When comparing Random Adventure Roguelike vs Desktop Dungeons, 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 Random Adventure Roguelike is ranked 13th. 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
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Fun mix of sandbox and roguelike gameplay, where you decide where you want to go and what you want to do
The game sets you in an open world with random quests. You can go wherever you want, kill monsters, help people by taking quests, craft items, improve your equipment, or even sail to another island. This makes for a game that can be played as the player wants, exploring and adventuring as they please.
Pro Retro but modern look and feel makes for a game that gives some nostalgia while also keeping up with its contemporaries
The game has no graphics (apart from the icons for the items and menus) but has a nice layout design and colorful text. It just feels like an old-school game made today.
Pro Enormous amount of content that allows for tons of customization, allowing each game to feel unique
There is a huge number of skills and ways you can improve your character, with a cool leveling system. The sheer amount of customizations included in this content makes for a way to have unique playthroughs, when making different choices.
Pro The turn based gameplay lends itself well to those that enjoy taking their time with thought out moves
Like an true roguelike the game is turn-based, meaning every turn the player takes, the rest of the board takes on turn. This way you can easily labor over what you would like to do next, as nothing happens in the game until you move.
Pro Completely free, meaning anyone can try the game
The game is currently completely free, with an option for donations so the developer feels more motivated to continue developing the game. There are no ads, and there's no bonus if you donate. It's just an altruistic option.
Pro Intuitive interface where it is pretty easy to figure out how to navigate the game
Being based on text graphics the game controls are pretty intuitive being that what there is to do is displayed in text on the screen.
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.
Cons
Con Very small overland screen/map
While there is a huge amount of customization and crafting, the dungeon and overland map/screen seems added as an afterthought. The result is that it's easy to lose track of where you are, and it often feels like you aren't "going" anywhere.
Con Buggy
Crafting weapons seems to not allow any weapon higher than a 1/1. The game may crash when trying to save and exit or just crash while playing. Making for a frustrating experience.
Con Low quality graphics
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.