Dome Keeper
Defend your dome, mine resources, and survive alien waves.
Dome Keeper is a tower defense game with roguelike elements, released in 2022 by German developer Bippinbits and publisher Raw Fury. It launched for Windows, macOS, and Linux on September 27, 2022, with an Xbox Series X/S version following on December 9, 2025. Players control a character who must protect a glass dome—their crashed spacecraft—from waves of alien creatures. Between attacks, they have a limited window to mine resources like iron, cobalt, and water from beneath the dome, using these materials to upgrade defenses and improve their own abilities. The player moves with a jetpack and digs with a drill, while combat relies on either a rotating laser beam or an extendable sword-like arm. Both weapons and the character’s speed and drill power can be enhanced. The main game mode, "Relic Hunt," tasks players with surviving successive enemy waves and digging deep enough to uncover an ancient relic that can wipe out the aliens.
The game originated as a Ludum Dare 48 game jam entry in April 2021, then called *Dome Romantik*, where it placed 9th overall. This success led to its full development and Steam release. Critical reception was generally positive, according to Metacritic. PC Gamer praised its simple yet nuanced roguelike design and resource management, though noted short playtime and minor technical issues. Shacknews appreciated the straightforward gameplay but found it could become predictable after repeated runs. Eurogamer offered a more mixed view, arguing that splitting focus between mining and tower defense weakened both aspects.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Dome Keeper
- Developer
- Bippinbits
- Publisher
- Raw Fury
- Director
- René Habermann
- Programmer
- René Habermann · John Watson
- Artist
- Anne Hecker · Brandon Schenk · Davis Hill
- Composer
- Cameron Paxton
- Engine
- Godot Engine
- Platforms
- Windows · macOS · Linux · Xbox Series X/S
- Released
- Windows, macOS, Linux · 27 September 2022 · Xbox Series X/S · 9 December 2025
- Genre
- Tower defense, roguelike
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Dome Keeper began as a game jam entry titled Dome Romantik, submitted by Bippinbits for the April 2021 Ludum Dare 48. It achieved 9th place overall, which prompted the team to develop it into a full Steam release. The game's premise involves a glass dome that serves as the player's spacecraft, crashing onto an extraterrestrial landscape where native aliens attack. Players control a character with a jetpack and drill, mining for iron, cobalt, and water beneath the dome to spend on upgrades. A timer marks the time before each enemy wave, and the player must return to the dome before the aliens arrive. Weapons include a rotating laser beam and a sword-like appendage, both upgradeable, while the character can also improve movement speed and drill power. The default game mode, Relic Hunt, tasks players with fighting waves and mining deep enough to find an ancient relic to eradicate the aliens.
Reader's Guide
Dome Keeper received generally favorable reviews according to Metacritic. PC Gamer described it as a 'simple yet nuanced roguelike,' praising the weapons and resource management gameplay while noting its short playtime and minor technical issues. Shacknews appreciated the simplicity of the gameplay design and execution but observed that the gameplay could become predictable after several playthroughs. Eurogamer offered a more critical view, stating the game was 'as divided as my thoughts are on it' and that the mining and tower defense elements struggled due to the game dividing its attention between both genres. The game's significance lies in its successful transition from a game jam project to a commercial release, and in its attempt to merge two distinct gameplay loops—mining and tower defense—within a roguelike structure. Its reception highlights both the appeal of its straightforward design and the challenges of balancing hybrid mechanics.
Did You Know?
- Dome Keeper was originally submitted as Dome Romantik for the April 2021 Ludum Dare 48 game jam.
- The game placed 9th overall in the Ludum Dare 48 competition.
- Players can upgrade a rotating laser beam or a sword-like appendage to defend the dome.
- The default game mode is called 'Relic Hunt'.
More in Roguelikes of the 2020s, Part 1 1-24
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