In the malevolent world of Dungeons 4, darkness once again reigns supreme. The Absolute Evil and its faithful, albeit slightly disobedient Dark Elf Thalya, return to continue their quest for dominion over all that is good. As we step back into this wicked realm, expect treacherous dungeons, devious traps, and a hefty dose of the series’ signature humor. Developed by Realmforge Studios and published by Kalypso Media, this highly anticipated installment is set to cast its malefic spell when it releases in November, promising an experience that’s bigger and better than ever before. Time for a closer look.
What We Know:
Dungeons 4 invites players to don the mantle of the Absolute Evil again, tasked with constructing a diabolical dungeon teeming with cunningly lethal traps and a horde of devoted minions. The goal? To thwart the forces of good and envelop the Overworld in an eternal night. Again, as you might say. But this time, Dwarves have joined the fray, presenting a new challenge with their penchant for digging and their relentless pursuit of your hard-earned treasures. With an expanded map, cooperative play, and new modes seamlessly integrated into the campaign, Dungeons 4 promises an even more devilishly delightful experience than its predecessors.
What We Saw:
Our journey into the depths of malevolence took us to the PlayStation 5, where we had the pleasure of experiencing a preview build of the game firsthand. The build offered a seamless and immersive gameplay experience, showcasing the darkly comedic world of Dungeons 4 in all its wicked glory over a month before its intended launch date.
What We Thought:
Dungeons 4 emerges as another entertaining addition to the series, building on its successful formula with a host of compelling new features. The cooperative mode injects fresh life into the gameplay, allowing players to share the burden of evil with a friend. The overworld battles maintain a relaxed pace, making for a more accessible real-time strategy experience than in some other games, though the soundscape in this preview build could have been a little richer in bringing the battles to life.
Below ground, the dungeon-building mechanics are as addictive as ever, with the addition of new rooms and traps providing ample room for creative sadism. The introduction of Dwarves as a formidable enemy faction adds an extra layer of challenge, forcing players to strategize and fortify their dungeons with cunning precision.
The game’s replayability is bolstered by the introduction of skills that can be tailored to suit different playstyles, and the three available difficulty settings cater to both newcomers and seasoned dungeon masters. The narrative, while entertaining, doesn’t shy away from self-aware humor and fourth-wall breaks, adding an extra layer of charm to the experience that fans of the series will be well familiar with already.
With its November 9th release date on the horizon, this malevolent sequel is poised to captivate both series veterans and newcomers alike, promising a dungeon-building experience that’s devilishly entertaining from start to finish. Our main concern is that it might feel a tad too familiar to returning players if they don’t engage in the cooperative mode, but there’s enough here to reignite that old Dungeons spark.
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