Eight years after it vanished, a dungeon-crawling ARPG that boasted millions of players is reborn thanks to one die-hard fan

Does the name Dungeon Rampage stir up any long-buried memories in your soul? If you were gaming online back in the 2010s, there's a good chance it will. The online dungeon crawler drew from some of the best RPGs of the '80s and '90s, from Gauntlet to Diablo, and it was being enjoyed by millions of players in its heyday. Then, in 2017, it was taken offline, and ten-year-old die-hard fan Angelos Mako was devastated. Eight years later, he's been spearheading a campaign to bring it back, and now it's out in early access on Steam.

Eventually, Mako tracked down the original creators to secure the IP rights and, incredibly, a copy of the original code left on an old laptop. Now, after raising more than $70,000 for the project through Kickstarter, he and developer Gamebreaking Studios have brought Dungeon Rampage back to life. "This game means so much to me," Mako says, "I've been waiting for this day for over eight years, and I'm thrilled to see old-time players and newcomers crawl through these dungeons together."

The updated Dungeon Rampage has been polished for modern systems, including full co-op multiplayer. The team has also implemented anti-cheat measures and a reporting system, ensuring your runs stay fair and competitive. There are four heroes available on day one, with four more planned as early access progresses.

Also on the cards for future updates are native controller support, Steam achievements, and the return of the roguelite-styled Ultimate Rampage challenge mode. There's an active Discord if you're looking for people to team up with, or just want to offer some feedback on the continued development process.

"When the original servers went dark in 2017, we thought that was it," the developer writes. "But this community, with your passion and unwavering belief, refused to let this game die. You are the reason this rampage is back on." It adds, "This is the start of a new, community-driven era. By jumping in now, you're not just playing; you're partnering with us to rebuild and expand the game we all know and love."

The old 'freemium' model is gone, too, with Gamebreaking Studios opting instead for a one-time purchase and no microtransactions. "This means the game needs to feel complete, fair, and fully enjoyable without relying on artificial difficulty spikes and punishing paywall mechanics," it explains. "In order to find that balance, community feedback from early access is essential, and will allow us to launch sooner than if we were working alone.

Dungeon Rampage is out now on Steam in early access, with a 10% launch discount available through Tuesday December 16 meaning you'll pay $8.99 / £7.65. Find it here if you're eager to recapture its monster-bashing magic.