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Death Howl

Though I felt the game’s progression system was somewhat flawed,
Death Howl Game Cover
91%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, replayability
95% User Score Based on 610 reviews
Critic Score 83%Based on 4 reviews

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Death Howl Game Cover

About

Death Howl is a single player role playing game. It was developed by The Outer Zone and was released on December 9, 2025. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Death Howl invites players into a dark, mythic world where the hunter Ro seeks to resurrect her son by navigating the Spirit World’s fractured realms. With over 160 customizable cards and shamanic totems, you can build diverse decks focused on various tactical styles to confront 30+ enemy types in challenging grid-based battles. The game offers 25+ hours of immersive gameplay packed with side quests and intense boss fights.

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Death Howl screenshot
Death Howl screenshot
Death Howl screenshot
Death Howl screenshot
Death Howl screenshot
Death Howl screenshot
Death Howl screenshot
Death Howl screenshot
Death Howl screenshot
Death Howl screenshot
Death Howl screenshot
+12
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95%
Audience ScoreBased on 610 reviews
story137 positive mentions
grinding43 negative mentions
  • Death Howl combines deck-building mechanics with tactical combat in a unique and engaging way, offering a refreshing experience compared to typical roguelikes.
  • The game's art style and atmospheric soundtrack create a hauntingly beautiful world that enhances the emotional depth of the story about grief and loss.
  • The gameplay encourages experimentation with different decks and strategies, as each region introduces new cards and mechanics that keep the experience fresh and challenging.
  • The game can be punishingly difficult at times, with some encounters feeling unfair due to unclear enemy mechanics and the need for precise strategies.
  • The progression system can feel grindy, as players may need to repeatedly farm resources and cards to build effective decks for each region.
  • Some players may find the lack of tutorials or explanations for mechanics frustrating, leading to confusion during early gameplay.
  • story
    301 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Death Howl" is a poignant exploration of grief and loss, centered around Ro's quest to find her son in a beautifully crafted world. While it may start off feeling somewhat predictable, the narrative deepens as players progress, revealing emotional layers and meaningful themes that resonate with many. The combination of stunning visuals, atmospheric music, and engaging gameplay enhances the storytelling experience, making it a standout in the deck-building genre.

    • “The characters you meet are whimsical, and yet solemn - the dialogues often bring a light touch to the grim world you traverse, and the quest lines feel like they always hide some meaning behind them - some parts of the human nature that are there for you to decipher if you want, or take them at face value.”
    • “The story follows Ro as malevolent spirits attempt to trap her in grief over her son's death, while compassionate ones guide her toward acceptance.”
    • “The story is a well-paced meditation on grief, clearly written with care.”
    • “The story is fairly simple and a little cliche, but it did its job.”
    • “After 3 hours, I just realized the game wasn't going anywhere; the progression wasn't going anywhere, the story was non-existent so far, and I lost any willingness to keep playing.”
    • “The story is kind of set dressing and didn't do much for me.”
  • gameplay
    289 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Death Howl" is characterized by its deep and engaging deck-building mechanics, which are intricately woven into a tactical combat system reminiscent of souls-like games. Players appreciate the variety of card synergies and the challenge of adapting strategies to different regions, although some find the learning curve steep and certain mechanics frustrating. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its addictive loop, rewarding exploration, and the seamless integration of narrative elements, making it a standout experience in the deck-building genre.

    • “The gameplay loop is incredibly satisfying and had me thinking about it whenever I wasn't actively playing.”
    • “The different deckbuilding mechanics provided a satisfying variety to each section of the game, and allowing players to choose their order and path in a basically 'open world' setting gave a sense of control that I feel the game needed.”
    • “The gameplay is amazing and the total package in terms of visual and sound design brings it all together into a unique experience.”
    • “The only downside for me is that you can eventually find a deck with an infinite combo that trivializes the gameplay at the end of the game since you can defeat everything in a single turn.”
    • “Most of the times fights feel too easy and then suddenly impossible, making the gameplay feel random.”
    • “Unfortunately, I am not a fan of the mechanic forcing the player to build a new deck in each region, and grinding the necessary points to do so.”
  • graphics
    121 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beautiful and unique art style, which combines pixel art with modern aesthetics to create a captivating atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the meticulous attention to detail, striking visuals, and how the art complements the gameplay and narrative, enhancing the overall experience. While some minor graphical glitches were noted, the overwhelming sentiment is that the visuals are stunning and integral to the game's emotional impact and immersive world-building.

    • “The art style is striking and distinct.”
    • “The visuals are beautiful, the story is heartfelt and the core gameplay loop is great.”
    • “Absolutely stunning, evocative artwork in a style I really love.”
    • “My only complaint is that I sometimes get a graphics glitch where I see the effect of that attack that splits the ground in random places like caves or cut scenes, and one time the backstab that teleports you put me in a non-walkable spot on the map.”
    • “It has graphics that remind me of the days of DOS or the Apple II.”
    • “While the graphics are intentionally nothing to write home about, this plays like a souls-like game, but with a deckbuilder strategy, where you kill things, loot them, and craft cards to use a 'best deck' to get you through an area.”
  • music
    80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its haunting and atmospheric qualities, effectively complementing the stunning pixel art and immersive storytelling. While the soundtrack enhances the overall experience, some players noted significant volume inconsistencies between combat and exploration, leading to frequent adjustments. Overall, the combination of captivating sound design and evocative music contributes to a rich and engaging gameplay atmosphere.

    • “The art design, music, storytelling... all top notch.”
    • “A special mention to the music as well, which really complements the meditative, yet dark style of the game.”
    • “The music hums like a ritual drum calling you into a circle rather than scaring you away, and the pixel world has this quiet, witchy pull that’s hard to ignore.”
    • “Combat music is louder than world exploration music.”
    • “Unfortunately, the result is a huge music volume range (quiet menu music to loud combat music), which makes it very difficult to balance, and I haven't experienced this kind of constantly having to adjust the volume in any other game.”
    • “When you open the map/cards menu, the music gets muffled and even quieter than exploration music.”
  • emotional
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its deeply touching narrative, often centered around themes of grief and loss, which resonates strongly with players. Many reviewers noted that the storytelling is both heartfelt and artistically executed, with some expressing that it evoked strong emotional responses, including tears. The combination of beautiful visuals, immersive world-building, and engaging gameplay further enhances the emotional impact, making it a memorable experience for players.

    • “The way in which the main character's tale is told is touching, and you can't help but empathize with her over the course of her journey.”
    • “What kept me playing is the gameplay and the emotional story of the grief a mother goes through losing a child.”
    • “The story is an emotional journey and I even shed a tear at the end.”
  • atmosphere
    51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, enhanced by beautiful visuals, atmospheric music, and a compelling narrative. Reviewers highlight the unique art style and sound design, which create a moody and reflective environment that draws players in. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a significant strength, making it a standout experience for fans of deckbuilding and story-driven gameplay.

    • “The atmosphere is excellent, and I could easily just walk between the realms, bathing in the moods if the fights weren't there.”
    • “The art, the story, the atmosphere - it's all coming together in a wonderful package.”
    • “The game got me hooked right from the start: the atmosphere is amazing, story, music, sound design, visuals, it just works really well together, creating an amazing world one can get lost inside, delivering an emotional, meaningful story.”
    • “The game is 90% gameplay and 10% atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is mysterious and at times ominous.”
    • “The demo was catching us big time, with the whole vibe and art style, but also the atmosphere is pure gold.”
  • grinding
    43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players find the grinding in the game to be a mixed experience. While some describe it as mildly tedious and occasionally frustrating, particularly due to the need to create new decks and gather resources, many appreciate the addictive nature of deck building and the satisfying progression it offers. The grinding is often seen as a necessary part of the challenge, with some players noting that it doesn't detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “I find this game grindy, boring, and tedious.”
    • “I spent about 10 hours in this game before I came to understand the true structure of it, and that discovery hit me with waves of disappointment because it's a little more grindy than I had expected and you only discover that fairly late.”
    • “Unfortunately, I am not a fan of the mechanic forcing the player to build a new deck in each region, and grinding the necessary points to do so.”
  • replayability
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the opportunity to experiment with different cards and tactics, others feel that once the main story is completed, there is little incentive to replay. The game offers some evolving gameplay through card collection, but limitations in deck construction and a lack of additional features may hinder long-term engagement. Ultimately, it provides a satisfying experience without overstaying its welcome, though many players wish for more replayable content.

    • “The game has good replayability—you can try new cards and tactics, and once you know the story you'll begin to notice new facets of the game.”
    • “This game has some replayability since gameplay evolves as you collect more cards and getting to experience early biome decks again may be fun.”
    • “It's a game that could be really fun with some kind of replayability feature, like a randomized starting location, though that doesn't detract from the experience, the game has a clear story it wants to tell and it tells it well.”
    • “Personally, I don't foresee a lot of replayability, as I felt I was able to achieve everything I wanted from the game in one run.”
    • “My only disappointment was how much the game punishes you for trying to blend cards from different regions, which definitely hampers deck construction and replayability.”
    • “You will not lose progress when you die, and once you've beaten the main story, there is not much in the way of replayability.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is generally praised, with players noting the need to adapt strategies based on enemies and environments, even with well-optimized builds. While the gameplay is described as balanced and technically sound, some players feel that characters appear minimalistic and that players can become overpowered by the end if they engage in side content. Overall, the game delivers a unique experience with impressive atmosphere and performance.

    • “With great atmospheric music and solid technical performance, it’s a unique experience.”
    • “The art is dope (although a bit minimalistic for the characters, but the scenery is incredible), the music is perfect for the ambiance, and the gameplay and game design create a flawless performance.”
    • “Depending on who you’re fighting or what area you’re in, you have to adjust to survive, even with an optimized build.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and unexpected elements, such as the encounter with a suicidal mountain spirit, which adds a whimsical touch reminiscent of mythological storytelling. Players appreciate the blend of humor with strategic gameplay, drawing comparisons to other titles like "Into the Breach," where the comedic aspects enhance the overall experience despite personal challenges in gameplay.

    • “You meet a suicidal mountain spirit, and it's funny and strange enough to pass as actual myth.”
    • “I am famously terrible at other deckbuilding games like Cobalt Core, but the existence of the grid reminded me a lot more of Into the Breach, which, as much as I loved, I was hilariously bad at when it came to working with different loadouts and strategies, usually using only one type of team.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers appreciate the character designs for their uniqueness and creativity, noting that the diverse enemy designs contribute positively to the overall character development experience.

    • “The character designs are really interesting, and the enemy designs are well done and diverse.”
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83%Critics’ scoreBased on 4 critic reviews
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5h Median play time
14h Average play time
3-31h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs
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How open world Soulslike deckbuilder Death Howl was built

February 17 on azurewebsites.net
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Frequently Asked Questions

Death Howl is a role playing game.

Death Howl is available on PC, Steam Deck, Windows, Xbox Game Pass and others.

On average players spend around 14 hours playing Death Howl.

Death Howl was released on December 9, 2025.

Death Howl was developed by The Outer Zone.

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

Death Howl is a single player game.

Similar games include Shogun Showdown, ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights, Nowhere Prophet, Iris and the Giant, Ring of Pain and others.