Daniel (@DungeonDive) shares the 2024 edition of his Top 10 Dungeon Crawls of All Time. This list is deeply personal, featuring a mix of classic and indie titles, some of which are unlikely to appear on other top lists. Daniel defines dungeon crawls as games where players explore confined environments like dungeons, caves, or spaceships, often encountering combat, traps, and loot while navigating narrow-focused, zoomed-in gameplay. His list focuses on solo-friendly games, many with roguelike elements and a strong emphasis on narrative and randomness, making each playthrough unique.
The Top 10:
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#10 Dungeon Crusade (2020): A sprawling open-world sandbox dungeon crawler designed for solo play, notable for its modular hero options and mountains of loot.
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#9 Rogue Dungeon (2024): A compact roguelike offering a rich dungeon crawl experience with tactical combat, character progression, and random challenges.
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#8 Machina Arcana (2019): A steampunk Lovecraftian adventure blending tactical combat with deep exploration and story-driven scenarios.
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#7 Iron Helm (2019): A compact card-based game where aging adventurers seek gold for retirement, praised for its expansions and press-your-luck mechanics.
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#6 Warhammer Quest (1995): The classic dungeon crawler from Games Workshop, celebrated for its expansive bestiary and immersive lore.
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#5 Mansions of Madness (2nd Edition) (2016): A hybrid board game with app integration, perfect for introducing players to thematic gaming with its immersive mysteries and seamless storytelling.
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#4 DungeonQuest (1985/2014): A distilled, high-risk dungeon crawl featuring random dungeon tile placement and a deadly, roguelike nature.
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#3 Warhammer Quest: Silver Tower (2016): A focused campaign game offering a magical and memorable experience as players navigate a surreal, enemy-filled tower.
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#2 Quest for the Lost Pixel (2015): An indie roguelike passion project brimming with loot, monsters, and unique gameplay scenarios, emphasizing randomness and modular expansion.
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#1 Secrets of the Lost Tomb (2015): Daniel’s all-time favorite, blending pulp adventure with dungeon exploration. This genre-bending game offers diverse encounters, abundant loot, and a rich bestiary, creating endless possibilities.
Daniel acknowledges the uniqueness of his preferences, with his list leaning toward smaller, solo-friendly games and older classics rather than mainstream hits. He invites game designers to try and dethrone his long-standing favorite, Secrets of the Lost Tomb, which he considers the epitome of what a dungeon crawl should be.