Dark Gnome vs Dungeon Siege
Dark Gnome
Dark Gnome is a fun, pixel-style 2D fantasy RPG that's fresh from the oven from Upjers. Currently available for players who know how to read German, the game will have you set up your ultimate team of warriors and send them to battle various creatures in the game's many dungeon-like locations for amazing loot. You can recruit new heroes from the tavern and equip them with the best gear you have. You can even help injured warriors recover by sending them over to the only medical tent in town.The old-school-styled combat system in this game, on the other hand, is mainly turn-based and allows you to choose which action to take, be it to attack or to stand your ground.
Dark Gnome is a game that gives off a strong 2D dungeon crawler vibe which, I believe many players would probably enjoy. The game is currently in its Open Beta phase and once it is officially released, hopefully, Upjers will provide an English version for their global players.
Dungeon Siege
Dungeon Siege is a classic dungeon crawler that predates the first Torchlight but not the Diablo series. In this game, you play as a humble farmer who sets off across a 3D fantasy world, battling against hordes of enemies as the storyline unfolds. The most interesting part of this game, back in the day, is that it's a dungeon crawling game that is set above ground and surprisingly not in dungeons. In some way, it is more like certain parts of Diablo 2 and also Path of Exile.The game also has an interesting take on loot and inventory management. You'll get a ton of loot as befit a dungeon crawler, but the thing is you have a very limited inventory, even with a pack mule, and no vendors nearby enough to sell your loot to. So, you'll likely end up throwing most stuff on the ground just so you can move on. Dungeon Siege even allows you to assemble up to a party of 8 characters to aid you in your journey.
However, Dungeon Siege is a really old game and as such, the Steam version does have its fair share of glitches. You may experience constant crashes and installation difficulties even if you're running a top-notch desktop set-up. Some players have also mentioned that the ending of the game was cropped off somehow and that this version of the game doesn't include its expansion or a multiplayer option.
All in all, Dungeon Siege is among the top 5 classic dungeon crawlers back in the day and if you are interested to give it a try, you can get the game for as low as $1 during a Steam sale.