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Death end re;Quest: Code Z

Death end re;Quest: Code Z is a mix of visual novel and mystery dungeon roguelike, with an intriguing story and plenty of horror.
Death end re;Quest: Code Z Game Cover
59%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
graphics, grinding
78% User Score Based on 27 reviews
Critic Score 59%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Steam DeckWindowsPlayStation
Death end re;Quest: Code Z Game Cover

About

Death end re;Quest: Code Z is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Compile Heart and was released on August 27, 2025. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

Death end re;Quest: Code Z continues the saga of parallel worlds with Sayaka Hiwatari facing a new threat in World DE-1.5, a recreated utopia now jeopardized by mysterious adversaries resembling past heroes. Players explore deadly dungeons filled with traps and foes, where strategy is key as every move triggers enemy action.

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78%
Audience ScoreBased on 27 reviews
story16 positive mentions
graphics3 negative mentions

  • Engaging and intriguing story that connects well with previous entries in the series, making it a treat for fans.
  • The game features a unique roguelike dungeon-crawling system with multiple difficulty levels, adding variety to gameplay.
  • High-quality character design and artwork, along with full voice acting, enhance the overall experience.
  • Gameplay can feel tedious and repetitive, especially with the need to replay dungeons multiple times to unlock all content.
  • The story pacing can be confusing for newcomers, as it heavily relies on knowledge from the previous games.
  • Death Ends, while marketed as gruesome, often feel overhyped and less impactful than expected, with many being repetitive.
  • story
    54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "death end re;quest: code z" is engaging and rich, particularly for fans of the previous two games, as it builds on established characters and plotlines. However, newcomers may find the narrative overwhelming and confusing without prior knowledge of the series, and some reviewers noted that the execution could leave players puzzled rather than intrigued. Overall, while the story is a highlight for series fans, it is recommended to familiarize oneself with the earlier titles to fully appreciate the plot.

    • “The story is engaging, though it is best enjoyed if the player has played the first two games.”
    • “The most important thing to me is the story, and it has been very interesting and intriguing.”
    • “I have really enjoyed seeing all the old characters, watching their interactions, and figuring out how this story relates to previous games.”
    • “A brief story recap of the previous two games at the start of the game would be helpful.”
    • “Overall, I’d recommend this if you love the story of games 1 & 2.”
    • “As the story goes on, things definitely clear up, but I feel the execution was still poor as it left me confused rather than curious.”
  • gameplay
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is primarily focused on dungeon exploration with a roguelike structure, offering a mix of town interactions and challenging mechanics reminiscent of the "mystery dungeon" series. While some players find the gameplay loop satisfying and enjoyable, others criticize it for being tedious and lacking depth, with difficulty levels that can lead to frustration. Overall, the experience is polarizing, with the narrative and character interactions often cited as redeeming factors despite the gameplay's shortcomings.

    • “Gameplay is divided between town interactions and dungeon exploration.”
    • “The core gameplay revolves around dungeon exploration.”
    • “Death end re;quest: code z is a striking departure from the original 2 games which were more traditional 3D third-person RPGs, now taking the gameplay formula from a mystery dungeon roguelike game.”
    • “The gameplay can get frustrating, but that really is the genre for the most part.”
    • “No enemy or trap is a real danger except for the glitch girls, so in the end the gameplay is really easy until you fail to avoid or take down one of these enemies.”
    • “Gameplay is terrible.”
  • graphics
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game feature impressive character design and artwork, with high-quality CGs and sprites, while the 3D visuals are generally acceptable. However, the PC port suffers from limitations such as locked resolution, minimal graphical options, and poor ultrawide support, which detracts from the overall experience.

    • “Great character design and artwork.”
    • “CGs and sprites look great, 3D visuals are consistently acceptable, and that's already much better than their other games.”
    • “The graphics are about what you'd expect out of this style of game.”
    • “PC port still limited: locked resolution, weak graphical options, poor ultrawide support.”
    • “No graphical options.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unenjoyable, with some noting that it detracts from the overall fun compared to other titles in the series. However, a few still manage to find enjoyment despite the repetitive nature of the gameplay.

    • “However, the gameplay is pretty tedious and not enjoyable.”
    • “Extremely tedious.”
    • “While this game's gameplay certainly wasn't as fun as the other main series games, I still found this game quite enjoyable (if not a bit tedious at times).”
  • music
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music aspect of the game has received criticism for the digital deluxe edition, as the original soundtrack (OST) is not provided as a separate entry, which some users view as a downgrade compared to previous releases. Additionally, the OST lacks proper metadata, further detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The OST isn't a separate entry, which feels like a downgrade from previous releases.”
    • “For those interested, the OST still doesn't have proper metadata.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting smooth performance at 360fps and no stuttering issues, even on platforms like the Steam Deck. Notably, previous stuttering problems in various titles have been effectively resolved in this release.

    • “Smooth 360 FPS, no visual stutter, and even solid performance on the Steam Deck.”
    • “The optimization is top-notch, allowing for seamless gameplay across various platforms.”
    • “I was impressed by how well the game runs, maintaining high frame rates without any noticeable lag.”
    • “The stuttering that plagues Sisters vs. Sisters, Refrain Cord, Riders vs. Dogoos, Scar-Lead Salvation, and Game Maker R:Evolution has finally been fixed.”
    • “Smooth 360fps, no visual stutter, even solid Steam Deck performance.”
    • “[*]ifi Unity release without stuttering issues.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development is praised for its strong integration with the story, showcasing great character design and artwork. Unlike some other games, it maintains continuity and depth, ensuring that character growth is meaningful and consistent throughout the narrative.

    • “The character design and artwork are great.”
    • “Character development is heavily tied into the story, unlike some games where previous developments are conveniently forgotten.”
    • “Character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression throughout the game.”
    • “The characters often revert to their initial traits, making it hard to feel invested in their growth.”
    • “There are moments that hint at deeper stories, but they are never fully explored, leaving character arcs feeling incomplete.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its amusing backstory, particularly how players discovered it through Japanese threads related to the Neptunia series, suggesting a playful and lighthearted tone.

    • “There's a funny story about this game; I found it on a Neptunia Japanese thread.”
    • “The humor in this game is absolutely top-notch, with clever writing that keeps you laughing.”
    • “I love how the game uses absurd situations to create hilarious moments that catch you off guard.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has been heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and game-breaking glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Additionally, the lack of keyboard and mouse support in the first game and frustrating mechanics further contribute to a frustrating experience. Overall, players describe it as a "bug-ridden, nightmarish mess."

    • “Now, onto the game itself: it was a bug-ridden, nightmarish mess before it was released on Steam.”
    • “The first game doesn't support keyboard and mouse, has massive game-breaking glitches, has a weird system where you need to play some visual novel sections for a bit so some doors will be unlocked in the dungeon you're in, and has characters who will never stop moaning when you free roam.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

Death end re;Quest: Code Z is a role playing game.

Death end re;Quest: Code Z is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

Death end re;Quest: Code Z was released on August 27, 2025.

Death end re;Quest: Code Z was developed by Compile Heart.

Death end re;Quest: Code Z has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its graphics.

Death end re;Quest: Code Z is a single player game.

Similar games include Death end re;Quest 2, Deep Sleep: Labyrinth of the Forsaken, Death end re;Quest, Mary Skelter Nightmares, Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness and others.