Dungeon Drafters Review (PC)

The wizard is slippery, able to shift away almost anytime I try to get close to him using my three allotted moves. He is also constantly summoning enemies to throw at me while keeping his distance, which can quickly become a problem given my limited health. And my hand of cards is currently missing any ranged strikes to help. I could try to get the group of foes to strike at each other but it can be hard to set up such complex combos.

It is relatively easy to avoid incoming attacks because the game itself is always giving me full information about what opponents are planning to do. So I spend a turn burning off some cards, even if their effects don’t directly help in battle.

And, finally, I get the ranged attack card I needed. I don’t use it right away. I avoid the ice giant and make sure that he has to use two turns to get close. The magical shot does its job and I follow that up with another spell to take out the wizard. The next few rooms give me a booster pack that I can open back in town. Now the big question is whether I want to return or if I’m ready to take more risks in this dungeon.

Dungeon Drafters is developed by Manalith Studios, with publishing from DANGEN Entertainment. I played on the PC using Steam and the game is also offered on the Nintendo Switch. The title adds card-driven mechanics to classic turn-based dungeon exploration.

+4more

The adventure takes place in a world that was orderly, governed by the four archetypes before a mysterious figure re-discovered the fifth source of power. It is driven by chance and strangeness and could reshape the entire world. Now adventurers have been called to join a grand expedition that seeks to find the wielder of the dark powers and defeat him. There’s nothing groundbreaking here in terms of storytelling but there’s enough lore to make this fantasy universe somewhat interesting.

Between dungeon expeditions, players will explore Adventurer’s Town, which houses a big group to interact with. Some of them simply provide services while others offer small details that flesh out the universe. Again, the writing is mostly utilitarian with some flashes of humor and emotion.

Dungeon Drafters is more interested in creating a good mix of classic role-playing game combat and card-driven action. First gamers will choose their hero type. I went with the wizard but there are options for any playstyle, from monk to shinobi and more. All of them will get cards that expand their abilities.

Players will explore a range of dungeons, each with their unique set of enemies and environmental hazards. Floors in each feature increased rewards but also more dangerous rooms. Once the player’s avatar enters a room, a turn-based system activates. Both characters and enemies have Action Points, which can be spent on movement, direct attacks, or cards.

Dungeon Drafters always gives gamers a clear idea of what their opponents are planning to do on their turn. All battles become tactical puzzles. Clearing a room requires an understanding of how cards, creatures, and the environment will interact with each other. It’s crucial to avoid area-of-effect attacks and big enemy strikes and lure them to deal damage to each other if possible.

Play Video

Going deeper into a dungeon might lead to better rewards but there’s no way to tweak the card deck while doing that. Players will need to return to the hub town to open up their boosters, spend money, and then see how they can slot new cards into their tactical approach. There are also opportunities to pick up side quests, deal with some puzzles, and fish.

During the first few dungeon runs, the entire system seems limited. Just three actions and a small number of cards don’t lead to spectacular battles. But Dungeon Drafters delivers new cards relatively quickly and there are hints that some combinations can become over-powered, pushing players to add them to their arsenal and see how easy it can be to move through dungeons.

The game needs a simple way to move through the hub town quickly, without wondering where a certain shop or character is located. After all, we should be fighting monsters in dungeons and not memorizing a small map. The deck builder should also be easier to use, especially when players get a ton of cards with a variety of effects. The good news is that the developer is delivering updates at a good pace and is listening to feedback coming from the community.

For players willing to look past these small issues, Dungeon Drafters excitingly fuses two great gameplay flavors. Battles are never dull and ask players to constantly adapt plans and react to enemies and the world. And there’s a lot of variety for both cards and dungeons.

Dungeon Drafters’ presentation succeeds in replicating that of old-school dungeon-focused role-playing games. The pixel art is beautiful, giving locations, heroes, and enemies plenty of personality. The hub's layout is a little confusing at first but make enough trips through it and it becomes familiar. The art for the cards is not as engaging as the rest of the graphics.

The soundtrack is also very good for the genre, bouncy with a dark undertone and themes for each dungeon type. It matches the rest of the presentation and adds personality. The combat effects are more limited but they do their job.

+4more

The Good

The Bad

Conclusion