Game: Dobbel Dungeon
Genre: Indie, RPG, Strategy
System: Steam (Windows)
Developer|Publisher: Gamepie
Controller Support: Yes
Steam Deck: Playable
Price: US $19.99 | UK £16.75 | EU € 19.99
Release Date: February 16th, 2026
Review code provided with many thanks to Gamepie.
Dobbel Dungeon – Cuter Side of Tactics
Dobbel Dungeon is one of those games that looks small and simple at first glance, and then suddenly you’ve been playing it for hours. It’s a tactical RPG built around dice rolls, grid-based combat and bite-sized missions. On paper, that might sound a bit intimidating, especially if you’re not used to strategy games. In practice? It’s surprisingly easy to get into.
Heroes Called to Action
A curse has swept across the land, wildlife, including piggies and fish, has turned hostile, and it’s up to your little team of heroes to sort it out. You travel between islands, take on missions, and slowly push back against the threat. The story mostly sits in short text segments between battles. Nothing overly dramatic, just enough to give you context and move things along. And honestly, that’s fine. The focus here is clearly the gameplay.
Dice First, Decisions Second
Every turn starts with rolling your dice. Performing actions costs a die, and some abilities will be buffed further depending on the number rolled. If you’ve got the right numbers, your abilities work exactly as described. There’s no “90% chance to hit” nonsense. If the dice match the skill, it happens. That small decision makes a big difference.
Instead of hoping things go your way, you’re working with what you’ve been given. Do you use your high roll for a big attack? Spend it opening a chest? Save it for defence? You’re constantly making little tactical choices. It’s all easy to follow. It starts off very simple. Move. Attack. Defend. Possibly heal.
But as your heroes level up, things expand. Some abilities need specific numbers. Some want even rolls. Some need multiple dice combined. You also unlock ways to reroll or tweak dice slightly, which adds another layer without making it overly complicated. It’s easy to understand, but there’s enough going on to keep it interesting.
Missions and Progression
The island structure works really well. You’re usually given a couple of missions to choose from rather than being forced down a strict path. Complete missions, earn rewards, unlock more areas. Eventually, you’ll reach each island’s boss.
Most missions are “defeat all enemies,” which is clear and does the job. But there are also escort quests, defence missions and survival-style fights mixed in. That bit of variety helps stop things from feeling repetitive.
The real hook for me was progression. Between missions, you’re assigning skill points, unlocking new abilities and equipping items. Each hero has their own skill tree, and skill points are shared across the team. That means you actually have to think about who you’re investing in.
Do you make your warrior a frontline tank? Turn your mage into a heavy damage dealer? Focus on healing support?
It’s not overly complex, but it’s satisfying. I kept finishing missions and immediately wanted to jump into the next one just so I could earn more upgrades.
Difficulty Options
Dobbel Dungeon offers a few difficulty settings, including a permadeath option for those who want that extra tension.
There’s also a more forgiving mode in which fallen heroes return after battle. I appreciated having that option. Tactical games can be stressful if you’re constantly worried about losing a character forever.
That said, I wouldn’t have minded even more flexibility, like being able to remove permadeath while keeping tougher enemy scaling. But what’s here works well enough for most players.
How It Looks and Feels
Visually, the game has a soft, clay-built tabletop feel to it. Characters and environments look rounded and slightly toy-like, which suits the dice theme nicely.
You’ll visit villages, beaches, icy areas, and familiar fantasy settings, but they’re bright and readable during combat. It never feels cluttered, which is important in a grid-based game.
Performance-wise, it runs smoothly on Steam and works well with a controller. It’s also playable on Steam Deck, which feels like a good fit for shorter mission bursts.
Conclusion: Tactics for Everyone
Dobbel Dungeon doesn’t try to overwhelm you with systems or complicated mechanics. It introduces its ideas gently, then builds on them as you go.
What I liked most is how welcoming it feels. Tactical RPGs can sometimes feel like homework. This one feels inviting. You learn as you play, and before you know it, you’re thinking three turns ahead without even realising it. It’s engaging without being exhausting. And once it gets its hooks in, it’s surprisingly difficult to step away from.
If you’ve been curious about grid-based RPGs but never quite taken the plunge, this is a great place to start. And if you already enjoy the genre, there’s enough depth here to keep you busy.
I had a really good time with it. Simple as that.
Final Verdict: I Like it a Lot
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