Etrian Mystery Dungeon

 3DS
  • Publisher: Atlus
  • Release Date: Apr 7, 2015
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 56 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 56
  3. Negative: 7 out of 56
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  1. Rtheom
    Apr 21, 2015
    8
    This is Mystery Dungeon to an M, and it actually works pretty well with the Etrian theme. As anyone who has played either previous Mystery Dungeon or previous Etrian games knows, the games are tough as beans, often punishing you very harshly for slightly lapses in judgement. Combining of the two just made sense, and it works well and keeps the feel of both nicely.

    What most don't    This is Mystery Dungeon to an M, and it actually works pretty well with the Etrian theme. As anyone who has played either previous Mystery Dungeon or previous Etrian games knows, the games are tough as beans, often punishing you very harshly for slightly lapses in judgement. Combining of the two just made sense, and it works well and keeps the feel of both nicely.

    What most don't realize going into this game is that it is not a real time beat-em-up, like it appears, but actually a very strategic turn based game. Half of the challenge is managing your party and making sure that they aren't walking head first into trouble. The other half is timing your skills and attacks right.

    Fortunately, this game is a bit more forgiving than most other Etrian or Mystery Dungeon games and there are plenty of ways to heal and rez your team. So if you're paying attention, you'll rarely actually go down completely. The addition of the forts to essentially create mobile load points is also super awesome because one of the biggest pains of past Mystery Dungeon games was getting most of the way through a dungeon and then needing to return to town to sell loot or regen your team. (FYI the dungeons change and reload each time you leave them, so clearing one area doesn't mean it's cleared for good.)

    TLDR: If you like Etrian games or Mystery Dungeon games, give this a shot, you'll probably like it. If you don't, or are new, go in with caution as you'll probably be facing a lot of frustration very fast.    … Expand
  2. GoombaJMR
    Jul 5, 2015
    8
    Etrian Mystery Dungeon does a pretty nice job combining elements from Etrian Odyssey and the Mystery Dungeon series. While the Etrian Odyssey series itself stands as one of my most liked franchises (of all time), I have to say that playing in a rogue like mystery dungeon was a big change. I’ve played Pokemon Mystery Dungeon (GtI), and it was a much simpler beast than this game is. With allEtrian Mystery Dungeon does a pretty nice job combining elements from Etrian Odyssey and the Mystery Dungeon series. While the Etrian Odyssey series itself stands as one of my most liked franchises (of all time), I have to say that playing in a rogue like mystery dungeon was a big change. I’ve played Pokemon Mystery Dungeon (GtI), and it was a much simpler beast than this game is. With all of the sorts of things you’d expect in a solid JRPG game (including EO skill branches etc.), and unique armor, weapons, and stuff (models) in the game. The transition to third person play was expected, but the gameplay is still smooth at that. While there isn’t too much new music in the game, the ones that are new are pretty good (Town theme, Boss battle etc.) and the remixes of songs from old games are superb. The downfall from this great game would probably be the AI and how stupid it can be, most of the time. The AI does a good job of wasting the MP of all three of your other characters, attempting to remove useless enemies from your sight. While you can make it so that you command all the characters, it does serve as a hassle and downside of the game. Another downside would probably be part of the DOEs, as they get somewhat annoying to deal with (especially weaker ones) once you pass enough dungeons. The game is quite long, spanning (most likely for you) over 30 hours. The quests are nice, and all that stuff is at the quality you’d expect from Atlus. I recommend getting this game if you’re a fan of either of the franchises - and if you’re on the fence about this game, I’d say… take a few more looks gameplay videos and consider whether or not this game is for you!

    Gameplay: 8.5/10
    Story: 7.5/10
    Music: 9/10
    Presentation: 8.5/10
    Length: 8.5/10
    Overall: 8/10    … Expand
  3. Weesum
    May 31, 2015
    8
    This was an amazing game love everything! The challenge the bosses, even the implementation of the DOEs to replace the FOEs in previous games. All in all I loved this game! The only change I can ask for is to let normal enemies move through the walkways between rooms.
  4. ironzombi
    Aug 16, 2017
    7
    EMD is a good game, its just not great. There is plenty here for fans of dungeon crawlers and roguelike RPG's but it just doesn't hold up compared to the Etrian Odyssey games or the other Mystery Dungeon games I have played(I have not played Gates to Infinity) and while it should be viewed for what it is and not against EO games I just cant help but feel there is potential that was notEMD is a good game, its just not great. There is plenty here for fans of dungeon crawlers and roguelike RPG's but it just doesn't hold up compared to the Etrian Odyssey games or the other Mystery Dungeon games I have played(I have not played Gates to Infinity) and while it should be viewed for what it is and not against EO games I just cant help but feel there is potential that was not quite reached.

    Recommended for fans of dungeon crawlers and roguelike games but just because you were a fan of some of the earlier Pokemon Mystery dungeon games doesn't mean you are going to enjoy this game. I am really pleased so see they are releasing EMD2 as I really feel the combo of mystery dungeon and Etrian Odyssey is a winning formula and with some small balance tweaks here and there this crossover is sure to shine.    … Expand
  5. JeffreyTey
    Apr 12, 2015
    8
    If you like rogue-like games, Etrian Mystery Dungeon is the perfect game for you. A very good crossover of two different series Etrian Odyssey and Mystery Dungeon, it takes the best of both games and combines them.

    If you've played any games in the Etrian Odyssey series, you would know the daunting and medium to high level of difficulty the game throws at you and it is no different    If you like rogue-like games, Etrian Mystery Dungeon is the perfect game for you. A very good crossover of two different series Etrian Odyssey and Mystery Dungeon, it takes the best of both games and combines them.

    If you've played any games in the Etrian Odyssey series, you would know the daunting and medium to high level of difficulty the game throws at you and it is no different here. That being said, like all EO games, it also encourages you to try different playstyles with a wide variety of job classes to choose from.

    You definitely do not die in the first dungeon. All you need is planning and understanding of what to do as well as understanding party synergy. Overall Etrian Mystery Dungeon is a very solid game that will appeal to players who like to customize their own parties and rogue-like gamers.    … Expand
  6. midipon
    May 15, 2015
    9
    I very highly enjoy this game. It's like a gift that keeps on giving! Have to take some off for somewhat clunky interface and horribly dumb party AI though.
  7. ravenclaw77
    Aug 4, 2015
    9
    By far the best Rogue-like on 3DS. Lots of depth and tons of content, this is a great value for people who love the genre.

    If you're new to rogue-likes, it's a turn based game where every time you take a step or an action, the enemies do the same. It requires you to think and strategize. Rogue-likes are known for being difficult and this is no exception -- the first area is easy enough,    By far the best Rogue-like on 3DS. Lots of depth and tons of content, this is a great value for people who love the genre.

    If you're new to rogue-likes, it's a turn based game where every time you take a step or an action, the enemies do the same. It requires you to think and strategize. Rogue-likes are known for being difficult and this is no exception -- the first area is easy enough, and you can grind away if you find the game too hard, but it either takes a great deal of skill or a great deal of time grinding to defeat.

    The dungeons are pseudo-random and this offers some variety of each dungeon, you'll never see the exact same layout twice, most likely. However, there are parameters as to what can be in each floor, so it's not total chaos.

    Some people have complained about terrible A.I. My opinion is those players didn't give enough care to positioning. You can control any character at any time, and the other characters act themselves. Yes, it's important to not block doorways and make sure your allies have line of sight (LOS) on their targets, and this is part of the game. Once you realize you're controlling a squad and not focusing on a single character, the A.I. is at least on par with other rogue-likes.

    There is no 'permadeath', but if you fall in battle, you will lose a fair amount of progress. If you are impatient and impulsive, this will cause a lot of frustration. Once you learn to take your time and pace yourself, it's very rewarding.

    There are a number of things I haven't seen before in rogue-likes, such as the DOE system and building of forts. These add another dimension to an already complex game type, and I applaud it.

    Fans of rogue-likes should absolutely pick this game up for certain. If you're new to the genre, this is more complex and involved than most, and it could be frustrating, especially if you're unused to the need to really plan and strategize. For younger or new-to-the-genre players, I'd recommend pokemon mystery dungeon which generally doesn't offer quite as much challenge. For adults or anyone with experience, looking for a challenge, this is my favorite by far.    … Expand
  8. Hypie
    Oct 6, 2015
    2
    A horrible AI coupled with a maddening Difficulty right from the Start destroy any Fun one could have with this Combination of "Mystery Dungeon" and the Etrian Universe.

    Monster can 1 Shot you in the second Dungeon you gain access to (the first is a tutorial Dungeon). Even if the Player does smart Choices when he recruits...even a "Paladin" normally known for the highest Defense and    A horrible AI coupled with a maddening Difficulty right from the Start destroy any Fun one could have with this Combination of "Mystery Dungeon" and the Etrian Universe.

    Monster can 1 Shot you in the second Dungeon you gain access to (the first is a tutorial Dungeon). Even if the Player does smart Choices when he recruits...even a "Paladin" normally known for the highest Defense and some basic Healing Ability, gets 1 shotted by a "Trash" Monster.

    Avoid this Game it only brings out the frustated and swearing Side of us Gamers.    … Expand
  9. mikeanite12
    Apr 26, 2015
    5
    First of all, I would like to say that this game is fun in its own merit and worth a play-through if you like rouge-like games and want a fresh feel in gameplay. That being said, there are many, MANY issues with this game that seem to more than just oversight, but actual negligence.

    First of all your team AI is almost worthless, the only saving grace being the skill that allows you to    First of all, I would like to say that this game is fun in its own merit and worth a play-through if you like rouge-like games and want a fresh feel in gameplay. That being said, there are many, MANY issues with this game that seem to more than just oversight, but actual negligence.

    First of all your team AI is almost worthless, the only saving grace being the skill that allows you to control your party for 9 turns and turning off their skills altogether so that they don't burn all of their TP in the first few encounters of enemies because apparently if my tank is missing 5 health, she's in need of an immediate heal. If a party member is in a hallway, they see nothing and seem to be incapable of making any choices for themselves, often my gunner gets stuck in the hallway with a monster just a few squares away, but because the healer is standing in the doorway, my gunner is blind to the monster.

    DOE's. The only ONLY threat they possess is sneaking by you when trying to get to the town. Other than that, throw on a couple of debuffs and they fall without having much of an impact on the game other than slowing down your exploration of the dungeons. I like the idea of DOE's being very strong but it was handled very poorly, a fire link and a bind shouldn't be every single damn DOE's weakness. Granted, the bosses were actually entertaining.

    I like pokemon mystery dungeon, and etrian odyssey is one of my favorite game series, but if something isn't done to at least fix some basic mechanics of EO mystery dungeon, it was both a waste of etrian odyssey's development team and my time.    … Expand
  10. TemplarGR
    Sep 10, 2016
    0
    Another overrated japanese trash by Atlus. You can count on them to always disrespect the player's time, making very cheap games with little effort on their part and just padding them with endless brainless boring grinding, because they can. Then they can advertise "hundrends of hours of gameplay". Yeah right.

    If you somehow don't value your life and your time, you can play this. I    Another overrated japanese trash by Atlus. You can count on them to always disrespect the player's time, making very cheap games with little effort on their part and just padding them with endless brainless boring grinding, because they can. Then they can advertise "hundrends of hours of gameplay". Yeah right.

    If you somehow don't value your life and your time, you can play this. I suppose it is better than just starring at a wall. The rest of us can play decent games.    … Expand
  11. d4haxor
    Apr 12, 2015
    0
    This is one of the buggiest, most imbalanced RPGs ever made. The starting dungeon has monsters that can 1 shot your entire party before you can even react, and half the time the game goes to auto save it corrupts your data. Save your money and avoid this game at all costs.
  12. night4
    Feb 3, 2017
    5
    In no world does this deserve a green score, let alone a 10. The AI is so horrifically awful it's probably literally the worst AI I've ever seen in my entire life.

    There are some positive aspects of the game, like the general gameplay, the addition of positioning to the Etrian base formula, and some unique classes. Just thinking about the AI makes me want to punch someone in the    In no world does this deserve a green score, let alone a 10. The AI is so horrifically awful it's probably literally the worst AI I've ever seen in my entire life.

    There are some positive aspects of the game, like the general gameplay, the addition of positioning to the Etrian base formula, and some unique classes.

    Just thinking about the AI makes me want to punch someone in the face though. I don't understand how the game could have launched like this.    … Expand
  13. ventzx
    Jul 4, 2015
    9
    It's an awesome game if you're a fan of the Mystery dungeon games, if not it will get repetitive and boring pretty fast because that's how this type of games works, nevertheless it doesn't really disappoint anyone.
  14. ItsTamo
    Jun 2, 2021
    7
    I'm a big fan of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon and Etrian Odyssey, and playing EMD was a treat. I loved the concept of the game and it was very grabbing. It's THE type of game I love and would love to dive into. The dungeon crawling aspect is fun, and how they utilized the guild system was quite brilliant. But I'd say what brings my review score down are terrible UI, party AI and some systemI'm a big fan of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon and Etrian Odyssey, and playing EMD was a treat. I loved the concept of the game and it was very grabbing. It's THE type of game I love and would love to dive into. The dungeon crawling aspect is fun, and how they utilized the guild system was quite brilliant. But I'd say what brings my review score down are terrible UI, party AI and some system commands.

    EO series in general doesn't have that great of UI, and EMD perfectly incorporates and worsens it. Too many skills, too many items and limited number of buttons forces the player to constantly study and spend time on the menu option.

    Party AI is the worst I've seen in a game. After 30+ hours of gameplay, I still don't know when the game prompts the leader (or the player) to input commands of the party members. The members use up the items that I don't want them to waste. They use their skills pointlessly (and waste MP) even if I click 'cancel' on the battle command that's occasionally prompted to the player. This really broke my immersion and raised the overall difficulties.

    The part that I enjoyed the most was DOE battles, which I usually use the 'command all' skill to command all of my party members. The battle becomes a lot more enjoyable if I don't have to suffer the party AI.

    The Fortress system was fun. I liked using the guild members (and jobs) that I left dormant for some time. Most of the fortress defence members I set were different from my main party so the fort battles were refreshing.

    Job system is broken. There are 10 classes, and Runemaster, Medic, and Landsknecht are almost mandatory in an exploration party. It's difficult to make much notable progression without any of them. The other 7 classes are supporters or long-ranged fighters, and I really didn't get much use out of them. I think this type of job system was ok in the base EO games, since there are 5 party members and you could put at least 2 supporters, but in EMD, you can only put 1 supporter and the other classes go to waste. I tried to utilize the support classes as much as I could in the fortress battles but still didn't get much use out of them.

    I loved the gameplay, but can't stop thinking that the overall game was a missed opportunity. Some parts seem rushed and I believe they needed some extra time in the oven (which I understand that this was not the type of game that would be granted with that much of a budget). Heck, I'm seeing frame drops on New 3DS XL. There were so many improvements they could've implemented. It's not a bad game by no means and I greatly enjoyed it. However, from an objective perspective, it's not a well-constructed game. And I'm disappointed to say that.    … Expand
  15. skunkyjosh
    May 25, 2023
    5
    A dungeon crawler with a terrible party-controlled AI.

    You can go solo or with a party of 4 and explore dungeons. You collect gold, items, materials, potions, etc. As you defeat bosses, you will find out that your character level is meaningless and that all that matters is to use the proper item or spell to break the shield. Once the shield is broken, all the bosses seem to be very easy    A dungeon crawler with a terrible party-controlled AI.

    You can go solo or with a party of 4 and explore dungeons. You collect gold, items, materials, potions, etc. As you defeat bosses, you will find out that your character level is meaningless and that all that matters is to use the proper item or spell to break the shield. Once the shield is broken, all the bosses seem to be very easy to kill with melee or spell damage once you discover their weaknesses.

    If you fail on the boss, you lose some items that you were wearing, half your gold and all your inventory. It's setting you back into grinding mode for several hours due to several items lost. You better hope to have every possible stun, paralysis, magic, poison, etc on you or you could be doomed.

    It's not a fun dungeon crawler. I played this for over 60 hours+, I had 40 characters in the range of level 35 to 45 from all the classes available and I tried them all with their skills and spells. The classes all look the same, they are rushed and one of them is game breaking bugged. Even the artwork is often just a different colour with the same art. Very rushed and washed out. Save your time and money, there are better dungeon crawlers out there waiting for you.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

17
#17 Best 3DS Game of 2015
22
#22 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2015
29
#29 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 44 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 44
  3. Negative: 1 out of 44
  1. CD-Action
    Jan 12, 2016
    70
    An old school roguelike enriched with some interesting twists. [13/2015, p.73]
  2. IGN Spain
    Nov 30, 2015
    78
    Mixing RPGS and roguelike elements, this game manages to offer a deep challenge, but fails in being too short for its kind.
    Read full review
  3. Cubed3
    Nov 15, 2015
    70
    The enjoyment of Etrian Mystery Dungeon will be very much dependent on how much a player enjoys the core experience of repeated dungeon excursions.
    Read full review
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