"Marketing at its best": Funny translation mishap helps indie game succeed
Paolo Nicoletti, the developer behind the indie studio Fix-a-Bug, had the title of his new game The Crazy Hyper-Dungeon Chronicles machine-translated into Japanese – which briefly rendered the title as "Kuso Dungeon," loosely translating to "Shit Dungeon." The mistranslation quickly went viral, earning the game unexpected attention and giving the small studio a surprising publicity boost.
The buzz began when a Japanese user shared a screenshot of the mistranslated title on X (in Japanese), which quickly spread through the local gaming community. In an interview with GameSpark, Nicoletti said the post was key to the sudden attention: “Everyone laughed – me included, like crazy!” While the mix-up was a bit embarrassing, he admits it turned out to be “marketing at its best,” even if completely unintentional.
The Crazy Hyper-Dungeon Chronicles is a classic dungeon crawler RPG in which players control a variety of characters as they explore procedurally generated dungeons filled with combat and puzzles. Its standout feature is the unusual combat system: while battles are turn-based, each attack triggers a quick-time event. With precise timing, players can land critical hits or activate special effects – but mistime it, and the attack may deal less damage or miss entirely. The game features charming pixel art and a nostalgic synth soundtrack, evoking the spirit of classic 16-bit RPGs.
On Steam, The Crazy Hyper-Dungeon Chronicles holds an 88% positive rating based on 142 reviews. Players have praised its humor, quirky dialogue, and the passion of its solo developer. However, some criticism has been directed at the game’s slow pacing and limited inventory space. Opinions on the combat system are mixed – some find it repetitive, while others see it as the game’s defining feature.
The Crazy Hyper-Dungeon Chronicles is available on Steam for around $13. For those still on the fence, a free demo is available to try before buying. While the game hasn’t yet been officially verified for the Steam Deck (currently priced at around $435 on Amazon), its modest system requirements suggest it should run smoothly on most handheld consoles.
Nicoletti has since updated the game’s title to correct the mistranslation, joking that he didn’t want his mother thinking he had released a game called "Shit Dungeon." Still, the mix-up left a lasting impact: wishlist numbers spiked, and the demo has seen a significant increase in downloads since the post went viral.
