If going on holiday is meant to be a time for relaxing and disconnecting from daily life, why can it feel so stressful in the moment? Dungeons of Hinterberg reckons with those mixed emotions as protagonist Luisa takes a break from being a lawyer to try and chill in the Austrian Alps… while putting her life on the line in puzzle and combat-focused dungeons. A blend of fighting, puzzle solving, and Persona-esque socialising, the game proves an entertaining break from the bigger PS5 releases — a digital holiday, if you will.
Microbird Games has somewhat replicated the structure of the now-popular Atlus franchise, with dungeon crawling and exploration meant for the day and making friends and forming bonds kept to the evening hours. There are 25 dungeons split across different parts of the holiday resort, and each area has its own magical powers. You’ll use them to solve the puzzles inside the dungeons, and while they are never especially challenging, the brain teasers within are engaging and gratifying.
You can spawn bombs, travel through the air in a tornado, create climbable cubes of slime, and more to reach the end, with each ability also usable in combat. You fight small demons and monsters with basic sword swings, which can be customised with special attacks for extra depth. Again, the mechanics remain surface-level and provide little challenge if you stick to dungeons around your current level. It’s consistently enjoyable, though, as the structural loop repeatedly finds something new to aspire for the next day.
Once the sun goes down, Luisa has the chance to socialise with other holidaymakers in Hinterberg. Each has its own story to tell and reason for being there, and you’ll learn more about them as you spend more time with them, levelling up your relationship rank and unlocking new perks. There is also a wider story tied to the town and its dungeons that plays out in between the fighting and gossiping for added suspense.
Fuelling the fun is a stunning, colourful art style that creates striking backgrounds and scenery, from the snowy slopes to the unforgiving swamp. The vibrant tones of its characters and the locations they inhabit are a major highlight of the experience, and make visiting new places as you progress through the campaign a pleasure. Although the framerate can’t match it for reliability — even on a PS5 Pro. The game has a tough time keeping up with the action at times, with framerate drops a constant and short screen freezes on occasion. They prove annoying distractions that blemish an otherwise lovely undertaking.
Dungeons of Hinterberg presents itself as a virtual vacation, and it can really feel like one at times. Its chill concoction of combat, conversations, and puzzle-solving is always entertaining without being too challenging or obtuse. Come for the dungeons and you end up staying for the people.
