Dungeons 4
Release Date: November 9, 2023
Strategy, fantasy, RTS, humorous, co-op, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet
Steam
The fourth installment in an RTS series inspired by Dungeon Keeper. Dungeons 4 has us playing as the dark lord, aiming to conquer the fantasy world. The game supports singleplayer and co-op.
Dungeons 4 is the fourth installment in a series originating from 2011. Like the previous games, it's an RTS heavily inspired by the iconic Dungeon Keeper. It was developed by Realmforge Studios and published by Kalypso Media.
Plot
Dungeons 4 is set in a fantasy world, after the previous installment. Once again, we play as the Absolute Evil - the dark lord on a quest to conquer the world alongside the trusted elf Thalya. The people of the surface oppose us, trying to foil our plans. Beneath the surface another rival lurks, in form of dwarves, craving gold and jewels.
Mechanics
Dungeons 4 makes use of the top-down perspective. As before, the gameplay consists of two layers. The first one is building dungeons, serving as home and headquarters to our troops. Our dungeons must be vast, comfortable and properly secured. Humans and dwarves are all drawn to the treasures within and will attack us to claim them.
The second are battles fought on the surface, during which we command troops we've recruited in the dungeons. Our primary units are the undead, demons, horde and snots. During fast-paced combat, the player can also use Thalya's various abilities. Aside from regular enemies, we'll also face powerful bosses, such as unicorns. Victories reward us with evil, which we can use to transform idyllic forests and plains into a wicked empire.
The game's scale has been significantly increased. The surface world and the dungeons are much bigger than in Dungeons 3, armies are massive and more diverse, we can command our troops more effectively and punish them more creatively for failures.
Game modes
Dungeon 4 features an expansive story campaign featuring the same narrator as the previous games, as well as standalone scenarios. The game supports singleplayer and co-op.
Technical aspects
Dungeons 4 features appealing, colorful, cartoonish visuals.
Videos and Screens
[0:48] Dungeons 4 Nintendo Switch Edition Trailer
[0:26] Dungeons 4 trailer #3
The main pros of the game
- Visuals and Aesthetics: The game features a beautifully stylized cartoonish art style that is visually appealing with a lot of personality.
- Sound Design: Excellent sound effects and a fitting soundtrack enhance the gameplay experience.
- Engaging Story: The story is simple, humorous, and filled with references that add charm, particularly with charismatic characters like Thalya and the Narrator.
- Gameplay Mechanics: Retains the core gameplay of managing a dungeon and introduces new units, technologies, and a balanced system for dungeon creation and exploration, offering depth and strategic planning.
- Diverse Playable Races: The game offers three distinct playable factions (Horde, Demons, and Undead) that provide varied gameplay experiences.
- Community Engagement: Post-launch updates and a community level creation mode add longevity and variety to the game.
- Accessibility and Learning Curve: Controls are logical and easy to learn, making it accessible for new players while still providing challenges.
The main cons of the game
- Repetitive Mechanics: Some new mechanics, such as the Manávoros, can become tedious over time due to their constant presence.
- Lack of Innovation: While there are improvements, many players feel the game is too similar to its predecessors and lacks significant innovation, such as the introduction of a new playable race.
- Limited Randomization: The absence of randomly generated maps, which were present in earlier titles, reduces replayability.
- Difficulty Balance: Some players found the campaign relatively easy, even on harder modes, detracting from the challenge.
- Bugs and Technical Issues: Reports of bugs and technical issues persist, affecting gameplay experience.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- More Diverse Gameplay Options: Suggestions for adding more inspired overworld mechanics, such as varied structures to raid and explore, were noted.
- Player vs. Player Modes: The desire for a multiplayer mode where players can face off against each other was expressed, as current gameplay modes primarily involve AI.
- Improved Combat Feedback: Some users wanted more impactful sound effects and visuals during combat to enhance the experience.
- Character Development: A wish for deeper character development for recurring characters like Thalya and the Narrator was mentioned, as their interactions have become somewhat stale.
Summary
- Overall, while Dungeons 4 is praised for its humor, aesthetics, and solid gameplay, it faces criticism for a lack of innovation and some repetitive elements, with players hoping for more diverse features in future installments.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 33 votes. 8 players anticipated the game.
Dungeons 4 Summary
Game Series: Dungeons
Platforms:
PC / Windows November 9, 2023
PlayStation 5 November 9, 2023
Xbox Series X/S November 9, 2023
Switch October 17, 2024
Developer: Realmforge Studios
Publisher: Kalypso Media
Age restrictions: 16+
Dungeons 4 System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i5-8400 2.8 GHz / AMD Ryzen 5 2600 3.4 GHz, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 960 or better, 12 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended: Intel Core i7-10700 2.9 GHz / AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 3.7 GHz, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 8 GB GeForce RTX 2070 or better, 12 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
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