by Bagherra
hrm, it occurs to me that I may have a different opinion of DL than most.Most of Vlaada's games are about building a consumable resource...something intended to be damaged and ultimately destroyed. So it isn't so much that you can "see your efforts destroyed", but more that did you design your structure well enough that it weathered known challenges. This is true of DL, Space Alert, Galaxy Trucker, Mage Knight and pretty much most of Vlaada's designs.
Is it strictly punitive?
After playing In the Year of the Dragon, I find it difficult to call any other game truly punitive. ItYotD, you are guaranteed to always be in a worse position. There is nothing you can do to stem that.
In Agricola, the game isn't quite that punitive, but you are presented with so many choices that it can be difficult to focus on a strategy as nothing really presents itself as "the right way". One poor selection can mean you've lost the game.
In Dungeon Lords, you are preparing a space to contain a destructive force. The decisions are obvious and straight forward (but not so linear as to be scripted). You can make a couple of bad choices and still be competitive. One poor decision will not irreparably eliminate you from the game.