Shattered Pixel Dungeon is a free and open source roguelike RPG that originally had a focus on mobile where it's proven very popular and now it's getting upgrades to come to Steam. Taking a look at how well it's done, on the Android Play Store there's over 80,000 reviews with it seeing an overall 4.7 / 5 stars so it's quite something. However, will that translate into popularity on PC? That's never certain.
For the PC release the developer now has a Steam page live and they've confirmed it will have a native Linux version. One of the major changes coming is an interface overhaul for PC players, which is needed. Other improvements planned include better mouse support, gamepad support and more.
Pictured - how it currently looks.
Game Features:
Choose Your Hero
Start the game by choosing a hero, which can be improved and customized as you quest through the dungeon!
- 4 heroes: Warrior, Mage, Rogue, and Huntress. Each hero has a different playstyle.
- 8 subclasses which let successful heroes further specialize their abilities.
- 13 unique lategame abilities that grant special power at the end of a game.
- Over 100 talents, which let you incrementally power up your hero as you level up.
Explore the Dungeon Depths
Every run though the dungeon is different, with randomized layouts, enemy placement, and items!
- 5 distinct dungeon regions over 26 floors, each with their own enemies and room layouts.
- Over 60 enemies, 30 traps, and 5 detailed bosses to test your skills.
- Over 100 equipment items, including powerful wands, rings, weapons, and armor.
- Over 150 regular items to find and craft, each with their own uses.
You can find the source code on GitHub, and it should compile fine to play on Linux already but without any of the upcoming improvements. The developer also mentioned they plan to put it up on itch.io at some point too.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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8 comments
slaapliedje Oct 18, 2021
Hmm, this looks playable with a Steam Controller. I've been trying to find more I can just sit back and play on the Couch! Now that I got a 77" Oled TV :P Feel like I have to justify the price of that...
2 Likes, Who?
I've honestly never heard of this. Where was it when I was looking so hard for mobile games that weren't awful in terms of both gameplay and IAP?
0 Likes
I've honestly never heard of this. Where was it when I was looking so hard for mobile games that weren't awful in terms of both gameplay and IAP?I don't know when you were looking, but a few years ago the original Pixel Dungeon was very popular in the F-Droid store.
I don't know how many hours I spent in this game, it really has that "just one more game" effect. And don't tell me about the consequences of the feature that there are more enemies when playing the game between midnight and early morning (which has the positive side effect that you are leveling up faster, which is quite essential)
By the way: there's also a desktop version available (e.g. on itch.io. I think I have to stop writing for now...
0 Likes
I played loads of the original Pixel Dungeon back when it was first released on Android. It went through numerous revisions and when it finally changed to breakable weapons and armour (i.e. They degrade with usage) then my enthusiasm to play finally diminished.
I did move on to playing Shattered Pixel Dungeon (on Android), and continued to play for a while, but got to the point where I moved on and rarely returned to it. Certainly, Shattered Pixel Dungeon added new and interesting content to the formula.
As I understand, the creator of the original (Pixel Dungeon) released all the source code and there were numerous developers who jumped on it and made their own versions of the game. Shattered Pixel Dungeon was one of the better "knock-offs". There are plenty more though. Pixel Dungeon really did work well with a mobile touch interface and plays really nicely in that format.
For the record, Pixel Dungeon is a multi-level rogue-like game, where each dungeon floor adds harder and harder monsters, and you need to manage your resources well and succeed in putting together a good character build as you traverse the floors, in order to get deeper. Over the 500-700 individual playthroughs I made, I only defeated the end-game boss about 5 times. I personally found it very hard, not least because you are very reliant on RNG to progress. (Similar to FTL, your skill can sustain you in spite of unfavourable RNG.) Determining unknown potions, scrolls, weapons, armour - Healing or Poison, Magical or Cursed - made every play different.
I did move on to playing Shattered Pixel Dungeon (on Android), and continued to play for a while, but got to the point where I moved on and rarely returned to it. Certainly, Shattered Pixel Dungeon added new and interesting content to the formula.
As I understand, the creator of the original (Pixel Dungeon) released all the source code and there were numerous developers who jumped on it and made their own versions of the game. Shattered Pixel Dungeon was one of the better "knock-offs". There are plenty more though. Pixel Dungeon really did work well with a mobile touch interface and plays really nicely in that format.
For the record, Pixel Dungeon is a multi-level rogue-like game, where each dungeon floor adds harder and harder monsters, and you need to manage your resources well and succeed in putting together a good character build as you traverse the floors, in order to get deeper. Over the 500-700 individual playthroughs I made, I only defeated the end-game boss about 5 times. I personally found it very hard, not least because you are very reliant on RNG to progress. (Similar to FTL, your skill can sustain you in spite of unfavourable RNG.) Determining unknown potions, scrolls, weapons, armour - Healing or Poison, Magical or Cursed - made every play different.
0 Likes
RandomizedKirbyTree47 Oct 19, 2021
I played it on Android and found it very hard. I'll probably give it another whirl when it comes to Steam.
0 Likes
slaapliedje Oct 19, 2021
I played it on Android and found it very hard. I'll probably give it another whirl when it comes to Steam.It is a proper Rogue game. You wander around, get stuff, and die.
0 Likes
I have lost soo many hours to this, the shear frustration as you die as not every game is even remotely winnable!
Shattered is by the best (and hardest) adaptation for PixelDungeons but it went a bit off the track with all the Elixers so much so that they is soo much stuff you craft, you don't stand a chance to remember so you end up not doing it and in doing that you weaken yourself as you progress.
Over time they have removed some of the cheezy tactics and right now each boss is very unique and hard in their own way.
At the moment I am lucky if I get to the final boss maybe once in 10-20 games
Last edited by Naib on 20 October 2021 at 7:35 pm UTC
Shattered is by the best (and hardest) adaptation for PixelDungeons but it went a bit off the track with all the Elixers so much so that they is soo much stuff you craft, you don't stand a chance to remember so you end up not doing it and in doing that you weaken yourself as you progress.
Over time they have removed some of the cheezy tactics and right now each boss is very unique and hard in their own way.
At the moment I am lucky if I get to the final boss maybe once in 10-20 games
Last edited by Naib on 20 October 2021 at 7:35 pm UTC
0 Likes
slaapliedje Oct 20, 2021
I have lost soo many hours to this, the shear frustration as you die as not every game is even remotely winnable!There are bosses in this game? I can barely live long enough to make it down a few levels...
Shattered is by the best (and hardest) adaptation for PixelDungeons but it went a bit off the track with all the Elixers so much so that they is soo much stuff you craft, you don't stand a chance to remember so you end up not doing it and in doing that you weaken yourself as you progress.
Over time they have removed some of the cheezy tactics and right now each boss is very unique and hard in their own way.
At the moment I am lucky if I get to the final boss maybe once in 10-20 games
0 Likes
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