Fairy Tail: Dungeons review

Typically, the most popular manga are adapted into either modest mobile games or epic-sized role-playing experiences. Given that Hiro Mashima’s Fairy Tail has received both kinds of interpretations, it’s refreshing to see an effort that straddles this two extremes. Solo developer ginolabo (SOULVARS) imagines Fiore’s most powerful guild employing deckbuilding to defeat a succession of aggressors. And while that might sound like yet another Slay the Spire-derivative, Fairy Tail: Dungeons is more than just a clone with a recognizable cast.

Like many non-canonical works, the storyline is straightforward, using a mysterious portal to steal the prowess of each playable guild member. While there’s a mystery surrounding a disappearing person, Dungeon’s emphasis is on rebuilding the abilities of Natsu, Grey, Erza, Lucy, and Wendy across roguelike runs. Once individual members are strengthened, you’ll get the opportunity to take the guild out, as team-based battles test your synergistic strategies.

Stack Up the Punishment

And while collaborative combat is a definite highlight, you’ll probably relish the swift speed of taking single characters out for dungeon exploring. Like many of its peers, each turn provides three or so action points to spend on picking offensive, defensive, and support-based abilities. Pleasingly, Fairy Tail: Dungeons maps its four selections to the face button on a controller, making this one of the better deckbuilders for owners of portable PCs like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally. If you’re a stanch traditionalist, mouse-and-keyboard-based play is just as fluid.

Remarkably, card sequencing makes a difference thanks to an ample supply of buff cards and magic chains. The former might provide a stat boost for all subsequently played cards while the latter are linked cards that give vigorous boost to your damage output. Factor in the ability to redraw cards, blocking, status effects, enchantments, and equipable amulets, and there’s a wealth of variables. Yet, after a few battles, it’s all quite easy to understand. Dungeons’ difficulty is quite lenient, making the game ideal for deckbuilding apprentices.

Getting the Guild Back Together

But those with experience in the sub-genre know that repetition can dull successive runs. Dungeons does its best to offset this by offering a healthy amount of character cultivation. Obviously, you’ll add new cards and augment your existing ones. But you can also use a currency called Lacrima to purchase items or unlock assistances from a randomized skill grid. Periodically, you’ll be presented with the offer for a HP-rejuvenating rest or be able to augment one of your cards.

And while the game’s playables could have been diversified a bit more (give me a high-risk build, please), each guild member does tackle the dungeons differently thanks to their distinctive decks. And while defeat can seem inevitable, Fairy Tail: Dungeons provides plenty of opportunities to improve your odds. I didn’t encounter as many demoralizing losses as most deckbuilders, which helped to keep me hooked.

A Hint of Exploration

Although you’ll undoubtedly spend the bulk of your time in combat, watching pixelated party members confront a procession of monsters, Fairy Tail: Dungeons does its best to eschew visual fatigue. Between battles, you’ll see an isometric perspective of the procedurally generated dungeon, where you’ll reconnoiter across each floor. Icons reveal the position of opponents, treasure chests, lacrima deposits, and ‘Choose Your Own Adventure-style dilemmas, while each step counts down toward a showcase boss battle. It might look a bit simple, but Dungeons does provide autonomy as you opt to play it safe with your resources or build up your character.

While Dungeons doesn’t deliver much in the way of exposition or character development, there are succinct conversations between characters like Natsu and Happy that inject a bit of personality. And between the spite-art interpretations of Fairy Tail’s cast and Hiroki Kikuta’s (Secret of Mana) Gaelic-influenced soundtrack, the game captures several of the anime’s signature characteristics.

Conclusion

Given its lightweight storytelling and accessible but engaging battles, being a fan of the source material isn’t a requisite for enjoying Fairy Tail: Dungeons. As long as you are up for some balanced stat farming, ginolabo’s latest effort is a thoroughly engaging affair and one of this year’s best deckbuilders.

Fairy Tail: Dungeons was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher.