Dandy Dungeon - Legend of Brave Yamada -

Legitimately fun and charming game, but don't continue after the initial ending or you'll crash face first into a wall of repetitive grinding.

Somewhere between Dragon Quest and Mystery Dungeon But more grindy than both And not as fun as either Give it a shot if you feel like it

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Great game to turn your brain off for. It has an amazing sense of humor, but oh boy you's better be in it for the long haul if you want to beat the built-in sequel because im nearing 100 hours soon and i haven't even unlocked the final collection of levels yet. The grind is tedious and it can spoil your enjoyment of it in the late game stages, it's better than the mobile port's "grind" which had a timegating energy system, as well as most of the best equipment being locked behind DLC and a gacha system that rotates through events. Now you just play the game to get the premium stuff, which kinda breaks the progression at points. Your gonna need a guide if you want to complete most of the game because it sucks at telling you about things, but even then it looks like the playerbase died out a long time ago so you will have to solve your super specific questions yourself (Where is the business warrior sword anyway?) Also it should be noted that there are some really nsfw levels later into the game so its probably not the best game to play in a family living room. I remember there being a nsfw censor setting in the mobile port however it appears to not be present anymore.

Pretty great puzzle/RPG roguelike that seems to have been a phone game at first, but now it's a full blown game without microtransactions! There is a ton of content, but the game can get VERY grindy with needing to repeat certain dungeons just to get 1 or 2 RNG drops. This is still a fun, humorous, and enjoyable game that I can recommend!

片手操作難易度：易しい 一筆書きRPG 割と写真見たままなのですが5*5のステージを一筆書きでなぞって戦ったりアイテムを手に入れて扉に向かうゲームです。 もとはスマホゲーでスタミナ制でしたがこれはスタミナはありません。 パンイチプログラマーのおじさんが近所の女子高生に惚れたためゲームの中に登場させたりというなかなかのキワモノ。 moonなどを手掛けた人が作っておりキャラクターたちのクセの強さはかなりのものです。 ですが、ゲームとしてはアイテムを持ち帰り強化、さらに素材を集めて進化、そして特定の組み合わせで発生する「珍コレ」というバフを探すという収集要素が好きな方には楽しめる要素がたくさんあります。 頭に残るBGM、SEなどもあり気付いたらズルズルとしてしまう深みの有るスルメゲーです。

A charming game that deserves more attention: Dandy dungeon has been and always will remain one of my favorite games. This one has it all; Betrayal, romance, good guys turning bad, bad guys being misunderstood, a variety of monsters to fight, an absurd amount of gear to collect and upgrade, and (my favorite) the game manages to make golfing fun. I have spent upward of 500 hours playing the mobile version when it existed, and was devastated when it was taken offline. This version does tend to fix a lot of the issues that the mobile managed to get wrong. Specifically the micro-transactions. Now I find myself crawling towards nearly 100 hours on this version and am confident I will surpass that milestone. Seriously if you give this game a try you will not be disappointed. It is magical and whimsical and all the other adjectives I can think of that are positive. Bless the creator for putting it on PC and I hope we get another charming game soon from the developer. 5 out of 5 stars. 10/10.

Dandy Dungeon - Legend of Brave Yamada -, developed and published by Onion Games, is a wonderfully strange and self-aware RPG that blends puzzle design, roguelite repetition, and heartfelt comedy into something that feels deeply personal and refreshingly unconventional. Originally born on mobile platforms, the game fully embraces its oddball origins rather than hiding them, using that foundation to tell a story not just about dungeon crawling, but about creativity, obsession, burnout, and the quiet loneliness of adulthood. It is a game that constantly plays with expectations, both mechanically and narratively, and stands out precisely because it refuses to behave like a standard RPG. The story follows Yamada, a 36-year-old salaryman and game programmer who has just been fired from his job. Disillusioned with corporate life and driven by a stubborn passion for game design, he retreats into his small apartment and begins obsessively creating his own dungeon crawler. As players, you are effectively playing the game Yamada is making, while simultaneously witnessing his everyday life unfold around it. This dual-layered narrative creates a charming and often poignant contrast between heroic fantasy and mundane reality, as epic monsters and legendary weapons coexist with instant noodles, unpaid bills, and awkward interactions with neighbors. The game frequently blurs the line between fiction and reality, using meta humor and fourth-wall breaks to comment on both game development and the emotional toll of creative ambition. Gameplay revolves around a deceptively simple but clever dungeon system. Each dungeon floor is represented as a small grid, and before Yamada enters, the player must draw a single continuous path that passes through every tile exactly once. This transforms exploration into a spatial puzzle, where careful planning determines success or failure before combat even begins. Once the path is set, Yamada automatically traverses it, fighting enemies, collecting loot, triggering traps, and interacting with events along the way. This structure shifts the focus away from reflexes and toward foresight, rewarding players who can think several steps ahead while also adapting to unpredictable outcomes. Combat itself is largely automated, but it is far from shallow. Equipment choices, consumable items, and resistances play a major role in determining whether Yamada survives a run. Weapons and armor come in many varieties, often with humorous descriptions and unexpected effects, and set bonuses encourage experimentation with different builds. Preparing properly for specific dungeon themes or bosses becomes essential, as charging in without the right gear can quickly lead to defeat. This creates a satisfying loop of planning, execution, failure, and gradual improvement that aligns well with the game’s roguelite sensibilities. Progression is intentionally incremental and sometimes grind-heavy, reflecting both its mobile roots and its narrative themes. Replaying dungeons to gather better equipment or level up is a core part of the experience, and while this can feel repetitive at times, it also reinforces the idea of persistence and obsession that defines Yamada’s character. The game is self-aware about this repetition, often poking fun at grind-heavy RPG design while simultaneously embracing it. For players who enjoy methodical progression and optimization, this loop can be deeply satisfying, though those who dislike repetition may find the later stages slow. Visually, Dandy Dungeon uses expressive pixel art that is simple yet bursting with personality. Character sprites exaggerate emotions in a way that enhances the humor, and monster designs are intentionally silly, surreal, or absurd. The apartment setting contrasts sharply with the fantasy dungeons, grounding the story in an everyday reality that feels oddly relatable. The soundtrack complements this tone perfectly, shifting between playful chiptunes and more subdued melodies that underline the emotional beats of the story. Audio cues and sound effects are used sparingly but effectively, reinforcing both comedy and tension. What truly elevates the game is its writing. The humor is not just surface-level jokes but layered with satire, warmth, and empathy. The game pokes fun at RPG tropes, corporate culture, gamer habits, and creative obsession, but it does so with affection rather than cynicism. Yamada is portrayed as flawed, awkward, and often ridiculous, yet he is never treated cruelly by the narrative. His struggles feel genuine, and the game gradually reveals a surprising amount of heart beneath its absurd exterior. This emotional sincerity is what allows the game to resonate beyond its mechanics. That said, Dandy Dungeon is not without its drawbacks. The reliance on RNG for equipment drops can occasionally stall progress, forcing players to repeat content more than they might like. Difficulty spikes tied to specific gear requirements can feel unfair if the necessary items refuse to appear. Additionally, the pacing may wear thin for players looking for constant novelty, as the core structure remains largely unchanged from start to finish. Ultimately, Dandy Dungeon – Legend of Brave Yamada is a game that thrives on personality, creativity, and self-awareness. It is not designed to appeal to everyone, nor does it try to compete with traditional RPGs on scale or complexity. Instead, it offers a deeply distinctive experience that blends puzzle-solving, roguelite progression, and narrative charm into a cohesive whole. For players who enjoy unconventional games with strong authorial voice, meta storytelling, and a blend of humor and heart, Dandy Dungeon is a memorable journey that feels as much like a personal statement as it does a game. Rating: 7/10

I honestly don't understand the lack of attention this game's getting. Noone's covering the game anywhere and all Dandy Dungeon related videos on YouTube only get 200 views max (and are from 4 years ago, on the mobile version of Dandy Dungeon). This game's been my favorite game ever since I played the mobile version of the game from 2017-2019. Recently got back to it on mobile only to notice that there's a steam/switch version of the game, and that 2017-2019 me missed a lot of (new) content. The steam version of Dandy Dungeon is focussed on small QOL things and no longer has IAPs, which its mobile version did. The mobile version took away the ability to unlock certain perks just because the game lost its service around 2019, with the devs turning the game fully offline. But, with this rebrand in the steam version, it makes the game flow much much better, and has gotten me completely hooked on the game again. Now I'm actually able to properly grind for the things I want to have, giving me the ability to try out all sorts of synergies I would've never been able to do in the mobile version. There's still the occasional spelling error or missing punctuation (not really a fan of some of the sexual nuances either, there's not a lot but I don't necessarily want to see pig honkers) but that doesn't take away from the charm of the game. I'm not really a gamer myself but it's safe to say that Dandy Dungeon is one of my favorite games, if not my favorite overall. I hope the devs keep updating this game, and don't drop it unlike the mobile version. You rock, Yamada <3

10/10