When comparing Desktop Dungeons vs Ananias, the Slant community recommends Desktop Dungeons for most people. In the question“What are the best roguelikes on Android?” Desktop Dungeons is ranked 2nd while Ananias is ranked 19th. The most important reason people chose Desktop Dungeons is:
The game gets its roots from roguelikes, and the complexity of the combined genre really enhances the puzzle solving side of the game. Instead of being real time, or taking place in a large expansive world, Desktop Dungeons games take place on a small 20x20 dungeon. Although the map is small, there is tons of strategy to figuring out the optimal way to clear the dungeon. Unveiling tiles is how you recover health and mana, so the game is fundamentally about efficiently using the tools and resources available to you in each map and coming up with unique strategies in such a small space. You must balance the risk between trying to get experience from exposed monsters and exploring deeper into the fog of war.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Mix of puzzle and roguelike
The game gets its roots from roguelikes, and the complexity of the combined genre really enhances the puzzle solving side of the game.
Instead of being real time, or taking place in a large expansive world, Desktop Dungeons games take place on a small 20x20 dungeon. Although the map is small, there is tons of strategy to figuring out the optimal way to clear the dungeon. Unveiling tiles is how you recover health and mana, so the game is fundamentally about efficiently using the tools and resources available to you in each map and coming up with unique strategies in such a small space. You must balance the risk between trying to get experience from exposed monsters and exploring deeper into the fog of war.
Pro Tons of character combinations
There are 7 races and 12 classes that are combinable as well as 4 extra monster classes that do not allow choosing of race making for 112 unique combinations, all with their own custom avatar. There are also 6 additional special races as well as 9 different gods you can worship during the game for even more abilities.
Pro Great for short bursts of play
Since each game takes place in one small dungeon, it's a great game to play in small bits of downtime.
Pro Humorous tone
The game doesn't take itself too seriously with lots of clever dialogue parodying the fantasy genre.
Pro Deep amount of content keeps strategy interesting and fresh
Even though the core gameplay is simple, the amount of power-ups and enemies create a massive amount of ways to play the game which keeps the puzzle solving aspect fresh.
Pro Four classes
There are four available classes Alchemist, Arcane, Paladin, and Hunter, each with their own abilities. This gives a good variety to play with making a different experience when each one is used.
Pro Free version available
There is a free version of Ananias available for user to try before they purchase the full game.
Pro Basically a full game
Although a demo - as the developer calls the game, you can use up to 4 classes to complete the WHOLE game. There's no restriction whatsoever.
Pro Combat based on D&D dice rolling
Player and enemy hits are calculated from random dice rolls just as it would be in a Dungeons and Dragons game. This randomizes battles a bit making it somewhat luck based.
Pro Leverages touch screen nicely
Pro Animal companions
Players can choose an animal companion to accompany them in the game with each one differing in health and strength, giving even more variety to the game over top the player classes to choose from.
Cons
Con While polished the graphics are still simple
Compared to other modern roguelikes the graphics are pretty minimal where the characters are tile based and lack animation when moving.
Con Hidden map means you can't solve the puzzles on logic alone
The map is hidden by fog of war until you explore it, meaning you can't devise a solution from the start. Because revealing the map regenerates your health and mana you can't explore everything at the start. You need to spend most of the game not knowing the state of the rest of the map.
Con Application is updated frequently
Sometimes features are replaced with other features which significantly change the feel of the game. This can be disorienting.
Con Too much focus on animal companion
If or when the players animal companion dies the game becomes too difficult, making for a scenario where it is best to start over. This makes too much focus on the animal during gameplay as it needs to be kept alive the whole time to succeed.