Rune Dice Switch Review

Rune Dice Switch Review
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch

As many of you know, I’ve been introduced to a whole new world of roguelikes and roguelites over the past few years, and it’s a genre I’ve come to enjoy quite a bit. From traditional roguelikes that pay homage to the games that started it all, such as Caves of Qud, to more unconventional takes like Slots & Daggers, the genre thrives on experimentation and fresh ideas. Rune Dice is the latest game to roll the dice on the formula, quite literally. Combining roguelite progression with dice-based combat, it offers a different approach to building runs and overcoming enemies. What’s it Like? Pick your class, grab your dice, and may the rolls be in your favour as we review Rune Dice for Nintendo Switch.

Rune Dice isn’t driven by a deep narrative. Instead, it lets you get straight into the action by selecting a class and rolling some dice. You begin with a number one die and must launch it into other ones on the field. Doing so combines them into a two, which can then tumble into other matching dice to increase further with each successful merge. Some dice feature class abilities represented by an icon. Rogues can trigger backstabs that target enemies at the rear of the line, Mages can freeze opponents, while Warriors can unleash reckless swings. You’ll also find or purchase relics throughout your run, many of which are tied to specific classes and playstyles. Some work directly with your dice abilities, allowing frozen enemies to stop advancing or take additional damage, while others provide benefits such as healing between encounters to improve your chances of survival. As you progress, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to upgrade these dice or simply add more of them to your playfield.

Speaking of the playfield, there’s a surprising amount of strategy involved in where you choose to roll your dice, especially since the board resets after a set number of turns. Sometimes it’s worth targeting the next sequential die to keep a combo alive, while other situations call for a more aggressive approach. Knocking into higher-value dice can create massive chain reactions that deal significant damage to tougher enemies. That’s where Rune Dice is at its best. Some turns see you triggering huge cascading combos that wipe out entire enemy groups. Other times, you’re taking a more measured approach, generating extra coins, restoring health with healing dice, or setting up future turns. The balance between planning and improvisation keeps encounters engaging throughout a run.

Outside of combat, you can chart your own path through the overworld. Encounters range from standard battles and merchants to special events. One memorable example is the Mimic Chest, which gives you a limited amount of time to deplete its health in exchange for valuable rewards. Mini-bosses also appear along the way, providing tougher challenges before you eventually face the area’s main boss. These larger encounters can be particularly demanding if you haven’t carefully considered your build and route choices. As I always say when reviewing roguelites, you will die… a lot. Fortunately, failure rarely feels wasted. Defeated runs unlock new items and relics that can appear in future attempts, while each class gains experience and eventually unlocks additional heroes to play as. This steady stream of rewards creates a satisfying sense of progression and discovery. I also felt that Rune Dice did a good job of pacing its unlocks. New content arrived regularly enough that the game never felt like it was dragging things out unnecessarily. Combined with its unique blend of dice-based combat and roguelite progression, I found myself returning for “just one more run” far more often than I expected.

Rune Dice is presented in a gorgeous pixel art style that carries plenty of fantasy charm. Enemies feature distinct designs across the various areas, while heroes are easily differentiated from one another. It’s a colourful and appealing presentation that does a great job of bringing the game’s world to life. Everything looks particularly impressive in motion, especially during combat. Watching dice topple, bounce, and cascade across the battlefield as they merge into larger values is incredibly satisfying, and the resulting chain reactions often create some spectacular moments. The animations do an excellent job of making every successful combo feel impactful. That said, I would have liked to see the battlefield occupy a little more of the screen. The dice tray takes up a significant portion of the display, which pushes some of the beautifully detailed sprites further into the background than I’d have preferred. It’s not a major issue, but I occasionally found myself wishing the action was given more room to shine.

From a performance perspective, Rune Dice runs smoothly on Nintendo Switch. Menus are straightforward to navigate, and the interface is designed with usability in mind. A helpful tooltip system can be toggled at any time, making it easy to refresh your memory on specific dice effects, relics, or rune abilities without interrupting the flow of a run. Overall, the game’s presentation feels thoughtfully designed. During my time with Rune Dice, I experienced no technical issues, performance hiccups, or crashes. Everything simply worked as intended, allowing me to focus on experimenting with builds and chasing ever bigger dice combinations.

For my rogues looking into accessibility options, there are currently no accessibility settings to speak of. As always, I recommend doing some additional research to determine whether Rune Dice suits your individual accessibility needs. Thankfully, there is a free demo available on the Nintendo eShop, allowing you to try the game before making a purchase.

At just under $20 AUD, Rune Dice offers excellent value for money. While not every run will be successful, there’s plenty of enjoyment to be found in discovering new relics, unlocking fresh abilities, and gradually building stronger runs. Nothing quite matches the satisfaction of setting off a chain reaction that sends dice tumbling across the battlefield and merging into massive damage-dealing combinations. While I would have liked to see the battlefield occupy more screen space so the charming pixel art sprites could take centre stage, the game’s fantasy-inspired presentation remains full of character. Combined with smooth performance, intuitive controls, and a genuinely unique take on the roguelite formula, Rune Dice delivers a rewarding and entertaining experience. Its dice-based combat may have seemed like a gamble on paper, but the result is a roguelite that’s certainly on a roll.

Enjoyed our Rune Dice Switch Review?

✨ Support What’s It Like? Want to help keep this independent Nintendo outlet running? Here are a few ways you can support:
🌐 More Nintendo reviews and guides: https://www.whatsitlike.com.au/
☕ Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/whatsitlike
🎥 Join the Patreon for behind-the-scenes content: https://patreon.com/u102681944