Behold Studios, the celebrated developer behind genre-bending hits like Knights of Pen & Paper and Chroma Squad, has offered a new glimpse into its upcoming dungeon crawler, Deep Dish Dungeon. In a new trailer titled ‘Camp & Cook,’ the studio showcases the game’s central survival mechanic: turning foraged ingredients into stat-boosting meals. Published by Raw Fury, this atmospheric title blends classic dungeon exploration with cozy crafting and cooperative gameplay for up to four players.
Food is Progress: The Camp & Cook System
Unlike traditional crawlers where loot and levels are everything, Deep Dish Dungeon makes your culinary skills just as important as your combat prowess. The core gameplay loop involves venturing into a massive, hand-crafted dungeon, gathering resources, and returning to your campsite to prepare for the next journey. The ‘Camp & Cook’ trailer emphasizes that food is a form of progress. By the glow of a campfire, you’ll use scavenged items to craft tools and cook meals that provide crucial stat buffs and other unique effects. As you discover more of the dungeon, you’ll unlock new recipes, turning humble mushrooms and mysterious goo into powerful assets for your adventure.
A Hand-Crafted Adventure from a Beloved Studio
One of the most exciting aspects of Deep Dish Dungeon is its developer. Behold Studios has a strong reputation for creating games with clever meta-narratives and engaging systems. With Knights of Pen & Paper, they turned a tabletop RPG session into the game itself, and Chroma Squad let players manage their own Power Rangers-style TV studio. This history of innovative design suggests Deep Dish Dungeon will be more than just another generic crawler.
Furthermore, the studio has confirmed that the dungeon is entirely hand-crafted, not procedurally generated. This means players can expect deliberate puzzle design, cleverly hidden secrets, and a curated sense of discovery that rewards patience and thorough exploration. Every corridor and room is placed with a purpose, making the world feel cohesive and intentional.
Cooperative, Not Competitive
Deep Dish Dungeon is built from the ground up with cooperation in mind. While you can play solo, the experience is designed to be shared with up to three friends. The publisher, Raw Fury, has stressed that the co-op mode is about connection and collaboration. Players will need to share knowledge, pool resources, and look out for one another to overcome the dungeon’s challenges. This focus on teamwork over competition promises a refreshing, positive multiplayer experience.
| Key Feature | What It Means for Players |
|---|---|
| Camp & Cook System | A deep crafting and cooking mechanic where meals provide stat boosts and unlock progression. |
| 4-Player Co-op | Explore, solve puzzles, and survive together with a focus on teamwork and shared discovery. |
| Hand-Crafted Dungeon | A massive, intentionally designed world full of unique secrets, puzzles, and environmental storytelling. |
| Developed by Behold Studios | From the creators of critically acclaimed indie hits Knights of Pen & Paper and Chroma Squad. |
What to Expect from the Gameplay
Based on the trailers and official descriptions, the gameplay in Deep Dish Dungeon will be a deliberate, exploration-focused experience. Enemies have diverse behaviors that players must learn to counter, and puzzles are integrated directly into the environment. The game rewards curiosity, encouraging you to investigate every shadow and interact with everything you can. The atmospheric art style creates a world that is both mysterious and charming, avoiding the overly grim tone of many other dungeon crawlers. The name itself, while initially confusing to some who expected a pizza-making simulator, is a fun nod to the powerful recipes—like the Deep Dish—that you can eventually craft.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of game is Deep Dish Dungeon?
It is a dungeon crawler and survival exploration game with a heavy emphasis on crafting and cooking. It can be played solo or in co-op with up to four players.
Who is making Deep Dish Dungeon?
The game is developed by Behold Studios, the Brazilian indie team behind Knights of Pen & Paper and Chroma Squad. It is being published by Raw Fury.
Is the game procedurally generated?
No, the developers have confirmed that the dungeon is entirely hand-crafted to provide a more curated and puzzle-focused exploration experience.
What is the ‘Camp & Cook’ mechanic?
It’s a core system where players gather resources in the dungeon and use them at a campsite to cook meals. These meals provide different statistical bonuses and buffs, making cooking a key part of character progression.
When is the release date?
No official release date has been announced yet, but the game is available to wishlist on Steam. It was first revealed at Gamescom 2025.
Can you cook monsters?
A developer hinted that you can cook with ‘whatever you find in the dungeon,’ including a ‘little bit’ of monster parts, though it is not the core focus of the cooking system.
A Recipe for Adventure
Deep Dish Dungeon is shaping up to be a unique and charming addition to the dungeon crawler genre. By blending thoughtful, hand-crafted level design with a cozy and strategic cooking system, Behold Studios is creating an experience that feels both familiar and fresh. The emphasis on collaboration over competition in its co-op mode makes it an appealing choice for friends looking for their next shared adventure. If you’re a fan of exploration, crafting, and the idea of your next meal being your most powerful piece of gear, Deep Dish Dungeon is definitely a title to keep on your radar and wishlist.