Desktop Dungeons

 PC
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 71 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 49 out of 71
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 71
  3. Negative: 11 out of 71

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  1. malcolmm
    Apr 2, 2014
    10
    I've played this game for over 60 hours and I still have lots more levels to finish. So obviously I really like the game.
    Desktop Dungeons won't appeal to you if fancy graphics and sound are important to you. The graphics and sound are basic but very serviceable. If you enjoy strategy games with lots of variety, where a game (level) can be completed in 30 - 60 minutes, you will probably    I've played this game for over 60 hours and I still have lots more levels to finish. So obviously I really like the game.
    Desktop Dungeons won't appeal to you if fancy graphics and sound are important to you. The graphics and sound are basic but very serviceable. If you enjoy strategy games with lots of variety, where a game (level) can be completed in 30 - 60 minutes, you will probably enjoy this game.
    Good strategies will almost always be the deciding factor, but luck plays a minor role. I found the game a tiny bit frustrating in the early going when I hadn't yet figured out many of the strategies, and when I got a tough dungeon layout it seemed a bit unfair. This would be a bigger problem if completing a level took more time.    … Expand
  2. Artinuis
    Dec 24, 2012
    9
    Fiendishly difficult, but every death teaches you something.
    The game is still in beta as of Dec 2012, and requires a donation for beta access (there is an alpha version that is free and is fully functional and fun in its own right). Many times in a round I'll find myself scratching my head for a full few minutes trying to decide the best course of action. The strategies and tactics are    Fiendishly difficult, but every death teaches you something.
    The game is still in beta as of Dec 2012, and requires a donation for beta access (there is an alpha version that is free and is fully functional and fun in its own right). Many times in a round I'll find myself scratching my head for a full few minutes trying to decide the best course of action. The strategies and tactics are surprisingly deep, however there are many optional (yet reward giving) tutorials in the form of (sometimes infuriatingly difficult) puzzles to help players learn advanced tricks and character/race tips. The downsides are mainly in the lack of features as it is still in beta, and for this reviewer, a sense of difficulty almost unto exasperation with the game. However, fans of Dungeon Crawl: Stone Soup and crawler games et al. will find a welcome addition to their rouge-like repertoire.    … Expand
  3. Orkimond
    Dec 7, 2013
    10
    This game is amazing, it's a simple, beautifully designed and balanced strategy/roguelike/puzzle game that will have you stuck to your keyboard for hundreds of hours. It's incredibly deep, it will draw you in so fast and so hard so be prepared for that.
  4. eymrich
    Nov 27, 2013
    9
    This rogue-like game was a serious diamond in the rough for me. As of now i have around 100h on this, and i'm keeping playing it every day or so. Basically you have your little kingdom to grow up, and to do that you need to go in countless dungeons for plunder and trophies to sell. The graphic is fully functional, i find it perfectly fit for it and some of the characters portrait arts areThis rogue-like game was a serious diamond in the rough for me. As of now i have around 100h on this, and i'm keeping playing it every day or so. Basically you have your little kingdom to grow up, and to do that you need to go in countless dungeons for plunder and trophies to sell. The graphic is fully functional, i find it perfectly fit for it and some of the characters portrait arts are nice/cute/funny. The icons again are well done. The draw off it's like a old 16 bit game from SNES, but seriously it's perfect for this game. The sounds are well done too, the musics are never bad, are etheir good or good enough that don't interfere with your dungeon expirience.
    Playability isn't that good on the other side. It's quite hard and unforgiving in the beginning. You need to learn your way in and no much help comes around. But, if your the kind of player who loves challange in the form of strategy, tactics and... mh matematics... well this game is for you.
    It's seriously hard, it reach the point were you feel almost hopeless, but with enought caparbiety you always find a way to do a thing or the other. So in the end is the kind of difficulty that's fun to go against.
    For 10 euros is a perfect addiction for Rpg/strategy gamers, as i already told i spended 100 hours so far and i'm keep counting. But don't play it if you don't like HARD games, sometimes it feel likes a harder version of darksouls.... only rogue-like... ah ah ah.    … Expand
  5. gerszom
    Jan 19, 2014
    9
    So simple yet so time eating. It is a very clever idea to make every rpg fan happy. It is frustrating and in the same time so relaxing and joyful. You must give this small production a chance, even a 10 minutes, and You will love it forever. This is a new game in great old school style. It will wake Your imagination and make You think. It cause brain ake but You will love that filling. ISo simple yet so time eating. It is a very clever idea to make every rpg fan happy. It is frustrating and in the same time so relaxing and joyful. You must give this small production a chance, even a 10 minutes, and You will love it forever. This is a new game in great old school style. It will wake Your imagination and make You think. It cause brain ake but You will love that filling. I wish there will be more productions like this one. DD definitely worth of trying.… Expand
  6. Squeeby
    Dec 5, 2013
    9
    A great little time waster. Once you get past the learning curve and get a feel for this game it becomes the perfect game snack. Perfect for idling the day away while you wait for a Pizza and watch reruns on Adult Swim...
  7. Xeous
    Dec 29, 2013
    10
    If only I knew what sort of magic was used at Gamer.nl. The game has tons of content and countless strategies even after a 100 hours of gameplay. A truly unique experience.
  8. TIE_Breaker
    May 14, 2014
    9
    It's a roguelike with unlocks. If you manage to actually WIN a level, you unlock another level (by levels obviously meaning procedurally generated levels, but with different possibilities). If you don't win a level... well... what were you even expecting? If you don't like its graphics style, or dig its alpha edition pixels, you can go in and replace textures yourself.

    It's fun and    It's a roguelike with unlocks. If you manage to actually WIN a level, you unlock another level (by levels obviously meaning procedurally generated levels, but with different possibilities). If you don't win a level... well... what were you even expecting? If you don't like its graphics style, or dig its alpha edition pixels, you can go in and replace textures yourself.

    It's fun and incredibly frustrating. When you lose, you either want to try again or you may feel the urge to throw your computer out the window and shoot it with a .50 cal twice.    … Expand
  9. Yesdaniel
    Jun 25, 2015
    10
    It's the perfect game for when you want to put your brain to use, using only the mouse. So your left hand is free to do.... stuff...

    One daily play is about 20 minutes, and it is always different, so this game will be probably forever unequaled.
  10. Tubey
    Jun 12, 2022
    8
    Fills a very defined niche of gaming - a roguelike puzzler. And it does it very, very well. It won't appeal to everyone, so it's not one I can recommend without caveats, but if you see it cheap it's worth a pop as you could get 50+ hours out of this if it clicks with you.
  11. query_squidier
    Dec 14, 2014
    10
    I love Desktop Dungeons. I've gotten pretty far in the game (129 hours) and now clearing a level is a rare thing and usually comes down to a single hit, with nothing left, on the last boss. Each move takes a little thought, with efficiency being foremost in mind. The randomness of glyphs, shop contents, and sometimes even who the bosses are add a level of depth and replayability most gamesI love Desktop Dungeons. I've gotten pretty far in the game (129 hours) and now clearing a level is a rare thing and usually comes down to a single hit, with nothing left, on the last boss. Each move takes a little thought, with efficiency being foremost in mind. The randomness of glyphs, shop contents, and sometimes even who the bosses are add a level of depth and replayability most games can't touch.

    Easily one of my favorites.    … Expand
  12. dragfly
    Oct 10, 2015
    10
    Probably the smartest game I have played during the last couple of years.

    This game is a puzzle game, that present a different challenge at every run, due to the random generation of the dungeons (dungeons layout, monsters, available items, spells, gods,...), the selection of the race and class of the player and the preparation you bring into the dungeon. Each setup play very    Probably the smartest game I have played during the last couple of years.

    This game is a puzzle game, that present a different challenge at every run, due to the random generation of the dungeons (dungeons layout, monsters, available items, spells, gods,...), the selection of the race and class of the player and the preparation you bring into the dungeon. Each setup play very differently and regarding the huge amount of content available in it, there is literally several hundreds hours of gameplay in it.

    What I like the most about it is that when you successfully finish a dungeon, you really feel like you have done a great achievement.

    The downside of the game is that it is really hard, and you need to invest time into learning how to play it and how the different system interacts.

    Highly recommended.    … Expand
  13. mno
    Sep 25, 2018
    9
    It's a fantastic idea. The game is simple, satisfying and can be very hard to master. It features nice music and offers a lot of replay value. They did screw up the balancing for later levels and putting all the annoying story/info-popup-windows between you and the game.
  14. BoeliB
    Jul 6, 2022
    8
    good game. good game. good game. good game. good game. good game. good game. good game.

Awards & Rankings

29
#29 Best PC Game of 2010
90
#90 Most Discussed PC Game of 2010
59
#59 Most Shared PC Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. GamingTrend
    Mar 6, 2014
    90
    One of the best games to come out of the indie dev scene in recent years, Desktop Dungeons takes the best aspects of a roguelike dungeon crawl, distills them down to the essentials, and puts a tactical, puzzle-minded spin on the genre that is not only unique, but brilliantly executed.
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  2. CD-Action
    Feb 10, 2014
    70
    It’s ugly as sin (upscaled 800 x 600 resolution) and there are no animations but this indie rougelike/puzzle game is addictive as hell. [02/2014, p.63]
  3. Eurogamer Germany
    Jan 16, 2014
    90
    'Just one more dungeon!' – this is the sort of addictive game that gets a reviewer in trouble for not getting the article done in time.
    Read full review
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