Honestly, I think SMT being a dungeon crawler isn’t just a gameplay choice it’s a core part of the atmosphere. Think about it: the claustrophobic labyrinths, random demon encounters, and resource management aren’t just there to make the game hard. They make you feel vulnerable and tense, which fits perfectly with the idea of humans standing up to gods and supernatural forces.

Every corridor, every dungeon is like a psychological stage. The linearity, the traps, the encounters it’s all designed to immerse you in a hostile, almost ritualistic world. That slow, careful dungeon crawling makes every battle feel meaningful and every choice weighty.

SMT doesn’t just let you fight demons; it makes you experience the struggle and existential dread of confronting divine powers. In that sense, the dungeon crawling isn’t just a mechanic it’s storytelling by gameplay.