Although we initially claimed that Dungeonborne was better than Dark and Darker, that turned out to be a mistake. During the playtest phase and early-access launch, the game impressed us with its visuals and performance. However, things have gone downhill since. What once looked promising is now fading. Many players, especially those who migrated from Dark and Darker, appreciated the polish and quality-of-life improvements Dungeonborne offered. Unfortunately, the positives end there.
The game is now facing a series of serious issues. Developer communication has become scarce, and promises made to the community frequently go unfulfilled. Poor patches, a lack of anti-cheat measures, and minimal effort to prevent organized teaming have frustrated players. The daily ban list is small, while mid- and high-level matches are often flooded with groups exploiting the system.
Some players speculate that the developers were unprepared for the game’s success or saw it as a quick cash grab. These suspicions deepened with the release of inappropriate themed skins that looked more like monetization attempts than meaningful updates. Promised content, such as the first season, still hasn’t arrived, and the developers have been silent for weeks despite announcing a preseason update more than a month ago.
Many well-known streamers and community advocates have attempted to address the game’s issues, especially widespread teaming. Instead of receiving support, some were even banned, reinforcing the perception that developers don’t understand their community. The situation worsened with an influx of suspiciously positive reviews that many believe are fake. These short, generic comments contrast sharply with detailed critiques from frustrated players pointing to real problems such as long queue times.
The developers’ focus on hardcore players and streamers alienated casual and new players. By raising gear requirements and failing to create proper brackets for different skill levels, they unintentionally encouraged experienced players to exploit the system. Veterans began “disguising” themselves with weaker gear to avoid high-level lobbies, resulting in unfair encounters with newcomers. This cycle pushed many players away.
Dungeonborne had enormous potential with its engaging gameplay, impressive visuals, and well-designed maps. However, the lack of proper matchmaking, updates, and new content has left the game neglected. Early events didn’t attract new players but instead favored hardcore gamers who easily overwhelmed less experienced participants.
For those who once loved Dungeonborne, it’s disheartening to see the game in this condition. It had all the ingredients for success, but now it stands as an example of missed opportunities and poor management. Unless the developers make drastic changes, the game will continue losing players. In its current state, investing time or money in Dungeonborne feels pointless, a sad ending for something that could have been a fantastic experience.
