Here Is What We Learned from the Dungeonborne Playtest

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The Steam Next Fest has concluded, marking the end of the playtest for Dungeonborne, the dungeon-crawler title that stood out as the most-played demo at this year’s event. Below is a summary of what we learned and what players are saying about the game.

Overall, players expressed positive impressions, suggesting that Dungeonborne, in certain segments, surpassed Dark and Darker. However, they noted similarities and described the game as sufficiently similar, yet distinct: “After about a hundred hours in Dark and Darker, I can say this game is significantly different, but also has some similarities. The game’s dynamics, combat, and other elements are completely different,” stated one player.

Impressions of the maps were quite divided, with some players highlighting the quality of the maps’ size and graphic design, but still noting an inconsistency in the distribution of player spawns across different locations: “The only thing I didn’t like about the map design is that sometimes you spawn very close to other players, while in other situations you don’t see anyone until you’ve traversed half the map,” one player noted, while another player said that “the map is huge and brings a breath of fresh air with different types of enemies to fight.”

Combat and Class Balance

Regarding PvE and PvP combat, most players agree that killing enemies is fairly simple, with some being stronger than others, but that PvP combat requires certain adjustments and balancing: “Killing mobs is quite easy and they aren’t overly dangerous, apart from certain stronger ‘bosses’. It seems like you often have to fight against other players.” Some expressed dissatisfaction with the PvP experience: “I had a few good PvP fights, but most of them ended quickly because someone managed to outmaneuver an unwary group. It’s hard to disengage because there aren’t many skills in the classes and mobility is limited.”

When it comes to the different classes, the general consensus is that some are stronger than others. For example, the Fighter could quickly eliminate opponents if you weren’t careful enough, the Cryomancer was the strongest class, while the Priest lagged behind in solo play: “There is no Priest in solo play. Absolutely not. The Priest’s balance needs to be redone. I’m not sure how the Priest works in team fights. It wasn’t the weakest class in D&D, but it was fun to play with. It possessed many skills with different specifications. That was true for both solo and team play.”

The controls and gameplay mechanics, on the other hand, proved to be solid: “The controls are easy to use, and character movement feels responsive. To improve the flow of the game, sporadic camera bugs in confined areas or during combat should be addressed. In the arena, the controls feel a bit less responsive when I tried to block or parry an attack.”

One player even spent a considerable amount of time testing the hitbox mechanics and came to the following conclusion: “The hitboxes for players can be problematic, and trying to maneuver three characters in a crowded fight with PvE monsters often results in the group dealing more damage to themselves due to careless and misleading hits on one another. It’s possible to hit a teammate through a skeleton’s body, and sometimes strikes can connect with party members standing behind you. Until this problematic hitting is corrected, it’s simply not worth discussing the PvE challenges.”

Issues and Final Player Verdict

A major problem that players encountered was the presence of hackers: “Hackers are ruining the game. I was killed by a hacker who looted my gear and the gear of other players while I was trying to hide. He destroyed everything on the map at his leisure. I lost time and enjoyment. It would be great to receive some sort of compensation for the time lost.”

Additionally, many stressed that player teaming on the solo map is unfair: “Teaming up on the Solo map is frustrating players. Towards the end of the playtest or at times when few players were online, you encounter people who are playing together in solo mode and cooperating. This is extremely unfair and presents a serious problem because it reduces the enjoyment of the game.”

In-game sounds also received mixed reviews: “An update to the game’s sound system would be beneficial to further improve the overall experience. There are times when I can’t hear the footsteps of enemies rushing towards me, resulting in my death or the death of my teammates in an ambush that should have a sound cue behind me before I get hit. On the other hand, I can hear distant enemies hitting mobs in other rooms, while I’m unable to hear characters like the Priest or any other fighter class approaching me.”

In conclusion, the majority of players agreed that Dungeonborne was fun to play, but that at its core, the game is a prime showcase of interesting content and stunning visuals that keep players coming back for more. However, there is a critical imbalance in the game mechanics concerning player gear that I believe needs to be addressed. Scores generally ranged between 7 and 9, and we should see what this game truly becomes later this year.