MetaMorph: Dungeon Creatures (2017)

**MetaMorph: Dungeon Creatures** from FireFly Studios invites players into a thrilling tactical dungeon crawler, a spiritual successor to the beloved dungeon-crawling arcade experiences of old like *Gauntlet* and *Magicka*. Prepare to delve into a subterranean labyrinth teeming with traps and monstrous inhabitants, where survival hinges on mastering strategic combat, the volatile forces of elemental magic, and the unique ability to seamlessly switch between powerful hero forms. Players must cunningly manipulate the environment, turning the dungeon's deadly mechanisms like saw blades, bombs, and rolling boulders into their greatest assets against relentless enemy onslaughts. The core mechanic of "morphing" allows for dynamic shifts between distinct spirit forms, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, enabling players to adapt and overcome the increasingly formidable creature hordes they encounter. While not a traditional RTS in the vein of *Stronghold*, **MetaMorph: Dungeon Creatures** demonstrates FireFly Studios' knack for engaging gameplay systems and thematic depth, making it a worthy addition to a list of their best titles. It showcases a willingness to explore different genres while retaining a signature focus on strategic decision-making and rewarding player mastery. The emphasis on tactical planning, resource management (through hero loadouts and upgrades), and environmental interaction echoes the strategic thinking required in their real-time strategy games, just applied in a more immediate, action-oriented setting. The game's exploration of character progression through collecting and upgrading abilities, alongside its satisfying combat loop, proves that FireFly's design prowess extends beyond the battlefield to the perilous depths of a dungeon.