Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Gauntlet: The Deeper Dungeons builds directly on the core hack-and-slash mechanics of the original Gauntlet, delivering 512 brand-new labyrinthine levels for you to explore. Each dungeon continues to challenge players with hordes of orcs, ghosts, and trolls, ensuring that adrenaline-fueled combat remains at the forefront of the experience. Veteran players will immediately recognize the familiar four-character dynamic—Warrior, Valkyrie, Wizard, and Elf—each with its distinct strengths and weaknesses.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

The new dungeon layouts offer a surprising variety of twists on the classic formula. While there are no new enemy types or power-ups, the level designers have crafted cleverly interlocking corridors, unexpected choke points, and strategically placed health pickups. This design keeps every run feeling fresh, whether you’re navigating tight, monster-infested hallways or sweeping open chambers that test your ability to kite and manage crowds.

That said, the pacing can become relentless as you push deeper into the pack’s 512 stages. The difficulty curve ramps up almost exponentially, which will delight high-score chasers but may frustrate casual adventurers. Without any new character progression or narrative hooks, the only reward is how far you can push your map completion and how many points you can eke out before the lamps—or your lives—run dry.

Graphics

Visually, The Deeper Dungeons remains identical to its parent title, relying on the same 8-bit color palette and sprite work that defined Gauntlet’s arcade and home ports. You won’t find new monster animations or redesigned environments here—everything from the flame-spitting dragon to the spectral wraiths is lifted directly from the original assets.

However, a deeper dive into the 512 new maps reveals subtle shifts in tile arrangement and color emphasis to evoke a sense of descending into darker, more foreboding underground depths. Slight palette swaps—dimmer hues and darker backgrounds—help differentiate early levels from the abyssal lower floors, even if the underlying art remains unchanged.

Players seeking cutting-edge visuals or graphical enhancements will be disappointed. The pack leans fully into nostalgia, offering a faithful continuation rather than a visual overhaul. For those who love Gauntlet’s retro charm, the unchanged sprites are comforting; for newcomers accustomed to modern graphics, the aesthetic may feel dated from the first screen.

Story

As an expansion pack, Gauntlet: The Deeper Dungeons delivers zero new narrative content. There are no cutscenes, no NPC interactions, and no additional lore beyond what the original Gauntlet provided. You jump straight into the action, descending floor after floor in search of treasure and survival.

Players who value story-driven progression or worldbuilding will find this pack sorely lacking. The only implied context is familiar to any Gauntlet veteran: you are exploring ever-more-dangerous depths beneath a fantasy realm, slaying monsters to preserve peace or accrue glory. That’s it—no hidden scrolls or unfolding plot threads await discovery.

In practical terms, the narrative thread you carry into The Deeper Dungeons is exactly the same one from the base game. If you’re comfortable with a purely mechanical journey—dive, slay, loot, repeat—you won’t mind. But if a rich storyline or character motivations are part of what you expect from DLC, this pack offers nothing in that regard.

Overall Experience

Gauntlet: The Deeper Dungeons is, at its heart, a content drop for die-hard fans who can’t get enough of classic arcade-style dungeon crawling. With 512 new levels, it offers an impressive quantity of fresh challenges. If you’ve replayed the original Gauntlet dozens of times and still crave more labyrinths to conquer, this expansion will sate that hunger.

On the other hand, its singular focus on additional maps exposes its limitations: no new enemies, puzzles, or mechanics to break up the repetition. The pack doubles down on longevity through sheer volume, so you’ll be grinding familiar foes without any major surprises. For high-score aficionados and speedrunners aiming to set records on novel layouts, this is a treasure trove. Casual players might find the absence of broader enhancements too monotonous.

Ultimately, The Deeper Dungeons delivers precisely what its name promises: deeper Gauntlet action. Your enjoyment will hinge on how much you value fresh level design over fresh gameplay ideas. If you want more of the same—and you want it in spades—this expansion is an easy recommendation. If you expected a more evolved experience, you may want to wait for a future installment or seek out fan-made mods that introduce entirely new content.

Retro Replay Score

7.7/10