When comparing Sprouted Pixel Dungeon 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 Sprouted Pixel Dungeon is ranked 53rd. 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 Ad-free
Pro There are significant improvements compared to the original Pixel Dungeon and Shattered Pixel Dugeon games
- Much larger levels creating a different gameplay and strategy experience;
- Mobs drop monster meat to facilitate longer and more in-depth exploration of the larger levels;
- Dew system has been revised to create a currency for upgrade opportunities;
- Dew vial has been reworked as a new pivotal resource for exploring the dungeon;
- Wraiths and grave hunting is now a major part of the game progression;
- Boss fights have been completely reworked to be more intense and challenging requiring completely new tactics;
- Mobs now adjust strength as you go deeper into the dungeon to stay balanced with upgrades;
- New levels are accessible at each stage with Four additional levels available at the end of the game;
- New levels include unique enemies, items, and rewards.
Pro Free and open source
Sprouted Pixel Dungeon is a free open source turn-based roguelike RPG game that builds upon other open source Pixel Dungeon modifications with permission from the developers.
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 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.