Summary
- Dungeon crawlers feature complex puzzles, hidden secrets, and enemies to overcome while exploring.
- Many games have companion systems, requiring players to consider party synergy and choices.
- Games like The Bard's Tale 4 require strategic party management and tactical combat for success.
Dungeon crawlers are all about the player enjoying exploring subterranean structures, to find loot, treasure, and more. And of course, there are bound to be complex puzzles, hidden secrets, and a whole host of vicious enemies to overcome during the journey.
11 Best Sci-Fi Dungeon Crawlers
While dungeon crawlers are typically fantasy, these games throw the futuristic tech and alien invaders of sci-fi into the mix.
Many dungeon crawlers feature a companion or party system. These companions are sometimes fully AI-controlled with the player having little impact on their actions. Other games feature a complex, interactive party management system, with each companion being fully controlled by the player. Either way, these games almost always require the player to consider how party members synergize as a combined team, and make the right choices to build a strong party.
8 The Bard’s Tale 4: Barrows Deep
Reviving The Classic Party Base Dungeon Crawling Franchise
The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep
- Released
- August 27, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- inXile entertainment
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Weak
The Bard’s Tale is an RPG franchise with a long history, with the original game being released way back in 1985, and being released for home computer platforms such as the Amiga and Atari ST at the time. The original game did much to set the standards for future party-based RPG s.
Best Dungeon Crawlers With Procedural Generation
Players who are looking to immerse themselves in the dangerous randomness of dungeon crawlers can seek out these entries.
Combat in The Bard’s Tale 4: Barrows Deep takes place on a grid, and the player must think tactically about the actions that each companion in their party will take, and when. The game made this list because each companion has their own background quest, a full set of voice samples that are used at appropriate times, and skill sets that make them unique within the game.
7 Legend Of Grimrock 2
Classic Old School Dungeon Crawling Requiring Synergistic Companions
Legend of Grimrock 2
- Released
- October 15, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
Legend of Grimrock 2 takes the old-school slant on dungeon crawlers, reminiscent of ancient games such as Eye of the Beholder and Bard Tale, and adds in some modern ideas, as well as much better graphics.
Many of the traditional dungeon challenges must be overcome in this game, such as deadly traps, intricate mazes, and, of course, dangerous enemies. Choosing the right companions and developing them in the right way to create a synergistic team is crucial to being successful in this game. This means having damage dealers, healers, and buffers that work together to help the party survive.
6 Demon Gaze 2
Turn-Based Dungeon Crawler With Demon Companions
Demon Gaze II
- Released
- September 29, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
Demon Gaze 2 has a slightly different angle on recruiting and managing a party of dungeon crawlers. In this game, players can recruit a team of powerful demons to be their allies. Each demon has a distinct personality and their own skill set.
The dungeons in Demon Gaze 2 require strategic thinking to traverse safely, which means the player needs to make tough choices about which companions to level up and upgrade. Combat is quite tactical, and takes place turn-by-turn, enabling the player to use the right companion for a role during each turn.
5 Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi
Horror Game Meets Dungeon Crawler With Customizable Companions
Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi
- Released
- November 4, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi is a dark, often grim dungeon crawler. The gameplay follows the adventures of the Undernauts, a party of subterranean workers that have been trapped in a confusing, often dangerous labyrinth.
The companion system in Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi is deep, enabling the player to customize companions in many ways. Primarily, this involves making sure that companions progress in ways that make them fit well with the rest of the team, with skills and abilities that work synergistically with other team members. Indeed, combat in this game requires the entire party of companions to work as a unified whole to take down tough foes.
4 Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls
Classic Companions Classes
Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls
- Released
- December 9, 2009
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, iOS, PS Vita
The Wizardry franchise is synonymous with classic RPG gameplay, replete with tough dungeons to overcome. Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls is considered to be one of the titles in the Wizardry Renaissance, following on from the original franchise where it left off in 2001, with Wizardry 8.
The companion classes in this game are instantly recognizable. Mages, warriors, healers, and other well-known fantasy classes are all available. Combat is turn-based and requires tactical planning to ensure the right companion uses the right skill at the right time. Anyone who loves classic RPGs will likely enjoy Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls.
3 Stranger Of Sword City
Companions Are Essential In This Dark Fantasy Dungeon Crawler
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360
- Released: June 5, 2014
- Developer: Experience Inc.
- Genre: Role-playing Video Game
Stranger Of Sword City is a dungeon crawler with a very dark fantasy theme. In this game, companions are everything, and the wrong choice of companions or skills they offer can be disastrous. Primarily because the game’s combat can be brutal at times.
To do well, players will need to consider the role of each companion in their party, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses, and how they fit into the party as a whole. Core abilities need to complement the whole team, and bring needed capabilities such as healing or buffing, alongside simple direct or ranged damage skills.
2 Labyrinth Of Galleria: The Moon Society
Deep Party Mechanics
Labyrinth Of Galleria: The Moon Society
- Released
- February 14, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Labyrinth Of Galleria: The Moon Societ y can be considered to be something of a spiritual successor to the classic Labyrinth of Refrain. It expands on the gameplay in relation to the companion and party mechanics.
12 Best Tabletop Dungeon Crawlers
Fans of dungeon crawlers looking for new experiences should give these tabletop games a shot.
In Labyrinth Of Galleria: The Moon Societ y, players have to control a veritable army of puppet-like companions. Each of them is customizable and can be tailored to fill specific roles when exploring dungeons, finding treasure, and defending enemies. The game takes a place on this list for breaking the mold and using companions in a very different way than most other dungeon crawlers.
1 Etrian Odyssey 4: Legends Of The Titan
Cartoon-Style Party-Based Dungeon Crawling
Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan
- Released
- February 26, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Atlus
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo 3DS
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Dungeon Crawler
Etrian Odyssey 4: Legends of the Titan could be considered a definitive example of what a great dungeon crawler with comprehensive companion and party mechanics should look like. The game offers a significant challenge, even for aficionados of the genre.
The reason for Etrian Odyssey 4: Legends of the Titan taking top place on this list, is the sheer depth of customization the player can apply to companions. When exploring the labyrinth, and dealing with dangers and enemies, the player must ensure that they have access to a team of companions that form a cohesive party. This means ensuring that party members have skills that are both needed, and complementary skills wielded by other party members.