Dungeons of Hinterberg Review

What do you like to do on a holiday? Do you prefer to relax by sitting on a beach or beside a pool with a good book or podcast, before heading for a big meal and plenty of drinks. Or do you go for the more active lifestyle, where sightseeing and adventure are the order of the day?

In Dungeons of Hinterberg, people love to spend their vacation exploring dungeons, fighting monsters, all while trying to avoid being killed. In their downtime, they like to buy upgrades for weapons and socialise with other like-minded adventurers. Each to their own…

Dungeons of Hinterberg is one of the best of all genre mash-ups. First, you have a dungeon crawler full of monsters, traps, and puzzles. Then you have a social sim experience where you talk to people, enjoy events, and try and get your stats up in things like humour and relaxation. It’s bold to try to mix these things, but thankfully it works very well indeed. 

The premise is that in an Austrian village in the alps, a series of magical dungeons has appeared. Over time these dungeons have become a tourist hotspot, as would-be adventurers bored with their normal life flock. We play a lawyer, who is dissatisfied with her work life, appearing in the fictional village of Hinterberg for a vacation and spot of dungeon crawling. You arrive, before taking in days that are separated into four different sections, from morning to noon to evening to night. 

In the morning you get to chat away in the hotel you’re staying, partaking in conversation with some of your friends and colleagues you meet along the way. At noon you go off to either fight in a dungeon or explore the differing regions. Evening time is then used to explore the town and shop for all your equipment needs, perhaps taking in some social offerings with new friends, like going to a bar or the cinema. And then we have the night; you’ll want to rest up, sleeping, watching TV or reading a book. And believe me, you will need that rest. 

The story and setup of Dungeons of Hinterberg are both very unique, providing a great premise. And similarly, the dialogue and writing are top notch, which is good for a game that relies on you making friends and chatting with people, as an overall arc to the story plays out, as the things going on in Hinterberg aren’t all what they seem to be. 

Gameplay is in two parts. The action stuff, both in and out of the dungeons is very good, even though sometimes it does get a bit repetitive. Each of the dungeons you encounter has a level recommendation before going in, and they are all very different to one another, keeping the entertainment levels high. It’s here where some rely on fighting skills, pushing you from one encounter to the next, while others have puzzles to solve. Some are very inventive including a snowboarding one and another that reminds of Super Mario Galaxy. Whatever the task, make your way through with success, coming to the end of each dungeon, and you’ll get access to loot and experience points, having your notebook stamped to show that you’ve completed it. 

The combat that occurs takes place in a locked arena; taking down all the monsters is the only way to open it up again. You’ll do this by utilising a light and heavy attack, as well as magical powers which relate to each of the four areas that you are in. For example, in one you will discover wind abilities and in another, that of ice. There is also a dodge, as well as some limited-time special attacks. There are better weapons to gain access to, as well as increased armour types and charms to enhance your attacks or dodges. It all works fine but after a few hours, the combat sections started to wane, becoming too repetitive. In fact, it soon becomes a bit of a chore, especially when compared to the other elements of the game. 

The sim side of Dungeons of Hinterberg is great, as you create relationships with your friends around the town. You can get extra health or magic by spending time with them and expanding your stats in social elements. You can even spend time alone at a spa, or in one of the locations just sitting and watching the world go by for the afternoon. It’s a nice mix of options and choices.

It is all powered by some cel-shaded comic book style visuals that work superbly. There is no doubt that Dungeons of Hinterberg is absolutely stunning at times. The different environments and the dungeons are vastly different, beautiful in their design. There are snowy areas, autumn worlds, and amazing vistas that prove that this is a great place for a break. And the characters and Hinterberg itself come together nicely. Unfortunately, there is no voicework, here, but the audio is delivered through some superb tracks and score.  

Dungeons of Hinterberg is proof that a mash-up of genres can work. The concept and setup are brilliantly creative, whilst highlights sit in respect of the sim side of the game and trying to build up relationships around the town. It looks beautiful too, especially in the countryside as you look to explore and in the puzzling aspects of the dungeons. It is just the combat that lets things down a little, becoming a bit tiring after a while. 

Ultimately though, if you need a break this summer then I would recommend you spend it with Dungeons of Hinterberg.