Gnomes in video games almost always come with the same package - waist-length beards, granite-level stubbornness and a love of gold that would put the most ambitious banker to shame. Dwarves: Glory, Death and Loot takes that very stereotype and turns it into a roguelite adventure where you lead a group of warlike dwarves through a series of battles, looting and, of course, frequent deaths. Because if the title of the game promises death and loot right from the start, it's clear that you're in for a rather chaotic expedition.
The game is actually more like a manager version of a dwarven war than a classic action RPG. Instead of directly controlling each fighter, you assemble your company and prepare it for battle by choosing equipment, units and upgrades. When the fight begins, the dwarves throw themselves into the fray almost single-handedly, and your role is reduced to clever planning and occasional tactical adjustments. In practice, this means that you spend a good portion of the game watching your small army collide with opponents and hoping you've made good enough decisions before the battle begins.
This is where the roguelite structure of the game comes into play. Each new expedition brings a different schedule of opponents, rewards and possible upgrades. Sometimes you will come across the perfect combination of equipment and characters, so your dwarves will look like unstoppable tanks. Other times you'll be run over by a group of goblins or some monster boss faster than you can say "for the glory of the clan". The game clearly has fun with boosting your ego a bit, and then neatly burying it under a pile of defeated dwarves.
Prey as the main motive
The biggest asset of the game is precisely that sense of progression through loot. Each victory brings new items, weapons and combos that can completely change the way your party behaves in battle. Suddenly your slower warriors become walking walls, archers start melting enemies from a distance, and the entire army looks like something that would command respect even in Deep Rock Galactic. Experimenting with these combinations becomes a bit of a hobby because there's always the feeling that the next try might just be the one that leads you to the perfect dwarven war machine.
Visually the game uses a simple but very readable pixel style that suits the Switch well. Everything is clear enough even in the handheld game mode, and the battles are transparent enough not to turn into complete chaos, even when there are a bunch of units on the screen. Technically speaking, the Switch version works stably and without major problems, which is always good news for indie titles that sometimes stumble on Nintendo's console.
Less stories, more fighting
On the other hand, the game is not particularly deep in terms of narrative. Don't expect an epic story about the fate of a dwarven kingdom or dramatic characters that will stick in your memory. The focus here is clearly on the combat system, progression and constantly trying new strategies. If you need motivation in the form of a complex story, you may feel that something is missing. If watching your army of dwarves turn enemies into a pile of loot drops is enough for you, then you've come to the right place.
Conclusion:
Ultimately, Dwarves: Glory, Death and Loot is one of those games that is perfect for short but frequent play sessions. One attempt easily turns into five, as there is always the feeling that with just one better combination of units, you could make a miracle. And even when everything goes wrong and your party ends up as another statistic in the dwarven disaster book, at least you know you'll get some gold and maybe a new sword out of it.
And in the world of dwarves, it's already quite a solid day.
Sample of Nintendo Switch provided for review purposes by publisher Sidekick Publishing
