Report updated Apr 3, 2026
Dandara: Trials of Fear+
v1.0.1Fans of the Metroidvania genre and indie gaming enthusiasts who appreciate challenging, skill-based gameplay and unique movement mechanics.
What Is Dandara: Trials of Fear+?
Launched Dec 3, 2021
Updated Dec 2021
What users think iIndependent intel reports to help builders create better apps or enhance existing ones. Still in beta, accuracy and relevancy get better every day. For informational purposes only.
What does it look like?
What are the key features?
Unique traversal mechanic allowing the character to jump from any surface, including floors, walls, and ceilings.
Control scheme optimized specifically for touchscreen gestures and traditional gamepad inputs.
Non-linear world design featuring interconnected areas and ability-gated progression.
What do users think? iIndependent intel reports to help builders create better apps or enhance existing ones. Still in beta, accuracy and relevancy get better every day. For informational purposes only.
“Recent user voice shows a mixed sentiment. Users appreciate unique gameplay & art style and touch-optimized controls, but report excessive difficulty & punishing mechanics and lack of guidance & progression issues.”
What Users Love
One of the more unique games that I’ve seen in a while.
You can tell so much went into the art style, the music, the narrative.
This game feels like it was made for a touch screen and it’s genius.
Pain Points
Addictive gameplay ruined by sadistic difficulty and Souls-like mechanics.
The game punishes the player heavily for mistakes.
I spent all day trying to figure out where to go but it’s so confusing.
High confidence · 135 reviews available
What are the pros and cons?
Pros
- Innovative gravity-defying movement mechanic
- Native touch-screen optimization
- High-quality handcrafted pixel art and sound
Cons
- Punishing difficulty curve
- Polarizing control scheme for some users
- Lack of clear player guidance/navigation
What is the market outlook?
Growth Opportunities
- Add accessibility/assist modes for broader appeal
- Implement an objective/hint system
- Expand lore through community-driven content
Market Threats
- Dominance of established rivals like Dead Cells
- Genre saturation in premium mobile gaming
- User churn due to high frustration levels
Who competes with Dandara: Trials of Fear+?
The Nemesis
Why it's a threat
- +
Higher rated at 4.9★ vs 4.4★
- +
Roguevania Gameplay
Contenders
Matches Dandara's fast-paced, gravity-defying combat flow with a focus on aerial mobility and precision strikes.
Fast-paced Rogue-platforming
A puzzle-platformer Metroidvania that uses unique magnetic mechanics for traversal, appealing to users who enjoy Dandara's innovative movement.
Electromagnetic Puzzle Mechanics
Dust: An Elysian Tail
★4.7 (948)Humble Hearts LLC
A critically acclaimed premium action-platformer with a strong emphasis on exploration and fluid, combo-based combat.
A critically acclaimed premium action-platformer with a strong emphasis on exploration and fluid, combo-based combat.
Peers
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
★3.9 (125)DotEmu
A classic exploration-heavy platformer with handcrafted art that appeals to fans of the genre's roots.
A classic exploration-heavy platformer with handcrafted art that appeals to fans of the genre's roots.
Moonlighter Netflix Edition
★3.8 (1K)Netflix, Inc.
Combines dungeon exploration with shop management, appealing to players who enjoy the 'Salt' world's atmosphere and discovery.
Combines dungeon exploration with shop management, appealing to players who enjoy the 'Salt' world's atmosphere and discovery.
Oddmar
★4.8 (11K)Mobge Ltd
A high-quality, premium platformer that shares Dandara's commitment to beautiful, handcrafted visuals and fluid controls.
A high-quality, premium platformer that shares Dandara's commitment to beautiful, handcrafted visuals and fluid controls.
New Kids on the Block
A recent high-profile mobile port of a popular action platformer with diverse mechanics and high replayability.
Skull-Swapping Mechanic
Afterimage Mobile
★4.3 (24)Beijing Wangyuan Shengtang Entertainment Technology Co., Ltd.
A newer, massive 2D Metroidvania with stunning hand-drawn visuals and a deep focus on non-linear exploration.
A newer, massive 2D Metroidvania with stunning hand-drawn visuals and a deep focus on non-linear exploration.
What are the key takeaways?
Dandara: Trials of Fear+ is a divisive games app that is a paid app. With a 4.4/5 rating from 135 reviews, it receives mixed feedback from users. Users particularly appreciate unique gameplay & art style, though excessive difficulty & punishing mechanics remains a common concern.
Best for: Fans of the Metroidvania genre and indie gaming enthusiasts who appreciate challenging, skill-based gameplay and unique movement mechanics.
How much does it cost?
Model: paid
The app follows a premium model, positioning itself as a high-quality, 'complete' experience without microtransactions, relying on its reputation as a critically acclaimed indie title.