Dungeons

 PC
  • Publisher: Kalypso
  • Release Date: Feb 10, 2011
User Score
4.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 110 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 110
  2. Mixed: 32 out of 110
  3. Negative: 54 out of 110
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  1. Broyax
    Apr 7, 2022
    0
    Bien des années après, un petit studio opportuniste a sorti son « Dungeon Keeper », naturellement très inspiré, voire carrément très copié sur cette vieille licence (défunte) du jeu de gestion en temps réel… de donjons !

    Hélas, le petit studio a surtout sorti un gros étron (à l’insu de son plein gré ou pas, là n’est pas la question) fort mal présenté. La campagne s’avère d’emblée    Bien des années après, un petit studio opportuniste a sorti son « Dungeon Keeper », naturellement très inspiré, voire carrément très copié sur cette vieille licence (défunte) du jeu de gestion en temps réel… de donjons !

    Hélas, le petit studio a surtout sorti un gros étron (à l’insu de son plein gré ou pas, là n’est pas la question) fort mal présenté. La campagne s’avère d’emblée totalement nulle à chier, en raison d’une lisibilité problématique du donjon lui-même (tout est rougeâtre et noirâtre) et les objectifs sont introuvables. Bref, ça casse les couilles en moins de deux.

    En outre, l’humour est discutable, voire complètement con et l’interface est (elle aussi) très confuse. Enfin, ça tourne pas bien, notamment sur XP avec ma vieille 6770 (ça m’a l’air d’être optimisé avec le fion). J’ignore si le jeu fonctionne sur 7-64 mais dans le doute, je ne m’y suis pas risqué (j’ai une version boîte avec le DVD dedans).

    En plus, l’installation ne permet pas de choisir le répertoire et il faut entrer le numéro de série de mon cul, se connecter ou créer un compte chez Kalypso, télécharger un patch et tout ça… M’enfin bon, l’avantage d’une version physique, c’est qu’on peut ensuite casser la galette ou la découper aux ciseaux (j’aime bien). Ou la filer au clébard pour qu’il se fasse les dents dessus.    … Expand
  2. FGM
    Jun 5, 2016
    1
    Tedious, Dungeon Keeper knock off. Has absolutely nothing to offer, recommend playing DK2 allover again, you'll have 10X more fun. You can't paint rooms like in DK instead walls define rooms which is annoying. Diggers are slow and graphics are mediocre. UI is somehow unappealing. Storytelling is terrible.
  3. thehumangerm
    May 26, 2014
    6
    Pros: Generally entertaining game that will make you miss the infamous Dungeon Keeper series from the past. Despite a well balanced system the game seems some how lacking. Worth playing but you will likely loose interest quickly.

    Cons: Lack luster. Although the game is well designed it lacks the attention keeping characters that it's obvious inspiration Dungeon Keeper had. Not a bad    Pros: Generally entertaining game that will make you miss the infamous Dungeon Keeper series from the past. Despite a well balanced system the game seems some how lacking. Worth playing but you will likely loose interest quickly.

    Cons: Lack luster. Although the game is well designed it lacks the attention keeping characters that it's obvious inspiration Dungeon Keeper had. Not a bad game just doesn't have anything special to offer and will likely leave you just wishing for a relaunch of the Dungeon Keeper series.    … Expand
  4. keefbaker
    Nov 3, 2013
    3
    Ok, Imagine Dungeon Keeper, but with modern graphics and sound... Keep that in your mind and then be sad that this is a lesson on how to fix what isn;t broken to the point of it turning into micromanagement hell that's about as fun as having a demon lord's sword rammed up your jaxi. Take the heroes... They have to be "farmed" by allowing them into a treasure room and then attack them justOk, Imagine Dungeon Keeper, but with modern graphics and sound... Keep that in your mind and then be sad that this is a lesson on how to fix what isn;t broken to the point of it turning into micromanagement hell that's about as fun as having a demon lord's sword rammed up your jaxi. Take the heroes... They have to be "farmed" by allowing them into a treasure room and then attack them just before they leave, none of which can be automated and the game then complains at you because you couldn't keep your eye on the 12 spinning plates of completing objectives, fighting on two fronts and farming heroes, oh this is a massive pile of bollocks.… Expand
  5. Ssekta
    Aug 16, 2013
    8
    Not good like Dungeon keeper but still good this type game. Nice continue old game with new Dungeon master system with spells and skills. Kalypso do good work
  6. GodotIsW8ing4U
    Apr 13, 2013
    5
    The concept was interesting and the idea of appealing to the heroes rather than your own denizens is somewhat novel (or would be if it wasn't a ripoff of the Tycoon series), but ultimately the game's biggest problem is that it requires a level of micromanagement best described via a lengthy stream of obscenities directed at the dev team, everyone who knows them, and everyone who knowsThe concept was interesting and the idea of appealing to the heroes rather than your own denizens is somewhat novel (or would be if it wasn't a ripoff of the Tycoon series), but ultimately the game's biggest problem is that it requires a level of micromanagement best described via a lengthy stream of obscenities directed at the dev team, everyone who knows them, and everyone who knows everyone who knows them.… Expand
  7. JamesBondX
    Dec 14, 2012
    0
    They tried to shamefully lure the DK series fans to play this THING. No one fell for it. It was very monotone, it was pretty ridiculous. A dungeon lord shouldn't ENTERTAIN heroes, there is NO valid reason for that. I know they try to explain why they need to do it, but it's just WRONG. You should mercilessly kill heroes, not entertain them THEN kill them. Creeps should be more personal, asThey tried to shamefully lure the DK series fans to play this THING. No one fell for it. It was very monotone, it was pretty ridiculous. A dungeon lord shouldn't ENTERTAIN heroes, there is NO valid reason for that. I know they try to explain why they need to do it, but it's just WRONG. You should mercilessly kill heroes, not entertain them THEN kill them. Creeps should be more personal, as it is, they feel like buildings rather than actual "beings" in your dungeon. I can't even see how this game would be fun from a tycoon point of view. But what bothers me most is that they basically lived on the principle that they would get the older DK fans to play this heap of ****.

    Definitely cannot recommend to any DK fan out there.

    Also, someone else mentioned this being hard while DK being "sleep, then wake up to a victory screen"

    NO, JUST NO. SHAME ON YOU.    … Expand
  8. Vicon
    May 31, 2012
    5
    Imagine you're at a party -- and this gorgeous girl is totally into you -- you keep catching her eye from across the room, and some brief small talk reveals that she is undeniably really into you... also... she's twice as dumb as frozen feces, has a hideous worldview and is profoundly shallow and unrewarding to interact with. That's DUNGEONS for you... it's like they polished the visualsImagine you're at a party -- and this gorgeous girl is totally into you -- you keep catching her eye from across the room, and some brief small talk reveals that she is undeniably really into you... also... she's twice as dumb as frozen feces, has a hideous worldview and is profoundly shallow and unrewarding to interact with. That's DUNGEONS for you... it's like they polished the visuals and figured that would be enough to sell the game. If you are really anal retentive and your favorite genre is tycoon/city-building games then you actually might enjoy this game. Everyone else -- it's profoundly boring. You'll have to endlessly drop silly decorations into the world to build any of the "better" (I use the term loosely because none of the features really do anything) structures -- and your reward for all your trouble is to have to restart in another dungeon and begin all over from scratch. If there was some way to save templates of rooms and drop them into the world, or a slider function that could decorate rooms for you reasonably well so you wouldn't have to fiddle and twist every damn thing in the world it might also have saved it. You have no real control over your minions, but that's not a problem like it might be in some other games because your monsters often don't serve as anything but a speedbump for your avatar or worse, (SERIOUSLY) are merely something you put ahead of adventurers to ENTERTAIN THEM.

    Thats right, in a surprise twist which proves to me the most poorly executed and unfun mechanic for a game, EVER -- everything you put in your dungeon is supposed to ENTERTAIN YOUR INVADING ENEMIES. They are supposed to be wowed by your interior decoration skills and get all pumped beating your minions up and ROBBING YOU... you actually have to ENCOURAGE THIS. When you have (OMYGOD SO STUPID) you have done your job and they are HAPPY... THEN you kill them and harvest their soul energy for the the ultimate payoff -- wait for it -- soul energy you can use to make more decorations. Rinse, repeat. The game at numerous junctures could have been so much cooler and close to... well... an actual game. Have facilities grow on their own... make something about treasure worth having/defending (Treasures with bonuses that conferred to you would make them worth protecting, and if your minions had special gear that made them better you might actually feel invested trying to win it back if it got stolen, for examples.) It is JAM PACKED with un-fun mechanics like (gasp!) your monsters killed an invader -- that wastes soul resources!

    All that told -- it's not a BAD game... it just isn't any good. You might even enjoy playing with the pieces for a while, before you grow utterly disgusted with how nothing you DO actually really matters... it's all in how you lay things out, and a million interesting things COULD have been happening while you play the game, but you can't enjoy them, or participate -- because you're too busy putting more wall sconces into your hallways to notice. Actual Title? Dungeonzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.    … Expand
  9. oOMitchOo
    May 31, 2012
    1
    Totally boring and bad game!
    But what else would you expect from Kalypso? They failed with Airline Tycoon 2 too. They just aren't going with the time. I think this company earns more money with lawsuits against illegal downloads of their games (because nobody wants to buy them) then selling their games.
  10. ricesautes
    May 25, 2012
    2
    Bought it for my birthday that first week when it came out, due to the hype and visuals that looked like it was an updated Dungeon Keeper. It was unplayably blech. I'll give it a 2 for the number of hours that I played it. At least I had some decent birthday cake that year.
  11. chevmech
    May 5, 2012
    3
    Pass on this one. It is unfinished. How can they consider this game to be out of the beta stage?. The whole dungeon design theme sounds great but the game is not fun. My rig transcends recommended requirements but the game runs so slow that it is almost unplayable. Even when my patience is high and I spend time with this game I find it lacking in almost all elements. There is noPass on this one. It is unfinished. How can they consider this game to be out of the beta stage?. The whole dungeon design theme sounds great but the game is not fun. My rig transcends recommended requirements but the game runs so slow that it is almost unplayable. Even when my patience is high and I spend time with this game I find it lacking in almost all elements. There is no depth here to keep me interested for too long. Kalypso needs to take this one back to the drawing board- I think the premise alone is worth another try. Like with Elemental War of Magic in it's early releases, the game fails to deliver the promised experience. At least Stardock admitted to their failure and offered incentive for players to try their 2nd attempt which they are following through with.… Expand
  12. MercilessMonkey
    Feb 10, 2012
    5
    I was really excited for this game, it seemed to combine a ton of elements I liked in an awesome concept. Bought it the first day on hype alone and was quite disappointed. It's not a terrible game, it's just not very good. It gets extraordinarily repetitive awfully quickly, and there's really no depth at all to the game. There's not much more to say about it than that. It's a short gameI was really excited for this game, it seemed to combine a ton of elements I liked in an awesome concept. Bought it the first day on hype alone and was quite disappointed. It's not a terrible game, it's just not very good. It gets extraordinarily repetitive awfully quickly, and there's really no depth at all to the game. There's not much more to say about it than that. It's a short game which wasn't executed very well, which is a shame because I thought it had a ton of potential.… Expand
  13. Xardon
    Jan 20, 2012
    1
    If they made this game more open ended like Evil Genius, and not mission driven, it probably would have been a lot better. The best part about a dungeon creation type game is flexibility and the ability for you to be creative, but I got very bored with it because it was very linear to start and hard to get in to. They missed the mark on this game, so much potential.
  14. SirLance
    Nov 13, 2011
    0
    The game FORCES you register your email address and then to verify it before you can play. Right there, I was done, who does that?? This has left a horrible taste in my mouth but after playing 15 minutes, I'm done, wish I could get my money back.
  15. birang
    Nov 4, 2011
    3
    Too bad UI, extremely unfriendly tutorials, meaningless monsters, stupid heroes... Even if you consider this game and Dungeon Keeper series separately, still, there is no point to evaluate. What a disappointment! If you expect Dungeon Keeper 3, just leave and forget about this game.
  16. Dethstar
    Oct 12, 2011
    6
    I wouldnt let this company code a calculator app for my android phone. A total and utter mess which isnt resolved even today. The game itself wasnt terrible, in fact it could have been fun except the developers seem hell bent on restricting the more enjoyable aspects, emphasizing the restrictions then coding it like they had all been outsourced to India.
  17. Monurah
    Aug 15, 2011
    5
    As people suggest, It has a lot of similarities to Dungeon Keeper. A game developed by Bullfrog Studios. Dungeons is not a bad game for those who aren't familiar with this type of category. It is actually quite fun. For the Dungeon Keeper veterans among us, there's is nothing new to see here.
  18. Azu
    Jul 15, 2011
    1
    For a "dungeons" type game i was severely dissapointed, i dont want to click with my dungeon master to do stuff i want my imps to do it!!! $40 dollars later and a total of 40 mins played i feel ripped off at $1 dollar a minute... so sad
  19. thefinn
    Jul 11, 2011
    2
    This game was a total disappointment. These guys would've been better off making a dungeon keeper clone. The monsters have no AI whatsoever, talk about gaming companies taking a step back - well these guys took not one, not two, but three steps backwards in so far as AI programming and game potential are concerned with Dungeons. Imagine a game with near "Sims" type AI for each of yourThis game was a total disappointment. These guys would've been better off making a dungeon keeper clone. The monsters have no AI whatsoever, talk about gaming companies taking a step back - well these guys took not one, not two, but three steps backwards in so far as AI programming and game potential are concerned with Dungeons. Imagine a game with near "Sims" type AI for each of your monsters and traps vast and various, but no... these guys went back to 1985 and threw in the AI from the monsters in doom 1. I feel this was a vast waste of money I could've better spent buying pizza for a night playing BC2.… Expand
  20. Bigmageusa
    May 27, 2011
    5
    The game is actually rather good as a dungeon defense game, however almost all comparable games are free flash games. While an enjoyable game, the strange forced details (such as decorating to unlock abilities) grew strained during play. While the game looks stunning, the gameplay lacks the thrill of a normal tower defense styled game.
  21. tobas1
    May 27, 2011
    2
    This game got the same syndrome as Dragon Age 2 - they wanted to make spiritual successor of other classic hit game (DA2 from Baldur as Dungeons from Dungeon Keeper) but instead of making exact copy with better graphics they started to improve it, fixing and being creative plus rushing production and as always when you try to fix something that is not broken you can be sure that you willThis game got the same syndrome as Dragon Age 2 - they wanted to make spiritual successor of other classic hit game (DA2 from Baldur as Dungeons from Dungeon Keeper) but instead of making exact copy with better graphics they started to improve it, fixing and being creative plus rushing production and as always when you try to fix something that is not broken you can be sure that you will brake it. They broke it. they broke it baaad. They used to much illegal substances at their brainstorm where they got those ideas implemented in Dungeons and I'm sure they were stoned then because they not even sound fun so what was the point in selecting them? I mean instead of creating space for your minions so that they could train and multiply to create mass capable to destroy other lords and all those crazy heroes attacking you all the time you're now creating fun place and statue-like minions for those heroes so that you could charge fee when they want to leave. But it's not those heroes should have fun - I should! And I don't. And they knew what they were doing - because even if they would only give your minions possibility to move and you to control them it would be totally different game where you could slain every hero just by number advantage - this would kill whole game concept but would also make this game a lot more fun than is now - and a little more like DK. I'm not bashing this game because it's not DK - dont get me wrong - I'm bashing it because Kalypso made some suggestions this game will have something in common with DK to feed at DK fanbase (like me) when there is almost nothing in common. Except ripoffs like dungeon heart, graphics, dungeon creation method, crazy heroes and so on and so on. All of this wouldn't be also a problem if this game would be good or at least medium - but it's no fun to play and because of similarities to DK you just have to compare and this compering just K.O Dungeons… Expand
  22. Gozeta
    May 25, 2011
    10
    I loved this game a lot. Probably because I never played the original; Dungeon Keeper? I loved building the mazes and decorating the the place with traps and monster spawn points. I've had hours of enjoyment with story mode and the sandbox map modes.
  23. joen00b
    Apr 15, 2011
    5
    Kalypso is good at making time sink games. Where the premise is pretty straight forward, the game gets bogged down with trying to accumulate the gold in order to reach game driven goals, just to have them taken away.

    This formula worked great in Tropico 3 (I have spent dozens of hours, and entire weekends in Tropico), but, falls flat in Dungeons. I grew bored quickly with the game, as    Kalypso is good at making time sink games. Where the premise is pretty straight forward, the game gets bogged down with trying to accumulate the gold in order to reach game driven goals, just to have them taken away.

    This formula worked great in Tropico 3 (I have spent dozens of hours, and entire weekends in Tropico), but, falls flat in Dungeons. I grew bored quickly with the game, as it's just a bunch of 'hurry up and wait' style playing, and wasn't quite what the game commercials lead me to believe. Kalypso makes wonderful, offbeat games that are fun to play in their own quirky way, but Dungeons missed the mark a bit for me. For those that like to spend hours building up power and money per dungeon (and that is why we play games, right? To spend hours playing them), this is an amazing game. For me, it just doesn't quite work, and left me disappointed, wanting to play other, faster paced games. The slow build up has to quick of a payoff before moving to the next level for me.    … Expand
  24. Rottencore
    Mar 17, 2011
    3
    I really did not enjoy this game. I found walking around as the goblin in the start of the demo the most appealing part of the game. They gave me some monsters and some goblins to dig and find gold, then the hero steals my gold and it's all part of the game! What nonsense is this where I can't even make my goblins dig or get gold or put people in the prison. I can't make my monsters moveI really did not enjoy this game. I found walking around as the goblin in the start of the demo the most appealing part of the game. They gave me some monsters and some goblins to dig and find gold, then the hero steals my gold and it's all part of the game! What nonsense is this where I can't even make my goblins dig or get gold or put people in the prison. I can't make my monsters move or fight people. Left click and right click didn't work! I couldn't do anything but make my hero do everything by himself. I thought the point was that I was the master of my dungeon?… Expand
  25. wolverdick
    Mar 15, 2011
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I think that most people who are giving rave reviews of this game are doing so prematurely. At first this game is indeed enjoyable. The new system of dungeon creation and hero management provides an intrigue that will keep you going, for a while. As the game progresses, it becomes overly repetitive. As you advance into the higher levels you find a game with little more than cosmetic changes, along with a ham-fisted modification to the basic 'economic' settings that drive the game. The game doesn't change, just the numbers and the graphics. Move into the final levels and these unrefined realities become even more apparent and annoying. You will find yourself doing the same things over and over, with little impetus for creativity or diversification. Some of the levels are maddening with their time constraints, while others flow with a free play style that can be enjoyable, while also a bit boring.
    On a whole this is a good game, but it is the type of game that has little replay value, and while you may be driven to complete the full campaign, you will be bored and sick of the repetitiveness by the end.
    Some of the free play maps have enjoyment, from a creative aspect. And the newest mode from the heroes perspective can be fun too. Altogether a mediocre, mostly enjoyable endeavor.    … Expand
  26. Someone2345
    Mar 15, 2011
    8
    Loving this game. Sue it isn't dungeon keeper, but I will forgive for that. Crank the difficulty up and try a challenging game for once. A steep learning curve but the gameplay and maps are varied once you crack the system. It is a time sink though with each level requiring a good couple of hours to work through.... this is a good thing, if you have a couple of free hours.
  27. marqpas
    Mar 6, 2011
    4
    If you try to make your own game, please please do NOT steal the looks - and units and rooms and humor and more - from one of the greatest games ever made, and claim it to be your own game. Such a fail.

    This clearly is a ripoff of Dungeon Keeper 2, and not a very good one; the 1999 original is way superior.
  28. Hellspeller
    Feb 24, 2011
    3
    First of all, I have never played any other "dungeons" family games, but I was a big fan of "Overlord" and that's what made me buy that game. Then I must say that I really regret my money wasted.. I first tried the demo (I strongly suggest to all of you out there who ain't sure about this game, to do so) but, for me, it didn't help my choice. At first, it did not made me love it more, norFirst of all, I have never played any other "dungeons" family games, but I was a big fan of "Overlord" and that's what made me buy that game. Then I must say that I really regret my money wasted.. I first tried the demo (I strongly suggest to all of you out there who ain't sure about this game, to do so) but, for me, it didn't help my choice. At first, it did not made me love it more, nor less. But let me tell you..

    *FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO TRIED THE DEMO AND STILL AIN'T SURE, DON'T BUY THIS GAME !*

    It's really, really repetitive and boring.. On top of all, it's really bugged, some scripting events are actually not working at all or working at the wrong time ! Plus, late in the campaign, you get to have so much stuff in your dungeons that the game don't stop lagging (And thrust me, it's not because of my computer, I have a computer made to do 3D, worth 10k $)
    Sure you'll find the parody talking there and there fun, but the game is JUST about that.. Each and single phrase is stolen from a movie or an other game for somewhere, like Diablo, Lotr, warhammer, Dante's inferno, etc.. At some point one of the character actually says : "Okay we need to stop that or we will get sued." The game would have been okay for a 20-30$ game, but it's not worth it's current price.. Sure, there is 17 mission, but it's all the same.. Just play the demo 10 times and you'll have played the full game.. As everybody else is saying, a lot of points in the game mechanics seems incomplete, some stuff do'nt work at all and lack interactive stuff.. The game even have a fast-forward mode, like if they knew it could be boring to play..
    So, for all amateur of evil-cool-funny-stuff, you can pass this one.    … Expand
  29. wotan343
    Feb 23, 2011
    1
    Do not waste your money. There are far better games out there doing the same thing cheaper. If you have Facebook, there's a free dungeon keeper clone on there. This game evidently doesn't aim to channel the old bullfrog spirit despite the marketing spin, but if you do want a slower tactical game such as it seems to be, I'd recommend Evil Genius, which is available on Steam, amongst otherDo not waste your money. There are far better games out there doing the same thing cheaper. If you have Facebook, there's a free dungeon keeper clone on there. This game evidently doesn't aim to channel the old bullfrog spirit despite the marketing spin, but if you do want a slower tactical game such as it seems to be, I'd recommend Evil Genius, which is available on Steam, amongst other places; or perhaps the older Theme Park or Theme Hospital -- both of which are far more amusing, despite being released more than a decade earlier.

    Much has been made of this game in the Steam platform, so I should mention the installation process is truly pathetic and includes an old-fashioned force reboot after probably pointlessly reinstalling .NET 4 -- judging by the Steam forums, this atavistic coding has pissed off quite a few people who were already dubious about the games merits. Not a great way to start a demo.

    Punish the shoddy development and hold off for a decent new instalment in the Dungeon Keeper line. This is the worst game I've ever played that wasn't in flash, and all the more offensive for it's theft of the art style of a far better game.    … Expand
  30. Remies
    Feb 22, 2011
    3
    I love tycoon games, I love Dungeon and RPG games and I should have loved this, but I didn't. It was over repetitive, with no real satisfaction factor.
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Awards & Rankings

92
#92 Most Discussed PC Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 35
  3. Negative: 3 out of 35
  1. CPUGamer
    Aug 16, 2011
    50
    The graphics are nice, a well-built dungeon is a sight to behold, and there's a little bit of fun here, but ultimately you'll master everything you need to know in short order and be done with this game soon afterward.
    Read full review
  2. Vandal
    Aug 12, 2011
    76
    A good game with some innovative features, although unfortunately it doesn't include a multiplayer mode, and gets repetitive soon.
    Read full review
  3. GRYOnline.pl
    Jul 27, 2011
    55
    Dungeons lost its chances for success due to errors of graphical and technical nature. The gameplay (especially at the beginning) gives some satisfaction - but so what? Programmers' sloppiness prevents you from having real fun and the graphics make this game look 6 or 7 years old. It's a mediocre game at best even though the mechanics and story are really good. The developers had ideas for 3 hours of game and lethal monotony can kill even the most patient gamer. It's not tragic but with that kind of content, without any multiplayer and with a boring campaign it wastes our time.
    Read full review
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