Review - Dungeons Scrawlers
By - Flawless Cowboy
*Static hisses through the radio*
Hello? This thing on? Ok, well howdy partner! They call me The Flawless Cowboy. It gets lonely transporting board games from one space station to another, so I figured I’d crack one open and give it a try. The scuttlebutt at the station is that people still read these things?
I’m not one for reading or following rules so I'll have the ship's computer run us through an overview and gameplay of the game.
Overview
Hello Flawless. Dungeon Scrawlers is a 2-4 player real time racing game that has players drawing their way through premade dungeons with a dry erase marker. You’ll be able to use your hero powers to overcome challenges in each room and find more efficient ways to score points.
All the loot that comes in the box!
The game takes minutes to learn and players can get through a round, consisting of three dungeons in about 15-20 minutes.
Component Quality
The boards are of a good quality, easy to read, and are made for the dry erase nature of the game. The markers are surprisingly solid and still write well after six plus plays. The tokens and character sheets are thick cardboard and easy to read. The game stores easily in its reasonably sized box.
Inclusion & Special Needs
The game includes a good variety of characters whose design feels appropriate for the tone of the game. Color blind players may have some issues with the orbs (red and blue) as they are the same shape. That said, the keys are all different shapes to help those who can’t distinguish the colors. If you have motor issues with your hands this game may not be for you. Those with high anxiety to timed situations may not enjoy this as well.
Gameplay
The core idea is simple. Beginning at the dungeon entrance, players must move through the dungeon as quickly and efficiently as possible, interacting with the challenges in each room to score points. The golden rule is that players will need to draw one continuous line as they travel through the dungeon. Most dungeons will end when one of the players has killed their boss, ending the run for all players, but there are a few timed runs that include a set time limit. Each of the 10 unique dungeons continually adds some new twists, including things like prisoners to rescue and colored orbs worth different points depending on when players collect them.
It’s tough piloting a space ship and playing this at the same time!
How you interact with each obstacle in the dungeon is slightly different. Monsters need to be completely drawn over, spells are squiggly purple lines that you need to trace, and runes are number sequences you need to get in order. Players can collect rare plants by simply crossing them with their lines, and earn treasures by completely outlining them.
Each player’s hero provides a special ability that makes it easier to overcome specific dungeon obstacles or gives additional points for completing objectives. For example, the Barbarian allows players to just scribble out the head of the monster to defeat it instead of needing to completely color it in. Most other hero abilities also include easier methods of traversing the dungeon, such as circling spells to complete them, passing through treasures instead of outlining them, and completing runes in any order (I recommend this one for younger players or those that look at the board and get a little overloaded with how busy they look). Lastly there is the Ranger, who gives an extra point for each rare plant you pass over.
Thanks Computer. But here’s the real question: Is it fun?
*Calculating...*
Fun Factor
Easy answer: yes.
The more complicated answer: it depends.
Dungeons Scrawlers is enjoyable for what it is; a filler game that lets players do something unique from other, heavier games they play. It’s a game that doesn't overstay its welcome, but some may find that it doesn’t hold up for repeat plays once you’ve played through all the Dungeons (although a sequel, Dungeon Scrawlers – Heroes of Waterdeep, due to be released in 2023 might increase the systems longevity). At $25 USD, it’s a game that is worth the money you pay for it, even if you pass it on to a friend after a few plays.
The game’s recommended age is 10+, and this is certainly a game that will appeal to younger folks, both artistically and gameplay wise. Does that mean this game isn't for adults? Some might bounce off this game due to its simplicity, but grown-ups can easily enjoy this light, chaos driven real time game.
Thanks Computer. I’ve had this idea for adding it into a D&D campaign. You could have the party meet a dungeoneer, and the only way he will trust to take them into a dungeon would be to see if they can handle the mazes he makes. Have the players play Scrawlers and see how they do.
*Calculating...*
Flawless, my analysis of your un-played games has determined this is a lie.
Does the Cowboy recommend the game
Well partner, I do. It’s a neat little game that does what it sets off to do. I give it a tip of the hat. That said, go into this knowing you will get one to two runs through all the content and you will probably want to mosey one from it. It’s cheap enough where it won't cost you a lot of space credits, so once you're done maybe you give it to another outlaw to give it some more life.
Hey Computer, speaking of hats, how come there are no cowboy’s in this game?!
*Calculating...applies cowboy hat sticker to a character*
YEEHAW - Perfect!
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Final Verdict
✅ A novel idea
✅ Games are quick
✅ Easy to learn and play
✅ Low price
❌ All content can be seen in an hour
❌ May be too simple for some players
❌ Low replay value
Dungeon Scrawlers was purchased at Barnes and Nobles. No review copy was provided.
