Endless Dungeon preview: Inverted dungeon crawler makes you the boss

The Endless franchise is one that you could argue doesn't really know what it wants to be. There are two 4X sub-franchises in Endless Space and Endless Legend, then there's a dungeon crawler in Dungeon of the Endless.

It's that last one, though, that's become the basis for Amplitude Studios' next title, Endless Dungeon. As Romain de Waubert, Chief Creative Office and Benoit Faguet, Expert Narrative Designer revealed in a wide-ranging interview, it's actually the studio's "dream game" in many respects. We went hands-on with Endless Dungeon and came away impressed at how the game flips the dungeon-crawler genre on its head.

Hard as nails

Returning to a dungeon-crawler format, albeit with a fresh set of mechanics, characters, and even perspective, is something that may sound like a surprise given Amplitude's recent focus on its 4X strategy titles, but the decision was informed by conversations with fans.

"Over the years we had more and more discussions with players, especially after a few drinks late in the evening with people talking a lot about the crazy moments they had playing with their friends," de Waubert explains, referring to Dungeon of the Endless.

The co-op functionality was added late in development but helped Dungeon of the Endless sell a million and a half copies (although de Waubert isn't sure about the exact figure). Those fans came for the dungeon crawling experience, but stayed for the challenge -- and Endless Dungeon more than continues that legacy.

"That [co-op functionality] was a bit rough around the ages, and, and we didn't realize it was so important," he notes.

"So we decided maybe it would be time to do something with co-op from the beginning"

The basic setup is, in many ways, a mix of tower defence and dungeon diving, with a roguelike backbone bringing it all together. Players explore the depths of an abandoned space station, escorting a crystal-carrying robot that opens doors to the next area. If the 'bot dies, so do you, so you'll want to set up an increasingly elaborate defensive lineup of turrets.

That mix of active abilities, fun weapons with unique loot rarities, and resource management makes Endless Dungeon feel like the inverse of a traditional dungeon crawler -- rather than heading into the abyss to fight monsters within, you yourself are the monster.

The robotic and alien denizens of the space station are every bit as fierce as your average Diablo class, too, with their claws and teeth ripping through you with ease if your turrets aren't properly placed.

That crystal robot that your life depends on can be positioned in set spots that make it easier to defend, but there comes a time when you'll need to escort it to the next objective. Every action has a reaction in Endless Dungeon, and tiptoeing closer to an objective, even with a small army of turrets watching your back, is a tense experience.

Perhaps the smartest part of Endless Dungeon, however, is that opening adjacent rooms from your starting location increases the chances of waves of enemies spawning. They're clearly signposted so it's never a surprise (outside of a few stragglers that'll rush you as you explore), but it's a great way of increasing the number of tactical decisions you need to make -- do you want to risk another room that may have more loot, or do you try and sneak to the next area and save your resources for a bigger fight?

In space, no one can hear you respawn

As a roguelike, there's plenty of dying to be done, and Amplitude has worked on a narrative built around that very premise, with characters being resurrected by the Reloader.

"The initial setting is very key for us," Benoit Faguet explains. "It's a massive station."

"You have to figure out what it is. The main character of the game is the station itself, and after a run you will come back to the saloon"

That saloon is a space dive bar and offers a chance to switch between various characters, unlock new gear, and hand off story-based collectables. Characters will reference your exploits, too, building into the wider narrative theme of mystery.

"You'll have opportunities to unlock more details about the backstory of this very mysterious place" Faguet notes.

Naturally, there are comparisons within the genre, notably with Hades which popularised the roguelike dungeon-crawler. Did that popularity make it easier to build Endless Dungeon? As de Waubert explains, it didn't have a direct impact but it did help explain the concept more easily.

"I think regarding Roguelikes, the fact that it became more popular was not part of the decision [to make Endless Dungeon].

"It made it easier, but I think it was linked to what we did with Dungeon of the Endless and trying to bring more elements, more solutions, more depth, and more immersion."

That immersion is helped by the fact Endless Dungeon looks great, with much more dynamic lighting and animations than its predecessor.

Dark rooms need to be powered to explore, and weapon fire lights up corridors like an isometric Alien game. Add a few turrets and a sizeable wave of enemies, and it's almost tricky to see what's going on because of the sheer number of explosions, flames, and bullets on display.

Final thoughts

While the dungeon crawler and roguelike genres are certainly packed with no shortage of titles each, it's rare that either crosses over into a Venn diagram with tower defence. That, combined with an impressive level of challenge and the potential to team up with two friends, makes Endless Dungeon a tantalising prospect.

We'll see how well it stacks up when it launches later this year.

For more on Endless Dungeon, be sure to check out what the developers had to say about the game running on Steam Deck.