The Wratch's Den

its an interesting game, but also has so little content its basically abandonware, even for its low price

simple yet surprisingly fun game once you figure out the main objective and cadence of the game. some good RNG elements and overall a fun little diversion at $1 an hour (basically pick it up for about 20 minutes at a time) the den is a little nugget just do not expect some 40 hours of gameplay.

The Wratch’s Den, developed and published by PUNKCAKE Delicieux, is a compact dungeon-management strategy game that distills the essence of base-building and roguelike design into a tightly structured, run-based experience. Instead of sprawling campaigns or complex long-term systems, it focuses on short, self-contained sessions where every decision carries immediate consequences. The result is a game that feels both approachable and demanding, offering a steady stream of strategic choices within a deliberately constrained framework. You take on the role of managing an underground lair for the Wratch, a fallen overlord attempting to rebuild power from beneath the surface. Gameplay unfolds in turns, giving you time to think through each move as you expand your dungeon by digging tunnels, collecting resources, and constructing rooms. These rooms serve a variety of functions, from training your creatures to improving their equipment or unlocking new capabilities. The structure encourages careful planning, as space is limited and every tile you carve out contributes to the efficiency—or vulnerability—of your growing base. What makes the experience engaging is the constant tension betw…

While the presentation and "chunkiness" are great, and the semi-random structure of the dungeon is fun to play around, the game just drags on past the early-mid game, especially as certain rooms are opened (don't ever get the tavern), and heroes drop all of their items, more or less requiring you to pick them up to avoid being overwhelmed, which takes a lot of time. Certain actions and events take a lot of cumulative time, so that the late game becomes a drudge. Don't get it if you want something that will last longer than a couple hours, or offer a lot of longer-term engagement.

Fun and just complex enough! I just wish it had a save function, especially for Expansion mode.

Fun Stuff.