Oh man, I love Sokoban games. They bring back so many good school memories, in which we had complete tournaments, with who could complete an old school Sokoban game. So when this Sokoban x Bomberman hybrid dropped in our inbox, I already started planning my moves (get it.. Sokoban..? movement..? No?).

Dungeons & Bombs

Well, if you’re still here, I must have done something right. Let’s dive in…

When enemies drag people into their dark lair and do their vile deeds there, the hero and his faithful sword always come to the rescue. But what if the hero does not have a sword but a lot of enthusiasm and an endless supply of explosives? Well, bad for them. Go through dark labyrinths and dungeons and try not to blast yourself up. Dungeons & Bombs was developed by Pidgeon Dev, who also did Explosive Jake, a game with less fond memories. They returned with a dynamic fusion of classic Sokoban puzzles and Bomberman-inspired games, and it comes with a story!

Story Time!

A thousand years ago, a flourished Kingdom in these lands was already called the ancient. And so the idyll would have continued, if not for the Unholy Union. Under its shadow – tribes of orcs from wildlands, necromancers, and undead from chilly crypts, as well as apostate knights from the outskirts of the kingdom. And they decided to kidnap the beacon of the whole kingdom – its Princess, who in all the surrounding lands was famous for her beauty … and her beard. Yeh, you get to rescue Princess Peachbert.

They stole her from her own bedroom undercover of the night and hid her in the ancient catacombs under the castle. Few would dare to descend under these gloomy vaults, but only one Hero was needed to save the Princess. A kleptomaniac and a pyromaniac with an unhealthy craving for explosions, but still the most devoted knight at court – he was sent by the King to find his daughter. Will a brave knight be able to save the Princess, or is he destined to perish in the darkness among enemies?

Sokoban!

I love Sokoban games because they challenge you to think outside the box (which is strange, since, in the official ones, you push boxes). With as few movements as possible, reach the exit – that’s the simple but perfect formula of a Sokoban game. Dungeons & Bombs adds a little dimension in defeating enemies or blowing up impassable parts of the map. Just keep in mind that everything you do takes up a ‘step.’ If you fail to complete the level before your movements are up – well, you’ll be blown to smithereens and scolded by the bearded-princess.

Dungeons & Bombs does not start with a tutorial to teach you the ropes but throws you in the pit with a piece of good luck attached to your back. This might result in a little bit of frustration in the first few levels since you have to learn the game mechanics by trial and error. And while we’re on the subject, the bearded lady scolding and praising me did not help at all – it made it mostly awkward. But once you get the hang of the patterns, you blaze through the fifty levels Dungeons & Bombs is made off.

Conclusion

It’s a better game than Explosive Jake, but it still feels… off? I can’t put my finger on it, but the whole concept does not add up. Maybe it the combination that does not hold up? It left a bit of a weird taste in my mouth and I’m sure it will find its audience, I’m just not one of them.

6/10

Tested on the Nintendo Switch.