War for the Overworld

War for the Overworld is a fan project started by members of the Keeper Klan forum. After several changes to the project team, the remaining people formed Subterranean Games (later renamed to Brightrock Games), who are based in Brighton, United Kingdom.^[1] They launched a successful kick-starter and eventually managed to successfully release it as a commercial product. Although it was originally started as an unofficial sequel, due to intellectual property concerns all direct references to the Dungeon Keeper series were removed, and the game is now considered a spiritual descendant of the series.

Description[]

It is a real-time strategy god game where you have the power to command armies, cast spells, and place traps. Instead of playing the hero, you assume the role of an Underlord and will create vast dungeons beneath the earth.

Plot[]

The Player takes on the role of an 'Underlord' (which is basically the same as a Dungeon Keeper) named Oberon. Together with Mendechaus (the Mentor) the player must embark on a quest to destroy the goodly Empire and take control of the mortal realm of Kairos. When the game starts, Oberon is but a husk of his former self after his return from the Aether, the place where defeated Underlords are banished to when they are defeated. With Mendechaus's help, Oberon (and the Player) learn how to build dungeons and construct rooms and defences, and how to cast powerful spells and unleash rituals with devastating effects in order to kill the boy Emperor Lucius and the Goddess Kira then achieve their goal.

Gameplay[]

In the game, players assume the role of an Underlord tasked with building dungeons that contain deadly traps and enemies to kill wandering heroes.^[2] The game starts with a blank slate and lets players choose where to "dig, fortify, and build" to create their dungeon.^[2] The game is played in real time, with the player actively making decisions while fighting occurs.^[2] Armies of minions can be trained and commanded to vanquish foes, and spells are available which can injure enemies or assist minions during battle.^[2] The game requires micromanagement to keep minions working, supplying them with food and gold.^[2]

Trivia[]

The voice of Mendechaus is Richard Ridings, who also voiced the Mentor in the Dungeon Keeper series.
- Mendechaus seems to be a fair bit more (intentionally) humorous than the Mentor and speaks a lot more personality and bravado (and sarcasm) than the Mentor does.
The creatures' food source in War for the Overworld consists of micro-piglets rather than chickens. This is a reference to the Mentor's quote: "Micro-piglets stalk your dungeon - beware."