Just one more click, I say. And that's how they get you, isn't it? "They" in this case being the clever minds behind Desktop Dungeons ($15, PC or Mac), a game that exists somewhere in the gulf between roguelike and puzzler, with a bit of kingdom-building tossed in for good measure.
Lurking behind ho-hum visuals and simplistic mechanics is a fiendishly good time, one that'll soak up hours of your day in ten minute increments. It's also pretty funny, which is nice.
Rogue harder
Desktop Dungeons applies standard roguelike rules: combine a race and a class to create a character and delve into a randomly-generated dungeon, wandering down corridors scooping up loot and slaying the ne'er-do-wells lurking within. Killing things nets you experience points, which in turn raises your health and attack power so you'll live longer and hit harder.
There are a few key differences. Combat is a bit of a tactical affair: you can see an enemy's level, the amount of damage they'll do with their next strike, and the amount of damage you'll do, at every point of a fight. Enemies also won't give chase—in fact they're generally frozen in place, attacking only when you do. The trick lies in health regeneration: the bad guys are constantly healing themselves, but you'll only regain health and mana by using one of your limited items, or stepping into unexplored areas of a dungeon. As you reveal terrain you'll gain a bit of health and mana—all wasted if you're already maxed out.
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