Dungeon Keeper

 PC
User Score
9.1

Universal acclaim- based on 156 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 145 out of 156
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 156
  3. Negative: 7 out of 156
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  1. Stendarr
    May 18, 2012
    10
    Quite possibly the finest game ever released. Endlessly addictive, completely original, and full of charming and fascinating detail and depth. You lead a home-grown brigade of horrors, from demons and trolls to giant spiders and vampires, in a campaign of brutality against the would-be do-gooders of the world. Beginning each level with a bare chamber, you, as an omnipresent demi-god, mustQuite possibly the finest game ever released. Endlessly addictive, completely original, and full of charming and fascinating detail and depth. You lead a home-grown brigade of horrors, from demons and trolls to giant spiders and vampires, in a campaign of brutality against the would-be do-gooders of the world. Beginning each level with a bare chamber, you, as an omnipresent demi-god, must command a hellish workforce to construct a dungeon fit for your monstrous minions. They must train, sleep, be paid, eat, and worship, but most importantly, they must kill! The world of Dungeon Keeper is tongue-in-cheek and cartoony, but nonetheless engrossing, convincing and certainly not cuddly. You are given minimal information about the world - you're evil, you have a dungeon, you want to take over the world, and heroes will try to stop you. That's all you need to know, for it's the minutiae that fascinate. For example, enlist the services of a Warlock, and he'll willingly devote time to researching new spells and the like in your Library. He's your best researcher, but hates being disturbed - he'll shoot fireballs at any intruders upon his bookish habits! Worse, he can't stand the sight of Vampires, and the feeling's mutual - if they share a 'lair' (a rather dank-looking room wherein creatures make their homes) it won't be long before they're at each other's throats in a duel to the death. Details such as this can inform your dungeon layout - make sure there's room for Vampires and Warlocks to have separate lairs, and keep your library tucked away somewhere not too busy - certainly avoid having it along the route to your treasure room, which creatures visit to collect payment for their services. Each creature and each aspect of the game is rendered with a similar level of attention to detail and care - there's far too much for a review to cover. I feel a special mention must be given to the sound effects for the creatures and heroes - a staggering variety, ranging from battle cries and chants to disgruntled grunts (when they're imprisoned, for example) and screams of anguish (which can often be heard resonating from a torture chamber, should you build one, or better, several!).
    The overall effect is that even though it's almost 15 years old now, Dungeon Keeper is still engaging enough to hold it's own against newer, flashier titles. The 2D sprites perfectly encapsulate the spirit of each creature, and there's even the option to 'possess' any given goon and roam around a (rather blocky, it must be said) 3D realm, casting spells, levelling up and doing battle like a mini-RPG. The nature of the game lends itself to the more patient gamer - whilst battles can be frantic and intense, there are often long periods of 'training' creatures, micro-managing your economy, building new additions to your dungeon, manufacturing and laying traps, and so on. None of which is a bad thing by any means - it serves to make the whole experience more immersive, and often the key is to strike a balance between defence and research, and aggressive expansion.
    Sadly, the series was tarnished somwhat by the release of Dungeon Keeper 2, which lost much of the charm and well-craftedness that makes this first outing so enjoyable. It's also notoriously difficult to get this game to work on modern machines, as it was released in 1997, but if you get the opportunity to play it, you're in for quite the treat (or should that be 'trick'?!)    … Expand
  2. Nautiloidor
    Aug 11, 2016
    9
    An incredibly satisfying game, full of depth, humour and detail. These games are different to anything I've ever played, which takes some time getting used to, but carving out your dungeon and training your creatures and keeping them happy in this game has a feeling to it no other game has. The fights are chaotic and brutal (although sometimes confusing due to lack of solid bodies for theAn incredibly satisfying game, full of depth, humour and detail. These games are different to anything I've ever played, which takes some time getting used to, but carving out your dungeon and training your creatures and keeping them happy in this game has a feeling to it no other game has. The fights are chaotic and brutal (although sometimes confusing due to lack of solid bodies for the creature so they all just clip into each other, but this is forgivable for such an old game).
    It has aged reasonably well although the graphics may take a tiny bit of getting used to.
    This in my opinion is a classic, and one of my all time favourite series.    … Expand
  3. 4lch3m1st
    Aug 9, 2011
    10
    Incite minions to come to your side, build extensive underground cities of minions, train them, feed them and whip them with your hand to make them work faster at mining or cultivation of fighting skills to fend off attackers. Twenty levels will keep you entertained for at least a week.
  4. DeusXCom
    Aug 7, 2014
    10
    One of the revolutionary titles that wasn't afraid to do something new and completely different. Original strategy game where you were the evil one, because it's good to be bad and in godlike control of your own dungeon and it's creatures. Amazing concept, especially for it's time that fulfilled one of my all-time wishes from strategy games, to be able to directly control your troops andOne of the revolutionary titles that wasn't afraid to do something new and completely different. Original strategy game where you were the evil one, because it's good to be bad and in godlike control of your own dungeon and it's creatures. Amazing concept, especially for it's time that fulfilled one of my all-time wishes from strategy games, to be able to directly control your troops and see the world from your or rather their own eyes, which was something really big back in 1997. Loads of great gameplay and fantastic dark soundtrack that sounded like it was really made somewhere in the dungeon. Still got my original box with Hornet Reaper sitting on my shelf. 10/10… Expand
  5. NaiMeow
    Mar 5, 2017
    10
    10/10.

    i played it years long with dlc downloaded dlc packs since today, its just a realy fun game and for me one of the best game ever exist.    10/10.

    i played it years long with dlc downloaded dlc packs since today, its just a realy fun game and for me one of the best game ever exist.

    rerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr    … Expand
  6. TheMitherer
    Oct 21, 2011
    9
    Fantastic, innovative game with addictive gameplay, great music, great sound effects, a narrator who will quickly turn you into a severe stress head and with a sinister charm that will keep you wanting more long into the night. Attract your creatures, train your creatures, keep them happy (or not) and destroy bunches of heroes and rival keepers who are foolish enough to challenge yourFantastic, innovative game with addictive gameplay, great music, great sound effects, a narrator who will quickly turn you into a severe stress head and with a sinister charm that will keep you wanting more long into the night. Attract your creatures, train your creatures, keep them happy (or not) and destroy bunches of heroes and rival keepers who are foolish enough to challenge your supremacy. There are many ways of beating each level - brute force, starve your enemies out, take out their rooms by stealth, lure them on to dozens of traps or just capture them and 'convince' them to join you. This game has so many things going on that you will be kept on your toes constantly from about level 5 onwards. Research spells, sacrifice creatures, find bonuses - the list goes on. Never a dull moment and extremely enjoyable. Probably will not run on newer computers but can be run via dosbox. Superb and a must try if you haven't played it.… Expand
  7. Broyax
    Jan 8, 2017
    2
    Très intéressante variante -en feu de paille...- sur ce qui n'est en vérité qu'un jeu de stratégie en temps réel de plus, variante intéressante en tant que concept, en tant qu'idée d'incarner les méchantes forces diaboliques, le tout emballé dans un humour anglais aussi cruel que dévastateur.

    Cela étant, la prise en main s'avère laborieuse et cela ne s'arrange pas vraiment avec le    Très intéressante variante -en feu de paille...- sur ce qui n'est en vérité qu'un jeu de stratégie en temps réel de plus, variante intéressante en tant que concept, en tant qu'idée d'incarner les méchantes forces diaboliques, le tout emballé dans un humour anglais aussi cruel que dévastateur.

    Cela étant, la prise en main s'avère laborieuse et cela ne s'arrange pas vraiment avec le temps, car les lacunes de contrôle et d'interface, les menus mal faits et leurs icônes perfectibles sautent au visage comme autant de diablotins écervelés, situation aggravée par le jeu qui ramait de façon sinistre à l'époque et qui rame encore même avec Dosbox. Après tout, on est chez Bullfrog et ces gars programmaient comme des brêles, ce qui conduisit EA à leur claquer le beignet définitivement quelques années plus tard.

    Même en SVGA (!) la lisibilité générale est assez désatreuse avec en point d'orgue... les combats qui font l'effet d'un foutoir innommable. Dire que c'était bien pire en 1997 puisqu'il fallait descendre au VGA sur les trois quarts des machines qui coûtaient pourtant bien plus cher que maintenant !

    La difficulté est clairement mal dosée avec des pics brutaux au bout de quelques missions, ce qui conduit à farmer comme un porc et à courir après chaque filon d'or, les actions se répètent et finissent par ennuyer jusqu'à ce qu'on devienne éventuellement assez puissant pour mettre une tannée au donjon concurrent.

    Tout ou presque est donc à revoir dans ce Gardien du Donjon qui m'avait déjà laissé une mauvaise impression en son temps : pas de jouabilité, pas de jeu.    … Expand
  8. JHango
    Feb 9, 2014
    9
    This is a great game. There is no other game like this today. Strategy, Leadership, everything you need to do a good job in this awesome game. Very Good.
  9. Krater
    Oct 8, 2011
    8
    Dungeon Keeper's game play is so solid and enjoyable, if you were to polish it up to this generation's standards, you would still have an excellent game!
  10. Rox22
    Dec 11, 2012
    9
    Probably one of the best games I've ever played. Stunning creatures, addictive gameplay. A timeless classic. A must for any real gamer. Only negative I would say would be the total lack of any real cutscenes, apart from the intro.
  11. insanity82007
    Dec 31, 2012
    10
    This is my favourite game of all time. I've played it through countless times. The graphics at the time it came out were great, the gameplay was great, the characters were quirky, the narrator was beautifully sinister. I wish they would remake this with one of todays engines. It would still shine.
  12. rockmegax
    Oct 21, 2013
    10
    This is one of my favorite games. I got it at GOG.com, and it runs flawlessly. It feels nice to be the villain, and the game is quite hard and creative. I'm going to get DK2 after finishing this one.
  13. Zarniwooop
    Sep 13, 2013
    10
    Its a tragedy that we haven't had a sequel since DK2.

    This is one of the rare games that I would call perfect (if you can handle older graphics).

    If you need to be told what to do every step of the way, you probably won't like this. This is for people with creative minds.
  14. Krimm
    May 27, 2019
    10
    One of the best game of all time! you can do everything! this game is simply a masterpiece that everyone must play!
  15. clarkdaw2
    Oct 9, 2017
    10
    A satisfying and extremely addictive game. What kind of game gives you great music as you conquer into the sicking good two shoes lands! Drop your minions onto those straight laced fighters. Slap your imps and turn your foes into chickens! Pure fun! You are the evil that strides across the lands! Laugh your way as you delve into each level! Available for download at gog.com Check it out!
  16. Crazypel
    Jul 6, 2019
    10
    To this day, this game hasn't been beaten. On the later levels, from the moment you start, it's relentless and you've got to be doing something at all times. It's the perfect blend of skill, tactics, speed of thought and humour. A real one of a kind game.
  17. Hollowedwizzard
    Jan 30, 2020
    10
    Хороший, годный микс двух жанров. Стратегия в реальном времени и этакий "шутер" от первого лица. С учётом того, что игра почти четверть века назад вышла - это весьма и весьма нестандартное и впечатляющее решение.
    Вообще, геймплей довольно затягивающий, вариативный. Фан-сообщество тоже (до сих пор) радует новыми кастомными уровнями и компаниями. + игра с неплохим таким английским юмором.    Хороший, годный микс двух жанров. Стратегия в реальном времени и этакий "шутер" от первого лица. С учётом того, что игра почти четверть века назад вышла - это весьма и весьма нестандартное и впечатляющее решение.
    Вообще, геймплей довольно затягивающий, вариативный. Фан-сообщество тоже (до сих пор) радует новыми кастомными уровнями и компаниями. + игра с неплохим таким английским юмором. Отдельно большой респект Расселу Шоу за поистине душевный саундтрэк. По моему вкусу - музыкальное оформление стоит в ряду самых лучших.    … Expand
  18. Ksie
    Dec 19, 2020
    10
    Лучший симулятор бога. И лучшая стратегия всех времен и народов. О чем тут еще говорить.
  19. foresto86
    Nov 30, 2022
    10
    Game that I remember from kid's time.. I enjoyed playing it a lot..
    All the creatures were living their lives and you had limited control on them.. Something unusual in games of 90s'.
    This game should get a REMAKE!! EA - share rights to some studio that will have a chance to bring the game back to LIVE!
  20. zazziik
    Jul 19, 2023
    10
    this is one of the games taht i would call absolutely perfect. it was my whole childhood, and even looking at it now - after all these years, i still stand for my opinion