Sure, dungeon crawling is good and fun but sometimes you want to see things from the other side of the glass. Dungeon Keeper, and to a lesser extent the Overlord series, allows you to do just that. Maiming, torturing and killing adventurers to your hearts delight. A new game by Realmforge Studios is allowing you to do just that but with a twist toward the even more cold-hearted.

Dungeons take on the genre is a little different. In the game you collect hero souls, but you can only collect hero souls from happy hero's.  So it is your job to create dungeons which make all of their dreams come true! Do they want to find treasure? Then you give it to them. Do they like to disarm traps? Then you give them things to test their mettle. And then, when their hearts are soaring, when they have found what they have come to look for, thats when you drop the gauntlet and kill them without mercy. These souls then become the power you use to build a larger dungeon. In many ways it reminds me of this scene from The Professional.

From an interview with Gaming Nexus:

"Dungeons...focuses on heroes, as they provide you with gold and soul energy – both of which you need to build a larger dungeon and thus become more powerful in that dungeon. The interesting twist is that you gain more soul energy from heroes the happier they are, thus you try to build your dungeon according to their specific needs and expectations (e.g. finding treasures, fighting monsters, disarming traps and so on)......and only throw them into prison, torture them or sacrifice them afterwards, because that's exactly how you harvest soul energy from happy heroes."

As of now, the game has three customizable dungeon styles, multiple monsters and traps which become more powerful as levels increase, and a complete level editor which will be shipped with the game.  There is currently no plans for multiplayer but the designers say that this addition is certainly "possible."

The game is currently set for an early 2011 release, but they are now accepting applications for the Beta.Check out additional screenshots below.

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Comments

  • Avatar
    Dimensaur
    13 years, 5 months ago

    This sounds really interesting. I've always been a fan of the idea of dungeon crawlers, but never really committed to playing one fully. This however seems like a great concept. I do hope they add in multiplayer options, or allow people to be the heroes in other player's dungeons.

  • Avatar
    UglyKatsuki
    13 years, 5 months ago

    This sort of reminds me of "Evil Genius". I do love the idea of playing the villain and really being a bad guy in a game. I know, don't tell me, and I know what you're gonna say. Of course you play bad guys all the time in video games. But I like the direction that this is going. It's kind of nice to see you playing the villain in a more devious way and more interesting than just shooting them or running them over with a car. Now that I think about it, this also reminds me of "Trapt" as well.

    I guess what's gonna make this so satisfying is screwing over the heroes after making them so happy, just to see them fall even harder. Sounds like delicious fun.

  • Avatar
    SomethingSnappy
    13 years, 5 months ago

    this looks freaking sweet

  • Avatar
    ElectricKoolAid
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Well...as soon as i read this, i went over there and signed up for beta. I hope i get in. I'd beta test the hell outta this game. Its a great concept.

  • Avatar
    ElectricKoolAid
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Hmmm...
    Well, I was looking around their Forums for Beta info, and it seems Beta already started on November 4th. Idk if this means getting into beta isnt an option, but Imma keep looking. Hopefully not. '_'

  • Avatar
    Absolutely Daft
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Hey Joseph, you spelled genre wrong at the start of the second paragraph. The idea for this game is interesting by the way.

  • Avatar
    s1yfox
    13 years, 5 months ago

    i definitely want in on this beta: can't wait :D

  • Avatar
    Teus
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Interesting. The Dungeon Keeper series and Evil Genius were great games. Will keep an eye on it.

  • Avatar
    Vunik
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Don't tell me I'm the only one who thought of Recettear while reading this article.

  • Avatar
    TheFlameLurker
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Decided to give Dungeon Keeper 2 a spin just to get an idea about this game and I have a feeling I will be helplessly addicted if it even remotely lives up to expectations, I am a sucker for these simesque (am I using this suffix correctly?) games.

  • Avatar
    Fady
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Oh god, I fucking loved Dungeon Keeper 2
    Will this be available on consoles, or is this PC only?

  • Avatar
    Bombader
    13 years, 5 months ago

    I get Dungeon Keeper vibes, I hope I can run it.

  • Avatar
    Arxidus
    13 years, 5 months ago

    I love to see developers do something different. It's like "Dungeons Tycoon" up in here.

  • Avatar
    Comradebearjew
    13 years, 5 months ago

    This sounds amazing and original. I can't wait get my hands on it.