Off the AppStore: Conquer with cards in Dungeon Raid!

• An ever-changing card-based dungeon-crawler!
• Pick your hero, relics, and search for cards to play and replace
• Look for a safe way down or battle for as long as you can survive

Welcome to Off The AppStore, a weekly feature with a twist. Namely, that while these - as with all the games we cover here - are games that you can play on your phone, they're ones that operate outside of the realms of the big two ways to play: The Google Play Store and the Apple AppStore.

That means that there might be a bit of work required in downloading alternative AppStores or APKs, or that the games can simply be played in your phone browser. We'll make sure to detail that for each game though. Anyway, read on to find a new game or experience to play Off The AppStore.

The Dungeon is the most accepted structure in any adventure, and more often than not, our curiosity pushes us to investigate it. We don't always know where the dungeon came from or why it exists, but what we do know is that there are treasures to find and monsters to fight. They have taken various forms throughout the years, and you may not know that you're in one until you're several floors deep with no straight shot to the exit. That's why raiding a dungeon needs to be planned with supplies and trusted companions, so you want to watch your back. Well, 4Cats is giving you another chance to prove that you can defeat them all by yourself in Dungeon Raid.

The dungeon you're shown is dark and mysterious, with no way of knowing what you're going to encounter. To start with, only one hero is available, and a large selection that will unlock over time, and each one brings something new to the table. When you've got your hero, you can head into the dungeon and start raiding. However, this is a world where all events and actions unfold through cards. You've got your limited hand of cards at the bottom, and a selection of face-down cards in the centre. All you must do is flip up the cards until you find the Exit Door and the Key to unlock it. Simple, right?

Well, remember that this is the dungeon, and the cards can be very unkind. Among the cards will be dangerous monsters that will attack every time you make a move. There are also traps hidden among the cards that activate instantly when they're flipped. Your hero only has so much health and armour, but also has to worry about their Hunger and Stress levels, which will work against them over time. Luckily, the cards can be generous with valuable items and gear to keep you well-equipped so that you can get stronger and delve even deeper.

Dungeon Raid is a pretty fast-paced solo-player card game with solid mechanics, controls, and the RNG that you would expect from the genre. The number of weapons, spells, relics, monsters, and traps you can find is quite impressive, so you'll want to go back just to see if you've found them all. The shops and reward screens will help round out your collection, and don't forget that you've got plenty of other heroes to try out in time.

Dungeon Raid is available to play on its itch.io page!