In Search of New Dungeon Crawlers

[RustySK]

Just remembered a really overlooked trilogy of Dungeon Crawlers:
Das Geisterschiff, Der Geisterturm and Der Geisterjäger, by Graverobber Foundation (they've also made a couple more DRPGs that might be worth a look as well, like Dragon Ruins for example) - sci-fi themed mecha blobbers with a really unique, lo-fi presentation.
The first one is fairly short, the later ones get longer - all of 'em are really challenging.

Post automatically merged: Mar 22, 2025

One more! (Last one, I swear!) Haven't played this one myself, but it's from the same team as Undernauts and also features some fantastic artwork: Stranger of Sword City.

 

[GardeniaSky's icon GardeniaSky GardeniaSky]

-Pathfinder:Wrath of the Righteous
-Diablo I and II
-Dungeon Encounters(it's literally just a turn based dungeon crawler. Very bare bones)
-Barony(real time, but it's first person dungeon exploration)
-Daggerfall(massive with an almost unlimited amount of dungeons to explore. Play Daggerfall Unity for fixes and QOL mods)
-Arx Fatalis

Unfortunately I don't have a ton of recommendations for turn based. Everything I've played is real time or a CRPG that may or may not have a turn based option.

 

[micheI]

-Diablo I and II

I can also recommend Path Of Exile 1&2 to OP if they enjoy these. Though it's a bit less of a dungeon crawler.

 

[BadMrFrostii]

To add to RustySKs mention above about Graverobber, Demon Lord Reincarnation is a must-play for fans of the genre, imo. One of the best games I played the year it released.

Inferno - Beyond the 7th Circle is also a pretty awesome game. It's a very dark and gritty solo party member dungeon crawler. Been a few years since I played it, but I remember it being a good challenge.

If you're feeling up to something a bit more old school, Deep Dungeon - Madou Senki is a fun little game. It's the only Famicom Disk System game I've ever played, but it sure was a fun time.

There's also The Lost Child, which is a game I really truly loved. Also a first person dungeon crawler that I think any MegaTen fan could appreciate with its demon collecting aspect. It also takes place in the El Shaddai universe, if you're into that game (which I'd also recommend but it's not an RPG.) Unfortunately, it was delisted a few years ago, but thankfully we have ways around that.

I'll also double up on RustySKs recommendations for Stranger of Sword City, and especially Undernauts. Fantastic games as well.

 

[Swagmata]

there’s a newer one called the great abyss cyclopian on steam. It’s definitely a read the manual before you play it game but if that doesn’t bother you it’s worth the ten bucks for sure. Never quite finished it but I enjoyed the hours I put in

 

[UnDubious]

There was a futuristic Megami Tensei clone on the NES that no one I know has played, but I'm still curious about. It's called Shadow Brain:

I just don't have the patience for a NES RPG generally, too many encounters/not enough anything else.
Also, Atlus had that game The Dark Spire on DS which was supposed to be very hardcore.

 

[SolarSpectre]

How about the old DOS game Thunderscape. while it's not grid based it definitely checks all the boxes for me.

also here's something I found recently that's pretty cool. it's not an actual game, it's an artbook for a dungeon crawler that doesn't exist.

 

[PKT]

So when I started this thread I had just started Labyrinth of Refrain. After like 20+ hours later I can say the game has sunk its claws into me (currently in Amadeus). I have to echo what Aziamuth said earlier though: gameplay is kinda mid but the story gets really interesting as it goes on (gets a little graphic as well so caution on that front).

Was expecting schlock and am pleasantly surprised. Tower Umbra can fuck off though that was way too long

 

[hazys]

Some suggestions I haven't seen yet...

• Wizardry: The Five Ordeals, a modern update to some of the oldest Wizardry games (plus new content and a "scenario creator")
• Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land, a PS2-only entry with gorgeous ambiance and art
• Wizardry Variants: Daphne, a gacha/phone game that's surprisingly fun and un-predatory
• Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi, Stranger of Sword City, and Saviors of Sapphire Wings, all Experience-developed dungeon-crawlers, very hardcore with lots of content
• Quester and Quester: Osaka, indie dungeon crawlers inspired by 80s PC games
• Labyrinth of Touhou I and II, Etrian Odyssey-inspired dungeon-crawlers with 12-person parties
• Zanki Zero, a really unique DRPG with a "reincarnation" mechanic that I highly recommend
• The Nightmare of Druaga: Fushigino Dungeon, this is a Mystery Dungeon roguelike but has that damp and grey "dungeon crawler" ambiance

 

[PSVitaForever]

One more! (Last one, I swear!) Haven't played this one myself, but it's from the same team as Undernauts and also features some fantastic artwork: Stranger of Sword City.

I was going to recommend this one: I played with a guide I found on Gamefaq (first time playing, I got stuck in the old city, with the guide I had no place for experimenting but I've been able to finish the game with all the quests completed). Sure, you must follow how to build and switch classes (you build them from scratch, name, appearance, age - beware, it's an important mechanic-, class and skill points) but if you're already good in dungeon crawlers you're probably fine without a guide!

Just do a bit of research: depending on the console, the game has different endings!

Ending Spoilers - About White Palace vs. Black Palace - Saviors of Sapphire Wings & Stranger of Sword City Revisited

For Saviors of Sapphire Wings & Stranger of Sword City Revisited on the Nintendo Switch, a GameFAQs message board topic titled "Ending Spoilers - About White Palace vs. Black Palace".

gamefaqs.gamespot.com

On PSVita (I'm not sure if also on other consoles) you can find "Ray Gigant": I've not gone far, but I believe when you advance in the game you will have different parties with definite characters. From what I've seen, the dungeons are quite complex and there's a mechanic that you go berserk (because of the plot).

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

The Misadventures Of Tron Bonne has a dungeon crawler mode that's pretty neat (if slightly annoying)... It's not the full game, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

 

[Stingy Perry Stingy Perry]

Brandish The Dark Revenant for the PSP

Sorry for the Japanese box art, the NA doesn’t give justice to the game.