becoming predictable, butDevil Spire’sgreatest strength is arguably its faithfully constructed old-school gameplay and visuals.
Devil Spire’sslow and methodical first-person melee combat won’t be for everyone, but fans ofgames such asKing’s Fieldthat enjoy the rogue-lite structure should certainly give it a look. Furthermore, the game features a great variety of loot to acquire, allowing each run to feel relatively distinct from the last and resulting in a large pool of potential builds.
ThoughMortal Sinmay be far from easy on the eyes, itspsychedelic art stylewill certainly appeal to a select few players. Furthermore, this bold graphical style is worth looking past to enjoyMortal Sin’sexcellent gameplay.
Mortal Sinis a first-person rogue-like dungeon-crawler that uses procedural generation to generate its levels, preventing the experience from becoming stale and keeping players on their toes. Its main draw, however, is its incredibly weighty, satisfying first-person melee combat.Mortal Sinalso features all manner of weapons and playable classes, offering plenty of variety throughout the experience.
This unique take on the rogue-like genre tasks players with crawling through several colorful dungeons packed with quirky enemies. InDicey Dungeons, playersbattle enemies with dicein procedurally-generated dungeons, slotting those dice into unique equipment slots to activate powerful abilities.
Dicey Dungeons’greatest strength is this unique combat system, but its colorful art style and light-hearted tone are close seconds. The game’s elements of procedural generation are simply a bonus, allowing the game to have a little extra replay value that it otherwise wouldn’t.
Noitais a unique rogue-like dungeon-crawler with real-time action combat that revolves around casting spells. These spells are cast through the player’s wands, which can be fitted with all manner of magic abilities. These spells often react with the pixelated environment, in which every pixel is physically simulated, often leading to emergent gameplay.
Noitais more than a standard dungeon-crawler, but players will have to spend hours with it to reveal its secrets. Even for those that don’t, however,Noitaoffers a satisfying experience that’spacked with replay value, in part thanks to its elements of procedural generation.
Cogmindputs players in the role of a customizable robot, able to build themselves up over each run out of unique components.Cogmindplays (and looks) like a classic rogue-like, following the traditional dungeon-crawling structure and procedural generation that offers tremendous replay value. However,Cogmindalso has several unique elements that allow it to stand out.
One of these elements is the aforementioned customization, which allows players to modify their robot with a great deal of control. However, players must be prepared to adapt on the fly, as their items can easily be destroyed. This results in an experience that rewards flexibility and creative thinking, rather than a lucky item drop.Cogmindalso borrows elements from the immersive-sim genre, allowing players to use hacking and stealth to circumvent combat.
Caves Of Qudis a deep and complex RPG that plays likea traditional rogue-like, though it features gameplay options that make it much more accessible. Though it does feature an overworld map and handcrafted landmark locations that never change, many locations inCaves Of Qudfeature procedural generation.
Caves Of Qud’sworld is abundant with locations to explore, quests to complete, and characters to meet, but exploring the caves themselves can be particularly thrilling. It may not look like much on the surface, butCaves Of Qud’ssense of atmosphere and tactical combat makes for an engaging and often intense experience.
This turn-basedrogue-like RPGfeatures party-based combat and resource management, tasking players with delving into a variety of procedural dungeons packed with Lovecraftian horrors. The game’s dark, Gothic art style and dark fantasy setting provide a gloomy atmosphere that can be overwhelming, but this makes the rare triumphant moment all the more satisfying.
Darkest Dungeoncan be incredibly unforgiving, especially for new players, but making it out of any one dungeon is often a rewarding task. Its harrowing gameplay won’t be for everyone, butDarkest Dungeon’sweighty turn-based combat and dungeon-crawling gameplay are remarkably well-thought-out.
