Review: Tower Dungeon Vol. 1
The first volume of Tower Dungeon by Tsutomu Nihei is unapologetically "different", and in a market dominated by cookie-cutter isekai fantasy clones, "different" is a welcome breath of fresh air. Having long worked in sci-fi and cyberpunk genres, Tsutomu Nihei now applies his signature "architectural monolith" design to the fantasy genre, with the titular Tower Dungeon and its myriad horrors.
Join us today on Anime Atelier as we review Tower Dungeon, Volume 1 by Tsutomu Nihei, published by Kodansha and available July 15, 2025.
Enter the Dungeon
Tower Dungeon has been crafted with a reverence to the hack-and-slash fantasies of yesteryear, its story stripped to the raw, beating heart of the tropes that once dominated the genre. The Dragon Tower has descended from the heavens, and "When the dragon tower descends, doom follows." An evil necromancer has killed the King and kidnapped the crown princess, Ignelia.
The concept is reductive but refined. Similar to the dark fantasy series Goblin Slayer, the world-building serves merely as a backdrop to the atmospheric storytelling, which takes center stage in Tower Dungeon. Classic Dungeons and Dragons-style monsters lurk around every corner, from giant rats to undead dragons.
Nihei's art style is rough, but expertly crafted. The rapid, shaky artwork—comparable to Tatsuki Fujimoto's Chainsaw Man—makes every encounter feel threatening in a "blink and you'll miss it" way.
The Dragon Tower's colossal size is revealed to readers over three full pages; the tower is almost biblical, a labyrinth that pierces the heavens. Nihei uses complex, overhead shots and puzzling angles that twist and warp the reader's perception. Narrow staircases and sheer drops are transformed into dizzying panels that impart a constant sense of claustrophobia.
Destined for Greatness?
Tower Dungeon's story mostly follows Yuva, a young farm boy with prodigious strength, who volunteers for the mandatory Royal Guard muster. None from his village expect he'll survive the mission to the Tower; it's an obligation to pointlessly throw lives away to rescue the princess.
At the Tower, Yuva joins up with the rough but well-meaning Lieutenant Rudeum, Eriquo the archer, and later, the hot-headed fire mage Lilicen. Although later moments in the first volume see Yuva gain a clearer direction, the lack of clearly defined character storylines will undoubtedly turn away some readers. Hopefully, it's something the series is able to build upon with future volumes, as the party members learn to overcome the Tower's threats.
The Royal family's draconic power leads to political turmoil by the end of the first volume, and it's unclear how much that'll influence events at the Dragon Tower itself—more substantial world-building beyond the homage to classic fantasy would be extremely welcome.
Final Thoughts
Tower Dungeon lovingly takes the "kidnapped princess" trope and creates an atmospheric experience with malformed creatures, overwhelming scale, and a decrepit world that feels more post-apocalyptic feudalism than distant medieval fantasy.
Tsutomu Nihei's numerous awards for Blame! and Knights of Sidonia are well-earned, and Tower Dungeon—while experimental—has the potential to become a cult classic. The unique artistic vision, combined with excellent perspective work, helps compensate for the early lack of characterization that may otherwise dissuade genre fans.
If you've grown tired of worn-out modern tropes, Tower Dungeon is a loving tribute to classic fantasy, with an unrelentingly gloomy atmosphere and back-to-basics approach that brings welcome change to an otherwise stagnant genre.
Tower Dungeon Volume 1 will release on July 15, 2025.
Anime Atelier received a copy of this manga for review.
