Dome Keeper launched back in 2022 and was already a brilliant little roguelike, however I found it to be a little too minimalist for my needs at the time. Two years later, however, it’s emerged back on my gaming radar following a massive update back in July, which brought with it a shocking amount of new content including its new Guild Assignments system.
For the uninitiated amongst you, vanilla Dome Keeper is a captivating blend of mining and tower defence with a dash of roguelike variety for good measure. You find yourself stranded on an alien planet, tasked with protecting your transparent dome from relentless waves of monstrous attackers. To survive, you must delve deep into the planet’s crust, gathering valuable resources to upgrade your dome’s defences.
The new Guild Assignment system, however, introduces a fresh challenge mode to the game. Instead of the standard gameplay, these assignments offer unique scenarios that will pose a challenge for new and existing players alike. For example, you might be tasked with defending against one specific type enemies, navigating a new and unusual map layout, or racing against the clock to gather certain resources. This adds a significant amount of variety and replayability, as it also gives you the chance to purchase new unlocks as you complete these special missions.
For me, that has basically meant I have been provided with more purpose, which was lacking for me previously. Suddenly every run is a challenge run, and one in which I can unlock a brand-new meta upgrade. It’s just a joy. It means you can delve into the mines below your little base in new ways, fight off waves above ground in different configurations, and enjoy a bunch of new monsters and gadgets as well. Plus, they’ve added a new loadout menu to prepare for the launch of multiplayer, and if there’s anything that’ll get me even more into the game, it’s the chance to do so with a mate or two.
Dome Keeper had an excellent base experience at launch, but I really feel like the A Keeper’s Duty update (to give the update its full dues) has completely reinvigorated the game. It’s a joy to play, and if you’ve been umming and ahhing about Dome Keeper, I can honestly say there has never been a better time to jump in.
