Dungeon Clawler

Release Date: November 21, 2024 Early Access

RPG, fantasy, turn-based, roguelike, 2D, card games, arcade elements, indie games, singleplayer

90%

Steam

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Dungeon Clawler is an RPG with roguelike and card-building mechanics. It was also inspired by claw and pachinko gambling machines. We play a bunny with a metal hook instead of a limb, using it to acquire weapons and other items helpful in dealing with enemies.

Videos and Screens

[1:09] Dungeon Clawler Steam Next Fest Trailer

90%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (1,776)

STEAM

User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Unique Gameplay Mechanic: The claw machine concept adds a fun and innovative twist to the roguelike genre, making it engaging and distinct from other games.
Challenging and Addictive: Many players find the game to be enjoyable and addictive, often losing track of time while playing.
Variety of Characters: Different characters provide unique abilities and strategies, adding depth to gameplay.
Satisfying Physics: The physics of the claw and item interactions are generally praised, contributing to the overall enjoyment of the game.
Potential for Future Updates: Players express optimism about the game?s future, noting that developers are responsive to feedback and are likely to improve the game over time.

The main cons of the game

Lack of Variety: Many reviews mention a significant lack of item and build variety, making runs feel repetitive after a few attempts.
Balancing Issues: There are complaints about poor balancing, where certain items or builds are overwhelmingly strong while others are almost useless.
Pacing Problems: Players feel that runs can drag on, with early fights being tedious and lacking engagement, which can lead to frustration.
Limited Replay Value: Some users feel that the game lacks sufficient content to keep them engaged long-term, as many runs can feel similar.
Technical Issues: Some players reported glitches and clipping issues with items, as well as a desire for improved animations and overall polish.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

More Diverse Item Pool: Users desire a broader range of items, upgrades, and synergies to enhance replayability and strategy.
Achievements and Goals: A lack of achievements is noted, which can detract from player motivation and long-term engagement.
Improved Game Mechanics: Suggestions include better pacing, more dynamic events during runs, and clearer progression indicators.
Enhanced Difficulty Scaling: Many players feel that the difficulty is inconsistent, leading to frustrating experiences during runs.
More Music and Lore: Players expressed a desire for additional music tracks and some form of narrative or lore to enrich the gaming experience.

Summary

Overall, while "Dungeon Clawler" has a solid foundation and unique mechanics, user reviews indicate that it requires significant improvements in content variety, balancing, and overall polish to reach its full potential.

Summary generated on: December 16, 2024

Dungeon Clawler is the fifth independent game from the small Swiss studio Stray Frawn. Inspired by Penglin and reminiscent of Backpack Hero, this roguelike combines deck-building with mechanics based on claw machine toys and the Japanese gambling game pachinko.

Plot

Dungeon Clawler has a humorous narrative layer. The fearsome ruler of the dungeons, wanting to ensure his luck in gambling, cut off the left paw of a rabbit. The animal replaces the lost organ with a metal claw and, thus equipped, ventures deep into the underground searching for its limb.

Gameplay

We must start in Dungeon Clawler by choosing a character, each of whom has their own unique features and a different set of items. We make our way through subsequent dungeon levels. We encounter a variety of enemies in our path, from a clown on a spring to a creature similar to Cthulhu. To beat them in turn-based fights, the bunny controlled by us uses his metal claw to accurately pull useful items from the pool: shields, swords and health potions typical of RPG games, as well as less typical ones, such as piggy banks and magnets. These last ones, mounted on our hook, attract metal items and charge them, increasing their damage.

We subject some of the collected artifacts to "recycling" in order to exchange them for currency, which we use to upgrade our equipment. In Dungeon Clawler we also get to choose rewards, draw cards for the deck, and acquire perks. We find treasures and take on challenges inspired by slot machines mini-games.