Dungeonborne
A short-lived extraction dungeon crawler with battle royale elements.
Dungeonborne was a free-to-play multiplayer dark fantasy action role-playing game for Windows, created and published by Mithril Interactive. It blended first-person dungeon crawling with player-versus-environment and player-versus-player combat, extraction mechanics, and battle royale elements. The game was initially revealed under the name Project Crawl before being rebranded. It gained media attention during Steam Next Fest in February 2024 due to comparisons with the fantasy extraction game *Dark and Darker*. Dungeonborne launched into early access on Steam in July 2024.
In terms of gameplay, players selected a fantasy class and ventured into dungeons solo or in groups. Each run involved fighting monsters, battling other players, collecting loot, and finding an exit. A risk-based loot system meant that items brought into a dungeon could be kept if the player escaped, but were lost upon death. The match structure also incorporated battle royale elements, with a closing ring pushing players toward danger. Pre-release coverage from outlets like PC Gamer and GamesRadar+ noted the tension of the extraction loop but criticized slow combat, class balance issues, connection problems, and a rough demo state.
A public demo was available during Steam Next Fest in February 2024, and a final public playtest in July 2024 reached 14,448 concurrent players on Steam. The game entered early access on July 18, 2024. After launch, Dungeonborne faced criticism for its auction house system, which required premium currency to list items. Mithril Interactive later changed the system from a seasonal purchase to a one-time purchase following player complaints about cost and unclear explanations.
Reception was mixed. GamesRadar+ called the demo a "primitive but promising" take on the *Dark and Darker* genre, praising the extraction tension but criticizing slow combat and interactions. PC Gamer noted that Dungeonborne had a chance to attract players while *Dark and Darker* was absent from Steam, but also highlighted connection and balance issues. Massively Overpowered gave a more critical view of the early access version, citing strong class ideas and a clear fantasy setting but criticizing the extraction mode, slow combat, limited maps, and lack of long-term motivation.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Dungeonborne
- Developer
- Mithril Interactive
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Platforms
- Windows
- Released
- July 18, 2024 (early access)
- Genre
- Action role-playing, Dungeon crawl, battle royale
- Modes
- Multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Dungeonborne was first shown under the title Project Crawl before being renamed. It received press coverage during Steam Next Fest in February 2024 due to its links to the same fantasy extraction genre as Dark and Darker. A public demo was available at that time, and a final public playtest in July 2024 reached 14,448 concurrent players on Steam. The game entered early access on July 18, 2024.
Gameplay involved choosing a fantasy class and entering dungeons alone or in groups to fight monsters, fight other players, gather loot, and find an exit. A risk-based loot system meant players kept gear only if they escaped; death meant losing carried items. The match structure used a closing ring that pushed players toward danger, similar to battle royale games.
Monetization drew criticism for its auction house system, which initially required premium currency to list items. Mithril Interactive later changed it from a seasonal purchase to a one-time purchase after player complaints. Pre-release reception was mixed, with praise for tension but criticism of slow combat, class balance issues, connection problems, and rough edges.
Reader's Guide
Dungeonborne is significant as a notable entry in the fantasy extraction genre that emerged alongside Dark and Darker. Its early access launch generated interest during a period when Dark and Darker was not available on Steam, giving it a potential audience. However, the game struggled with balance issues, slow updates, and poor communication from the developer, leading to its shutdown less than a year after release.
Its legacy includes the formation of Myrion Studio by former Mithril Interactive lead producer Elvis Zhou, who was joined by former Dungeonborne core developers. In July 2026, Myrion Studio revealed Dungeon Betwixt, a first-person medieval extraction looter RPG, continuing the lineage of the genre. Dungeonborne serves as a cautionary example of how early access games in competitive genres can fail to sustain a player base without timely improvements and clear communication.
Did You Know?
- The game reached 14,448 concurrent players during its final public playtest in July 2024.
- Players needed premium currency to list items on the auction house, a system later changed after criticism.
- The shutdown came less than a year after the game entered early access.
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