Fairy Tail Dungeons Is a Nostalgic Dungeon Crawl That Feels Like an 80s RPG Love Letter

Who’s ready to level up their nostalgia?

With Hades I and II proving that dungeon crawls still haven’t kicked the bucket quite yet, it’s no surprise that Fairy Tail has stepped into the arena, embracing a distinctly retro, 80s-inspired gameplay style that feels both familiar and fresh.

So who’s ready to help their favourite Fairy Tail member complete their quest?

I am, that’s for sure!

Fairy Tail Dungeons opens with Natsu, directionally challenged as ever, leading the charge through a labyrinth dungeon as you work to rescue beloved members of the Fairy Tail guild, with Natsu relying on you to also try to orient yourself well enough to escape back to the guild in one piece. Happy, of course, is never far behind, cheering you on, while other familiar faces appear throughout the dungeon to lend a hand or their own unsolicited advice, yes, Laxus, we are talking about you.

Leaning into classic turn-based mechanics, the game spices things up with a clever deck-building system that sets it apart from the growing crowd of dungeon crawlers. As you explore, you collect attack and defence cards that allow you to build a customised deck capable of taking down increasingly challenging monsters. Cards are earned through special tiles and victorious battles, creating a satisfying loop that rewards both strategy and persistence. Whilst the deck building and card collecting aspects do touch on the world of Trading Card Games, it doesn’t have the same spark in the gameplay. However, it is still enjoyable for TCG fans out there, as you still get to enjoy the fun mechanics Fairy Tail Dungeons has to offer.

The story and gameplay are simple, with a streamlined design to keep things quick, snappy, and accessible, making it perfect for a cheeky lunch-break session without the fear of losing your place or needing to hit the dreaded pause button. It can even be classed as a cosy game to play on days when you don’t want to touch the heavy strategic games. 

While turn-based games aren’t usually my go-to, I genuinely enjoyed the strategic balance required to build a deck strong enough to survive deeper dungeon runs. Reading through the card abilities also sparked a wave of nostalgia, instantly recalling some of Fairy Tail’s most overpowered on-screen moments. The game introduces a brand-new story within the Fairy Tail universe, giving the perfect blend of reminiscence and novelty. It was a great game to have on the Switch whilst rewatching my favourite episodes/arc of Fairy Tail, Grand Magic Games, anyone?

For anyone longing to revisit the Fairy Tail world, this game is a nostalgic love letter, one that proves some adventures are worth crawling back into.