Developer: Cat Society
Publisher: Spiral Up Games
Platform: PC, Mac
Tested on: PC
Dungeon Inn – Preview
In Dungeon Inn, you build a last-stop lodge for adventurers from two rival guilds—Seaside and Mountain. Your goal is to sell gear and services while keeping peace under a greedy dragon’s watchful eye. Our protagonists, Sara, Bami, and Butter, must navigate these challenges without letting the guilds clash at the crossroads. Developed by Cat Society Games, a small South Korean studio with three developers, the game is published by Spiral Up Games from Singapore. Read our following preview to see how both trios manage!
In the vast realm of adventure games, it’s sometimes the simplest ideas that blossom into the most enchanting stories. Enter Sara and her two feline companions, Butter and Bami, who hatch a brilliant plan: to sell gear and services to adventurers braving the perilous dungeon nearby. This business venture is the heart of our tale, woven with quirky characters and a tug-of-war between rival guilds under the looming shadow of a literal draconic landlord.
Sara, the ambitious and resourceful protagonist, is determined to make the inn a success, often prioritizing profit over heroics. Butter loves drinking, eating, and fighting. He adds a laid-back and mischievous element to the story. Bami often serves as the voice of reason, although he also tends to be a bit of a coward.
The narrative of Dungeon Inn is as much about business as it is about its colorful characters. Our three protagonists’ vastly different personalities add a refreshing twist to the usual fantasy tropes. While the rivalry between the Seaside and Mountain guilds brings its challenges, it also holds opportunities for our burgeoning enterprise. Additionally, accommodating Expert and Master adventurers triggers special events, revealing their side-stories and adding another layer of personality to the game.
The sound design in Dungeon Inn is cheery and functional but relatively unremarkable. The background music and sound effects complement the game’s light-hearted atmosphere without drawing too much attention. While pleasant, they don’t leave a lasting impression. This isn’t necessarily a flaw, as it allows players to focus on the strategic elements and storytelling without distraction.
Visually, Dungeon Inn is a treat. Its stylized, bright graphics avoid being overly colorful. The hand-drawn art style adds a layer of personality and warmth, making the game’s world feel inviting and alive. Each character and element is crafted with care, resulting in an aesthetic that is both charming and highly readable. This visual style enhances the whimsical nature of the game, drawing players into its enchanting world.
The gameplay involves managing adventurers from the Seaside and Mountain guilds as they travel down separate roads towards the dungeon. Our task is to sell them rooms and services while ensuring the rival factions don’t cross paths in our courtyard. We can influence the adventurers’ behavior using various tools such as signposts, food stalls, energy drinks, and a lucky wheel.
If adventurers from both guilds meet, they will battle. We can choose sides for rewards, but it’s crucial to ensure only one faction’s adventurers survive to keep the peace—and maximize profits. As Sara, Bami, and Butter can perform special actions a limited number of times per week, planning these actions adds another layer of strategy.
The puzzles, initially simple, reveal unexpected depth as you progress. They challenge you to think strategically about resource allocation and timing. Accommodating Expert and Master adventurers is vastly more lucrative and triggers special events.
One minor drawback is the lack of key rebinding options, which might frustrate some players. Additionally, some goals and challenges become harder as the inn expands, somewhat discouraging upgrades. The very hand-holding tutorial can be restrictive, allowing only requested actions and limiting the player’s freedom to explore the game mechanics independently during the early weeks. Despite these issues, the gameplay remains engaging and rewarding, with each decision feeling significant and impactful.
Dungeon Inn offers a delightful and engaging experience. The story of Sara, Butter, and Bami, combined with the strategic gameplay and charming graphics, creates quite a unique adventure. The rivalry between the guilds adds tension and excitement, leading to a few real head-scratchers of a situation.
The game excels in providing a strategic yet accessible experience while drawing players into its whimsical world with its charming cast of personalities. The intriguing juggling act of influencing adventurers on either side of the inn ensures it remains captivating from start to finish. While the sound design may not leave a lasting impression and the tutorial could be less restrictive, these are minor blemishes on an otherwise enjoyable game.
Conclusion
For those who love strategy games with a touch of whimsy, this title is a must-play. It offers a refreshing break from more intense genres, providing a charming and thoughtful experience that will leave you both challenged and entertained. Dive into the world of Sara and her adventurous companions and discover a business venture you won’t want to miss.
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