Dungeon crawler games have an adventurous charm that makes them irresistible to RPG fans. These games let you step into the shoes of brave heroes and heroines, battling monsters, solving puzzles, and exploring dark labyrinths.
If you love role-playing games with an emphasis on adventure and combat, dungeon crawlers are a perfect fit. I‘ve handpicked some of the best dungeon crawler games that will give you an adrenaline rush.
What Are Dungeon Crawler Games?
Dungeon crawlers, also known as hack-and-slash RPGs, are a subgenre of role-playing video games. As the name suggests, a key aspect of these games is exploring dungeons, which are maze-like environments filled with enemies, traps, and treasures.
Gameplay in a typical dungeon crawler involves battling monsters, collecting weapons and gear, developing your character‘s skills and abilities, and progressing through dungeon levels. Many dungeon crawlers have random level generation, meaning the layout changes every time you play.
Dungeon crawler games usually have a medieval fantasy setting, complete with spells, dragons, undead creatures, and more. Game mechanics blend action, adventure and RPG elements for an immersive, high-octane experience.
Why Are Tactics and Strategy Crucial in These Games?
Beating elaborately designed dungeons and sinister bosses requires smart tactics and strategic decisions. Here are some key strategic gameplay elements you‘ll encounter:
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Exploration – Navigating traps and secret passages needs caution. You must balance risk vs. reward when venturing into unknown territory.
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Character Building – Optimizing your hero‘s skills, abilities and gear is vital to survive treacherous dungeons. Customization adds to replay value.
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Resource Management – Supplies like health potions and mana are limited. You must use them prudently in battle.
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Enemy Behaviors – Every monster has attack patterns, weaknesses and strengths to exploit. Understanding these can mean life or death.
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Team Composition – If you control a party, synergizing character roles and abilities is essential. An unbalanced group won‘t last long.
Thriving in dungeon crawlers requires thinking on your feet and being flexible to dynamic threats. Now let’s delve into some stellar game picks for this genre!
1. Baldur‘s Gate II: Enhanced Edition
Release Date – November 2013
Platforms – PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Baldur‘s Gate II is a classic RPG hailed as one of the best Dungeons & Dragons video game adaptations ever made. The Enhanced Edition polished the graphics and adapted the controls for modern platforms while keeping the epic story intact.
The game thrusts you into the unforgiving yet captivating realm of swords and sorcery. It features tactical combat, companion questlines and fully voiced dialogues adding depth to an already rich narrative.
With over 300 hours of playtime between main and side content, Baldur‘s Gate II offers tremendous bang for buck. Its enhanced version makes it more accessible for modern audiences to dive into this masterpiece.
2. Children of Morta
Release Date – September 2019
Platforms – PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Blending hack-and-slash gameplay with roguelike elements, Children of Morta is a refreshing take on dungeon crawlers. It chronicles the tales of the Bergson family, guardians of Mount Morta, rendered in gorgeous pixel art.
You play as members of the Bergson household, each with unique playstyles tailored to their weapons and skills. The family must band together to fight corruption spreading through the mountain.
Children of Morta generates new dungeon layouts randomly, enhancing replay value. With permadeath enabled, it emulates the high-stakes tension of classic roguelikes beautifully while retaining accessibility.
3. Crypt of the NecroDancer
Release Date – April 2015
Platforms – PC, PS4, PS Vita, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
Looking for an eccentric twist on the typical dungeon crawler formula? Crypt of the NecroDancer innovates the genre by fusing roguelike gameplay with rhythm-based movement.
You have to move and attack to the beat of the background music. Time your actions to the rhythm for bonuses, or misstep and take damage. The game has a stellar chiptune soundtrack to groove to as you plunge into the crypt.
With shopkeeper chars, unlockable playable heroes and local multiplayer support, Crypt of the NecroDancer packs in energetic fun with ample variety. Want to try something offbeat? This dance with death should be right up your alley!
4. Darkest Dungeon
Release Date – January 2016
Platforms – PC, PS4, PS Vita, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
Boasting a sinister gothic art style and tense turn-based battles, Darkest Dungeon is a standout RPG dungeon crawler. Your mission is building a squad of flawed heroes brave enough to plunge into the warped depths beneath an ancestral mansion.
The game innovates with an affinity system tracking relationships between party members. Heroes collaborate with those they bond with, but stress and conflict can cause bitter rivalry!
Darkest Dungeon sports permadeath, so every move carries weight. The harrowing struggle against eldritch horrors will haunt you long after you put the game down. If you’re a connoisseur of Kult or Lovecraftian horror, this is a must-play.
5. Darksiders Genesis
Release Date – December 2019
Platforms – PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Darksiders Genesis is a top-down hack-and-slash RPG and a spin-off that explores the origin story of the Four Horsemen. Take control of War and Strife to thwart an evil demon conspiracy threatening to unravel all creation.
The game rewards aggression, with combat centered on weapon synergy, dodges, parries and juggle combos. Coordinating the two Horsemen during battles is vital to surviving the onslaught of hellish foes.
With substantial lore reveals, puzzle sections, hidden loot and secrets, Darksiders Genesis delivers a meaty adventure for series fans. The top-down ARPG approach also makes its combat easily accessible to newcomers.
6. Diablo III
Release Date – May 2012
Platforms – PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
The acclaimed Diablo series hardly needs an introduction among ARPG fans. Diablo III continues the legacy with its trademark hack-and-slash combat, piles of gothic loot and endlessly replayable Rift mode.
There are seven character classes to explore, each with active and passive skills to experiment with for countless build options. Face off against iconic foes like the Skeleton King Leoric or new threats like blood cultists.
Massacring demons with flashy signature spells and screen-filling ultimate attacks makes combat immensely gratifying. If you enjoy theorycrafting the perfect build, the infinite progression and regular themed seasons will suck you right in.
7. Noita
Release Date – October 2020
Platform – Steam
A 2D roguelikerendered with dazzling pixel art and physics-based elemental effects, Noitaempowers you with wands for casting powerful spells. Fireblasts, poison clouds, lightning strikes and more wreck foes and interact explosively with the highly destructible environment.
With permadeath enabled, staying on your toes and thinking fast is key to survive the ever-changing subterranean landscape. Loot new wands with randomized abilities and modifiers to expand your mystical arsenal run after run.
Noita’s absurd level of background simulation and attention to detail constantly surprise you. It leverages the capabilities of pixels to create one of the most reactive, deep roguelikes around. Spellcasting has never been so spectacularly destructive!
8. Path of Exile
Release Date – October 2013
Platforms – PC, Xbox One, PS4
Inspired by cult classic Diablo II, indie smash hit Path of Exile delivers brutal combat, extensive character customization and rewarding item hunts. With a gritty dark fantasy aesthetic and great variety across seven playable classes, this is one of the most feature-rich ARPGs available.
The Passive Skill Tree boasts over 1300 nodes for tailoring your hero! Item sockets allow installing gems that grant new attacks, spells and properties. The possibilities are staggering.
Regular challenge leagues and events with unique modifiers shake up the gameplay, keeping it perpetually fresh. If you crave intense action paired with depths of theorycrafting, Path of Exile is a dream come true.
9. Slay the Spire
Release Date – January 2019
Platforms – PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One
Fusing roguelike progression with deckbuilding strategy, Slay the Spire sees you ascend a towering spire 200 floors tall. Select from unique characters like the Ironclad or Silent, armed with an initial deck of attack, skill and power cards.
Battle increasingly dangerous foes to obtain stronger cards and relics augmenting your deck. Tailor your deck’s synergies to hammer home a consistent strategy, whether offensive rushdown or defensive attrition.
With daily runs, 20+ relics to discover and hundreds of cards to acquire, Slay the Spire offers tremendous replayability. If you enjoy tactical card games, this ingenious mashup is sure to hook you.
10. Wizard of Legend
Release Date – May 2018
Platforms – PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
Wizard of Legend is a slick arcade-style dungeon crawler focused on frenetic spellcasting combat. Pick your wizard, outfit them with magical gear and battle through procedurally generated stages.
Equip two spells and swap between them fluidly to string together explosive combos. Teleport behind enemies, set traps with runes or unleash screen-filling ultimates to decimate hordes of monsters.
With local co-op available, Wizard of Legend captures classic couch party game enjoyment. Perfect your spellslinging reflexes across multiple runs and triumph over challenging bosses guarding the final dungeon floors.
Conclusion
I hope this selection of excellent dungeon crawlers has you itching with anticipation for an adventure! The games featured here represent some of the best the genre has to offer.
Immerse yourself in rich worlds filled with secrets to uncover, foes to vanquish and treasures to claim. These labyrinthine RPGs will test your tactical skills and reflexes while transporting you into memorable fantasy realms.
Gear up your weapons and stock potions for the journey ahead. Destiny awaits in the deep, dark depths!
