Dungeonborne Review: A Dungeon Crawl Worth Trying—With a Side of Chaos
Dungeonborne is a first-person PvPvE dungeon crawler that's free to play, all while delving into ominous dungeons and maintaining a precarious balance between magical mayhem and treacherous encounters.
Early Access Review
last updated Aug 04, 2024
Dungeonborne is a free-to-play dungeon crawler that sheds light on the potential of the extraction genre.
Gameplay: Extract or Be Extracted
Dungeonborne offers an energetic blend of PvPvE mechanics that keeps players on their toes. The core of the gameplay revolves around delving into dungeons, fighting both monsters and other players, and trying to escape with your hard-earned loot. It’s this constant push and pull that creates an exhilarating experience, with every delve feeling like a gamble. Players gravitate towards their respective classes, though balance issues have surfaced, leading to complaints about certain characters feeling overly powerful, while others seem like they barely make the cut. Matching up with players of varying gear levels can result in some frustrating encounters, but hey, that's part of the thrill, right? One minute you’re a lowly adventurer, and the next, you're facing off against a geared-up warrior who's clearly on a power trip.
Audio: A Sonic Symphony of Sorcery
The audio design in Dungeonborne does a commendable job of enhancing the overall atmosphere. With its fitting soundtracks that underscore the epic nature of exploration, the music keeps the adrenaline pumping as you navigate through treacherous enemies and allies alike. Sounds of combat feel impactful, making each swing of your weapon gratifying, almost like an auditory confirmation of your prowess. Yet, some aspects may seem repetitive over time, which can lead players to reach for the mute button after a few sessions. Nevertheless, the clarity of the audio cues is notably beneficial, alerting players to significant events happening in-game, whether it's the ominous growl of a lurking monster or the telltale peeves of a player getting too close for comfort.
Graphics: Polished Potential or Dull Dungeon Dread?
In terms of graphics, Dungeonborne strikes a fine balance between stylized visuals and functional design. The dungeons are aesthetically immersive, designed to evoke a sense of wonder and dread simultaneously. While it's clear that the game is still polishing its fine points, many players report solid performance across different hardware, allowing for smooth gameplay that doesn’t drag you down into the depths of despair. However, server issues and lag beyond certain regions have been reported, which can detract from experiencing the game as intended. The immersive visuals coupled with occasional performance hiccups reinforce that, while the game is in Early Access, the developers seem committed to continuous improvements—ensuring every adventurer can look and feel their best, even while facing the grim harshness of dungeon delving.
Balancing Act: Class Warfare and Frustrations
The class system in Dungeonborne is a double-edged sword—while the variety of classes is commendable (with each one cleverly crafted for specific tasks), the balancing issues can turn the arena into a battlefield of chaos. The game's developers have been proactive with weekly patches, which are promising, but many players remain frustrated with the current state of play. Reports of certain classes dominating over others are commonplace, leading to a recurring question of fairness among players. Some classes dominate PvP engagements while others feel like they show up to the fight with a squirt gun at a gunfight. This unevenness can certainly sour the experience, especially for newcomers who find themselves under the boot of seasoned players wielding highly optimized builds. Despite these bumps in the road, the developers’ attentiveness to community feedback is promising for the game's evolution.
EARLY ACCESS RATING
Developer & Publisher
Mithril Interactive
Early Accesss Release Date
July 18, 2024
Verdict: A Gem in the Rough
Dungeonborne is a free-to-play dungeon crawler that sheds light on the potential of the extraction genre. While it boasts innovations and thrilling gameplay, struggles with balance and server performance hinder an otherwise delightful escapade into sword and sorcery mischief. Its polish is somewhat similar to a rough cut diamond: it shines, but not without its perceived flaws. Commitment from developers reflects hope for its future, making it a title worth diving into as it evolves with the community's input.
