By Like most gamers, I hadn’t even heard of DOFUS until a few months ago.
And, to my surprise, I found out that it’s just as old as World of Warcraft, and the game is very much alive and kicking.
If you’re also discovering DOFUS for the first time and wondering if it’s worth jumping into this year, this guide will help you make a decision.
DOFUS is a unique and very niche MMORPG that actually deserves much more recognition than it’s getting. It’s one of the rare MMOs that features a turn-based combat system.
In this guide, I wanted to highlight some of the great features of DOFUS and help you get a better understanding of the current state of the MMORPG to figure out whether it’s worth playing right now.
What Is DOFUS?
DOFUS is a unique MMORPG that features its own creative isometric-style 2D aesthetic and turn-based gameplay mechanics.
In this MMO, you get to explore a huge map full of cities and dungeons to fight enemies and farm resources to craft and upgrade your gear as well as buy items.
Unlike most other MMOs, DOFUS uses turn-based combat where you have to plan your every move. And other players can also join your battles at any time to help fight the enemies as well.
This combination of the 2D isometric view and the turn-based combat system makes DOFUS a unique MMO that attracts a niche audience. Yet, somehow, DOFUS has been a highly successful MMORPG that’s been alive since 2004.
Over the years, DOFUS received several massive overhauls, including the DOFUS 3.0 update that switched the game engine to Unity, bringing in enhanced visuals and various enhancements. It’s clearly not the game that launched in 2004 anymore, but in a good way.
Main Gameplay Features
DOFUS has a bright and vibrant world full of life where you meet all kinds of NPCs, monsters, and even dragons. You get to explore all kinds of biomes in your journeys with decades of content to enjoy.
The MMO lets you choose from many different classes, covering all the traditional types from damage dealers to healers and more.
As you complete quests, level up your character, and progress further, you will also need to upgrade your equipment and build.
Professions are another big part of DOFUS, in which you’ll be spending a lot of your time mastering. There are certain activities centered around these professions, including farming, mining, fishing, crafting, breeding, and more.
Gathering resources for crafting is another important aspect of the game. It’s the go-to method of upgrading your character builds as well as making money.
Turn-Based Combat & Builds
The turn-based combat system in DOFUS is an interesting one. During some open-world battles, other players get to also join in and fight alongside you.
This also means you don’t travel alone. You will always be with a party of companions who will fight these battles for you. But you will have to come up with the strategy.
If you’ve played CRPGs like Baldurs Gate 3, you won’t have a hard time figuring out the combat system in DOFUS. Except this game uses an AP (Action Points) system for your skills.
Buildcrafting is where you will get truly obsessed with this game. The constant need to upgrade your gear to get better stats will make you keep modifying your gear over and over. It’s like the true endgame for DOFUS.
In-Game Economy & Monetization
DOFUS has a solid player-run in-game economy where you can trade items with other players through the marketplace. And it’s a major part of the core gameplay loop.
DOFUS has two main currencies: Ogrines, the premium currency that you can buy with real money. And Kamas, the currency you can earn in-game.
When it comes to monetization, the microtransactions are mostly for cosmetics. Sure, there are some pay-to-win elements to the game, like you can buy DOFUS Kamas to skip the grind and get better gear, resources, and items, but it’s mainly about boosting progression, rather than paying to win.
The marketplace is where all the action takes place. This is where you can buy and sell items, resources, and gear to make money faster as well as to upgrade your build.
PVE vs PVP
About 80% of all the content in DOFUS is mainly centered around PVE, but there is some PVP content and areas too.
There are many dungeons with bosses for players who want a challenge and constantly work on their builds to defeat monsters faster. Of course, other players can always tag along in your journey.
There are also several different types of PVP modes to explore, including 1V1 and team-based PVP battles as well as huge-scale alliance warfare.
Free Trial vs Subscription
Similar to games like Runescape, DOFUS has a free version that allows players to check out the game in a limited zone, which some refer to as the tutorial zone. You can stay in this zone and play for as long as you like, but you need a paid subscription to progress further in the game and access the entire map.
Thankfully, this subscription is not as expensive as most other MMOs. DOFUS monthly subscription only costs $5.99, and you get further discounts when subscribing for several months at a time.
Compared to Runescape’s pricing, that’s a solid subscription price given what DOFUS has to offer in exchange.
Is DOFUS Worth Playing?
The cute 2D art style and the turn-based combat certainly make DOFUS a unique experience. With its grindy mechanics, professions, and progression systems, you can definitely make a long-term investment in this game.
But that is only if you enjoy turn-based systems. Otherwise, you will not have a good time in this game.
Given the many decades DOFUS has not only survived but thrived with a loyal player base and continuous updates and enhancements, you also won’t have to worry about the future of the game. It will likely live on for many more years ahead.
