15 Games That Let You Build Dungeons

There’s simply one thing so inherently attention-grabbing about enjoying the ‘unhealthy man’ each every now and then. There are such a lot of video games on the market a few hero going by the usual hero’s journey to be a giant hero and save the world ultimately, however what a few sport that includes a villain simply attempting to construct their dream dungeon?

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Nicely, whereas this would possibly sound like too area of interest of an idea, there are literally a good variety of video games that scratch that itch. Granted, the gameplay loops and basic genres of those video games extensively differ from sport to sport, however all of them share a standard objective of the participant managing or constructing a dungeon and preventing off intruders.

Up to date October fifteenth, 2024 by Jacob Buchalter: Video games through which gamers are fully in charge of their very own dungeon are few and much between. Usually, gamers are put in command of a city or an space and should defend it from monsters by hiring heroes, upgrading the buildings, or inventing new weapons. Nonetheless, dungeon administration video games are a bit completely different. In these video games, gamers are usually in charge of the villain who has their very personal dungeon. And, with this dungeon, gamers might want to do every part of their energy to cease adventurers and heroes from conquering their dungeon. This may be performed by traps, summoning monsters, mazes, and far more, but it surely’s arduous to essentially ‘nail’ any such sport. This is a have a look at among the greatest video games on this hyper-specific style, and we’ll even go over what precisely makes them such nice examples.

15

Dungeon Tycoon

A Latest & Apparent Addition

Dungeon Tycoon is by far probably the most lately launched addition to this checklist, popping out lower than a month in the past (on the time of updating this). And, after placing a while into it, we are able to safely say this is without doubt one of the greatest dungeon administration video games in existence. Dungeon Tycoon might not boast fairly the identical quantity of complexity as among the different video games on this checklist, but it surely has the right steadiness in alternate. The cute voxel-esque artstyle, the steadiness gamers have to search out between killing heroes or letting them progress, and the sheer management gamers have over each side of their dungeon is really unbelievable.

Probably the most distinctive elements this dungeon administration sport brings to the desk is that this steadiness between killing and exploiting heroes. If gamers kill heroes who are available in continuously, they’re going to have fewer ‘prospects’ coming by however will be capable of spend extra souls on upgrades. Nonetheless, in the event that they let heroes progress too far, the heroes will degree up and outscale the participant’s monsters, so it is a very delicate steadiness. All-in-all, the one space Dungeon Tycoon actually arguably falls quick in is the story, however even then it is ok and the gameplay greater than makes up for something the story or narrative lacks.

14

Orcs Should Die (Collection)

Onerous to Say it Counts, Nevertheless it Comes Shut

The Orcs Should Die video games technically may not depend as video games the place one can ‘construct their very own dungeon’, however this can be a hyper-specific subgenre of video games, so something that even comes near matching the necessities goes to be included. Within the Orcs Should Die video games, gamers spend their time constructing an absolute meat shredder of traps within the completely different ranges, and it is their job to each takedown and trick the incoming onslaught of orcs into these traps to construct up combo factors, look cool, and have enjoyable in co-op.

It is a lot much less constructing their very own dungeon fortress and extra like constructing their very own Sen’s Fortress from the unique Darkish Souls AKA an entire above-ground and underground dungeon completely teeming with traps with each step the orcs take. Whereas Orcs Should Die: Unchained was a little bit of a divergence when it comes to gameplay, the unique Orcs Should Die and Orcs Should Die 3 are nice video games to take a look at for anybody who likes Tower Protection video games and dungeon-building video games.

13

Impire

A Powerful Suggestion All-Round

Impire is a sport that completely wears its inspirations on its sleeves, these after all being beloved Dungeon Constructing video games like Dungeon Keeper and KeeperRL. Nonetheless, whereas it does strive, Impire is a far cry from these video games, each when it comes to gameplay and when it comes to high quality. It is a sport with a number of bugs, a number of respectable concepts with poor execution, and a number of tedious gameplay. So, if it isn’t probably the most beloved sport on the market, why is it on this checklist?

Nicely, once more, the subgenre of video games the place gamers can construct their very own dungeon is extremely small, and it solely felt truthful to incorporate any and each sport that even got here near becoming into this class, even when the sport itself has a number of points. Plus, although our expertise with Impire was lower than stellar, that does not imply that’ll be the identical expertise for everybody, so on the very least it is value mentioning that this sport exists.

12

Overlord 2

Barley a Dungeon Builder, Nevertheless it Needed to Be Included

Transferring on now to Overlord 2. Needless to say that is Overlord 2 and never Overlord 1, as the primary sport is not almost as beloved or as polished as the second. Regardless, when individuals consider video games the place they get to play because the villain, the Overlord video games are nearly at all times the primary ones they’re going to consider, even when they did not truly play the Overlord video games. A part of that is most likely as a result of outdated ads for the primary Overlord sport that, for some cause, caught with lots of people. However the different a part of it comes from the truth that these video games are principally simply evil Pikmin.

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In Overlord 2 gamers will probably be spending nearly all of their time exploring the assorted biomes, fixing puzzles, and overthrowing the Romanesque kingdom in direct opposition to the Overlord, however there are some base-building sections as nicely. The ‘hub’ space for Overlord is the Netherworld, and whereas gamers do not truly construct onto or handle this hub dungeon very a lot, they do improve and discover it at size.

11

Evil Genius & Evil Genius 2: World Domination

Technically Extra of a ‘Lair’ Than a Dungeon, However Nonetheless

Subsequent up are two of probably the most well-known video games on right here exterior of the Dungeon Keeper video games, each Evil Genius video games. Particularly let’s speak primarily about Evil Genius 2: World Domination, because it principally builds upon the programs launched within the first sport in each method. Evil Genius 2 takes place after the occasions of the primary Evil Genius through which the participant has already taken over the world. Nonetheless, that world domination is beginning to falter, and gamers might want to craft the right lair, get hold of the right minions, and full sufficient schemes to take complete management of the world again.

For individuals who do not actually wish to be continuously constructing in the direction of targets, Evil Genius 2 does supply a sandbox mode as nicely, which permits gamers to essentially get into the lair-building facet of the sport. Basically, whereas the humor on this sport franchise is lighthearted, it is fairly heavy mechanically, which is usually one thing any followers of those dungeon manager-type video games will probably be excited to listen to.

10

Legend Of Keepers: Profession Of A Dungeon Grasp

Select From A Choice Of Keepers To Defend Your Dungeon From The ‘Heroes’

Transferring on to a sport known as Legend of Keepers: Profession of a Dungeon Grasp. And, proper off the bat, this sport is without doubt one of the most ‘on model’ video games on this checklist for a Dungeon Constructing sport. On this roguelike administration simulator, gamers take management of a ‘Keeper’ employed by the monster-run Dungeons Firm who’s paid to defend the corporate’s dungeon stuffed with treasures from these grasping people.

In another dungeon-crawling sport, gamers could be in charge of a celebration of adventurers as they steadily make their method by a dungeon stuffed with traps, puzzle rooms, and all types of monsters. Nicely on this sport, gamers are constructing that dungeon in reverse, and doing their greatest to cease the people from making it to the Keeper. And all of the whereas, they’re going to steadily recruit new monsters, construct dungeons in new areas of the map, and even go on firm retreats.

9

Dungeons 4 & Dungeons Franchise

From A Lengthy Line Of Comedic Dungeon-Managing Video games

Up subsequent is a sport that is far more concerning the ‘dungeon administration’ than it’s about defending the dungeon. In Dungeons 4, gamers as soon as once more take management of Thayla, a really evil and really witty Dungeon Grasp who makes use of a military of ‘Snots’ (principally little goblins) to steadily construct up the right dungeon underground.

Constructing the dungeon itself is a number of what makes up this sport, because the extra ‘action-oriented’ sections of the sport are deliberately a lot easier by design. Whereas it looks like followers appear divided on whether or not this sport improves upon the final sport or not, all-in-all Dungeons 4 is a sport individuals can simply sink a ton of hours into.

8

KeeperRL

Easy By Design With A Focus On Replayability

Readers of this checklist are in a short time going to note a sample with all the entries on right here, all of them are closely influenced by the unique Dungeon Keeper collection ultimately. And, KeeperRL isn’t any completely different, although it does twist the formulation far more in the direction of the roguelike style than a lot of the different video games on right here.

There are a number of comparisons between this sport and Dwarf Fortress, although this sport is a bit easier and likewise has each dungeon ‘protecting’ and dungeon ‘defending’ in its gameplay loop. Primarily. KeeperRL is a deceptively sophisticated sport regardless of its graphical model, and it has a fairly absurd quantity of replayability besides.

7

Struggle For The Overworld

A Religious Successor To Dungeon Keeper 2

So far as Dungeon Keeper-inspired video games go, Struggle for the Overworld is likely to be the one which’s probably the most ‘devoted’ religious successor. However, since Dungeon Keeper 2 is a sport that got here out all the best way again in 1999, Struggle for the Overworld builds upon the again of Dungeon Keeper 2 whereas additionally modernizing a number of the extra ‘dated’ elements.

There are a ton of various methods to expertise this sport, whether or not it is singleplayer, multiplayer, and even by the Steam Workshop experiencing player-made customized eventualities.

6

Naheulbeuk’s Dungeon Grasp

A Bit Of A Combine Between Dungeon Conserving & Dungeon Simulation

Transferring on to most likely probably the most current dungeon-building video games on right here, Naheulbeuk’s Dungeon Grasp. Exterior of its difficult-to-pronounce title, NDM is a sport that falls into the subcategory of ‘quirky comedic’ Dungeon Builders.

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On this world, Dungeons are managed like corporations, and the one the gamers are given management of has not been managed nicely up thus far. It is a sport that is similar to different well-known titles like Dungeon Keeper 2 or Evil Genius, however nonetheless manages so as to add a couple of new issues to the subgenre and make its personal id identified.

5

Boneraiser Minions

Vampire Survivors Meets Shovel Knight

And for the least anticipated inclusion on right here, let’s discuss Boneraiser Minions. Now technically, this sport is far more much like one thing like Vampire Survivors than it’s to Dungeon Keeper. Nonetheless, in Boneraiser Minions, gamers take management of a Boneraiser (sure, that is actually the identify) who is continually summoning (or Boneraising) new minions in order that they will survive so long as doable towards the incoming waves of, primarily human, enemies.

The Dungeon Constructing half is definitely meshed extremely nicely with the Survivors-like a part of the sport, as every ‘stage’ is a special dungeon that gamers can put all types of traps and different buildings up round to assist buff them or combat off the incoming enemies.

4

Legend Of Grimrock 2’s Map Editor

Crawl By Dungeons & Then Construct Your Personal

Now technically this subsequent sport is extra of a dungeon crawler than it’s a dungeon-building sport, however there is a catch. Legend of Grimrock 2 has a map editor mode the place gamers can create their very own Dungeons to then crawl by or share these creations with others.

The core gameplay loop of the Grimrock video games is a number of enjoyable, so having a doubtlessly infinite quantity of content material made by the fanbase provides much more replayability to a sport that already had hours upon hours of sport to take pleasure in.

3

Steamworld: Construct

By chance Making A Dungeon To Present Assets For The City

The Steamworld IP, regardless of not being probably the most ‘well-known’ IPs on the market, is one with a really devoted fanbase. Whether or not it is Steamworld Dig, Steamworld Quest, Steamworld Heist, and even Steamworld Tower Protection, gamers have a Steamworld sport for almost each style on the market.

Now, with Steamworld Construct, there is a city-management sport so as to add to this combine. Whereas the first elements of this sport aren’t constructed across the thought of Dungeon Constructing, the mines that gamers steadily develop over the course of the story principally perform as a dungeon. So, gamers find yourself spending half of their time on this sport constructing a dungeon with out even realizing it.

2

Buggos

As a substitute Of Heroes Vs. Villains, It is Bugs Vs. Humanity

Buggos can also be a really completely different type of Dungeon Constructing sport right here, because it represents extra of the Starcraft-esque RTS facet of issues. Relatively than some evil overlord constructing their dungeon to guard towards the people, gamers take management of a race of alien bugs as they steadily construct their hive and work to wipe off each human spawn level on the map. It is a very concise and easy sport with an extremely distinctive artwork model that lots of people most likely haven’t heard of earlier than.

1

Dwarf Fortress

Fairly Probably One Of The Most Beloved Video games Of All Time

And final up, what would this checklist be if Dwarf Fortress wasn’t included? There’s not all an excessive amount of to say about this one, as Dwarf Fortress is likely to be probably the most well-loved video games of all time by its fanbase.

Once more, a little bit of a novel inclusion, on condition that gamers aren’t actually managing a ‘dungeon’ within the strictest sense on this sport, however are constructing a life for his or her dwarves and that is usually underground. The quantity of depth this sport has is mind-boggling, and if anybody is on the lookout for a sport that might maintain them over for years to return, Dwarf Fortress is a good advice.

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