Dungeons 3
Build a dungeon, command creatures, conquer the overworld.
Dungeons 3 is a video game developed by Realmforge Studios and published by Kalypso Media, released on October 13, 2017, for Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and later for Nintendo Switch on September 15, 2022. It is the sequel to Dungeons 2 and the third installment of the Dungeons series, combining dungeon building with real-time strategy elements. Players build an underground dungeon, defend it from invading heroes, and can send creatures to the world above for direct control.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Dungeons 3
- Platforms
- Linux · macOS · Microsoft Windows · PlayStation 4 · Xbox One · Nintendo Switch
- Developer
- Realmforge Studios
- Publisher
- Kalypso Media
- Released
- Linux, macOS, Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One / October 13, 2017 / Nintendo Switch / September 15, 2022
- Designer
- Sebastian Nussbaumer
- Director
- Christian Wolfertstetter
- Producer
- Benjamin Rauscher
- Composer
- Michael Rother
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Genre
- Strategy, simulation
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Dungeons 3 is a dungeon building video game with real-time strategy elements. The primary task is to build an underground lair that serves as a home to units and a base of operations. Players control the world with a hand, using it to move creatures, cast spells, and designate areas for excavation and room construction. Commands are carried out by imp-like snots, regenerated by the dungeon heart, which is the center of the dungeon and represents the player's health; its destruction results in a game over. Five resources are used: gold, gobblers (food), toolboxes, mana, and beer, along with an 'evilness' resource generated by capturing overworld places for research. Units belong to three factions—Horde, Demons, and Undead—each with unique rooms, traps, and units. Players can recruit up to 20 units from all factions combined plus up to five converted heroes, with undead skeletons and zombies from fallen heroes not counting toward this limit.
Reader's Guide
Dungeons 3 expands on the overworld concept introduced in Dungeons 2, allowing players to send units to the surface where they can be controlled directly like in traditional real-time strategy games. The game features twenty single-player missions, a co-op mode for two players, a skirmish mode against the computer on randomly generated maps, and a multiplayer mode where players compete but cannot attack each other's dungeons. The story follows Thalya, a dark elf sorcerer, as she conquers a continent for the Dungeon Lord, dispatching paladin Tanos and his allies. The game is noted for its humor, including frequent fourth-wall breaks and allusions to other science-fiction and fantasy works. It was the first series entry released simultaneously on multiple platforms. The narrator, Kevan Brighting, often argues with Thalya during missions, altering events based on their dialogue.
Did You Know?
- The game was announced on February 21, 2017, and shown at Game Developers Conference 2017.
- Dead Demon units are resurrected in a lair using mana, while defeated Undead units slowly regenerate in their graveyard.
- The dungeon heart room stores gold and features a trap door to get rid of unwanted units.
- Cut-scenes use comic book style drawings rather than the game's engine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dungeons 3?
It is the third entry in the Dungeons series, crafted by Realmforge Studios and released by Kalypso Media. The game fuses underground dungeon construction with real-time strategy combat, letting you both fortify your lair and march your creatures into the surface world.
Who do you play as in Dungeons 3?
You step into the shoes of Thalya, a dark elf sorcerer tasked with raising and defending an underground fortress. Her mission is to fend off waves of heroic invaders while simultaneously pushing her minion squads above ground to seize territory.
How does the core gameplay loop work in Dungeons 3?
You design rooms, traps, and pathways beneath the surface to repel hero parties, then switch to a top-down RTS view where you directly pilot creature squads across the overworld map. That dual-layer structure—defensive building plus active field command—is the game's defining mechanic.
When and on which platforms was Dungeons 3 released?
The title launched on October 13, 2017, for Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. A Nintendo Switch port arrived later, on September 15, 2022.
Why is Dungeons 3 significant within the series?
As the follow-up to Dungeons 2, it sharpens the hybrid formula by handing players far more direct control over surface-level combat instead of relying purely on automated dungeon defenses. It is the installment that most clearly cemented the franchise's 'build below, fight above' identity.
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