A new dungeon RPG on Steam shines with old-school charm, accessible controls, and really good player ratings.
Which game is this about? We are talking about Tower of Mask, a dungeon RPG by the Japanese developer Papertip Studio. The game was released on December 7, 2024, on Steam and combines dungeon crawling with elements of survival horror.
If you love the old dungeon RPGs of the 1980s and early 2000s, you have certainly heard of Legend of Grimrock. The game was released in 2012, and a second part followed two years later. Both games were celebrated for their old-school charm.
Since Legend of Grimrock, there have been many dungeon crawlers, but most have not quite captured the feeling of the old classics. Now, about 10 years later, Tower of Mask might have succeeded – at least according to the current players on Steam.
You can see a trailer for Tower of Mask here:
Survival-Horror in the Dark Dungeon
What is the game about? In Tower of Mask, you are trapped in a mysterious tower filled with puzzles and traps. As if that weren’t bad enough, you are also attacked by creepy figures in masks.
What sets Tower of Mask apart from other dungeon RPGs of its kind is the combat. It doesn’t feel as old-school as the visuals might suggest. This mainly has to do with the camera work.
Old-School Feeling with Modern Controls
The game world is divided like a chessboard: You don’t move freely through it, but from one square to the next. You can move the camera freely. This may not sound remarkable nowadays, but if you have played old dungeon crawlers, you know what a significant change this is.
Thanks to the free camera, combat in Tower of Mask is much smoother. It also feels more dynamic: you can easily dodge to another square during combat and still attack while moving.
Outstanding Dungeon Crawler That Few Know About
How is the game currently received? Out of a total of 98 reviews on Steam, 98% are positive. However, since this is still a relatively small number of reviews, this figure should be taken with caution. Nevertheless, those who have played Tower of Mask are convinced by the game:
- teddy via Steam: “This game is amazing. It really satisfies that dungeon crawler itch. If you like games like Grimrock, Shadow Tower Abyss or King’s Field, you might enjoy this one. I often didn’t notice how much time had passed, lol.”
- klosterhiem via Steam: “What if someone combined Legend of Grimrock and Shadow Tower and streamlined both by removing a lot of the awkward controls and system-induced clunkiness, focusing instead on dungeon puzzles and well-timed first-person action where precision and calm are more important than actions per minute? You’d have one of my favorite games of the year!”
How much does the game cost? Trying it out is free; there is a free demo for Tower of Mask on Steam. If you want to buy the dungeon RPG, it only costs you €10.79.
If you prefer something a bit more modern and don’t bail out of PvP right away, Dark and Darker might be the right dungeon RPG for you. It managed to bring back many players with an update in December; you can read more about it in this article: “Finally a Good Update” – A Forgotten Steam Hit Brings Constantly Changing Dungeons, and Players Love It
