Coming soon to Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One, Unexplored: Unlocked Edition is a roguelite that feels like a roguelike. Released last year on PC, the game has been praised for – amongst other things – its unique approach to procedurally generated dungeons. Ludomotion, the game’s Netherlands-based developer, calls its revolutionary take on randomised level design ‘cyclic dungeon generation’.
But what is cyclic dungeon generation?
There’s no person better qualified to answer that question than Joris Dormans, Unexplored’s lead developer and master architect of the cyclic dungeon generation theory and technology.
In the video below, Dormans explains the concept behind cyclic dungeon generation and how – compared to regular procedural generation – it greatly improves the player experience:
In recognition of its innovative cyclic dungeon generation tech, Unexplored was nominated at the 2017 Dutch Game Awards for Best Technical Achievement (as well as Best Game Design and Best Game). It lost to Horizon Zero Dawn, but for an indie game created by a small team to be even sharing a category with a triple-A GOTY title speaks volumes about Ludomotion’s achievement.
Unexplored: Unlocked Edition launches for Nintendo Switch on 9 August and is available to pre-order now with a 10% discount from the Nintendo eShop. The game will also launch for PS4 and Xbox One at a still TBC date later in the summer.
