Mobile Game Monday: DUNGEON CLAWLER
Dungeon Clawler (2025) is a roguelike deck builder developed by Stray Fawn Studio and published in collaboration with Playworks. Play as various unfortunate crittplaers who lost their paws gambling with a ruthless shark. Getting your appendage back won't be easy, but it will be fun. Or it might be infuriatingly frustrating, depending on the run. Screenshots courtesy of Cassie Holguin.
Claw your way through 20 floors filled with enemies like slimes, angry plants, and even a Cthulhu look-alike. At the tippy top of the tower of doom awaits the shark boss with your lucky paw, claw, or tentacle that he has made into a tacky keychain.
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If you manage to defeat the boss, retrieve your paw and add it to your collection. On more difficult runs, these lucky paws can be equipped to characters for abilities like a magnetic or tentacle claw. Gameplay
There are over 10 characters to choose from, and each one offers a unique Dungeon Clawler experience. Once you have selected your rabbit of revenge, you will use a claw machine to grab items used in a turn-based battle. Typically, you get two chances to drop a claw and grab items. Swipe left and right to move the claw, then press the drop button when you've found that sweet spot. Screenshots courtesy of Cassie Holguin.
Anything that is successfully collected will be applied during your turn. If you see that the enemy is about to hit you, make sure to grab some shields so as not to lose those precious health points. Alternatively, it is wise to deal damage while the enemy buffs up or tries to heal because they can't hit you if they are dead.
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Start with pretty basic items in your machine, like small shields and daggers. Additionally, each character begins with different starting items, and you will collect more powerful gear as you progress through the game. Synergy Is Key
The key to success in Dungeon Clawler is creating synergy between items, perks, and abilities. For example, Scrappy always gets a magnet for his second claw. Try to collect magnet-based items or magnet buffs that increase all magnetism by 20 percent. Then let the laws of magnetism and physics do all of the work. Watch all of your best items cling together as you drag and drop a massive haul. Sometimes the fun is simply seeing how many items you can collect in one grab. Screenshots courtesy of Cassie Holguin.
Another strategy is to collect water-based items while using Squiddy to best utilize his tentacle claw. This strategy led to me to an easy win, and not to mention, Squiddy is as cute as can be. Most of the time, your rewards are random, so luck plays a part in your strategy. You may have to pivot if Lady Luck doesn't give you the items you were hoping for.
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No matter which character you run with, quickly find a way to heal yourself because you'll need it. You will also need to find a good balance between attack and defense because both are necessary for survival. Stop at the blacksmith to upgrade your equipment or visit Granny to heal and grab some coins. There are plenty of ways to improve your run as you go. Updates and Extras
Although Dungeon Clawler is fairly new, generous updates have already added exciting new content. Last month's Frosty Fortune Update included the new anti-gravity cannon along with three new playable characters, including Baroness von Frost.
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Change your fate and test your luck at the fortune teller and gambling rooms. Collect icy new items and perks to take down any frosty foe that stands in your way. If you are looking for skins, put away your wallet, join the Dungeon Clawler discord, and check out the #free-skins channel. Our Adventure Ends Here
Dungeon Clawler was already on my radar as a new mobile release, but when I saw the rave reviews, I had to give it a try. And I'm so glad that I did because this indie gem will keep me busy all summer. The art style and gameplay remind me of the browser game sites that were really popular in the early 2000s, like Neopets. Screenshot courtesy of Cassie Holguin.
There is a balanced blend of strategy and luck that keeps you on your toes. The play style feels a lot like Balatro in that you create a strategy as the game plays out. Apparently, I love these types of games because I can't put either down.
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As soon as I realized you could unlock characters by playing the game, I immediately made it my mission to unlock and play as every character. Although the gameplay is a bit redundant, each run is different depending on the character you choose as well as the items and buffs found. Most importantly, all those years of claw machine training are finally paying off.
Dungeon Clawler is $4.99 (free with a Play Pass subscription) in the Play Store and the App Store.
Take it easy, and play it safe, gamers.
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