Dungeons Deep Kickstarter: A 3D Love Letter to Classic ARPGs Like Diablo

If you're a fan of the golden era of action RPGs, you may want to take a look at Dungeons Deep, an ambitious dark fantasy ARPG from developer Enraged Gamers, that has recently launched its Kickstarter campaign! Inspired by timeless classics Diablo and Diablo II, this project aims to bring the addictive loot-grinding, hack-and-slash gameplay into a stunning 3D world, promising a fresh take on the genre that could scratch that dungeon crawling itch we all get. Check out the trailer below, and then read on for our thoughts on Dungeons Deep.

Reviving the Classics in 3D Glory

At its heart, Dungeons Deep is a love letter to classic action RPGs like Diablo, capturing the essence of endless exploration, brutal combat, and rewarding progression systems that hooked millions in the '90s and early 2000s. But now that addictive gameplay is reimagined entirely in 3D, transforming those isometric views into immersive, fully realized environments. Imagine delving into procedurally generated dungeons filled with grotesque monsters, ancient traps, and glittering treasures, all rendered with modern graphics that enhance the atmospheric dread without losing the soul of the originals. The developers emphasize this homage in their pitch:

"Dungeons Deep draws heavy inspiration from classics like Diablo I & II, born from a simple but powerful question: What would Diablo feel like in third-person?"

Gameplay That Hooks from the First Swing

The core loop revolves around fluid, skill-based combat where you wield a variety of weapons, from swords and axes to magical staves, while building your character through loot drops, skill trees, and class specializations. Combat and movement are weighty, requiring you to choose your actions carefully and manually aim your attacks on enemies instead of relying on lock-on.

The 3D perspective allows for verticality in dungeon layouts for ambushes or environmental interactions, couple this with the procedurally arranged dungeon layouts and you have a game that can make every run feel dynamic and new. That will make the runs for loot even more enjoyable, as will the explosion of items from a treasure chest or tough enemy.

Ready to Dive Deep?

The Kickstarter, which is currently live and runs until October 10th, has a funding goal of $15,000 and is already over 90% funded with current pledges standing at $13,736. Tiers that include the game start at $25 for a digital PC copy, or you can get access to the Beta for $30 and score a custom in-game item. Rewards expand from there all the way up to designing your own small quests for the game! Stretch goals include co-op mode on release day, additional classes, and even a console release if milestones are hit. As an indie project, made by a solo developer, every pledge counts toward polishing this gem and ensuring it launches with the features it deserves.

A Dungeon I Want to Delve

Personally, I'm thrilled about Dungeons Deep because it seems like the perfect evolution of what made Diablo so addictive, that rush of finding epic gear after a grueling boss fight, but brought into 3D by a solo developer who is pouring his heart into the game.

Dungeons Deep isn’t just a game, it’s a labor of love and the culmination of years of experience and dedication to my craft. - Kiefer

I'm eager to see how all of this comes together in the moment to moment gameplay, from exploring the dark dungeons to lining up the perfect sword swing on a dragon. If that sounds like your kind of jam too, head over to the campaign page to back it now and help make the vision a reality.

We'll be keeping an eye on the campaign's progress here at GameMinr.com, so stay tuned for updates!

As always with Kickstarters, there is a risk that the project may run into trouble after your pledge. Make sure you believe in the project's ability to reach completion before pledging