| Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gameplay & Story | Release Date | Pre-Order & DLC | Review |
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers is an indie roguelite strategy game that mixes classical RPG combat with the thrill of Blackjack. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers Review Overview
What is Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers?
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers is a unique, RPG-inspired blackjack roguelite that originally debuted as a browser game on Itch.io. Now available on Steam, this game combines classic blackjack mechanics with turn-based RPG combat. Players can explore a diverse array of unique cards—many of which go far beyond the standard casino fare—and face off against a host of quirky opponents across multiple stages. Promising hours of addictive, casino-crawling fun, "Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers" offers an engaging experience for dealers and gambits of all ages!
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers features:
⚫︎ Simple turn-based RPG combat with playing cards
⚫︎ 295 unique cards to unlock, play, and encounter
⚫︎ Various casino mini-games to encounter, including roulette and 3-card monte
⚫︎ Roguelike progression with randomized encounters
⚫︎ 18 unlockable starting decks with specialized builds
 Steam |
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Just Enough Roguelike Goodness Endless Jokes and References |
Not Quite Balatro’s Level Gets Repetitive Quickly |
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers Overall Score - 62/100
Although Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers had the deck stacked in its favor with a fun and creative gameplay premise, it simply didn’t have the right cards to form a winning hand. Its story barely exists and its audio was better off not existing. While the aesthetics are well-made, they lack the polish of similar games like Balatro. Still, it’s a fun idea that was executed poorly. If it can sweeten the pot a bit and decorate its dungeon a tad more, I’m certain that D&DG will eventually hit a Nat 21.
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers Story - 5/10
For a game who's namesake is based on Dungeons and Dragons, D&DG’s story is fairly lackluster. It's hard to piece together and, frankly, not worth the trouble figuring out. It isn't bad per se, but it’s nothing special either, with a nebulous goal and a faceless, nameless protagonist to boot. The narrative is minimal, existing only as a backdrop for the gameplay. While you might not regret reading into it eventually, the real appeal lies in the game’s card-based mechanics.
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers Gameplay - 8/10
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers’ gameplay is the blackjack to Balatro’s poker. While it may not be as polished as Balatro, it holds its own unique charm. The combination of roguelike progression and high-stakes blackjack delivers an addictive rush, capturing the thrill of hitting a jackpot without any of the gambling downsides.
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers Visuals - 7/10
I'm a big fan of pixel art, and "Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers'" 16-bit aesthetics are quite eye-catching. Although it doesn't reach the pinnacle of the medium, it's very well-made and fits the gamified gambling vibe perfectly. It could benefit from more animations and a broader color palette, but overall, the style effectively serves the game's purpose.
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers Audio - 3/10
If the gameplay of this game is like hitting a straight flush, the audio is more like a high card—not entirely disappointing, but bad enough that you’re definitely not going to win. It’s not bad enough to mute, but it’s close. Personally, I’d prefer to play my own music while playing this game, especially since the audio doesn’t affect gameplay at all. Just remember to lower the sound effects volume unless you enjoy the constant buzz of white-noise crashes.
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers Value for Money - 8/10
At $15, D&DG is a solid purchase despite its few drawbacks. It satisfies that gambling itch without breaking the bank and offers some excellent roguelike gameplay as a bonus. While it could be even better with improved music, a stronger story, and slightly enhanced visuals, it's still a worthwhile investment as it stands.
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers Review | Missed That Nat 21
2024 is undoubtedly the year of the "Casino Roguelikes," a term I’ve coined to capture this rising trend. In February, Balatro took the gaming world by storm, and now, towards the end of the year, we have Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers. This new title hits the same high notes as Balatro but swaps out Poker for Blackjack, providing a different—if not a bit simplistic—twist to the budding sub-genre’s most iconic features. The question now remains whether D&DG will reach the same heights as its 5-carded cousin.
As this review reveals, the game had potential but was dealt a rough hand. It’s just an ace short of a full house, yet there's still something valuable beneath the failed bluffs and folded hands. So, put on your shades and brush up on your card counting as we dive face-card-first into the casino floor of Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers.
We begin with the game's most prominent feature: its gameplay. Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers is often compared to Balatro for its casino-inspired roguelike elements, but that's where the similarities end. Instead of building increasingly wild poker hands to achieve astronomical scores, you’re battling enemies in a game of blackjack, where your cards deal damage and sabotage of enemy decks is allowed.
You draw cards from your deck one at a time—an action called "hitting"—and the value of each card you draw is added to the previous total. Hitting a card value of exactly 21 is called a "blackjack," while going over 21 is a "bust." If this were normal blackjack, that would be the end of it, but D&DG adds a unique twist with its intuitive combat system.
To keep it brief, whenever you're satisfied with your hand's card value—whether it’s 21 or not—you can choose to "stand," submitting your card value to be compared with your opponent's. Whoever is closest to 21 without busting wins, and the winning hand deals damage to the losing player's health equal to the difference between the two hands. If a hand busts, that hand’s value is reduced to 0, allowing the enemy hand to deal full damage. For example, if I stood with an 18 and the enemy stood with 16, I would deal 2 damage to them. If they ended up busting with a 25, I would deal 18 damage instead.
This isn’t where the complexity ends, however, as you’re given more than just standard playing cards to add to your deck, and you also get a bonus for hitting 21 exactly depending on your hand’s suit. Diamonds gain you more chips—this game’s version of money—while clubs deal more damage to the enemy if your hand wins. Spades give you armor to go on top of your max health, and hearts heal you a certain amount. This is where the game's core loop becomes truly addictive. It's not just blackjack; it's blackjack with every imaginable twist.
The new cards you can add to your deck change the game in random and hilarious ways. Some cards reward you for busting, while others subtract from your hand’s value instead of adding to it. There are even cards that can be held separately from your hand and activated through a mechanic familiar to D&D players called "advantage". Advantage is just a catch-all term for a resource that lets you activate certain cards at certain times. Without it, these cards are useless, and the game gives you a random passive at the start of each run to help you generate advantage in some way.
The progression in Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers is quintessentially roguelike, featuring branching paths, special rooms, shops, and various NPCs to challenge and fight. Each area culminates in a boss fight, and the boss design is commendable, considering the simplicity of the game’s screen real estate, or lack thereof. Through this branching progression, your deck is expanded and modified, granting you a noticeable increase in power as the fights continue, similar to a traditional RPG. This is the best part of D&DG by far, and while it might not be as endlessly captivating as Balatro’s septuagintillion-strong scores, it still holds up well against my expectations.
Unfortunately, one ace does not a winning hand make, and the rest of the D&DG’s cards are too low-value to compensate. The game's art direction and pixel-art aesthetics are good but don't reach the pinnacle of the medium. It could benefit from more animations and a bouncier, more tactile presentation similar to Balatro's. The flip of a card and the riffle of a deck should feel authentic in a game based on a real card game, and that’s something that D&DG simply doesn’t have.
The game's soundtrack and audio represent its lowest point in terms of quality. While the soundtrack is fitting and captures the adventurous yet sleazy vibe of a casino-based dungeon crawl, the sound effects are grating and repetitive. I find myself tuning them out completely and playing my own music instead, especially since the game's audio has no impact on its gameplay.
Then there's the game's story, which is neither good nor bad but barely exists at all. Crafting a compelling narrative for a game about playing cards is undoubtedly challenging, and the developers seem to have the same bump in the road. The game’s story is almost imperceptible amidst its gameplay's chaos. The worst part is that, once you manage to piece together the narrative, you’ll realize it wasn't worth the effort. There really isn't much to this game beyond its main gameplay loop, but at least it has some high-value cards to work with.
Together, these shortcomings act as the proverbial anchor dragging down D&DG’s overall value. It simply doesn’t look, feel, or sound as engaging as Balatro or, to make a more direct comparison, 2022’s Poker Quest. The lack of screen variation throughout each run hints at its limited staying power, which, frankly, isn’t very strong. You’ll likely play this game non-stop for a day or two, then set it aside forever. That’s not to discredit the clever design at its core, but one good element can’t determine a game’s overall quality—much like how a high-value card in a weak hand is still just a high-card play that’ll lose to any other hand.
And that’s the last card for Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers. This game offers a creatively addictive gameplay loop that constantly tempts you into another round. However, it falls short with its poor audio and a complete lack of narrative. While these elements aren’t essential to enjoying the core experience, as Balatro demonstrates, they certainly enhance it. Overall, this game is just shy of hitting blackjack, but you won’t hear me complaining about its existence anytime soon.
Pros of Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers
| Things Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers Got Right |
|---|
|
Just Enough Roguelike Goodness Endless Jokes and References |
Just Enough Roguelike Goodness
D&DG could have easily fallen into the common trap of prioritizing variety over quality, as many aspiring roguelike classics do. Fortunately, the developers struck the right balance, understanding that too much randomness can be overwhelming. They added just enough roguelike elements to keep the game interesting without bloating the deck, so to speak. I wouldn’t say no to a bit more variance in terms of UI design, but that’s a change that goes beyond base-game content.
Endless Jokes and References
If you're a fan of games brimming with pop-culture references like Enter the Gungeon, then D&DG is sure to deal you a handful of laughs. This game offers a wide range of playable cards, each packed with references from the obvious to the delightfully obscure. Whether you're a casual gamer or a die-hard fan, you're bound to find jokes and callbacks that resonate with you. As a Hearthstone enthusiast, I found it hilarious to encounter a card named "Four Mana Seven Seven" in my game of blackjack—especially since it's just as overpowered in D&DG as it was in Hearthstone.
Cons of Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers
| Things That Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers Can Improve |
|---|
|
Not Quite Balatro’s Level Gets Repetitive Quickly |
Not Quite Balatro’s Level
As I mentioned earlier, the comparisons between D&DG and Balatro are inevitable and well-founded. Both games take traditional casino games and add an addictive twist to their chance-based gameplay. Unfortunately, when compared to Balatro, D&DG falls short in almost every aspect. Balatro boasts a tighter and more well-designed gameplay loop, a more cohesive and engaging aesthetic, and a soundtrack that's much more pleasing to the ears. If you're seeking an RPG, a casino roguelike, or even a combination of both, you'd be better off playing Octopath Traveler, Balatro, or Poker Quest, respectively.
Gets Repetitive Quickly
Due to its formulaic nature and smaller—though adequately-sized—roster of playable cards, D&DG can become repetitive rather quickly, especially if you consistently lose in the mid-to-late game. The early game is incredibly predictable, which, if you're experienced, you can exploit to your advantage. However, this assumes you've continued playing after about ten games that start and end in the exact same way. This isn't entirely D&DG's fault, as blackjack is a significantly simpler casino game compared to poker.
Is Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers Worth It?
Yeah, And It’s Cheaper Than Gambling
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers is currently going for $15. At that price, this game is a real bargain. It offers a way to satisfy your gambling itch without the trip to Vegas and even adds some enjoyable roguelike mechanics as a freebie. Although it has a few flaws that keep it from being the perfect purchase, even at such a low price, it’s still something you won’t regret picking up in the long run.
| Platforms | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam |
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| $14.99 | |||||
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers FAQ
How Do You Unlock New Starting Decks In Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers?
You can unlock new starting decks with specialized playstyles whenever you beat the game on any difficulty.
Why Was My Trump Card Not Removed From My Deck After Winning A Match?
Although the Trump Card, which grants an instant blackjack, typically removes itself from your deck when discarded, winning a match with it bypasses the discard action, preventing it from being destroyed.
What Are The Different Difficulty Levels in D&DG And What Are Their Differences?
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers has five difficulty levels, each with unique modifiers of ramping challenge, as listed below:
| Play It Safe | No Modifiers |
|---|---|
| Double Down! | Advantage is Harder to Get |
| Triple Down! | All Previous Modifiers + All Encounter Start with Random Minor Arcana 5 in Deck |
| Quadruple Down! | All Previous Modifiers + Opponents Have Better Decks |
| All In! | All Previous Modifiers + Final Boss Unlocked |
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Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers Product Information
 | |
| Title | DUNGEONS & DEGENERATE GAMBLERS |
|---|---|
| Release Date | August 8, 2024 |
| Developer | Purple Moss Collectors |
| Publisher | Yogscast Games |
| Supported Platforms | PC (Steam) |
| Genre | Strategy, Indie, Roguelite |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| Rating | RP |
| Official Website | Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers Official Website |
