When comparing Wayward Souls 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 Wayward Souls is ranked 8th. 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 No in-app-purchases or paid updates, the game has a singular price for all of the content
Wayward Souls developer RocketCat Games has promised that there will never be any in-app-purchases added to the game nor will there ever be any paid updates.
Pro Choice of character class gives the chance for different strategy and playstyles as well as something to strive for by unlocking them
There is a total of six characters that can be used in game with three to start and three unlocked through playing and beating the games dungeons. Each one feels unique and will have a different playstyle that will have to be used, making for varied gameplay.
Pro Good controller support makes for an easier way to control the game
Wayward Souls has support for MOGA controllers as well as HID bluetooth controller support.
Pro Fantastic touch screen controls that are responsive and easy to use
The touch screen controls in Wayward Souls handle beautifully, something many mobile games struggle with but work quite well here making for an enjoyable control experience.
Pro Easily played offline thanks to the game not needing an internet connection once installed
Wayward Souls allows for complete offline play, making for a good game to be played when there is no internet connection.
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 Can feel repetitive
Even though it is by design, having to repeat many of the same areas (despite being randomly generated) feels repetitive after a while, which can lead to boredom while playing. So it is up to the player how soon they will tire.
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.