Developer: Cat Society
Platform: PC
Gene(s): Simulation, Strategy
Publisher: Spiral Up Games
Dungeon Inn is a management-sim game. This game was developed by Cat Society and published by Spiral Up Games. There are not many games with the unique gameplay style that Dungeon Inn has to offer. Dungeon Inn is in early access, and this review was done for the PC.
Dungeon Inn is a unique blend of social management and strategy. It is a single-player game where you play as Sara, who has struck a deal with a dragon to open an inn next to a mysterious dungeon. Sara’s inn is the perfect pit stop before exploring the secrets that lie within the dungeon. Sara steps into the shoes of an innkeeper, where you will welcome guests filled with secrets and prepare meals for them, all whilst being wary of monsters that may attack at any given moment. It is up to you to strategize and think on your feet in order to protect your inn. Every choice you make as an innkeeper will shape how your business grows, so be sure to serve your guests to the best of your abilities.
The controls for Dungeon Inn are fairly simple as most of it is a point-and-click, except the mechanics can get a bit confusing for first-time players. The game does a wonderful job at setting up tutorials that fully explain each mechanic and get you to trial-run them as you go. At first, there was a bit much going on, and the UI seemed quite unfamiliar in comparison to other sim-management games, but I eventually got used to it.
Now, the art style for Dungeon Inn is quite unique. The game strikes a balance between cosy and ominous. It has implemented hand-painted visuals and bold lines with intricate details, creating a style reminiscent of a graphic novel. The muted colour palette gives off the eerie vibe that comes from the inn’s location, though; the contrast in vibrant and warm colours from the inn itself gives warmth to the game. It embodies the cosiness of the inn that is offered for guests to stay at. The details in the dungeon are perfect as everything is covered in moss, cracked and looks ancient. Something I enjoyed about the visuals was the monster/character designs, each having distinct, grotesque denture features and cartoonish exaggeration, ensuring they are threatening but not overly terrifying. Traps and dungeon hazards shimmer with eerie light, subtly drawing the player’s attention.
Now, the gameplay of Dungeon Inn consists of two parts: the management simulation and dungeon exploration. As part of the inn management, you get to build and upgrade rooms by increasing capacities, including dining areas and relaxation zones, with the money you have accumulated. Each guest that visits the inn has its own set of needs which need to be met to their satisfaction for them to pay your gold. Additionally, as an innkeeper, you can hire cleaners and cooks to assist you in managing the inn. I think what was most fun about the inn management was when you had been attacked and had to initiate a battle. There were distinct mechanics for the battle itself, and it was quite interesting how there was so much more than just managing rooms to do in Dungeon Inn.
Dungeon Inn invites players to deploy turn-based strategies that will attract customers. If you are looking to play a strategic turn-based game that allows you to manage an inn through several interactions with customers, then this game is just for you. Build up your gold, upgrade rooms, unlock amenities and take on battles to keep your business growing. Dungeon Inn resembles hand-drawn visuals that look like it’s out of a storybook. Be sure to check out Dungeon Inn.
Overall: 7/10
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