Dungeons & Dragons fans certainly have no shortage of open-world RPG titles that scratch the itch for high-fantasy gaming, but those that have longed for a cozier experience that blends the themes and setting of D&D with customization and management simulation gameplay more akin to titles like Fallout Shelter can now check out Dungeon Inn. Released exclusively for PC via Steam and already boasting “Very Positive” reviews, Dungeon Inn blends business strategizing with double-dealing secrets in a world of adventurers, dragons, and guilds.
The appeal of games with a fantasy setting is often not just the theming itself but the way that world-building and storytelling are presented through both gameplay and character development. As such, it is not all that unexpected that most high-fantasy titles go the route of open-world environments with role-playing gameplay, though these releases do tend to prioritize combat that may not always appeal to players wanting a fantastical experience. Dungeon Inn looks to fill this gap for less battle-focused fantasy games and instead introduces a familiar D&D-style world that places players not in the role of a death-defying adventurer but into the shoes of a humble innkeeper.
Dungeon Inn Blends D&D Themes with Fallout Shelter Customization
In Dungeon Inn, players control Sara, an ambitious young business owner who has struck a deal with a dragon to open a traveler’s inn right next to a mysterious dungeon that magically appeared next to the scaly beast’s lair. Adventurers from rivaling guilds seeking to explore the new dungeon’s secrets make Sara’s inn a perfect pit stop, but she will need to do her best to play both sides and keep the traveling fellowships content while preventing any fighting between the factions. Players will need to help Sara balance her discretionary hospitality while expanding her coin purse through turn-based strategy management gameplay. By utilizing various tools, perfectly-timed tactics, and a bit of double-crossing for profit, players can create a thriving business that proves not all games inspired by Dungeons & Dragons are the same.
Choice-based gameplay will prove crucial in Dungeon Inn, with players having a multitude of decisions to make. Sara will need to decide what drinks to serve her guests, figure out how best to respond to any rowdy behavior at the inn, and possibly even make the call to send in covert armored wisps to tip the scales in favor of a particular guild during any skirmishes. The key is to remain as unbiased as possible in the eyes of all travelers, and proper scheming will help to ensure Sara’s inn stays afloat with business flowing from both sides of the scuffles. As players amass a larger stash of gold, they will be able to invest their hard-earned coins with inn upgrades, unlockable events, and more features familiar to fans of business management simulation games.
The continued growth of the simulation gaming genre has seen major changes over the years, from the early days of Civilization and The Sims to newer entries like Dungeon Inn. As sim games have become interconnected with other genres, elements from cozy titles and high-fantasy hits have become key markers to help fresh entries to distinguish themselves from their predecessors. With Dungeon Inn blending familiar features from a variety of genres, it certainly separates itself from fitting into any typical cookie-cutter mold. Only time will tell if this helps it stand out from the pack, but early reviews seem to favor this fresh take on fantasy gaming.
Dungeon Inn is available now for PC via Steam.