Dungeon Keeper
Evil is good
Bullfrog's 1997 strategy game that inverted the RPG formula—you played the villain, building dungeons to thwart heroic adventurers.
Overview
Dungeon Keeper (1997) was Bullfrog’s genre-defying strategy game that cast players as an evil overlord. Instead of raiding dungeons, you built them—excavating rooms, attracting monsters, and laying traps to destroy the sickeningly virtuous heroes who dared invade.
Fast Facts
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Bullfrog Productions |
| Publisher | Electronic Arts |
| Designer | Peter Molyneux |
| Engine | Custom 3D |
| Perspective | First-person possession, isometric management |
The Inversion
| Traditional RPG | Dungeon Keeper |
|---|---|
| Play the hero | Play the villain |
| Raid dungeons | Build dungeons |
| Kill monsters | Recruit monsters |
| Collect treasure | Protect treasure |
| Save the realm | Conquer the realm |
Gameplay Systems
| System | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Excavation | Carve rooms from earth |
| Creature attraction | Different rooms attract different monsters |
| Possession | Control any creature in first-person |
| Hand of Evil | Pick up and drop creatures directly |
| Training | Level up your monsters |
Creatures
| Creature | Role |
|---|---|
| Imps | Workers, dig and claim territory |
| Bile Demons | Heavy fighters, manufacture |
| Warlocks | Research, ranged magic |
| Mistresses | Fast fighters, enjoy torture |
| Horned Reaper | Ultimate warrior, volatile temper |
Dark Humour
The game revelled in blackly comic tone:
- The narrator’s sardonic commentary
- Slapping creatures to motivate them
- Torture chamber as training facility
- Heroes portrayed as insufferably smug
Legacy
Dungeon Keeper proved games could subvert expectations while remaining mechanically deep. Its influence echoes in titles like Evil Genius, Overlord, and War for the Overworld (a spiritual successor by ex-Bullfrog staff).