When it was released in 1997 it wasn't immediately apparent that Dungeon Keeper would become the cult classic that it is today. Nevertheless, the tight gameplay, keen sense of humor, and buttery-smooth voicework of Richard Ridings made Dungeon Keeper an experience that many studios try to recapture even now.
Dungeon builders are a unique sub-genre in the world of strategy. They are usually characterized by strategic use of zoning or rooms, a penchant for amoral capitalism - or downright evilness - and top-down gameplay where minions carry out your orders for you - often in their own time. Let's take a look at some of the best.
9 Impire
- Release date: February 14, 2013
- Platform: PC
Cyanide Montreal really took the idea that it's fun to play as the villains and ran with it. Impire is a strategy game that really hearkens back to the key building blocks of the dungeon builder that started it all. This game has you building rooms and traps, recruiting creatures, and defeating any heroes who would stand in your way.
The story of Impire is nothing to write home about, but the idea of a demon who wishes to rebuild his nefarious empire is a tried a tested one. This title will really appeal to the fans who simply want more of what they know they like.
8 Evil Genius 2: World Domination
- Release date: March 30, 2021
- Platforms: PC (PlayStation and Xbox in late 2021)
Evil Genius 2 and its predecessor task the player with creating underground lairs stacked with traps and decadence in the form of a grand casino. In these games, the good guys take the form of secret agents whose goal is to take you down, and you have plenty of resources to halt them in their path - usually in humorous fashions.
Taking over the world requires strategic know-how when it comes to building your base within its limited confines, and expert direction of your evil henchmen. While many fans loudly prefer the original game in the franchise, the more recent title still holds up and scratches that evil itch.
7 Going Medieval
- Release date: June 1, 2021
- Platform: PC
While this charming and peaceful game doesn't immediately strike most as a dungeon-building game, it absolutely can be. It's quite simple to build your new settlement right into the earth and create a sprawling, productive underground city.
In fact, this can be quite a good strategy when it comes time to face off against raiders, who will fall victim to traps and archers as they muddle their ways down your halls. Like many open-ended building games, Going Medieval is what you make of it - and the experience is only likely to get better as its Early Access campaign continues.
6 Spacebase Startopia
- Release date: March 26, 2021
- Platform: PC
Taking the dungeon-building mechanics and transporting them into space made Startopia quite the success in its day, and now we have the revival of the series with Spacebase Startopia. In this game, you must build and run three separate decks - one for survival, one for attracting tourists, and one for accruing the resources needed to run the station.
Not only that, but you can compete with other space stations and fend off would-be attackers - it's everything a dungeon-builder normally has but in space this time!
5 Dungeons 3
- Release date: October 13, 2017
- Platform: PC, Playstation, Xbox
For those who enjoy the experience of building dungeons but feel it may be getting a little stale, Dungeons 3 really shakes things up by seamlessly blending real-time strategy elements into the game. Not only does this game have you doing the usual room-building and creature-attracting, but you'll be venturing into the overworld with your horde to ruin the day of any good-aligned creature who crosses your path.
Add to that a really strong sense of humor and a genuinely challenging campaign that has replay value thanks to achievements, and you have a great game on your hands.
4 Empires Of The Undergrowth
- Release date: December 1, 2017
- Platform: PC
While this game has been in Early Access for a long time, it is no less a great experience for fans of the genre. It is a very refreshing take on dungeon-building that brands itself as an ant colony management simulator.
Empires of the Undergrowth has you directing ants to dig out burrows, collect food, and raise a brood of new ants. It has quite a realistic design that may have the squeamish turned off but will thrill anyone looking for a delightfully fresh experience in the strategy market.
3 War For The Overworld
- Release date: April 2, 2015
- Platform: PC
Released after a successful Kickstarter that promised the game to be a true Dungeon Keeper successor, many agree that it lives up to that name. War for the Overworld has you digging out a dungeon to fill with rooms and creatures, and fighting heroes who would love to stop you.
This game has a great difficulty curve and feels great to play through even for veterans of the genre. And there's a lot to be said for securing the talent of Richard Ridings to play the narrator, playing on nostalgia brilliantly for Dungeon Keeper fans.
2 Dwarf Fortress
- Release date: August 8, 2006
- Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
While the project shown in the image above is from a game yet to be released on Steam, Dwarf Fortress is an absolute classic of the dungeon-building genre. The game puts you in control of a horde of dwarves and simulates an entire world to the tiniest details.
While the game has a very steep learning curve and something of a barrier when it comes to the user interface, it's extremely addictive and potentially endless when it comes to entertainment. You can be as productive or vicious with your dwarves as your heart pleases, and that's one of the main draws of the cult classic.
1 Dungeon Keeper
- Release date: June 26, 1997
- Platforms: PC
Sometimes the original experience more than lives up to its name. Dungeon Keeper is still the underking when it comes to this genre. This game and its sequel are fantastic examples of how to blend strategic gameplay with wonderfully dark humor.
These games have you gradually conquering the lands of good in the name of darkness, all while being guided by the evil "Mentor" character who teaches you how to build rooms, mine gold, recruit creatures, and research devastating spells with which to smite your enemies. It's a true classic.