As someone who plays countless games for both work and personal enjoyment, it’s rare for a title to instantly captivate me so completely that I just want to shout about it from the rooftops. However, The Crazy Hyper-Dungeon Chronicles is one of those special releases. This dungeon crawler from indie developer Fix-a-Bug is easily one of the most engaging RPGs I’ve encountered recently. I was completely sold within just ten minutes, and an entire hour disappeared before I even realized it. Combining D&D-inspired classes with a truly unique combat system and an undeniably quirky, lighthearted attitude reminiscent of Undertale, it’s currently available as a free, robust Steam demo, and the full version is incredibly affordable.
The top-down perspective of The Crazy Hyper-Dungeon Chronicles gives it a nostalgic feel, almost like a modern take on classic rogue-likes, but you have much more freedom as you explore its sprawling dungeons. Your ultimate quest is to reach the 50th floor in pursuit of a legendary relic. Along the way, you’ll tackle everything from dodging dangerous traps and skirmishing with menacing skeletal necromancers, to whipping up culinary delights to impress a literal troll food critic. Expect straightforward agility challenges, clever puzzles to solve, hidden buttons to uncover, new cooking and crafting recipes to master, and a treasure trove of loot to equip your hero.
While the exploration offers a simple yet satisfying pleasure, the combat truly shines. Timing-based actions are incredibly popular in modern games, and I’m absolutely in love with what Fix-a-Bug has crafted here. Battles transition to a dedicated screen where enemies are positioned in boxes around you. You must actively target them in real-time to unleash attacks or defend. Dynamic meters dictate the turn order, and every strike or block involves a quick timing minigame, with the difficulty adjusting based on your opponent. It’s an innovative system unlike anything else I’ve played, and it perfectly captures the fantasy setting.
The game’s dialogue is overwhelmingly lighthearted and, impressively, hits its comedic mark far more often than it misses. Even some of the sillier jokes managed to elicit a laugh from me! The humor ranges widely, from simple puns to more intricate cleverness, and even includes subtle nods that play on your knowledge of D&D tropes and classic rock. Thankfully, despite its frequency, the dialogue rarely feels intrusive. Fix-a-Bug skillfully balances clear information delivery with opportunities for fun, ensuring the humor enhances the experience rather than being forced into every nook and cranny.
One of the standout features is the ability to customize your experience to your personal preferences. Character selection is straightforward, letting you choose between a Hero or Heroine (the unchosen character becomes a friendly rival who periodically appears to playfully taunt you). You also select your starting weapon: the spear is ideal for speed-focused players, the sword and shield offer a balanced approach, and the mace is perfect for those who crave pure destructive power.
Beyond character creation, you’re prompted to pick a playstyle, which significantly alters how the game unfolds. I opted for ‘explorer,’ which provides more experience and inventory space, while also increasing the prevalence of puzzles and crafting challenges. If you choose ‘resolver,’ you’ll enjoy more dialogue, easier battles, and even opportunities to talk your way out of key encounters. For the ‘destroyer’ playstyle, you’ll face more numerous and tougher foes, with much of the extensive dialogue condensed to a bare minimum. It’s a brilliant take on difficulty customization that makes me incredibly eager to try the other settings and see how they compare to my initial journey.
The Crazy Hyper-Dungeon Chronicles is available now on Steam, currently with a 10% launch discount, bringing the price to $11.69 / £9.89 until Thursday, October 30. You can also download the free demo to experience it for yourself – just be warned, you might find yourself as engrossed as I was, instantly!
If you love discovering hidden gems, be sure to explore other top indie games released this year. And for those who prefer epic tales of dragons and daring deeds, we have a curated list of excellent fantasy games on PC.
What was the last game that hooked you from its opening moments and refused to let go? We’d love to hear about your surprising favorites!