Death Crown

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 532 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • story
Death Crown Game Cover
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In Death Crown, players engage in real-time strategy battles in a dark, pixelated world inspired by medieval fantasy. As the evil queen of the Death Crown, command your undead army to conquer territories and defeat rival factions in fast-paced, tactical combat. With limited resources and permadeath, every decision counts in this unforgiving, minimalistic strategy game.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 532 reviews
graphics134 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features a fantastic and unique art style that captivates players.
  • Gameplay is simple yet engaging, providing a fast-paced and enjoyable experience.
  • The soundtrack and atmosphere enhance the overall experience, making it a memorable game.
  • The monochromatic color scheme can make it difficult to distinguish between units and buildings, leading to visual confusion.
  • The game is quite short, with many players completing it in under two hours, which may not justify the price for some.
  • Difficulty scaling can be inconsistent, with some levels feeling overly challenging while others are too easy.
  • graphics250 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique and striking 1-bit art style that many players find visually appealing, though some criticize it for being overly busy and difficult to interpret during gameplay. While the aesthetic is often praised for its charm and creativity, it can also strain the eyes and lead to confusion on crowded battlefields. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's atmosphere, but they may not suit everyone's preferences, particularly those who favor clarity in gameplay.

    • “Fast paced and simple RTS with an incredible art style.”
    • “The artwork is spectacularly done, all the more impressive for such low resolution.”
    • “Just fantastic visuals and feel for this game, a grim, lo-fi DIY metal aesthetic that pulls you in instantly.”
    • “Graphical design doesn't help at all in managing your units; the map always becomes unreadable after a couple of minutes because of high contrast, density, and limited color palette.”
    • “The graphics are way too noisy; it gives me a headache.”
    • “As much as I love the art style and design, the game is a bit of a strain on the eyes.”
  • gameplay180 mentions

    The gameplay of "Death Crown" is characterized by its simplicity and minimalist mechanics, which some players find engaging while others feel it lacks depth and variety. The game features unique boss mechanics and a blend of real-time strategy and puzzle elements, but many reviews note that it can become repetitive and grindy over time. Overall, while the art style and soundtrack are praised, the gameplay is seen as enjoyable for a short experience, with a desire for more complexity and variety in future updates.

    • “Incredibly compelling, with a great visual style, fantastic soundtrack and perfect 'just one more round' gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay seems simple on the surface, but it presents a unique and challenging blend of fast-paced RTS and puzzle elements.”
    • “The gameplay loop is phenomenal, I've completed (what I assume) all 2-3 skull challenges and have moved onto 4 and 5.”
    • “There's no balance or rock-paper-scissors mechanics, and without colors, it's worth playing the campaign only, though it's too small.”
    • “Sometimes battles end and you just get an upgrade crystal or two, along with some small map changes... and at times, some mechanics felt in danger of overstaying their welcome.”
    • “Unfortunately, I think this was a case where the basic ideas for the story and the visuals were designed first, and then some generic gameplay mechanics were tacked on loosely to make it into a complete product.”
  • story96 mentions

    The game's story is minimalistic and primarily conveyed through silent cutscenes, which some players find engaging while others feel it lacks depth and immersion. The narrative revolves around themes of destruction and balance, with a biblical undertone, but many reviewers note that the gameplay often overshadows the story, leading to repetitive missions. Overall, while the art style and visual storytelling are praised, there is a consensus that the game could benefit from a more developed narrative.

    • “I love the minimalist art style and the 3D-modeled 1-bit cutscenes, with no text to go with them, which makes the story feel more epic and enigmatic.”
    • “You wouldn't think a story would get you on board with what seems like an impossibly silly motivation: 'mankind has overstepped his bounds and death herself must right them;' but one look into the human king's eyes, at the impossible and horrifying magical creations that mark his kingdom, and I found myself taking death's side.”
    • “The story expressed through visuals alone is perfect and engaging.”
    • “The story is barebones, delivered through silent cutscenes which don't amount to much other than 'death destroys x'.”
    • “The game doesn't explain this in any meaningful way in the story, so it just feels like getting cheated instead of a challenge to overcome.”
    • “I also won't say much about the plot because I have seen one cutscene in the beginning of the game and it didn't really immerse me into the story.”
  • music82 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beauty, uniqueness, and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. Many players noted that the soundtrack is not only compelling but also addictive, often prompting them to play just to enjoy the music. The combination of excellent sound design and striking visuals creates a memorable experience that resonates with players, making the soundtrack a standout feature of the game.

    • “The music is beautiful and unique.”
    • “I bought the game because the art was appealing, but the music turned out to be the part I loved.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing.”
    • “As the percussive soundtrack clangs with industrial indifference, it is easy to get caught up in the urgency of death’s rage.”
    • “It feels both immense and comically constrained, like a doom metal music video rendered on the Apple II.”
    • “The music and retro visual style are a pleasing nostalgia trip.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, enhanced by great music, sound design, and a distinctive art style. Reviewers highlight the relaxed vibe created by the retro design, making it enjoyable to play at any time. Overall, the combination of these elements contributes to a memorable and engaging atmosphere that stands out in the gaming landscape.

    • “This game has some of the coolest atmosphere in a game I've ever seen.”
    • “Great art, really nice atmosphere thanks to the music and sounds.”
    • “While the campaign is short, the gameplay coupled with the retro design creates such a relaxed atmosphere that I feel I can jump in whenever I want to and have fun.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability through various modes, including skirmish and multiple campaigns, which keep players engaged. While Steam achievements add an extra layer of challenge, some users feel that the overall replay value may not justify the price. Overall, it is praised as a strategy gem that effectively combines depth with replayability.

    • “Endless replayability with the skirmish mode.”
    • “It is good and there are a few options, keeping your interest being replayable again and again.”
    • “The Steam achievements add a layer of replayability and challenge, but it is not enough to warrant the price tag.”
    • “Has multiple campaigns and the new domination mode adds some replay value.”
    • “It is good and there are a few options, but it keeps your interest being replayable again and again.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with maps often becoming deadlocked and repetitive battles leading to exhaustion. While the core gameplay and visuals are praised, the lack of engaging content and meaningful rewards during the grind detracts from the overall experience.

    • “It's pretty well made, at least for me it was a new combat style, though it kinda lacks fluff to make it feel fun grinding through the campaign (except an upgrade every now and then).”
    • “Like the seventh seal’s knight, I want to upend the board and forgo this tedious game of attrition, and just as death dutifully reseats the chess pieces, death crown returns with another battle, another field to raze, again and again until I am exhausted for good.”
    • “Maps can get deadlocky and grindy, and the AI is (thankfully) not very smart, but the core gameplay feels nice, and the visuals were way doper than my expectations.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game generally exhibits stability with no significant bugs or glitches reported; however, users experience freezing issues during the loading of Steam leaderboards, which can be time-consuming and lacks an option to disable them in-game.

    • “I didn't give them much of a look because the game freezes until it loads the Steam leaderboards, which can take a while, and I didn't see an in-game way to disable the leaderboards.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted for being simple yet effective, contributing to an engaging experience that keeps players entertained.

    • “Fascinating project, simple in appearance but funny and engaging.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The reviews highlight that the game features impressive visual and audio elements, complemented by a unique setting and atmospheric character design, which contribute to an engaging character development experience.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
2-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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