Why this new action RPG is no. 1 in Steam charts

Sunken Realms, a new dungeon-crawler-style action RPG, launched on Steam on September 18 and appears to be going over very well with players so far. The just over 30 reviews available at the time of research are admittedly too few to draw any firm conclusions, but its top position on the Steam charts under “Popular New Releases” shows that the game is certainly attracting attention. Based on the first reviews, the positive reception seems to stem primarily from the game's accessibility.

Incidentally, Sunken Realms was created by solo developer Magic Puncher Games and sends players deep into the cursed underground city of Aedaria, from which few have ever returned. Protagonist Alric has a personal reason for making the descent: His father disappeared in the ruins years ago – and now he wants to find out what happened to him.

Loot, craft, delve deeper

In terms of gameplay, the indie adventure mixes a classic dungeon crawler with action RPG and roguelite elements. Armed with a sword, ranged weapons and various spells, players fight their way through handcrafted rooms that are rearranged with each run. Along the way, they'll encounter monsters, treasure chests, gold and materials that can later be used to craft better equipment. Players particularly seem to enjoy the simple yet addictive gameplay loop: Enter the dungeon, defeat enemies, collect loot and gold, return, craft, improve the character and then descend even deeper into the dungeon.

The story progresses primarily between runs around the campfire. The combat system has also been well received and appears to offer a decent challenge with parrying, dodging and a stamina system. The visuals and atmosphere are particularly noteworthy considering the game was created by a solo developer. AI was apparently only used for the voice acting. The developer recorded all the dialogue himself and then used artificial intelligence to alter the voices to portray different characters.

So far, criticism has focused primarily on technical issues. Steam reviews mention bugs, occasional stuttering and a somewhat clunky camera. Some players also note that basic quality-of-life features are missing and that the game still feels somewhat unfinished overall. However, players apparently seem more willing to forgive these shortcomings from a solo developer than from a major studio. Those who want to see for themselves can try the free demo. Until September 25, Sunken Realms is also available with a 10% launch discount for $15.29 instead of $16.99. One minor downside: Steam Deck compatibility is still listed as Unknown.