Skip to main content

Death by Scrolling

Death by Scrolling Game Cover
78%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, humor
Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding
78% User Score Based on 127 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchLinuxXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Mac OSXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
Buy Nowfrom €7.79
Buy NowGet on Steam €7.79Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store
Death by Scrolling Game Cover

About Death by Scrolling

Death by Scrolling is a single player hack and slash game with horror, fantasy and comedy themes. It was developed by Terrible Toybox NZ and was released on October 28, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Welcome to Purgatory, now under new management! Death by Scrolling is a rogue-like vertically scrolling RPG where you kill enemies, collect gold, and avoid the Grim Reaper long enough to pay the Ferrymanʼs exorbitant river-crossing fee to the afterlife.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Death by Scrolling screenshot
Death by Scrolling screenshot
Death by Scrolling screenshot
Death by Scrolling screenshot
Death by Scrolling screenshot
Death by Scrolling screenshot
Death by Scrolling screenshot
Death by Scrolling screenshot
Death by Scrolling screenshot
Death by Scrolling screenshot
Death by Scrolling screenshot
+11
Skip Games Like Death by Scrolling

Games Like Death by Scrolling

Looking for games like Death by Scrolling? Here are top hack and slash recommendations with a horror, fantasy and comedy focus, selected from player-similarity data — start with Slime 3K: Rise Against Despot, Slime 3k: Demake or Karate Survivor.

Slime 3K: Rise Against Despot Image
81%905reviews

Slime 3K: Rise Against Despot

2024Arcade Hack and Slash
Nintendo SwitchPlaystation 5Playstation 4+10
Games like Slime 3K: Rise Against Despot

Slime 3k: Demake

Slime 3k: Demake

Action
Games like Slime 3k: Demake
Karate Survivor Image
90%1kreviews

Karate Survivor

2024Casual Hack and Slash
Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPC+8
Games like Karate Survivor
Heretic's Fork Image
83%2.2kreviews

Heretic's Fork

2023Tactical Shooter
Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPC+6
Games like Heretic's Fork
Day of the Shell Image
69%204reviews

Day of the Shell

2025Tactical Role Playing
Xbox Series X|SPCXbox One+2
Games like Day of the Shell
Nomad Survival Image
84%1.2kreviews

Nomad Survival

2022Survival Shooter
PCWindows
Games like Nomad Survival
20 Minutes Till Dawn Image
94%23.2kreviews

20 Minutes Till Dawn

2023Survival Role Playing Shooter
Nintendo SwitchPCEpic Games+9
Games like 20 Minutes Till Dawn
Loop Hero Image
89%29.8kreviews

Loop Hero

2021Tactical Role Playing
Nintendo SwitchEpic GamesAndroid+13
Games like Loop Hero
Bloodshed Image
83%1.1kreviews

Bloodshed

2025Shooter
Xbox Series X|SPCXbox One+3
Games like Bloodshed
Sea of Survivors Image
83%466reviews

Sea of Survivors

2023Open World Hack and Slash
PCWindows
Games like Sea of Survivors
More games like Death by Scrolling
Skip User Reviews

Reviews

78%Audience ScoreBased on 127 reviews
gameplay15 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions
  • Unique and addictive core gameplay loop combining auto-scrolling with roguelite elements, creating constant tension and fast-paced action.
  • Charming pixel-art style graphics, complemented by a fitting soundtrack and witty, humorous writing from Ron Gilbert.
  • Good progression system with permanent upgrades and varied character abilities that encourage multiple runs and strategic choices.
  • Limited weapon usage with consumable ammo and cards, leading to frustration and limiting build variety.
  • Repetitive and shallow gameplay with insufficient depth, causing runs to feel unrewarding and progression slow.
  • Overwhelming tutorial, loud and repetitive audio issues, and occasional frustrating difficulty spikes or instant death mechanics.

  • gameplay

    39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    38% positive mentions, 54% neutral mentions, 8% negative mentions

    The gameplay features a unique auto-scrolling mechanic combined with auto-attacks, offering a fast-paced, arcade-like experience with some rogue-lite elements. While it can be addictive and humorous, the core loop is often criticized for lacking depth, evolution, and rewarding progression, leading to repetition and a pressure-filled experience that may not appeal to all players. Fans of similar games like Vampire Survivors may find it engaging, but many feel the mechanics remain too simple and underdeveloped over time.

    • “Gameplay revolves around a vertical auto-scrolling system that never lets up.”
    • “Get as far as you can, collect as many coins and gems as you can, build your deck of abilities, try to outrun death all while the character auto-battles the enemies - that's the gameplay loop.”
    • “The limited slots for cards forces you to choose between easier resource collection or powerful defenses, giving some push-your-luck mechanics.”
    • “The core mechanic, while effective, does not evolve significantly over time, which can lead to repetition during longer sessions.”
    • “The game lacks depth, the gameplay is boring after the first half hour, there is a lot here that is poorly designed and balanced.”
    • “The gameplay is extremely straightforward, unrewarding, and uninteresting.”

  • humor

    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its witty, satirical, and dark comedic style, reminiscent of Ron Gilbert's classic work. It enhances the gameplay and presentation through funny writing, character design, and environmental details, creating a lighthearted and entertaining experience ideal for short play sessions. Overall, the humor is considered a standout feature that adds depth and charm to the game's roguelike mechanics.

    • “The presentation is enhanced by its humor, with character designs and environmental details reinforcing the game’s satirical take on the afterlife.”
    • “Rather than focusing heavily on narrative, the game uses this setting as a backdrop for its mechanics, delivering bits of humor and worldbuilding through its design and presentation.”
    • “The scroll gives this roguelike a fresh and unique twist, I like the gags, dark humor and references as well as the pixel art - perfect game for a little grind.”

  • graphics

    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    59% positive mentions, 23% neutral mentions, 18% negative mentions

    The game's graphics are widely praised for their charming, clean pixel-art style that enhances readability and adds nostalgic appeal. While some find the visuals simple or lacking in variety and atmosphere, most appreciate the cute, goofy, and overall appealing design that complements the gameplay well.

    • “Visually, Death by scrolling adopts a clean pixel-art style that supports readability during chaotic moments.”
    • “I gave this game a few rounds, and I have to say, the graphics and overall visual design are impressive; I'm a big fan of pixel art.”
    • “The graphics look great and the sound effects are really nice.”
    • “Maybe it unlocks some other character that is only different in graphic and in a lame '+5% movement' bonus or something like that.”
    • “Visuals are ok.”
    • “Endless scroller with classic style graphics.”

  • story

    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    19% positive mentions, 62% neutral mentions, 19% negative mentions

    The story aspect offers a basic quest system with an overarching goal but lacks deep character design or narrative development. Players appreciate the variety of challenges and strategic planning involved, though the storytelling is minimal and more focused on gameplay progression than immersive plot. Overall, it provides enough intrigue and pacing to keep players engaged, with potential for future story expansion.

    • “It's going to be tough to get to the end goal of paying the ferryman but there is enough variety in the challenges and mini quests to keep me coming back.”
    • “After a while, you realize that there is a learning curve involved: escaping successfully requires some planning, and you have to choose the appropriate levels when trying to fulfill missions.”
    • “During the run, you collect gems and gold: gold influences your high score or enables you to achieve the story goal of reaching the afterlife.”
    • “There is a quest system, if you can call it that.”
    • “There's no real character design or storytelling.”
    • “Quest givers should just give you a quest or a bulletin board.”

  • music

    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    47% positive mentions, 33% neutral mentions, 20% negative mentions

    The game's music is generally praised for its energetic and fitting rock soundtrack that enhances the gameplay atmosphere. However, many users find the soundtrack repetitive and sometimes overbearing due to looping a single track continuously, which can become tiring over time. Options to adjust music type and volume are appreciated, though some sound effects may overpower the music.

    • “The soundtrack is great as well, with a rock earworm during runs and a calmer variant between.”
    • “The pumping music keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
    • “Very addictive, great and powerful music, absolutely worth the (modest) asking price.”
    • “I turned off music because it looped every 10 or so seconds.”
    • “There is one loop of music going constantly over every level, and it's not subtle, so it gets grating after a few minutes.”
    • “There's a single song that plays for every level.”

  • grinding

    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 20% neutral mentions, 80% negative mentions

    Grinding in the game is generally seen as tedious and uninspired, with upgrades only slightly alleviating the monotony. The lack of clear guidance makes the experience feel dull and unrewarding, detracting from the game's potential and atmosphere.

    • “Yes, there are upgrades for health, melee range, damage, and so on, but that's just making the grind less tedious by a small amount.”
    • “If that was not the case, then I apologize, but the game did a very poor job at hinting at the awesome mechanics and gameplay that I perhaps missed by not grinding it for 10 more hours.”
    • “Seemed like it could have been fun, but in practice was somehow tedious and boring.”

  • character development

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    50% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 50% negative mentions

    Character development receives mixed feedback, with some appreciating the humorous presentation and satirical designs, while others feel the game lacks meaningful character design and storytelling.

    • “The presentation is enhanced by its humor, with character designs and environmental details reinforcing the game’s satirical take on the afterlife.”
    • “There's no real character design or storytelling.”

  • replayability

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    50% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 50% negative mentions

    The game offers a good amount of replayability; however, the lack of meaningful progression during repeated playthroughs may diminish its long-term appeal.

    • “A lot of replayability so far.”
    • “The game unfortunately loses its charm as the replayability does not seem to grant the player any kind of progression.”

  • atmosphere

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 100% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game's pixel-art style is visually appealing, but the atmosphere lacks depth and variety, resulting in a somewhat bland experience.

  • stability

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    The game's stability is generally good, though some bugs are present, likely due to its launch-day status.

  • optimization

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    The game's optimization is currently problematic on the Steam Deck OLED, with users noticing performance issues specific to this device.

    • “However, there seems to be something off with the performance on the Steam Deck OLED for now.”
Skip Game Offers

Buy Death by Scrolling

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Death by Scrolling is a hack and slash game with horror, fantasy and comedy themes. Common tags for Death by Scrolling include roguelite, pixel graphics, cozy, cute, dark comedy and others.

Death by Scrolling is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

Death by Scrolling was released on October 28, 2025.

Death by Scrolling was developed by Terrible Toybox NZ.

Death by Scrolling has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked Death by Scrolling for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

Death by Scrolling is a single player game.

Similar games include Slime 3K: Rise Against Despot, Slime 3k: Demake, Karate Survivor, Heretic's Fork, Day of the Shell and others.