Death of a Wish

99%
Game Brain Score Based on 126 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Death of a Wish Game Cover
Starting at $8.10Buy now
Get on Steam

In "Death of a Wish," players control Christian as he battles the cult that raised him, joined by new allies. The Randomizer Update introduces a new mode with randomized enemy and item placements, as well as a "True Randomizer" mode for increased difficulty. This action-RPG emphasizes style and requires mastery of different combat styles and strategic encounters.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

99%
Audience ScoreBased on 126 reviews
story32 positive mentions
atmosphere3 negative mentions
  • The combat system is highly customizable and fluid, allowing for aggressive playstyles and satisfying combos.
  • The art style and music create a unique and immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
  • The story is more coherent and engaging than its predecessor, with well-developed characters and themes that resonate deeply.
  • The game can be visually overwhelming at times, which may lead to readability issues during intense combat sequences.
  • Some players may find the difficulty curve erratic, with normal enemy encounters sometimes feeling harder than boss fights.
  • The navigation can be confusing, leading to moments of frustration when players are unsure of where to go next.
  • story114 mentions

    The story of "Death of a Wish" is praised for its emotional depth and accessibility compared to its predecessor, "Lucah: Born of a Dream." Players appreciate the engaging narrative that explores themes of self-discovery, indoctrination, and the struggles faced by marginalized communities, all while being presented in a more straightforward manner. The game combines a haunting storyline with captivating gameplay, making it a standout experience, though some players noted pacing issues and a desire for more side content.

    • “Utterly unmatched sense of style paired with some of the smartest combat design around and a deeply resonant and heartfelt story on top of it all (and very queer too, which is always a plus).”
    • “The story is difficult and heartbreaking but beautiful.”
    • “The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, and the themes of self-discovery and lifestyle acceptance are explored in a thoughtful and sensitive manner.”
    • “The story is a bit hard to piece together, but it's so good.”
    • “As for the story, it is inconsistent with its pacing at times to the point where you're sort of wondering what's going on: and I admit I wanted some more side stories/side quests despite the game having a reasonable amount of content.”
    • “The actual, textual story is handed to you whole this time around, requiring next to zero puzzling together.”
  • gameplay65 mentions

    The gameplay of "Death of a Wish" is widely praised for its depth and complexity, featuring meticulously designed combat mechanics that encourage skill expression and aggressive playstyles. While some players noted issues with combat pacing and the overwhelming nature of certain mechanics, the overall experience is described as addictive and rewarding, with high replay value and a unique visual style that enhances the gameplay. The game successfully builds on its predecessor, offering new features and improvements that make it a standout title in the action RPG genre.

    • “The combat system is meticulously designed, offering a variety of moves and combos that keep the gameplay fresh and exciting.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth and fun, the story is well written, and exploration is satisfying.”
    • “The music is great, the art style is unforgettable, and the gameplay is somehow even more rewarding to master than 'Born of a Dream's' already stellar combat.”
    • “Combat mechanics can stack too many multipliers on top of one another.”
    • “A lot of the opportunity for strategy or exciting dynamic gameplay I could've gotten was thrown out of the window pretty quickly though.”
    • “Overall I liked the game, if I had to nitpick something, the souls-like mechanics didn't translate well into the late game; I think the combat pacing worked well at first, however, the game makes it too easy to overshadow the strategy with the numbers, even if you're doing little to no farming.”
  • graphics61 mentions

    The graphics of "Death of a Wish" are characterized by a unique and striking art style that combines scratchy linework with vibrant colors, creating a surreal and atmospheric experience. While some players may find the visuals overwhelming or difficult to read during intense combat, many appreciate the game's distinctive aesthetic as a key element that enhances its storytelling and emotional impact. Overall, the art style is celebrated for its originality and ability to evoke a strong sense of place and mood, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The psychedelic art style is the game's defining feature, enveloping players in a vibrant, surreal world where every element is a feast for the eyes.”
    • “The art style is unlike anything else in such a good way, and they've taken all the right influences from Sekiro and Hyper Light Drifter.”
    • “The visuals are strikingly unique, lending themselves to a dark, surreal, and otherworldly atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics, for one, are basically the same.”
    • “However, its unorthodox art style can sometimes lead to readability issues.”
    • “Having to go through consecutive battles made everything challenging for the right reasons, until the visuals would get in the way.”
  • music35 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its masterful blend of electronic beats, ambient sounds, and dynamic adaptation to gameplay, enhancing both the combat and overall atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as energetic, unique, and capable of heightening immersion during encounters. Many express a strong desire for the official release of the soundtrack, emphasizing its integral role in the game's captivating experience.

    • “The soundtrack is a masterful blend of electronic beats and ambient sounds that enhance the game's surreal atmosphere.”
    • “The music adapts dynamically to the action, heightening the sense of immersion.”
    • “The music is astonishing and does an excellent job of getting you amped up for any encounter, or setting the mood for the environment you travel through.”
    • “It's a damn shame that the OST hasn't released yet, as I keep wishing I could listen through it again.”
    • “The game features an energetic soundtrack that enhances the frenetic combat and the dark, surreal atmosphere.”
    • “Lastly, we have to mention my favorite part of the game which is the aesthetic experience; even the soundtrack is kind of unique with all of the different genres mixed into the exploration.”
  • atmosphere9 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by its bold colors, intricate patterns, and dreamlike imagery, creating an immersive and surreal experience. The combination of a masterful electronic and ambient soundtrack, edgy dialogue, and unique visuals enhances the dark and thought-provoking narrative, making it a standout aspect of the game. Overall, players feel that the atmosphere is a labor of love, contributing significantly to the overall gaming experience.

    • “Each level is a canvas of bold colors, intricate patterns, and dreamlike imagery that creates an immersive and otherworldly atmosphere.”
    • “The soundtrack is a masterful blend of electronic beats and ambient sounds that enhance the game's surreal atmosphere.”
    • “The dialogue is edgy, reflecting the game’s dark and surreal atmosphere.”
    • “The visuals are strikingly unique, lending themselves to a dark, surreal, and otherworldly atmosphere.”
    • “The game features an energetic soundtrack that enhances the frenetic combat and the dark, surreal atmosphere.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its deeply resonant and heartfelt narrative, which is both beautiful and heartbreaking, evoking strong feelings in players. The characters, atmosphere, and music contribute to a labor of love that enhances the overall experience, making it a memorable journey that resonates with many, including moments that can bring players to tears. Overall, the game successfully combines style, combat design, and emotional depth, creating a powerful impact.

    • “Utterly unmatched sense of style paired with some of the smartest combat design around and a deeply resonant and heartfelt story on top of it all (and very queer too, which is always a plus).”
    • “The story is difficult and heartbreaking but beautiful.”
    • “What I wasn't expecting was the deeply heartfelt story.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly when it comes to switching between character builds, which discourages experimentation. While some feel that the game allows for power creep without extensive farming, leading to a lack of challenge in late-game encounters, others note that the combat can become overly reliant on numbers rather than strategy, diminishing the overall experience.

    • “The visuals, the narrative, and the exploration were mostly great, but toward the end, I started to have tunnel vision because the numbers overpowered the difficulty with little to no farming.”
    • “I killed some of the hardest bosses in 30 seconds just by mashing buttons, which made the combat feel less strategic.”
    • “The combat pacing worked well at first, but the game makes it too easy to overshadow the strategy with the numbers, even if you're doing little to no farming.”
    • “There is a huge power differential in dedicating Chris to one playstyle versus building him to be versatile, and changing between these builds is rather tedious, disincentivizing experimenting with the different playstyles.”
    • “Overall, I liked the game. If I had to nitpick something, the souls-like mechanics didn't translate well into the late game. I think the combat pacing worked well at first; however, the game makes it too easy to overshadow the strategy with the numbers, even if you're doing little to no farming.”
    • “The visuals, the narrative, and the exploration were mostly great. The only problem I have is that toward the end, I started to have tunnel vision because the numbers overpowered the difficulty with little to no farming. I killed some of the hardest bosses in 30 seconds just mashing buttons, and I also think you made a mistake by not giving the bosses more unique mechanics so you're not just doing the parry tactic the entire time.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game offers high replayability, particularly for players who enjoy mastering combat mechanics and seeking perfection in their gameplay. Players can expect to confront personal fears, leading to a rewarding experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.

    • “You will see yourself and all your fears, but ultimately I think you as a person will emerge stronger, making this a very replayable video game.”
    • “High replay value is assured for those who enjoy mastering combat mechanics and striving for perfection in their gameplay.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Users suggest that improved optimization leads to enhanced performance, which in turn facilitates a more effective cleansing of corruption within the game.

    • “The better the performance, the more effective the corruption cleanse.”
    • “The optimization features really enhance the overall gameplay experience.”
    • “I love how the game allows for fine-tuning settings to maximize performance.”
    • “The better the performance, the better the corruption cleanse.”
    • “The game runs poorly on lower-end hardware, making it frustrating to play.”
    • “Frequent frame drops and long loading times really hinder the overall experience.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is primarily focused on enhancing the main character's base stats, like health and physical damage, through a limited customization system that mainly offers combat-related modifiers.

    • “The customization options are limited to combat and consist of various modifiers (e.g., restoring health when hitting an opponent), while the character development system allows players to improve the main character's base stats, such as health and physical damage.”
    • “The customization options are limited to combat and consist of various modifiers (e.g., restoring health on hitting an opponent), while the character development system only allows for improvements to the main character's base stats, such as health or physical damage.”
    • “Character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful choices, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “The progression system is overly simplistic, offering little in the way of unique abilities or growth for the characters.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Death of a Wish

Videos

Similar Games