Dungeon crawler
Genre
The dungeon crawling genre refers to games in which the exploration and progression lies on guiding a single character or a party of characters in a dungeon-like environment. The word dungeon is used with an ample definition, relating to any levels or areas acting as mazes or labyrinths, featuring multiple paths and courses. Dungeon crawlers are not defined by specific core game aspects such as movement or perspective but will feature combat where eliminating enemies is necessary. While not mandatory, dungeon crawlers generally feature an opening safe area such as a town before the player embarks on his perilous journey through the dungeon levels.
The terminology goes back to the roots of RPG Dungeon & Dragons inspired video games with 1975's pedit5, which eventually morphed into Rogue and other roguelike games. The following year Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord was released, a first-person party-based dungeon crawler which are now retrospectively called blobber. Gauntlet is another important dungeon crawler, which took influence from early action RPG games. In the 90s dungeon crawler evolved with games like Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss and Diablo expanding the original scope but retaining the dungeon exploration elements. In the 2010s the terminology is also applied to Action roguelite games like The Binding of Isaac and Enter the Gungeon, with mechanics that ties them to the original dungeon crawler Rogue.
The terminology goes back to the roots of RPG Dungeon & Dragons inspired video games with 1975's pedit5, which eventually morphed into Rogue and other roguelike games. The following year Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord was released, a first-person party-based dungeon crawler which are now retrospectively called blobber. Gauntlet is another important dungeon crawler, which took influence from early action RPG games. In the 90s dungeon crawler evolved with games like Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss and Diablo expanding the original scope but retaining the dungeon exploration elements. In the 2010s the terminology is also applied to Action roguelite games like The Binding of Isaac and Enter the Gungeon, with mechanics that ties them to the original dungeon crawler Rogue.
Also known as
1.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
[ポケモン不思議のダンジョン 空の探検隊]
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Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
[真・女神転生 STRANGE JOURNEY]
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Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness
[ポケモン不思議のダンジョン 時の探検隊 / 闇の探検隊]
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The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rd
[英雄伝説 空の軌跡 the 3rd]
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Dark Cloud 2
[ダーククロニクル]
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Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team
[ポケモン不思議のダンジョン 青の救助隊 / 赤の救助隊]
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Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
[デビルサマナー ソウル ハッカーズ]
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Games 531
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