Designer: Viktor Ahrens
1-6 Players
1-3 Hours Per Session
A Brief How To Play
Anyone who is familiar with dungeon crawlers will feel somewhat comfortable while playing Dungeons of Doria.
Players will pick the scenario that they want to play, as well as their characters. Players can choose between premade characters or creating their own with an array of stats and loot cards. The stage and dungeon are set, then players begin exploring.
Players can explore their setting by entering doors and expanding the map on the table. Monsters will appear via monster cards, and loot will show up in a similar manner.
Combat is handled via dice, and turn order is established with an initiative system. There is a lot more depth to the expeirence, but the majority of Dungeons of Doria‘s systems are streamlined, making this a faster experience that is easier to handle than games like Middara.
Pacing and Interactivity
The first thing that players will notice during their first game of Dungeons of Doria is how quickly they can get into a game. Included with the main ruleset is a quick start guide that does much more than expedite setup. Players will be passingly familiar with everything from exploration to combat. Players can play with this information, then use the full manual to clarify rules and statuses.
The ruleset isn’t actually remarkable, and at a glance Dungeons of Doria doesn’t seem like a special game. Still, the game plays much better than the rules imply. In addition to the faster pace, there is just so much to see and do that makes this one stand out. Any player that is into grabbing loot will have a ball here. There are nearly 500 loot cards in Dungeons of Doria.
Dungeons of Doria has plenty going for it in terms of interactivity. It is best when played with a party. Since it is combat heavy, there is plenty of incentive for players to work together. When players cooperate, Dungeons of Doria genuinely feels great to play.
Replay Value
Unsurprisingly, there are many reasons to bring Dungeons of Doria back to the table. There are many scenarios available, with most of them being accessible as one-shots or campaigns. Even after players enjoy all of the scenarios, Dungeons of Doria has some roguelike elements with random enemy spawns and loot. Replaying scenarios is absolutely on the table and is rather enjoyable.
The roguelike elements can be frustrating to certain crowds though. Adding so many random elements to the game results in more luck than some might care for. Sometimes a run is much less than optimal just because of the cards.
The nature of the game also results in lots of combat. While this isn’t a pure roleplaying game, it does borrow plenty from TTRPGs. There are many character roleplaying elements, but most of the game is actually just exploration and combat. There aren’t a lot of opportunities to do more than that with the scenarios. Players who want more variety won’t get as much
Dungeons of Doria is Great For Fans Of...
Fans of dungeons crawlers will obviously gravitate towards Dungeons on Doria. Players who enjoy Middara but don’t care for the anime aesthetics might be more comfortable playing Dungeons of Doria.
If someone isn’t familiar with the genre but wants to dive in, this is one of the most beginner-friendly games out there. Play can sometimes be done in an hour, making it more accessible.
Dungeons of Doria
The Good
- Accessible to newcomers
- Streamlined Gameplay
The Bad
- Random, roguelike nature can be annoying
