When comparing GearHead: Arena vs Pixel Dungeon, the Slant community recommends Pixel Dungeon for most people. In the question“What are the best roguelikes/roguelites on PC?” Pixel Dungeon is ranked 29th while GearHead: Arena is ranked 78th. The most important reason people chose Pixel Dungeon is:
There are multiple [mods](http://www.slant.co/topics/1961/~what-are-the-best-pixel-dungeon-mods) available that extend the gameplay or even just change it outright. This way there are many choices to the player as to how they would like the game to play.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Different moving systems
The player can move both his PC and the Mecha either using a classic roguelike movement system (with arrow keys) or a more complex and realistic "turtle" movement, which requires to turn toward a direction and enable to move (but not run) backward. Moreover, some mecha can jump, fly or ski on water.
Pro Impressive amount of options
From the aspect of the PC to stats, augmentations (with cybernetic), skills, talents, armor and weapons (a great amount of both) both ranged and melee. The same, for the Mecha: with enough Mecha Engineering levels, one can literally build his own custom mecha using spare parts. And with robotic one can build his own robot-pets.
Pro Limb system
One of the few to have a limb system, one of the two where those limbs can be altered (with cybernetic for humans, with Mecha Engineer for mechas).
Pro Isometric graphic pleasant
The graphic is isometric, it is clear and pleasant to look at.
Pro Setting used to increase quality of life options
For example: you can buy a micro computer (or an internet phone) so you can look at the questboard without searching one in the town. You can call with the phone a NPC, without searching him. Your phone is even able to search for their known role in town, so you can dial "cook" and you will talk with the cook and receive the food where you are. This breaks a little the suspension of disbelief when you can dial "doc" and be medicated without going to the hospital, but what the hell! it makes the game so much faster and easier!
Pro Easy to get in
Thanks to a modern GUI a simple (even if deep) character creation system, a simple leveling system, an immediate explanation of the skills and a clear graphic, the game has a very smooth and low learning curve. To minmaxing a PC might still be a good idea to give a look to a wiki, but the game can be played and "won" trusting only what you learn while you play.
Pro Modern GUI
While one can still use some shortcuts with letters, like in most old roguelikes, the GUI is designed to work like a decently modern menu system.
Pro A variety of mods are available, which extend the gameplay by a large margin
There are multiple mods available that extend the gameplay or even just change it outright. This way there are many choices to the player as to how they would like the game to play.
Pro Tons of replayability thanks to the randomly generated level
In true roguelike fashion, levels are randomly generated each time a new game is started. On top of this mechanic, Pixel Dungeon goes one step further by randomizing effects of all items as well, so it's impossible to tell if a dropped item will have a positive or a negative effect based on its sprite representation.
Pro Challenging and fun gameplay that lends itself well to repeat plays
Pixel Dungeon's gameplay is intuitive, allowing for it to be easy to get into. What is great though is that it's also very challenging, quickly making the experience both rewarding and addictive. Just one more game is a thought many will have before actually turning off their device.
Pro Detail-oriented design lends itself well to many gameplay elements, giving a feeling of polish and care not normally found on mobile
Small details in the art design helps to add immersion to the gameplay.
Pro A good variation in items allows the player to constantly discover new and exciting ways to tackle the game
Next to the typical selection of buffs, de-buffs, potions (that can be either consumed or thrown), weapons and armor (the latter two have to identified and can carry with them bonuses and curses), there are also less common items like random teleportation scrolls, map reveals, etc.
Pro Easily play without an internet connection as the game can be played in-full offline
Pixel Dungeon does not require an internet connection to use, making for a good game to play when there is no internet to connect to such as on flights.
Pro Beautiful pixel artwork that should offer a good bit of nostalgia for anyone who grew up with games that look similar
This looks like one of the good SNES RPGs. For someone who grew up loving those games, that's a huge plus.
Pro Being completely free and open-source means that anyone can try the game in order to see if they like it
No advertisements, no in-game store, and available for free with the source code available on GitHub.
*There is a link in the game where users can donate money to the developer. This of course does not mean you have to, but it is marked as a game with in-app-purchased because of it.
Pro Has a reasonable amount of strategical depth where the player can easily plan out their next move
The top-down, turn-based nature of the game gives the opportunity to plan out a complex series of moves. This way there is no time constraint, and the player can leisurely strategize what they would like to do next.
Pro Hold your device as you like as the game can be played in portrait or landscape
Allowing the user to switch from portrait or landscape makes for an easy way to switch playstyles (one handed, two handed) depending on what device is being used (tablet, phone) as well as what is most comfortable for the user.
Cons
Con Easy to lose everything (or at least a lot)
While this game has no permadeath, it's excessively easy to lose your mecha to a good combo of hits from an enemy. And losing a mecha, specially a Zerosaiko (even more if you've modified it adding the best spare parts you could) means losing an incredible amount of in-game money and work.
Con Pixel Dungeon is hard
Pixel Dungeon's difficulty can be a turn off for some players as it is quite challenging. While there will be those that enjoy such difficulty, those looking for something easy may not enjoy the game.
Con Overly random
A lot of people see roguelike design as being based around randomness. It's actually a far more precise set of balances than that. A lot of roguelike developers shy way from "randomly generated content" in favor of the term "procedurally generated content." The reason for this is that a well designed roguelike is well balanced enough that if you lose or win, it's all because of the actions you took.
Pixel Dungeon has a habit of sometimes generating dungeons that are basically impossible and sometimes generating dungeons that are laughably easy.
Con Randomness cannot be turned off
Since everything in Pixel Dungeon is randomized, sometimes a player's character can get killed in ways that cannot be avoided. There is no way to escape this issue since randomization is baked in with no way to turn it off.