Dragon Ruins Steam Charts & Stats

stylish microgame

Fun little title when you just need something simple to play.

Really great little distillation of what made games like Wizardry and Bard's Tale fun with most of the tedium taken out. Painfully short, but if you like first person party-based dungeon crawls it's totally worth $5.

[H2] Sum-Up [/H2] [H1] In-depth analysis further down. [/H1] [table] [tr] [th] 🟩 Pros [/th] [th] 🟥 Cons [/th] [/tr] [tr] [td] - CRT filter? For retro aesthetic lovers, it adds a nostalgic charm. [/td] [td] - Minimal or almost no story. Not ideal for those seeking deep narrative. [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] - Perfect for fans or newcomers to dungeon crawlers. [/td] [td] - Short game. Fun, but leaves you wanting more content. [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] - Lightly punishing dungeon crawler, keeping things accessible without being dull. [/td] [td] - No trophies or achievements a missed opportunity for completionists. [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] - Well-crafted graphics and art that successfully emulate 80s/90s dungeon crawlers. [/td] [td] -/- [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td] - Visually reminiscent of Buriedbornes – Dungeon RPG. [/td] [td] -/- [/td] [/tr] [/table] [H2] In-Depth [/H2] [H1] Premise, Setting & Writing [/H1] [i]Dragon Ruins[/i] is a retro-style dungeon crawler inspired by the classics of the 8-bit and 16-bit eras. Its visuals are reminiscent of Buriedbornes, delivering a dark, mysterious, and minimalist atmosphere all wrapped in a well-executed retro presentation. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3536220819 The game opens with a brief setup: [quote] "A queen from a threatened kingdom makes an urgent request: mysterious ruins have appeared near the capital, and no one who entered has returned. An ancient evil stirs within. To the brave adventurers, a promise — eternal honor and a legendary title awaits." [/quote] While this introduction sets the stage nicely, the game doesn’t expand much on its narrative — a deliberate choice to keep the focus on gameplay. [H1] Gameplay & Style [/H1] At its core, this is a fast-paced and accessible dungeon crawler. Maps are short, enemies are varied, and the game keeps a consistent rhythm. There’s no harsh punishment for failure, making it a great entry point for newcomers or those looking for a casual experience without sacrificing the thrill of exploration. Gameplay combines simple combat with tile-based exploration and item collection. Each new room offers light tactical decisions and minor challenges. The CRT filter option enhances the retro immersion for those seeking a nostalgic vibe. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3536220712 [H1] Length & Replayability [/H1] The main campaign can be completed in under two hours. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t offer a clear ending, no final screen or narrative conclusion which can leave players unsure if they’ve actually finished it. Even so, its short length doesn’t take away from how enjoyable the core experience is. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3536221064 [H1] Lack of Trophies [/H1] A notable drawback is the absence of trophies or achievements. Even a few basic challenges (e.g., “defeat the dragon without using potions” or “clear all rooms”) could have added replay value and satisfaction for achievement hunters. [H1] Conclusion [/H1] [i]Dragon Ruins[/i] is a charming retro experience for dungeon crawler fans. With nostalgic visuals, accessible gameplay, and straightforward combat, it’s a solid pick for a short and engaging dungeon run. The ending is there, though minimal, and helps give a sense of completion. The game still lacks deeper storytelling, achievements, or complex systems but it delivers exactly what it promises: a bite-sized, classic-style RPG adventure. If you're looking for something light, stylish, and to-the-point, these ruins are worth delving into.

Very fun microgame I stumbled on by chance as I was browsing the store. This game took me a little under 3 hours to beat 2 times. This is a first person dungeon rpg auto battler where you explore a singular large square map separated into four quadrants. Your starting quadrant has the weakest enemies and they begin to grow in strength as you progress onward. Over the course of your journey, you’ll come across spooky pentagram markings on the ground. They actually are very helpful in that they warp you back to the start. Great for if you’re in deep and your party is low on health. The main town hub allows you to pay a fee to raise your character’s level when they reach enough experience points depicted by the blue bar next to their red HP. You can also spend money on useful items in a shop that become increasingly more expensive the more you purchase. These are largely unnecessary if you just pace yourself in the dungeon. My party consisted of the general, knight, archer, and priest. It was later that I realized that the classes don’t have much differences among them beyond some starting stats. The traditional rpg party of your front line being brawlers and the back line being support is not really necessary in this game, so just pick your favorites. The characters will battle without any input, and if you need to, you can run from a battle by simply walking away from an encounter. You can buff them up by using the blacksmith in town to upgrade their gear for a fee. Time goes by ingame as you play. Monsters you have slain in a given room will respawn once a year goes by in game time, which you can keep track of in town. This is good to keep in mind so you can map out sections without wearing your party out constantly. My final levels to take down the dragon were General and Knight at level 18, and Archer and Priest at 16. Being the kind of person that likes to map everything out in a game, I went back for another round and wandered around the boss room during round 2 to finish mapping everything out lol. If you’ve got $5 to spare, I think this game is well worth it if you like dungeon rpgs. It’s got ambient music, great spritework, and is generally a fun, casual game to relax with.