The Lich: A Dungeon of Despair is a singleplayer RPG that revives the classic first-person grid-based dungeon crawler format on PC. Players form a party of four adventurers and descend into a multi-level crypt beneath the town of Myrkheim, where black clouds signal missing travelers and hidden dangers await at the bottom.
Gameplay
Core play revolves around careful party management and tactical decisions in a grid-movement system. Adventurers navigate torch-lit corridors filled with traps, secrets, locked doors, and environmental hazards. Health, hunger, thirst, equipment, and positioning require constant attention, as the dungeon punishes poor preparation. Combat follows the D&D 5th Edition System Reference Document, incorporating initiative, attack rolls, armor class, saving throws, spell slots, feats, and level-ups. Those familiar with the tabletop rules will recognize the framework immediately, while newcomers learn through direct application in encounters.
Turn-based fights emphasize positioning and resource use. Front and back attacks, spell casting, wands, and scrolls all influence outcomes, turning each battle into a distinct puzzle depending on the environment. A skeleton archer poses one threat in a narrow corridor and another in an open chamber. Magic items with attunement, along with a full spell system, expand options as the party progresses deeper.
The town of Myrkheim serves as a central hub. Players interact with townsfolk for quests, trade at the smith, and consult a sage to identify found items. This setup supports repeated expeditions while building toward the main descent.
Game Modes
The primary experience centers on a singleplayer campaign that descends through ten main levels, with optional side branches including caves, dwarven mines and ruins, and sewers that house additional threats such as a hydra. Exploration mixes linear progression on the main route with discovery of these branches. No separate multiplayer or competitive modes appear in the available details; the focus remains on solo party-based dungeon crawling with hub-based preparation and questing between runs.
Visuals and Accessibility
Built in Unreal Engine 5, the game renders stone walls, flickering torches, and lurking shadows in full 3D while preserving the grid-movement and atmosphere of older dungeon crawlers. Support for English, German, and Swedish broadens accessibility for different language preferences.
Character creation allows customization of the four heroes through race, class, ability scores, name, and portrait choices. Warriors, rogues, clerics, wizards, and additional classes each fill distinct combat and survival roles, encouraging varied party compositions on each attempt.
Is It Worth Playing?
This title suits players who enjoy methodical, rules-heavy dungeon crawling rooted in D&D 5e mechanics and classic grid navigation. The combination of resource management, tactical combat, and hub progression offers depth for those who appreciate preparation and careful decision-making over fast action. As an Early Access release, the game remains in active development, with the provided features forming a solid foundation for fans of the genre. Those seeking faithful adaptations of tabletop systems in a modern engine will find the core loop rewarding, particularly if they value singleplayer exploration and party tactics without reliance on external modes or frequent updates beyond the listed content.
