Dungeon Crawl 94: What Was Taken is a turn-based grid-based pixel art RPG for PC that emphasizes deliberate movement and reactive world simulation. Players explore procedurally generated environments while managing resources and making tactical decisions on every tile.
Gameplay
The core loop revolves around one-tile-at-a-time movement on a grid. Each step advances time, causing enemies to patrol, wildlife to wander, and environmental hazards to shift. This system rewards careful positioning and foresight, as combat or evasion choices depend on the current state of the surrounding tiles. Character creation involves distributing points across seven attributes: Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, Speed, Constitution, and Luck. These stats influence combat effectiveness, spellcasting, survival chances, and item interactions.
Exploration takes players through randomized roads, forests, caves, and dungeons filled with traps, puzzles, merchants, and hidden treasures. Equipment includes melee weapons, bows, shields, armor, and consumables, while elemental magic provides options for offense, defense, and utility. Crafting and camping mechanics let players manage supplies during longer journeys, and trading with merchants helps optimize loadouts. The pixel-art presentation features dynamic lighting and weather effects that enhance the atmospheric tile-based environments.
Game Modes
The game operates as a single-player experience with built-in variety through procedural generation. Randomized maps ensure no two runs follow the same layout, while multiple difficulty settings adjust enemy behavior, resource scarcity, and overall challenge. Different character builds, supported by the attribute system and equipment choices, encourage repeated playthroughs focused on melee, ranged, magic, or hybrid approaches. Hidden secrets and randomized loot further differentiate each attempt without introducing separate named modes.
Exploration and Progression
Progression centers on pushing deeper into dangerous areas while gathering supplies and uncovering secrets. Boss encounters present unique tactical challenges that test prepared builds. The combination of turn-based grid movement and world reactivity creates tension, where players must decide when to engage threats or retreat to safer positions. Support for Xbox controllers alongside keyboard and mouse allows flexible input during extended sessions.
Is It Worth Playing?
This title suits players who enjoy methodical turn-based RPGs with strong emphasis on grid tactics and procedural variety. The attribute system and equipment options support diverse playstyles, while crafting, trading, and camping add layers of resource management. Multiple difficulty levels and map randomization provide replay value for those who appreciate experimenting with builds and adapting to changing conditions. As a pre-release title with no user reviews available yet, its appeal depends on interest in deliberate single-player dungeon crawling rather than fast-paced action or multiplayer elements. The verified features align closely with classic grid-based RPG expectations updated with modern procedural tools.
