Matching puzzle roguelike for mobile
Alchemy Dungeon is a free puzzle game for mobile developed by pixelzwaard. It's a match puzzler wherein players will experiment with various item combinations to slay monsters and get treasure as they explore multiple dungeon levels. It boasts one-handed controls and a portrait orientation ideal for gaming on the go.
Similar in concept to games like Alchemy or Little Alchemy 2, Alchemy Dungeons feature simple yet hard-to-master gameplay given the possible combinations. That is complemented by unique characters with powers that affect outcomes in all kinds of ways, making for an experience that feels different with every playthrough.
All kinds of possibilities
The concept of alchemy has been gaining popularity in the puzzle game genre in recent years. One of the main reasons for that is its unpredictable nature that has players come up with all kinds of outcomes. Alchemy Dungeon is another incarnation of such themes but adds a twist by being a dungeon crawler, as well as incorporating roguelike elements to its gameplay.
In this game, you're a would-be adventurer in search of wonder and treasure. The gameplay happens on a grid-like board filled with items and monsters. It's up to you to match them to unlock new objects like potions, swords, and others that you can use to buff your hero or attack adjacent enemies. There are multiple heroes to choose from that deal physical or magical attacks.
Progression in the game is quite results-based, with power and stages unlocking the farther you reach into dungeons. The loot you manage to find will be for upgrades. Now, while the whole premise is interesting, things can get confusing at the start. You're really just left to figure things out on your own and go from there. Some additional tutorials or guides would have been nice.
Something different
Overall, Alchemy Dungeon is a nice refreshing take that cues from multiple genres to offer something unique and different. The combination of puzzling, dungeon crawling, and roguelikes is still a rarity today. That alone is enough reason to give it a try. It will be a bit tricky at the beginning, but well worth spending the time to learn. This one gets a recommendation.
