Info about Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi:

Official game description:
Escape from “Yomi” – a dungeon filled with riches – and danger.  
You have been recruited into the Undernauts – a team of brave subterranean adventurers who comb the depths of a massive, monster-infested labyrinth in search of priceless resources.  
Make use of your powerful skills and magic items to create exits and reach the surface alive.  
As a Dungeon RPG, the player must dive through many dungeon levels and move through a grid system to find the correct path to proceed.  
Players create a party of 6 in order to fight battles and level up while proceeding through the game's storyline.  
Use the "Switch Boost" system to defeat hordes of monsters and create magical doors, ladders, and bridges to escape.  
Make use of powerful skills and magic items to reach the surface alive.

Release date: Nov 4, 2021

Categories: First-Person Dungeon Crawler, Turn-based Combat, Character Progression, Party-based Combat, Grid-based Movement, Resource Management, Exploration

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 75; verdict: Broken – severe controller bugs require workarounds; summary: The game suffers from critical controller input delays and recognition bugs, especially with PS5 controllers, making it frustrating on Steam Deck. UI text mismatches and a text input glitch add friction, though recent patches have improved launcher behavior. One user reported fine controls, but the overall feedback indicates a broken out-of-box experience.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $25.00 - $30.00
  - Reasoning: Multiple reviews indicate the current $60 price is too high, with explicit mentions that $25 is a viable price point and half-price ($30) is acceptable. Most recommend waiting for a sale, and no review suggests a higher fair price. Thus the community considers a fair base-game price range between $25 and $30.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 40.0h
  - Story completion: 40.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: Multiple reviews report main story completion times of approximately 30, 40, and 63 hours, with 40 hours appearing most frequently (two separate Japanese reviews). StoryCompletion is treated as the same as main story clear, hence also 40 hours. Endgame evidence is inconsistent: one review indicates 5 hours of post-game content, another 23 hours (86h total minus 63h clear), so no reliable single value can be extracted. Session length is not consistently reported across reviews; the few mentions (3–4 hours) refer to early play rather than typical sessions.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game is enjoyable for the first 30 minutes or so, but quickly becomes repetitive and tedious, with a marked drop in fun driven by repetitive combat, reused assets, and uneven pacing.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: repetitive combat and visuals; uneven pacing; limited quality-of-life features; static environments and encounters
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: initial gameplay (first 30 minutes); before repetitive nature becomes apparent
- Player Archetypes:
  - Old-School Dungeon Head (sale)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia for classic first-person dungeon crawlers and seeking a challenging, no-handholding experience.
    - Playstyle: Methodical exploration, party building, and grinding to overcome difficulty spikes.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: big time Dungeon-Head
    - Reference games: Wizardry; Labyrinth of Refrain; Demon Gaze; SMT Strange Journey; Etrian Odyssey
  - Genre Newcomer Friendly (sale)
    - Motivation: Easy entry into the dungeon crawler genre without overwhelming complexity or grind.
    - Playstyle: Exploratory, story-driven, using the game's convenience features to avoid excessive grinding.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Value-Conscious Bargain Hunter (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Getting a fair price for the content offered; unwilling to pay premium for a low-budget indie title.
    - Playstyle: Patiently waits for sales, compares to other genre entries, may accept flaws if the price is right.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Free respec and class change (weight 0.48): Players praise the game for allowing unlimited free class changes and stat/skill reallocation at any time, even inside dungeons, providing flexible build options without penalty. This system is highlighted as a major convenience and a key factor in build experimentation.
- Overall positive reception (weight 0.39): Multiple reviews describe the game as fabulous, wonderful, great, and well worth playing, indicating strong overall satisfaction. These high praise comments reflect broad enjoyment and endorsement of the game.
- Atmosphere and ambiance praised (weight 0.35): Reviews consistently highlight the game's incredible ambiance, oppressive and unsettling mood, and strong atmospheric presence. The dark, heavy atmosphere is noted as a standout feature that enhances immersion.
- Switch Boost adds strategic depth (weight 0.29): The Switch Boost mechanic is repeatedly praised for enabling free skill usage with a recharge turn, providing damage reduction, HP recovery, and preemptive attack options. It adds tactical depth to turn-based combat and makes consecutive battles more comfortable.
- Enjoyable map and dungeon exploration (weight 0.27): Maps are well-designed and make exploration fun, with dungeons being enjoyable to navigate. The exploration aspect is a key positive, supported by good map layouts and interactive elements.
- Great dungeon crawler design (weight 0.25): The game is recognized as a peak or solid first-person dungeon crawler, with streamlined modern quality-of-life features. It stands out among DRPGs, especially those from Experience Inc.
- Engaging story and lore (weight 0.25): The story is described as compelling, interesting, and engaging enough to drive exploration, with some wishing it were longer. The creepy and oppressive narrative tone complements the atmosphere.
- Appealing art and visual style (weight 0.24): The art style is described as weird but attractive, appealing, and memorable, with beautiful graphics and amazing artwork. The visual presentation is a notable strength.
- Flexible party building (weight 0.2): The skill point system and free respec options allow for flexible party building and experimentation without penalties. Players can adapt their party composition to different challenges.
- Satisfying combat system (weight 0.19): Combat is noted as challenging but rewarding, with tactical turn-based mechanics and the Switch Boost system providing depth. The combat is generally well-received, offering both difficulty and satisfaction.
- User-friendly for newcomers (weight 0.18): The game is considered easy and newcomer friendly, with a difficulty level lower than typical for DRPGs, making it accessible to players unfamiliar with the genre. This ease of entry is appreciated.

Common complaints:
- Instant death mechanics frustrate (weight 0.45): Instant death attacks are a major frustration, killing characters regardless of health with no revival items, forcing returns to base. This mechanic is seen as unfair and luck-dependent, especially in endgame.
- Price is too high (weight 0.41): Many reviewers feel the game is overpriced for its quality, with the $60 price tag often cited as steep and not worth it outside of sales. This sentiment appears frequently, suggesting a value mismatch.
- PC controls are poorly implemented (weight 0.4): Players consistently criticize the keyboard and mouse controls, citing them as atrocious, terrible, and horrible with poor implementation and no mouse support. This makes the game frustrating to play on PC without a controller.
- Controller support is problematic (weight 0.37): There are issues with controller support, including lack of support for PS4/PS5 controllers via DirectInput, recognition bugs that persist after key mapping changes, and input delays. These issues require Steam restarts or manual layout loading to resolve.
- Grinding is excessive (weight 0.37): Progression requires heavy grinding, with players citing long hours of farming for equipment, currency, and levels. This makes the game feel tedious and repetitive, with some noting it takes hours to fully equip one character.
- Dungeon design is subpar (weight 0.36): Dungeons are criticized for being dark, monotonous, and sparse, with too-large floors and hidden elements that make exploration tedious. The building mechanic is also seen as limited and not much different from item-gated progression.
- Audio design is lacking (weight 0.35): The music is not to many players' liking, with repetitive tracks recycled from older titles. There is also no voice acting, making the game feel quiet and missing an opportunity for world-building.
- Combat is repetitive (weight 0.35): Combat feels simple and repetitive, with little variety in mechanics, classes, and enemy behavior. Battles are often uninteresting and rely on spamming damage or grinding gear.
- Difficulty lacks challenge (weight 0.35): The game is often described as too easy or lacking difficulty, especially for experienced DRPG playersate, with gameplay being unremarkable and battles feeling like 'press Space to win' with little decision-making.
- Input flexibility is poor (weight 0.28): The game lacks options for key rebinding, resolution settings, and windowed mode, with hardcoded keys and limited configuration. This makes it less accessible and comfortable for players.
- Quality is below expectations (weight 0.25): The game is often described as feeling dated, cheap, and unpolished, with reused assets and a lack of innovation compared to previous titles. This makes it unwelcoming for newcomers and less appealing to series veterans.
- Technical bugs and freezes (weight 0.25): There are various bugs, including freezes when encountering specific enemies, game-stopping issues, and a soft-lock early in the game. While some are fixed, they still mar the experience.
- Lack of replayability (weight 0.24): The post-game content is thin, with no unique items, rare drops, or achievements beyond story completion. This makes the game feel less engaging after completing the main story.
- Story and setting issues (weight 0.24): The story is sparse, inconsistent, and often bland gibberish, with a fixed protagonist that may not resonate with players. The setting, while potentially interesting, is underused with lore feeling tacked on.
- No custom portrait import (weight 0.22): Players are disappointed by the lack of custom portrait support, with only limited original portraits per class and reused assets from previous titles that often don't match the aesthetic.
- UI and text problems (weight 0.22): The UI is poorly designed, with cumbersome navigation, misaligned labels, overlapping text, and text boxes that overflow. This makes it difficult to read information and navigate menus.
- Side quests are lacking (weight 0.17): The game has few or no side quests, leaving players with little to do besides the main story. This limits content depth and replay value.
- Monster variety is lacking (weight 0.16): Enemies are often palette swaps of the same sprites, reducing variety and making battles feel repetitive. This is a common complaint about the game's bestiary.
- Pacing is uneven (weight 0.13): The game's pacing feels uneven, particularly in the early game and some sections that drag. This contributes to a sense of imbalance and can make progression feel sluggish.
- No manual save option (weight 0.09): The game relies solely on autosave, causing stress when selling items by mistake and limiting the ability to backtrack choices. This is seen as a quality-of-life issue.

Gameplay feedback:
- Classic Wizardry-like dungeon crawler (weight 0.97): The game is consistently described as a Wizardry-style dungeon RPG, with many reviews noting its classic first-person, grid-based exploration and turn-based combat. It is also frequently compared to Etrian Odyssey and Experience Inc. titles.
- Free respec and class change (weight 0.48): A standout feature is the ability to freely redistribute skill points, reset stats, and change classes at any time (including in dungeons) without penalty. This is highlighted across multiple clusters as a major flexibility and quality-of-life advantage.
- Dungeon exploration and building (weight 0.4): Exploration is core, featuring tile-based mapping, secret doors, and a unique Flower mechanic to create doors, ladders, bridges, and fast-travel points. This combines classic maze-like navigation with new creative construction elements.
- Full party creation and customization (weight 0.34): Players can create a party of up to six fully customizable characters from a selection of classes, choosing portraits and backgrounds. This deep character creation is a core part of the experience for many reviewers.
- Quality-of-life enhancements in genre (weight 0.31): The game modernizes the dungeon crawler genre with features like auto-travel, auto-pathfinding for explored areas, autosave, and optional combat automation. These QoL improvements are noted as making the game more accessible than traditional titles.
- Strategic turn-based combat (weight 0.23): Combat is turn-based and tactical, with a notable Switch Boost system that offers various buffs and strategic options each turn)Skip: such as zero-cost skills, damage reduction, or preemptive attacks. This adds depth to battles beyond simple commands.
- Low difficulty, casual-friendly (weight 0.09): Compared to other DRPGs, the difficulty curve is gentle and casual-oriented, making it accessible to newcomers. This lower challenge is a notable contrast with harder genre staples.
- No permanent character death (weight 0.09): The game does not have permanent death for characters, though a full party wipe is still possible. This reduces the stress of losing progress and aligns with its more forgiving design.
- Crafting and upgrade systems (weight 0.09): The game includes item crafting and an upgrade system, allowing players to create and enhance gear. This adds a meta-progression layer beyond combat and exploration.
- Simple dialogue choices with minor impact (weight 0.08): The game includes dialogue choices, but most have little effect on the story, affecting only the protagonist's persona rather than major outcomes. This is a minor feature noted by reviewers.

Performance notes:
- Controller input problems widespread (weight 0.17): Multiple issues with controllers were reported: interference with keyboard input, buggy recognition after key mapping changes, and input lag. These issues often require manual reloading of layouts and restarts to fix.
- Mouse and keyboard support poor (weight 0.13): The ported version has inadequate keyboard and mouse controls, with unfriendly key configuration and poor keyboard navigation. The interface lacks mouse support, making the game difficult to control without a gamepad.
- Display resolution limitations (weight 0.13): The game is capped at 1080p with no option for full HD windowed or borderless mode. Some character portraits also appear below 1080p resolution, degrading visual quality.
- DirectInput controllers unsupported (weight 0.06): PlayStation-style DirectInput controllers are not supported, limiting controller options for players. This is a specific compatibility issue that excludes a common controller type.
- Performance acceptable on mid-range (weight 0.05): On mid-range hardware, the game runs at high frame rates (75 fps) at 2K with max settingsable performance. This is a positive note regarding optimization.
- Configuration prompt on launch (weight 0.04): The game shows a configuration window every time it launches, which is annoying and slows down the startup process. This is a minor but persistent inconvenience.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for dungeon crawler fans (weight 0.38): Multiple reviewers recommend this game to fans of dungeon crawlers, describing it as a standard 3D dungeon RPG with modern visuals. It is seen as a safe choice for genre enthusiasts.
- Good entry for beginners (weight 0.37): The game is frequently recommended for newcomers to the genre, offering a comfortable entry point and a good starting point for those willing to invest time. It is considered accessible for first-time DRPG players.
- Buy on sale (weight 0.32): Many reviewers advise waiting for a sale before purchasing, citing the high price relative to the game's content. Some say it's a steal at sale price but not worth full price.
- Not worth full price (weight 0.25): A portion of reviewers feel the game is overpriced, especially for casual players, and some cannot recommend it at AAA price. Others say it's not worth it even on sale, indicating mixed value perceptions.
- Strongly recommended for genre fans (weight 0.22): Some reviewers wholeheartedly recommend the game to genre fans, calling it highly recommended overall. It is considered a solid choice for those who already enjoy dungeon RPGs.
- Controller bug issues (weight 0.21): Several reviewers mention control problems, particularly with controllers, and one suggests workarounds like toggling Steam input. Some advise not purchasing until the bug is fixed, and others recommend playing with a controller.
- Similar to Experience Inc games (weight 0.14): The game is recommended for fans of Experience Inc's other titles and as an introduction to their games. It is also compared to the Round Table Student series, appealing to those who liked those.
- Wizardry-style gameplay (weight 0.13): Fans of Wizardry-style games will find this appealing, as it offers minimal story and quick gameplay reminiscent of the classic series. It is particularly recommended for those who enjoy the Wizardry formula.
- Classic dungeon crawl experience (weight 0.13): The game is recommended for those seeking a classic dungeon crawler JRPG, though some are hesitant to recommend it to beginners. It appeals to fans of old-school dungeon crawlers who want a less punishing experience.
- Buy at discounted price (weight 0.12): Some reviewers suggest buying at half price or in a bundle, but skipping at full price. This aligns with the general sentiment that the game is overpriced.
- Worth full price for dedicated (weight 0.12): A few reviewers say the game is worth full price for those who plan to invest heavily in it, while others are against it. This indicates that value depends on player engagement.
- Steep price warning (weight 0.09): Several reviewers warn about the steep price, advising against purchase unless on sale or for non-fans. This is a common concern across many reviews.
- Appeals to SMT fans (weight 0.09): The game is recommended for fans of Shin Megami Tensei, especially the first games and Strange Journey, suggesting it shares similar themes or gameplay. This indicates a specific audience that may appreciate it.
- Mixed recommendation from reviewers (weight 0.08): One reviewer gives a neutral 'not recommended' while another says it's far from the worst, showing a range of opinions. Some are reluctant to recommend due to visual issues or other flaws.
- Difficulty spikes possible (weight 0.08): One reviewer notes a difficulty spike that could be an issue for some players, while others mention it's not for those seeking a hardcore challenge. This suggests the difficulty may be uneven or not very demanding.
- Consider alternative games (weight 0.07): One reviewer advises playing Etrian Odyssey instead, and another says better games in the genre exist. This implies that the game is not the best option for some players.
- Not for newcomers to series (weight 0.06): One reviewer says the game is not recommended for newcomers due to its continuation of previous works, which might require background knowledge. Another says it's a good introduction to Experience Inc games, showing some conflict.
- Use walkthrough for progression (weight 0.04): A single reviewer suggests using a walkthrough for the game, implying that some puzzles or progression aspects may be unclear. This could be a minor drawback for some players.
- Story quirks but fun gameplay (weight 0.04): One reviewer notes that if you can overlook the story's strong quirks, the game is fun with comfortable combat and loot. This suggests that the narrative may be divisive but gameplay is solid.
- Character creation tips (weight 0.04): One reviewer recommends not skimping on Constitution for party members, indicating that character creation matters and might be complex. This could be useful advice for players.

Other player notes:
- High price concerns (weight 0.52): Multiple reviewers note the game's high price, often $60, which they feel is not justified for a niche dungeon crawler. Some suggest waiting for a sale or buying at a discount.
- Comparisons to Experience titles (weight 0.38): The game is often compared to other Experience Inc. dungeon crawlers like Stranger of Sword City and Demon Gaze. Some find older titles more interesting, while others appreciate the accessibility.
- Connections to previous games (weight 0.34): The story is linked to previous Experience titles like Stranger of Sword City and Round Table, with lore and reused assets. New players may need prior knowledge to fully appreciate it.
- Port from console (weight 0.27): The game is a port from PS4 and feels designed for controller use, with some controller-related bugs at startup. Issues are minor and quickly fixed.
- Compared to SMT games (weight 0.24): Many reviewers compare the game to Shin Megami Tensei, especially Strange Journey, noting similarities in vibe and combat. Some prefer this game's gimmick, others find it not as good.
- Compared to Etrian Odyssey (weight 0.22): Reviewers frequently compare the game to Etrian Odyssey, both in terms of gameplay and style. Some prefer this game's combat, others find the art bland.
- Character portraits from Experience (weight 0.22): The game includes character portraits from other Experience Inc. titles, but custom portrait import is not officially supported. This is a mixed point for customization.
- Extensive post-game content (weight 0.2): The game includes a large amount of post-game content that extends playtime. This is viewed positively, adding value for dungeon crawler fans.
- Technical issues on PC (weight 0.18): Some players report graphical issues, controller problems, and configuration window appearing every launch. Most issues are minor and fixable.
- Achievements tied to story progression (weight 0.17): All achievements are unlocked by completing the main story without grinding or collection. This makes the game easy to 100% but may reduce replay value.
- Wizardry-like gameplay (weight 0.13): The game is described as a Wizardry clone with old-school mechanics similar to Sword City and Demon Gaze. This appeals to fans of classic dungeon crawlers.
- Story and world setting (weight 0.12): The story involves solving dungeon mysteries with a dark humor setting of 1970s Japan venues. It is described as ordinary but enjoyable, with a metaphor for the gig economy.
- Low difficulty and easy combat (weight 0.12): The game is considered easier than Demon Gaze, with simple combat and no hard mode. This may be welcoming to newcomers but less challenging for veterans.
- Long playtime and completion (weight 0.12): The game takes about 40-60 hours to complete and is playable to completion without game-breaking bugs.
- Reused audio and assets (weight 0.09): Many music tracks and sounds are reused from older Experience Inc. games, like Stranger of Sword City. This may feel familiar but also less original.
- Limited post-clear depth (weight 0.08): Post-clear content is limited and lacks rare item drops, reducing the farming depth for completionists.
- Gameplay compared to Refrain (weight 0.08): The game is compared to Labyrinth of Refrain, especially regarding wall-breaking mechanics, but not considered as good.
- Controller issues at startup (weight 0.08): There is a possible conflict between Steam input and xinput for Xbox controllers, but it does not affect gameplay.
- Niche genre and price justification (weight 0.08): The game belongs to an extremely niche genre and is priced at AAA level, which may be justifiable for fans but not for general audiences.
- Lack of Russian localization (weight 0.04): The game does not support Russian language, which may disappoint Russian-speaking players.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.18): Players were disappointed by the lack of side content, including few NPCs, no side quests, and minimal post-game. The game also fell short in technical polish, with unpolished menus, reused assets, and a high price lacking AAA quality, reducing overall value.
- Frustration (weight 0.17): Main frustrations stem from poor PC controls, lack of mouse support, and controller recognition bugs, requiring workarounds like restarting Steam. Additionally, the difficulty spikes with instant-death enemies and required grinding, combined with tedious mechanics like wall-hitting, hindered gameplay.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.13): Players enjoyed the game for its fun and comfortable dungeon exploration with good map design and quality-of-life features. The story, atmosphere, and music were praised, and the ability to import portraits added to the experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.08): Satisfaction comes from the enjoyable character growth, meaningful progression, and challenging yet rewarding combat. The game's quality-of-life improvements like free respec and MP consumption made progression comfortable and fun.
- Appreciation (weight 0.08): Players appreciated the strong atmosphere, well-designed monsters, and haunting soundscape. The abundance of quality-of-life features that respected player time and the responsive developer team fixing bugs quickly were also valued.
- Annoyance (weight 0.04): Annoyance was caused by repetitive base returns due to instant-death enemies and lack of revival items, forcing constant backtracking. The high price and missing quit button added to the frustration.
- Love (weight 0.03): Players loved the game's visual presentation, alt-history 1970s Japan supernatural horror theme, and the streamlined grinding. The customizable characters and respec ability also contributed to the positive sentiment.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom emerged due to repetitive grinding and the low difficulty for experienced players. Exploration lacked exciting puzzles or navigation, making the experience feel monotonous.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Players admired the game as a peak first-person dungeon crawler, praising its atmosphere, visuals, story, and quality-of-life additions. It was considered best-in-class for its genre.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy came from the visually appealing animated enemy graphics and the fun of never-ending item hunting. Simply having the game exist gave happiness.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players were surprised to discover the game allowed six characters instead of the expected five, and were also surprised by how immersive the game was.
- Excitement (weight 0.01): Excitement was generated by the game being a blast overall)Skip and the discovery of a new favorite game. The compilation of the developer's games was both interesting and accessible.
- Immersion (weight 0.01): Immersion was driven by the gritty, atmospheric dungeon-crawling setting and the creative story and lore. The combination of fun and comfort kept players enthusiastically engaged until completion.
- Dissatisfaction (weight 0.01): Dissatisfaction arose from the UI being like a notepad, unsuitable for a DRPG, and the game feeling lacking for experienced players.
- Praise (weight 0.01): Praise was given for the excellent monster design, graphics, gameplay, and story, along with the creative story and innovative dungeon mechanics.
- Impressed (weight 0.01): Players were impressed by the stunning sprite artwork and neat monster designs, and considered the game the best DRPG they had played.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Disappointment was due to the tutorial text not matching actual controller input and the lack of basic mouse support.
- Disengagement (weight 0.01): Disengagement was caused by a lack of motivation to play the post-game content.
- Fun (weight 0.01): Fun was derived from the lightweight and intriguing gameplay.
- Comfort (weight 0.01): Comfort was provided by the Switch Boost resets between battles, making it easy to use.}