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After Death

After Death Game Cover
90%Game Brain Score
music, graphics
grinding, replayability
92% User Score Based on 154 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

PCSteam DeckWindows
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After Death Game Cover

About

After Death is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by After Death Team and was released on October 4, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

After Death is a platforming and exploration game set in a dark, monster-filled world. You'll seek the aid of lost souls to open a gate and reveal the truth, all while upgrading your powers and armor to reach new areas. The game features 7 unique environments, 21 enemies, 14 bosses, and an original soundtrack. It pays homage to 16-bit consoles with its graphics and offers 7-10 hours of gameplay.

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After Death screenshot
After Death screenshot
After Death screenshot
After Death screenshot
After Death screenshot
After Death screenshot
After Death screenshot
After Death screenshot
After Death screenshot
After Death screenshot
After Death screenshot
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92%
Audience ScoreBased on 154 reviews
music60 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions
  • The game features great pixel art and an excellent soundtrack that captures the nostalgic feel of classic 16-bit games.
  • Exploration is rewarding, with various power-ups and abilities that enhance gameplay and allow access to new areas.
  • After Death is considered a hidden gem among Metroidvania fans, offering a fun experience with engaging boss fights and a compelling atmosphere.
  • The combat is simplistic and can feel clunky, with limited attack options and inconsistent hitboxes that detract from the overall experience.
  • Movement is slow and lacks fluidity, making traversal feel tedious, especially during backtracking sections.
  • The game suffers from a lack of polish, with some design choices feeling amateurish, such as unclear map navigation and repetitive enemy designs.
  • music
    92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its nostalgic 16-bit vibe, effectively enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersion. Many players noted that the soundtrack is catchy and reminiscent of classic titles from the era, with standout tracks that linger in their minds long after playing. While some songs may not fit perfectly, the majority of the feedback highlights the music as a key strength, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The soundtrack has that retro nostalgic vibe from the 16-bit era; it suits well the atmosphere the game presents.”
    • “The music is deliciously 80's.”
    • “The soundtrack is great, it totally fits the style of the game and really elevates the experience.”
    • “Could be improved: some of the songs don't fit; the map is not very clear about unexplored areas, and it is not possible to leave notes on the map; some difficulty spikes, especially one particular boss; enemy design is a bit lacking and repetitive; the character is a bit too stiff, and a swing attack would be very good; lots of backtracking and walking.”
    • “There are certainly better indie games of this subgenre out there, and the gameplay plus controls are simplistic and stiff, and the same goes for the enemy, music and level design too.”
    • “The music follows suit, but it's actually pretty catchy.”
  • graphics
    46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their nostalgic 16-bit aesthetic, reminiscent of classic titles like *Super Castlevania IV* and *Magician Lord*. Reviewers appreciate the atmospheric pixel art and solid visual design, which effectively complement the gameplay, despite some initial perceptions of simplicity and minimal animation. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, enhancing the game's old-school charm and immersive experience.

    • “The 16-bit graphics and soundtrack delight with atmosphere.”
    • “The game looks and feels like a true Sega Genesis game; the aesthetic is fantastic, the soundtrack is awesome, and the pixel art is gorgeous.”
    • “Throughout your adventure, you will hear awesome music and see stellar SNES+ graphics that combine lively environments with formidable looking foes, and the powers that you unlock all have their own cool animation style.”
    • “The graphics are okay, the animation is minimal, the soundtrack is pretty good.”
    • “Edit: I played through the game again with the new 'sigma balls' update and I think they really revamped all of the stiff controls and dreadful graphics.”
    • “I'm not sure where the narrative is going, as it's quite minimal, and the writing isn't as good as the graphics and audio at setting the tone.”
  • story
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story features an intriguing "amnesia" plot where players control a nameless skeleton navigating a hellish landscape, uncovering their identity and purpose through interactions with various characters. While the narrative unfolds gradually through lore drops and has moments of mystery, it is described as somewhat barebones and cliché, yet still engaging enough to maintain interest until the end. The game offers two endings, both of which are well-received and provide a satisfying conclusion to the journey.

    • “The story is about a nameless skeleton trying to escape from a hellish place full of hostile monsters.”
    • “It has two endings as far as I know, but one of them can be a little cryptic to obtain; in either case, both endings are fantastic and wrap up the story beautifully.”
    • “The story was nice and had a good mystery to it; the atmosphere was all so good.”
    • “Sure, the game parcels out the plot in the form of little lore drops after every few boss fights or item rooms, but the story can basically be summarized in a single bullet point.”
    • “The story, dare I say it, is barebones as expected.”
    • “Don't get me wrong, it's a little rough around the edges -- the controls feel a bit clunky, the story pacing is pretty wonky, and it lacks polish overall -- but you can tell the developers have a lot of passion for their project.”
  • gameplay
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its nostalgic feel and fluid controls, while others criticize its slow movement and simplistic mechanics. Many players appreciate the polished nature of the game and its engaging atmosphere, but note that it can feel clunky and unoriginal compared to other titles in the metroidvania genre. Overall, while the gameplay has its strengths, it may not meet the expectations of those seeking more innovative mechanics.

    • “Superb metroidvania, great oldschool gameplay & banging OST to complement the exploration of a mysterious world.”
    • “The gameplay is very fluid and controls are responsive and easy to learn.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth and fun, although a bit slow in the water sections.”
    • “The gameplay is a little weak (like all SOTN-likes) in that you don't really move faster than your Simon strut, excluding a cooldowned slightly-faster dash that doesn't even have iframes.”
    • “There are certainly better indie games of this subgenre out there, and the gameplay plus controls are simplistic and stiff, and the same goes for the enemy, music, and level design too.”
    • “Your movement is slow and clunky, reminiscent of an old flash game that added platforming as an afterthought, rather than making it the core of the gameplay.”
  • atmosphere
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised, characterized by a nostalgic 16-bit graphic style and a stellar soundtrack that enhances immersion. Reviewers note the combination of retro visuals and music creates a captivating, often macabre ambiance reminiscent of classic titles. Despite some gameplay issues, the overall atmosphere is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.

    • “I loved the atmosphere along with the soundtrack, that made the game a bit more immersive as both complement each other to create this kind of creepy/melancholic atmosphere.”
    • “The music is great too, and adds to the macabre fantasy atmosphere.”
    • “Plus the music is stellar, which definitely helps in a game like this: atmosphere is everything!”
    • “The 16-bit graphics and soundtrack delight with atmosphere.”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, users report that the game is well-optimized and largely bug-free, with a particular emphasis on the ease of use of the optimized controller.

    • “The game seems well optimized and bug-free, at least for me.”
    • “Easy to use, well-optimized controller.”
    • “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
    • “Despite its potential, the lack of proper optimization makes it nearly unplayable on mid-range systems.”
    • “I was disappointed to find that even on high-end hardware, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate.”
  • grinding
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while early exploration can feel tedious, it becomes more engaging over time as the difficulty increases. However, issues with level design, enemy placement, and uninspired boss fights detract from the overall enjoyment of the grind.

    • “Level design is all over the place, enemy placement is horrendous and boss fights are boring and tedious.”
    • “Early exploration can get tedious but it grows on you fairly quickly.”
    • “The game started to get more challenging as I'm grinding through it; I'm about 30% in, and the difficulty curve is nice.”
  • stability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, users report that the game is well-optimized and largely bug-free, indicating a stable experience for most players.

    • “The game seems well optimized and bug-free, at least for me.”
    • “The game seems to be bug-free.”
    • “The game seems well optimized and bug-free, at least for me.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate that the game's replayability is strong, with players finding multiple ways to engage with the content and enjoy varied experiences upon replaying. The mechanics and choices available encourage players to return for new challenges and outcomes. Overall, the game offers a compelling reason to revisit, enhancing its long-term appeal.

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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

After Death is a action adventure game.

After Death is available on PC, Steam Deck and Windows.

After Death was released on October 4, 2017.

After Death was developed by After Death Team.

After Death has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its grinding.

After Death is a single player game.

Similar games include Axiom Verge, ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights, Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom, Astalon: Tears of the Earth, Odallus: The Dark Call and others.