Do a bit of visual programming and watch your party of heroes conquer an evil tower in Dungeon Automata

Dungeon Automata reimagines the dungeon crawler genre by shifting combat control from the player to programmable golems, blending auto-battlers with logic-based visual scripting. The developer, Medium-Rare Games, positions it as an 'autologic,' where party members execute pre-set actions triggered by linked nodes. These nodes can dictate responses to conditions like enemy proximity or ally health, emphasizing optimization through trial and error. The system replaces traditional micromanagement with a pre-adventure setup phase, where players script behaviors before sending their party into handcrafted dungeon levels.

The game’s core mechanic revolves around pre-programming each party member’s actions, including movement and combat responses, using a visual scripting interface. Players link nodes to create conditional logic, such as 'if ally HP is low, heal' or 'if enemy is near, attack,' which the golems execute autonomously during gameplay. This approach removes real-time decision-making but demands strategic foresight, as adjustments can only be made between levels. The dungeons themselves are handcrafted, offering fixed layouts without procedural generation or roguelike elements.

Dungeon Automata features pixel art visuals rendered in black and white, accompanied by music composed by Yuzo Koshiro, known for soundtracks in Sonic the Hedgehog and Streets of Rage. The game includes a playable demo available on Steam, allowing players to experiment with the visual programming system before committing. The demo provides a hands-on introduction to scripting party behaviors and navigating the tower’s challenges, showcasing the game’s unique blend of strategy and automation.

The title is positioned as a fresh take on dungeon crawlers, targeting players who enjoy tactical depth without the grind of traditional stat-heavy systems. By automating combat and movement, Dungeon Automata shifts focus to puzzle-like optimization, where players refine their scripts to overcome fixed challenges. The absence of real-time control and randomness in dungeon layouts distinguishes it from roguelikes, offering a more methodical experience. With a demo available, players can assess whether the programming-heavy approach aligns with their playstyle.