People have been recommending games from the Shiren The Wanderer (and Mystery Dungeon) series to me repeatedly, but I have yet to try any of them. It’s unlikely that I will play the next installment, Shiren The Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon Of Serpentcoil Island, which is coming to PC via Steam soon.
The Mystery Dungeon Of Serpentcoil Island follows the same formula as its predecessors. These games are traditional roguelikes, where players explore randomized dungeons with multiple floors, using resources they find along the way to go deeper. The game also features online elements, such as the ability to rescue or be rescued by other players if you collapse on a floor, allowing you to continue with that character.
Serpentcoil Island introduces a new setting, basic 3D graphics, and updated UI, while still remaining familiar to fans of the series. The last game in the Shiren series was The Tower Of Fortune And The Dice Of Fate, released in 2020 on PC and Switch, but originally launched on Nintendo DS in Japan in 2010 and in the west for the Vita in 2016. Serpentcoil Island marks the first new game in the series in 14 years.
Serpentcoil Island was also released on Switch earlier this year and received positive reviews, with Famitsu giving it a score of 38 out of 40.
As for why I won’t be playing it, my patience for traditional roguelikes has waned over time. I may have reached the end of my dungeon-crawling days. However, I am eagerly anticipating the polished 1.0 release of the more ambitious and adventurous Caves Of Qud on December 5th. I still enjoy hearing others talk enthusiastically about these games, so if you believe I should give Shiren his rightful recognition, feel free to share your passionate thoughts in the comments.
