Minecraft Dungeonsjust released on May 26th and fans all around the world are finally getting their hands on the anticipated title. That said, a few days before the release,reviews ofMinecraft Dungeonsbegan flooding the internet. Its scores aren’t terrible by any means, but they are mixed at best, with many reviewers rating the game around 7/10 or 3/5. Ultimately fans will decide whether the game is good or not, but there are a few things potential players should keep in mind when reading these reviews.
Minecraft Dungeonsis a dungeon crawler hack and slash adventure set in the world ofMinecraft.In some regards, reviewers are right in that the game does lack some distinctlyMinecraftelements (after all, there is literally no mining or crafting in the game), but a lot of other criticisms the game has received are missing the point. It’s important to look atMinecraft Dungeonsfor what it is, not what many may have wanted it to be. Despite its similarities to certain titles, it isn’tDiabloand fans shouldn’t expect it to be.
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The Multiplayer Experience
Very few reviews touch on the multiplayer aspect ofMinecraft Dungeons, which is rather odd especially considering thedevelopers told Game Rant that multiplayer was very important to them. Playing through this game, it becomes clear that it is intended to be played with friends and family. The single player mode of the game works completely fine and is an enjoyable experience, but it lacks the crazy, enjoyable moments that come from experiencing everything with the people one cares about most. This really should be taken into consideration when it comes to determining whether or not one should purchase the game.
Many reviewers did have the potential to play multiplayer but only with other reviewers or trusted friends. As such, and because of the lack of mention in most reviews, it is more than likely that they experienced the single player aspects of the game more than anything else. This alone doesn’t invalidate the scores the game has received by any means, as there are some legitimate problems with the game, but players looking for agreat co-op experience would be remiss to pass upMinecraft Dungeons. Unfortunately, most reviews simply don’t reflect this truth about the game.
Minecraft Dungeons' Length
Another popular criticism ofMinecraft Dungeonsis that the game is rather short. A dedicated player could get through the game on default difficulty in just a few hours, so there is some merit to this point. That said, this argument misses the bigger picture ofMinecraft Dungeons. For one, the game is only $19.99, meaning it isn’t touting itself as a full, $60, triple-A experience, and fans should go into it knowing it won’t be as long asDiablo 3. Beyond this, there is actually a ton of stuff to do in the game after beating the main story as well, such asunlockingMinecraft Dungeons' secret level.
Once playersbeat the Arch Illageron default difficulty, they will unlock Adventure Difficulty. Adventure Difficulty provides more of a challenge and better rewards, but also opens up the potential for new secret areas to be unlocked. Outside ofMinecraft Dungeons' 11 base areas, there are several secret missions and an entire secret level that can be found in game. The developers have also made it clear that they will be very active post launch, listening to fans and adding or changing content based on the feedback they receive, and with two DLCs already planned, there’s a lot more coming toMinecraft Dungeons.
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Minecraft Dungeons Doesn’t Feel Like Minecraft
Many feel as thoughMinecraft Dungeonslacks elements that make the game feel likeMinecraft, with a common complaint being that itfeels like aDiabloclonewith aMinecraftskin slapped on top of it. This is true to an extent, as the creative aspects ofMinecraftwhich have given it its staying power for the last 11 years are seemingly absent from the new game. That said, a closer look reveals the great effort put in by the developers to verify that every system in the game felt like something that could be inMinecraftitself.
Expecting this new game to feel and play likeMinecraftis silly, because they are different games that occupy completely different genres. The developers knew this going in and tried to find ways to apply the qualities ofMinecraftto their game, and this goes deeper than just the art style. For example, creativity is a huge aspect ofMinecraft, and although players can’t build massive structures or craft items, they cancraft unique builds while making use of iconicMinecraftweaponryand random enchantments. Similarly, the new enemies added to the game all feel as though they wouldn’t be out of place were they to be added toMinecraft.
Minecraft Dungeons is Incomplete
It also falls prey to the criticism that it is an incomplete game for no reason of its own. This fault is usually brought up in response to the game’sMinecraft Dungeons' openness about its DLC plan, as the world map has a placeholder spot for future DLC. The fact of the matter is that games these days have either one of two choices: they can release a game with no DLC and be blamed for a lack of post launch support or release with DLC planned and be criticized for being incomplete. It’s the catch-22 of the current gaming atmosphere.
Of course, none of this invalidates the reviews, as everyone has a right to their own opinion, but if these things were worrying potential buyers, hopefully they will be more likely to give the game a chance before passing it by. The game may be short, but it was meant to be, and it truly is a blast to play with friends and family of all ages. It may not provide the same single player experience andendless grind that theDiablofranchise can, but at the same time, it isn’t trying to.
Minecraft Dungeonsis available now for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
