Info about Underkeep:

Official game description:
**DESCEND. EXPLORE. SURVIVE.**
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Underkeep is a loving tribute to the role-playing classics of the 90s with turn-based combat and grid-based movement, bringing the best of old-school dungeon crawlers to life in a modern setting with hand-drawn graphics and a crafted world.
Underkeep brings back the spirit of classic dungeon crawlers: grid movement, slow tension and tactical combat. At the same time it plays clean and responsive thanks to modern controls, clear visuals and thoughtful conveniences that remove the old frustrations without losing the heart.
Gather your party, venture into hand-built dungeons, speak with peculiar locals, discover hidden passages, solve ancient puzzles and face encounters where planning matters as much as courage.
**FORGED PARTY**
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Pick four adventurers whose strengths and flaws define how you survive. Synergy is everything: a good team deepens your strategy, a bad one seals your grave.
**LIVING DUNGEONS**
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Every corridor is handmade, every room hides intent. Expect strange rituals, lingering spirits, abandoned camps, cryptic symbols and choices that echo deeper than you expect.
**TACTICAL COMBAT**
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Turn-based battles reward those who plan, control space and manage stamina & mana wisely. The bold are rewarded. The careless are punished.
**HIDDEN SECRETS**
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Hidden alcoves, fake walls, optional bosses and puzzles that fit the world instead of breaking immersion.
**MODERN COMFORT**
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Smooth controls and clear feedback preserve the flow of exploration without sacrificing tension.
**PERSONAL MAP**
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A built-in automap with custom markers keeps track of mysteries, locked doors and places you swear you’ll return to later.
**Every step is a story. Every descent a decision. Underkeep awaits.**

Release date: Nov 5, 2026

Categories: First-Person Dungeon Crawler, Grid-based Movement, Turn-based Combat, Party-based Combat, Puzzle Solving, Exploration, Class System and Party, Manual Mapping


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 27.5h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: One review reports a main gameplay length of 25 to 30 hours, and another mentions a 30-ish expected length, so gameCompletion is estimated at the midpoint of about 27.5 hours. A separate review describes a first 2-hour experience and short burst play, supporting sessionLength of 2 hours. No review provides a story-only completion time or a quantified endgame/replay duration, so storyCompletion and endgame are null.
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes:
  - Old-School Dungeon Crawler Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: To relive the feel of classic first-person, party-based dungeon crawlers from the MSDOS and MUD eras.
    - Playstyle: Plans alternative party compositions, compares design choices to genre classics, and starts on Hard or Hardcore difficulty.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: old school guys and gals
    - Reference games: Ultima Underworld; Stonekeep; Eye of the Beholder; Might and Magic; Wizardry
  - Turn-Based RPG Genre Fan (buy)
    - Motivation: To get another well-made turn-based RPG or dungeon crawler that satisfies existing genre preferences.
    - Playstyle: Approaches the game as a genre entry and judges it mainly by whether it delivers the expected turn-based RPG/dungeon-crawler experience.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Challenge-Seeking Hard Mode Player (buy)
    - Motivation: To be challenged by the dungeon crawl rather than coast through an easy Normal mode.
    - Playstyle: Starts on Hard or Hardcore and treats difficulty as a core part of the enjoyment.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - 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:
- Engaging exploration and secrets (weight 0.84): The world is filled with hidden passages, puzzles, and secrets to discover, making exploration rewarding and fun.
- Stunning visuals overall (weight 0.76): Many users highlight the gorgeous graphics and detailed hand-made illustrations, noting the beautiful exteriors and atmospheric environments.
- Nostalgic classic dungeon crawler (weight 0.75): Reviewers feel the game captures the spirit of 90s classics like Eye of the Beholder and Might and Magic, evoking nostalgia and old-school charm.
- Excellent dungeon crawler praised (weight 0.72): Reviewers highly appreciate the game as a captivating dungeon crawler that appeals to both newcomers and veterans, often describing it as true, solid, or very cool.
- Turn-based combat well received (weight 0.64): The turn-based combat system is appreciated for its clarity and tactical depth, with optional speed-up and avoidance of click-fest mayhem.
- Great sound and music (weight 0.53): The soundtrack and sound design are highly regarded, with fitting music and immersive soundscapes that enhance the experience.
- Useful quality-of-life features (weight 0.52): Convenient features like auto-mapping, map notes, quicksaves, and auto-sorting inventory are praised for improving the experience.
- Rich class and race variety (weight 0.5): The game offers a huge roster of classes and races, including unique options like Stoneborn, allowing diverse party building.
- High replayability (weight 0.46): The game offers strong replay value with different party compositions, classes, and difficulties, encouraging multiple playthroughs.
- Polished and bug-free (weight 0.46): Users report a smooth experience with no serious bugs, crashes, or hiccups, indicating a high level of polish.
- Excellent user interface (weight 0.45): The UI is described as thoughtful, easy-to-use, and well-combined, with minimalistic design and good visibility on Steam Deck.
- Challenging but fair difficulty (weight 0.44): The game provides a good challenge with adjustable difficulty, difficult puzzles, and combat that is tough but not impossible.
- Fantastic atmosphere and immersion (weight 0.42): Players consistently praise the incredible atmosphere and immersive world, feeling drawn into the game's vibe and lore.
- Classic fantasy story (weight 0.39): The story is a motivator, with engaging characters and a classic fantasy narrative that keeps players interested.
- Smooth performance and controls (weight 0.37): The game runs smoothly with controller support and fast movement, providing a seamless experience.
- Cozy and inviting experience (weight 0.37): Reviewers find the game cozy, pleasant to play, and easy to get lost in, often staying up late to play.
- Fun and satisfying combat (weight 0.36): Combat is enjoyable, with smooth controls and satisfying progression that makes the player feel stronger.
- Great localization support (weight 0.31): High-quality translations into German, Czech, and Spanish are appreciated, making the lore and story more accessible.
- Lots of content and mechanics (weight 0.25): The game is filled with content and mechanics, offering a large scope with many hours of playtime and non-linear progression.

Common complaints:
- Hard mode spawn imbalance (weight 0.35): Hard mode respawns enemies at a Creature Generator-like rate, making the Underrot starting area a nightmare to clear, with splitting rats overwhelming the player through numbers rather than damage. Balance overall needs attention.
- Input and action bugs (weight 0.21): The character sometimes rotates two tiles instead of one and occasionally executes two skills consecutively from a single input. These control errors disrupt tactical play.
- Enemies lack independent behavior (weight 0.2): Enemies only move or act in response to player actions, similar to Stoneshard, missing the dynamic independence seen in classic Dungeon Master or Eye of the Beholder. This makes encounters feel reactive rather than alive.
- Bare skill trees and weapons (weight 0.19): Skill trees feel sparse, especially for the warrior, and each class offers only about two weapon options when sticking to one weapon type. This limits build variety and depth.
- Pricing concerns across regions (weight 0.19): Players consider the game pricey given the stated up-to-30-hours content, and the price is high for the region relative to the project's scope. Value perception is a recurring concern.
- Exploration punishes non-linear play (weight 0.19): Freer exploration may punish players who progress non-linearly, and the game lacks a fun variety of possibilities. Structural freedom clashes with the intended progression order.
- Unclear or low-value feedback (weight 0.14): A few reviews contain vague complaints like 'No understanding' or 'not Lands of Lore' with no actionable gameplay detail. They offer minimal diagnostic value.
- Accessibility flashing toggle broken (weight 0.12): The accessibility setting to disable flashing does not work, with heavy flashing from lightning still occurring. This is a safety concern for photosensitive players.
- Late-game satisfaction drops (weight 0.11): Combat and progression become less satisfying in the second half of the game. Pacing and reward feedback weaken as the campaign progresses.
- Mage freeze strands melee (weight 0.11): After a mage freezes a distant target, melee characters have no useful action besides passing the turn. This creates dead turns that undermine combat flow.
- Dialogue feels AI-generated (weight 0.11): Some dialogue reads as AI-generated with short, staccato sentences, weakening immersion and character voice. This affects narrative quality throughout.
- Boots on eyestalk character (weight 0.1): An eyestalk character can wear boots despite lacking legs, which is an equipment logic bug. It breaks immersion and slot consistency.

Gameplay feedback:
- Classic dungeon crawler genre (weight 0.87): Many reviewers define the game as a classic first-person party-based dungeon crawler with old-school mechanics. It is frequently compared to Might and Magic and Wizardry.
- Dungeon puzzles and exploration (weight 0.7): Exploration involves solving puzzles, finding hidden passages, and discovering secrets. The game features hand-designed labyrinths with traps and riddles.
- Turn-based combat system (weight 0.64): Combat is turn-based, with enemies acting in response to player actions. An animation speed-up option is available.
- Party creation and customization (weight 0.53): Players create and customize a party of adventurers, choosing from various classes and races, including original new races. This adds replayability.
- Adjustable difficulty settings (weight 0.5): Multiple difficulty levels are available and can be changed during play, including normal, hard, and hardcore modes. The game is considered challenging even on lower difficulties.
- Grid-based tile movement (weight 0.46): The game features tile-based movement on a grid, a hallmark of blobbers and classic dungeon crawlers. This movement style is noted as a key characteristic.
- Pixel art visual style (weight 0.39): The game uses a retro pixel art style, often described as hand-made. Some find the graphics simple.
- Challenging and thought-provoking (weight 0.35): The game requires thinking and is not easy, with death being relatively inevitable. Enemies respond to player actions, and some mobs respawn or split.
- Skill system and usage (weight 0.33): Skills and abilities are present and can be used in combat or exploration. Clever use of skills is beneficial.
- Classic fantasy story and quests (weight 0.33): The narrative follows classic fantasy tropes with dialogues with traders and characters. A main story is supplemented by side missions.
- Map with note support (weight 0.31): The in-game map allows players to add notes, aiding navigation and puzzle solving. Auto-map and quicksave features are also present.
- Open-world and nonlinear progression (weight 0.31): The game offers open-world exploration with non-linear progression, allowing players to tackle areas in different orders. Multiple paths exist in the opening level.
- Unique game system and humor (weight 0.27): The game features a unique game system, smooth motion, and includes humor. Adventure mini-choices are part of the experience.
- Crafting and resource gathering (weight 0.25): Players can gather ingredients, mine ore and gold, and craft items using recipes. Food management is also part of the game.
- Class-based builds and combos (weight 0.25): Character builds are class-based and involve combos and runs, with class-specific weapon options. Skill trees further customize development.
- Hidden secrets and interactive objects (weight 0.25): Secrets are hidden behind textures and triggered by small buttons. Background objects are interactive, rewarding thorough exploration.
- Accessible text and mechanics (weight 0.24): English text is at a middle-school level, and mechanics are simple to learn. A quick party option helps new players.
- QoL and accessibility features (weight 0.24): Quality-of-life features include auto-sorting inventory and a disable flashing option. These improve the overall experience.
- Turn-based combat with item progression (weight 0.24): Combat involves item progression and potion collection, with resource management tied to the HUD. Resting also factors into resource management.
- RPG with surface and dungeon areas (weight 0.18): The game world includes both surface and dungeon areas to explore, with varying weather conditions.

Performance notes:
- Strong performance across devices (weight 0.26): Players report the game runs smoothly with no crashes or hiccups, works very well on Steam Deck, and runs on simple or old computers. Overall stability and broad hardware compatibility are the consistent highlights.

Recommendations:
- Ideal for dungeon crawler fans (weight 0.43): Multiple reviewers describe the game as an excellent fit for genre enthusiasts and newcomers alike, with several calling it a very good entry point. It is repeatedly framed as a treat for anyone seeking classic dungeon crawlers.
- Strongly recommended overall (weight 0.4): Several reviewers offer unreserved recommendations, with phrases like highly recommended and strongly recommend to everyone. The sentiment is broad and enthusiastic without specific caveats.
- Try the demo first (weight 0.25): Multiple reviewers suggest trying the demo to determine if the game is for you. Those who enjoy the demo are expected to enjoy the full game.
- Appeals to Might and Magic fans (weight 0.19): Reviewers connect the game to Might and Magic, later Wizardry titles, and Legend of Grimrock. Fans of those styles are expected to feel at home here.
- Hard difficulty advised (weight 0.19): Some players suggest starting on Hard difficulty because normal mode feels too easy. This is a practical tip for those wanting a meaningful challenge.
- Suited to old-school gamers (weight 0.18): The game is recommended for old-school gamers who still enjoy classics. It deliberately targets nostalgia-driven players.
- Great for Dungeon Master fans (weight 0.18): Fans of Dungeon Master are told they should not miss this game. The comparison places it alongside a classic of the genre.
- Good entry point for newcomers (weight 0.1): The game is described as suitable for players new to the genre. This makes it accessible without alienating veterans.
- Must-buy for turn-based RPG fans (weight 0.1): One reviewer calls it a must buy for anyone who enjoys turn-based RPGs. The endorsement targets that specific audience.
- Appeals to MS-DOS RPG veterans (weight 0.1): Players who enjoyed PC RPGs from the MS-DOS era are advised to buy this game. It is positioned as a throwback experience for that generation.
- Must-play for Bran Skeldalu fans (weight 0.1): Fans of Bran Skeldalu or Legend of Grimrock are told this is a must play. The comparison reinforces its classic dungeon crawler pedigree.
- Recommended despite movement bugs (weight 0.1): One reviewer recommends the game but notes movement and skill bugs. The endorsement comes with a caution about technical issues.
- Pleases Amiga gaming fans (weight 0.09): A reviewer notes that Amiga gaming fans will be satisfied with this title. The appeal is nostalgic for that platform's audience.
- Support the developers (weight 0.09): One reviewer urges players to buy a copy and support the developers. This is a general endorsement rather than a gameplay critique.
- Tentative buy recommendation (weight 0.09): One reviewer suggests buying it for now, a lukewarm endorsement. It implies the game is worth a look but without strong conviction.
- Instant buy on full release (weight 0.09): A reviewer committed to buying instantly once the full version was available. This reflects strong anticipation based on earlier access.
- Buyers are willing to purchase (weight 0.07): A short note indicates willingness to buy the game. It expresses intent rather than a detailed recommendation.

Other player notes:
- Compared to classic dungeon crawlers (weight 0.97): Many reviewers compare the game to classic dungeon crawlers such as Eye of the Beholder, Might and Magic, Wizardry, and Dungeon Master. These comparisons highlight the game's adherence to old-school blobber mechanics and atmosphere.
- Similar to Lands of Lore (weight 0.39): Several reviewers compare the game to Lands of Lore, particularly regarding its aesthetics and classic feel. The pixel art style is also noted to be similar to Eye of the Beholder and Lands of Lore.
- Playtime around 20-30 hours (weight 0.35): Reviewers report game length between 20 and 30 hours, with some citing developer statements of up to 30 hours of content. This provides a solid amount of gameplay for the price according to multiple sources.
- Demo availability and experience (weight 0.35): A demo is available, and some reviewers played it before purchasing. The full version offers a richer story and freer exploration compared to the demo.
- Comparisons to Legend of Grimrock (weight 0.34): Reviewers frequently mention Legend of Grimrock as a point of reference for the game's dungeon-crawling fun and combat system. This suggests the game appeals to fans of modern indie dungeon crawlers.
- Localization and language options (weight 0.31): The game offers German and Czech localizations, with dialogues and hints translated. Spanish localization is still being polished, and lore/story are presented in the selected language.
- Developed by Rake in Grass (weight 0.24): The game is developed by Czech studio Rake in Grass, known for Jets'n'Guns and Rampage Knights. Reviewers note the development took over 5 years by trusted people.
- Love letter to classic blobbers (weight 0.19): The game is described as a love letter to classic blobbers, appealing to fans of the genre. Good dungeon crawlers are noted as a rarity these days.
- Hand-made illustrations and pixel art (weight 0.18): The game features hand-made illustrations rather than procedural generation, contributing to its classic aesthetic. The pixel art style is reminiscent of Eye of the Beholder and Lands of Lore.
- Reminiscent of Stonekeep and Ultima Underworld (weight 0.18): Some reviewers compare the game to Stonekeep and Ultima Underworld, citing the feeling it evokes. These comparisons highlight the game's old-school first-person dungeon crawling experience.
- Compared to Dungeon Hack and Dungeon Master (weight 0.18): Reviewers compare the game to Dungeon Hack, Dungeon Master, and Black Crypt, indicating similarities to these classic dungeon crawlers.
- Early game resembles Eye of the Beholder (weight 0.16): The early game is compared to Eye of the Beholder, and after reaching the village, it feels more like Menzoberranzan from 1994.
- Compared to Daggerfall and other RPGs (weight 0.16): One reviewer compares the game to Daggerfall, saying it is what they wanted Daggerfall to be. Others compare it to D&D/HeroQuest and similar role-playing games.
- Large scope and content (weight 0.16): A reviewer notes that after 15 hours they feel like they have barely scratched the surface, indicating a large scope. The game also features weather effects and music.
- English text at middle-school level (weight 0.15): The text is noted to be at a middle-school English level, and sequences are in English, making it accessible to English speakers.
- Steam Deck visibility and controls (weight 0.1): One reviewer notes solid visibility and controls for Steam Deck, indicating good compatibility with the handheld device.
- Replayability with different parties (weight 0.1): The game offers replayability through different hero parties, encouraging multiple playthroughs.
- Controller support available (weight 0.1): Controller support is mentioned, suggesting the game can be played with a gamepad.
- Refund requested by one reviewer (weight 0.07): One reviewer requested a refund after reviewing the game, though no specific reason is given.

Emotions:
- Nostalgia (weight 0.11): The game strongly evokes memories of 90s dungeon crawlers and childhood experiences with PC RPGs. It reminds players of classic titles like Eye of the Beholder, Might and Magic, and Dungeon Master, capturing the feel of old-school blobbers and even watching parents play games like Stonekeep.
- Appreciation (weight 0.08): Players appreciate the pixel art, convenient design features like maps and quicksaves, and the turn-based system that encourages thoughtful play. They also value the fast combat, lack of hand-holding, Spanish translation, and the quick party option for newcomers.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.08): The game offers fun combat and progression, immersive gameplay, and a crafted soundtrack that keeps players engaged. Experimenting with party builds, exploring the charming world, and experiencing the lore make it hard to stop playing.
- Frustration (weight 0.08): Players get stuck in areas like the Hollowgrave Tunnels due to missing keys or unclear progression, and find the game agonizingly tough. Technical issues like characters moving two tiles at once, fast respawn rates in Hard mode, and an ineffective flashing accessibility setting add to the frustration.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.07): Reviewers are highly enthusiastic about the game's fantastic art, detailed monsters, great sound, and old-school dungeon crawling gameplay. They praise the modern take on turn-based dungeon crawlers, the huge roster, and the classic fantasy story with genre-specific tropes.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.06): The game delivers a well-done RPG with surface and dungeon exploration, meeting expectations and providing exactly what was needed. Superb pixel art, good combat and movement, and challenging but solvable puzzles give a strong sense of accomplishment.
- Excitement (weight 0.06): Players are excited by the discovery of hidden loot, secret passages, rooms, artifacts, and new dungeons. The game is hailed as the best blobber since the 90s, with unique classes and anticipation of losing many hours playing.
- Joy (weight 0.05): The game brings joy through its classic fantasy story, gorgeous pixel art, and amazing music. It evokes memories of good old dungeon crawler times and games like Dungeon Hack, making it a fantastic experience.
- Love (weight 0.04): Reviewers love the demo's vibe, the enjoyable graphics, tempo, combat, and storytelling. The pixel graphics, music, turn-based combat, and nostalgia for old-school dungeon crawlers contribute to this feeling.
- Admiration (weight 0.04): Players admire how the game honors classic dungeon crawler roots while offering accessible, smooth gameplay. The hand-crafted world, atmosphere, precision, secrets, engaging story, and great characters and enemies are highly praised.
- Anticipation (weight 0.03): Anticipation stems from the promise of a larger game with side missions and crafting, and the excitement of discovering more. Some players waited months to buy and play, eager to dive in.
- Disappointment (weight 0.03): Disappointment arises from AI-generated dialogue, bare skill trees, and the lack of a Spanish translation. Some also miss the dynamic enemy behavior found in classic Dungeon Master and Eye of the Beholder.
- Coziness (weight 0.03): The game provides a cozy experience through activities like walking through an autumn forest and gathering mushrooms. The pixelated orthogonal RPG style and inviting visuals contribute to this comfortable atmosphere.
- Immersion (weight 0.03): The fun and immersive game loop pulls players into its world, delivering a strong vibe through its atmosphere and art style. The dungeon crawler environment keeps players engaged and absorbed.
- Amazement (weight 0.02): Players are amazed by the game being incredible and full of content, with everything feeling marvelous from the very first second. The scope and quality leave a strong impression.
- Concern (weight 0.02): Concern is expressed about the price feeling high for the announced amount of content, especially relative to the project's scope in certain regions. Players worry about getting sufficient value for their money.
- Dissatisfaction (weight 0.01): Dissatisfaction is caused by the game lacking an attack row and variety of possibilities, limiting strategic options. This shortfall reduces the overall combat experience.
- Pride (weight 0.01): Players feel pride that Czech developers revived the dungeon crawler genre, bringing back a beloved style of game. This revival is seen as a notable achievement.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement comes from the cute frogs in the game, which add a lighthearted and charming element to the experience.
- Relaxation (weight 0.01): Relaxation is felt because food management is not strict on normal difficulty, allowing players to enjoy the game without constant pressure.}