Who made it?

For their next follow-up in their ultra successful Minecraft universe, the team at Mojang decided to take the blocky world and transplant some of its charm to a dungeon crawler.

What genre is it? 

Minecraft Dungeons is a loot based dungeon crawler. It’s basically Diablo with a Minecraft skin. Its a lot more accessible than most dungeon crawlers but also feels a lot more shallow.

Where did I play it?

I played this game on the Switch, which marks just the third Xbox Game Studios title on Nintendo with Ori and The Blind Forest and Cuphead being the other two. The game is pretty much available everywhere

How long is it? 

One of the most surprising things about Minecraft Dungeons is how short the campaign is, which is only around 6 hours considering that it was announced back in 2018. A major hope is that for a game that fuses Minecraft and Diablo, it will receive the same update treatment the genre is known for.

Is it full price? 

Minecraft Dungeons feels like the perfect price for the amount of content that the game offers. The base experience is only around 20 dollars depending on your region and the Hero Pass is only around another 10 which gets you access to DLC 1 and 2.

Is it Co-op? 

Yes, one of the key elements of dungeon crawlers is the ability to do it with friends and you can do 1-4 players either online or local.  Minecraft Dungeons features seamless drop in/drop out co-op.

Is it couples friendly? 

Playing as a couple can be a great time. Its fairly easy going, non intimidating art style and its eliminates potential problems by giving each person specific loot so you don’t have to worry about fighting over that epic item.

Is it family friendly?

This game is perfect for playing with loved ones of any age, not only because Minecraft is already such a well known IP but because there is no blood and gore, just pixelated fun. It also has difficulty sliders that you can adjust if you want to just have fun.

Does it look good? 

Using the blocky Minecraft visual style does help set this dungeon crawler apart from the rest of the genre, which is typically rooted in darkness, deep tones and gore. However, its the little touches that make the difference. shrub and tree blocks move as if they are blowing in the wind, arrows stick in blocks, and water reflects on limestone walls.

Does it control well? 

If you have played any other ARPG or dungeon crawler then you are aware of how skills map to certain buttons and MD is no different. It’s easy to equip weapons, armour, and skills as well as traverse the world, however there have been times where I have been trapped in the geometry of the map. Sometimes it works in your favour as strong enemies can get stuck as well, making for easy prey.

Is the story good? 

The story is fairly basic as you are trying to defeat the arch illager, who has become corrupted by the orb of power in a very Tolkien way similar to the ring. The main journey is trying to shut down his resources and track him down, its very basic.

Is there DLC? 

Yes, one of the best things about Mojang is how they have supported Mincraft for over 10 years with new content and patches. Although the game is a little short at around 6 hours, there are already two dlc updates on the roadmap, one dated for July 1 and for Sep 1. 

Does it have micro transactions? 

As of right now there is nothing to buy and everything can be earned in game which is nice for a game that could nickel and dime for small upgrades.

Are there technical issues?

Unfortunately on the switch at this moment there is.  While the frame rate remains steady, and the loading is nothing to complain about, it’s the micro stuttering that is the issue. This is a problem playing either solo or co op, docked or handheld on the Switch. Interestingly enough the majority of the technical issues feel limited to the earlier levels.

How is the loot system?

I think the loot tiers need some work as it doesn’t feel that epic items are any better than common items in many cases since the RNG roll on each item can majorly affect its perks. A major gripe about the loot is that the only option is to sell it or salvage, it would be fantastic if you were able to drop gear for friends.

Is procedural generated or designed better?

I would have to lean towards a well crafted level by an artist who has spent years of their life designing magical areas to explore. In MD, many times exploring to the far reaches of the map just often leaves a disappointment result of emptiness and wanting.

Does it have replay value? 

Yes, but that depends on how you view dungeon crawlers. Are you always looking for higher gear? Are you the kind of person who looks for a perfect roll on a weapon? Beating the game on the default mode unlocks adventure mode where new gear is available, rewards are better and enemies are more difficult. Defeating the game on adventure unlocks apocalypse mode, which is what it sounds like.

What could this game do without? 

Minecraft Dungeons could do without the in game economy because at the moment, collecting money in the dungeons is almost pointless because the only thing you can spend it on is at the vendors back at camp who only sell you randomized weapons, which isn’t good for two reasons. The first is that more than likely you are not going to get the class of item that you are looking for and secondly, the items almost always drop below your level.

What is the best part about this game? 

I think the decision to not use classes works in MD’s favor as its nice to change up your play style at any point in time during the course of the game. Sometimes being stuck in a certain class can get repetitive during a dungeon crawler. Although with the short length of this game that is less of a concern.

What’s most disappointing?

Minecraft is known for its destruction and exploration but Dungeons feels like it missed some opportunities with things like barrels, boxes or items that could be broken to find rewards. For a series that has hung its hat on exploration, rarely does it reward you for going off the beaten path

What is the worst part about this game?

You could make an argument for the short length, or the technical shortcomings, or the erratic difficulty spikes but the actual worst part about this game is knowing how much better it could be. It is a very competent game and a great value, but the difference between Diablo 3 when it launched to its end product and Minecraft 2008 compared to its end product leave a large gap between where Minecraft Dungeons is now and where it is likely going.

Final Score

16/21