Dungeons 3 - Once Upon A Time is a strategy and simulation title for PC that expands the core dungeon management experience with a fairy tale themed campaign. Players take control of the Absolute Evil as it invades Fairyland to confront the Good Fairy, a source of heroic potions and good deeds. The expansion delivers a fully voiced story across three maps where ensorcelled heroes and exploding sheep play key roles in turning the narrative against the forces of good.
Gameplay
The central loop involves constructing and expanding an underground dungeon while directing creatures to repel invading heroes on the surface. Players balance resource gathering, room placement, and creature recruitment to maintain defenses. Simultaneous events on the overworld and dungeon levels require constant attention to multiple fronts. In this expansion the setting shifts to Fairyland, introducing new environmental challenges and a prominent boss encounter with the Good Fairy. Additional wall tile sets allow for visual customization of dungeon interiors, and three new evil hubs provide fresh starting points for construction.
Management extends to research and upgrades that improve creature capabilities and dungeon efficiency. The inclusion of exploding sheep adds a chaotic element to combat and defense strategies. Attention to timing proves essential because hero incursions and fairy tale themed threats occur in parallel, forcing players to divide focus between building deeper and launching counterattacks.
Game Modes
The expansion centers on a single player campaign consisting of three maps that advance the story of the Absolute Evil's campaign against Fairyland. These maps feature voiced dialogue and escalating difficulty as players progress toward the final confrontation. Skirmish mode supports play on randomly generated maps where the focus remains on dungeon construction and overworld domination against computer controlled opponents.
Multiplayer options allow up to four participants to compete in battles that emphasize dungeon building and surface conflicts without direct attacks on opposing dungeons. Co operative play supports two players working together through the campaign content. All modes integrate the new tile sets and hub designs from the expansion.
Story and Setting
The narrative follows the Absolute Evil's journey into Fairyland, home of the Good Fairy. This disgustingly benevolent figure supplies heroes with potions and promotes positive actions, making her a primary target. Players employ corrupted heroes and specialized units such as exploding sheep to disrupt the fairy tale realm and impose a darker conclusion on the story. The three maps build progressively from initial incursions to larger scale confrontations that incorporate the new boss mechanics.
Is It Worth Playing?
The base game maintains very positive reception from thousands of reviews, reflecting strong interest in its dungeon building and simulation systems. The Once Upon A Time expansion adds three campaign maps, new hubs, a distinctive boss, and updated visuals that extend playtime for existing owners. Some players note the campaign length remains brief compared with the main title. Those who enjoy methodical strategy and simulation elements centered on evil dungeon management will find the added content aligns with the established style. The game remains available as a complete package on PC with no ongoing seasonal updates reported.
