Death Roads: Tournament
- November 15, 2023
- The Knights of Unity
- 18h median play time
Get on Steam"Death Roads: Tournament" is a single-player strategy game with exceptional mechanics, outstanding graphics, and good music. In this game, you join a cutthroat competition where you must eliminate opponents in car battles using cards and turn-based gameplay. Before starting, choose your driver, car, and sponsor, and remember to shift gears while driving to increase power. Failure is not an option, as you'll have to start over!
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Unique blend of vehicular combat and deck-building mechanics, reminiscent of games like Slay the Spire and Mad Max.
- Engaging gameplay with a focus on positioning and strategy, making each battle feel dynamic and rewarding.
- Visually appealing with a strong atmosphere, complemented by a fitting soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Unbalanced difficulty, with many players feeling overwhelmed by enemy encounters and a lack of healing options.
- RNG elements can lead to frustrating moments where players feel their success is largely dependent on luck rather than skill.
- Limited content and progression can make the game feel repetitive, with some players expressing a desire for more variety in enemies and events.
- gameplay130 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this card-based roguelike is characterized by its unique mechanics, including a blend of deck-building, positioning, and skidding elements that create a fast-paced and engaging experience. While many players appreciate the depth and addictive nature of the mechanics, some express concerns about complexity, balance issues, and repetitive encounters that can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game offers a fresh take on the genre, but its execution may require further refinement to fully realize its potential.
“All around fun card game with a cool theme and addictive gameplay.”
“The gameplay is a tactical deck builder where you have two types of cards, car cards that are dictated by your vehicle and the kind of gear it has equipped and driver cards that are based on what driver you select at the start.”
“Great game with unique mechanics.”
“Despite a really cool theme and some interesting mechanics, this is the dullest, most repetitive, boring, and overall 'meh' card battler in recent years.”
“The core gameplay loop is designed to frustrate the player.”
“There is no cohesion with your cards and decks through gameplay, and it just feels really bad to play as you get whittled down every combat and are forced to go to heal stations while never actually improving your own vehicle.”
- music50 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its energetic and thematic fit, enhancing the chaotic atmosphere and complementing the visuals. However, many players note that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, with calls for more variety in tracks. While some find the music enjoyable and well-produced, others express dissatisfaction, labeling it as poor or grating after extended play.
“The music is energetic and adds to the chaotic atmosphere, which is exactly what you’d want in a game like this.”
“A little bit of Mad Max, a little bit of Car Wars, and the ease of Gaslands all set to a 90s metal/grunge soundtrack evokes feelings of Death Race 2000 and 2050.”
“The fit and finish is very high, with excellent art and sound, and a fun metal soundtrack.”
“I've played many a game on and off Steam, and this is possibly the worst musical score I've ever heard.”
“My only drawback is that the two music tracks get extremely grating after the 50th time hearing them.”
“The music and sound effects are pretty poor and really need to be improved.”
- graphics50 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their stunning visuals and unique aesthetic, drawing inspiration from post-apocalyptic themes and comic book styles. Players appreciate the gritty, Mad Max-inspired atmosphere, with many noting the engaging art style and satisfying animations during combat. While some critiques mention a lack of depth in certain graphical elements and UI clarity, the overall impression is that the visuals significantly enhance the gaming experience.
“The visuals are fantastic, with a gritty, Mad Max-inspired aesthetic that draws you in.”
“With its stunning graphics and a pretty metal soundtrack.”
“The character designs, the battle animations – Death Roads nails the aesthetic.”
“Third, graphically it feels almost like a flash game and lacks the bite I expected in consideration of the game's themes.”
“Ai artwork is of course terrible and embarrassing... enemy AI is also pretty bad, especially when you get far enough from them.”
“Now this is turn-based strategy so there won't be any graphic sequences that knock your socks off, but the graphics are solid for what it is, and I like the gritty style.”
- replayability17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a solid level of replayability due to its diverse selection of vehicles, upgrades, and unique driver combinations, encouraging players to experiment with different strategies. While many users find the initial gameplay addictive and rewarding, some express concerns about the game's balance and the time required to unlock content, suggesting that additional updates could enhance replay value. Despite these criticisms, the core mechanics and variety keep players engaged for multiple runs.
“An awesome selection of vehicles and upgrades with the driver perks on top and the starting perks makes it super replayable, and has good progression and unlocks that keep you wanting to play.”
“Each driver and car combo plays differently, providing a lot of replayability.”
“Being able to craft different builds to have a variety of play styles will make this game very replayable.”
“I wish there was more replayability.”
“Overall, I think it may have released out of early access a bit early and could really use more content added to it to help with replayability.”
“Kind of neat, very limited in replayability.”
- story13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players feeling it is underdeveloped and lacking depth. Critics highlight the need for more meaningful choices, narrative content, and a satisfying conclusion, suggesting that the current storyline feels repetitive and insufficient. While the game's mechanics and artistic style are praised, the overall narrative experience is seen as a significant area for improvement.
“In between the encounters, you will move across the world map in a way that will be familiar to anyone who has played a game like FTL or Slay the Spire, where you often have a choice of paths and the different nodes will be combat encounters, random story encounters that can offer positive or negative effects, repair places, etc.”
“This has the potential to be a really, really good game if they add content and expand the story.”
“Graphics give a comic and Mad Max style that is very consistent throughout the story.”
“I feel as though something is missing, either more story or more meaningful choices along the way. As it is, it feels a bit repetitive, and without the ability to work towards some sort of really cool build, it also feels a bit pointless.”
“It needs more story narratives and map branching choices as well as a more detailed game over, like a story-line ending or wrap-up.”
“The story is really lacking.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 82 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging visuals, energetic music, and immersive sound design, which collectively enhance the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate how the atmosphere effectively complements the gameplay mechanics, creating a nostalgic yet refreshing vibe reminiscent of classic games. Overall, the game's art and sound contribute to a captivating and enjoyable environment that resonates well with players.
“The atmosphere is cool as well - the music, art, and the general feeling reference the classics very nicely.”
“Death Roads: Tournament is a fun deckbuilder with a great atmosphere and several unique and clever gaming mechanics.”
“The music is energetic and adds to the chaotic atmosphere, which is exactly what you’d want in a game like this.”
“I quite like the refreshing atmosphere of this tactical deck-builder.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive, requiring significant effort to unlock new cards, drivers, and cars, which can lead to frustration. While some appreciate the rewarding feeling of overcoming initial challenges through grinding, many feel that the XP system demands too much time for minimal returns, detracting from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the grindiness is seen as a balancing issue that may need addressing in future updates.
“Failure is guaranteed on your first few runs as grinding is required to unlock things.”
“The XP system requires a ridiculous amount of grinding to unlock new cars and components. Even winning the game doesn't give you a fair amount of XP compared to how much you need per level.”
“A lot of grinding with little return.”
- stability5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while it runs smoothly and features an engaging aesthetic, players have reported minor glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as card animation issues and specific gadget malfunctions. These problems are generally considered minor annoyances rather than game-breaking, but they do detract from the overall experience.
“Let me start off by saying the good: the game runs great, has a very fun and well-made aesthetic, and features a well-thought-out customization system with different drivers, cars, car parts, and cards. I imagine that in the late game, it really lets you pull off some fun stuff and hits most of the classic genres well (events, customization, etc.).”
“The game is incredibly stable, providing a smooth experience without any crashes or major bugs, which allows me to fully enjoy the gameplay.”
“I appreciate how the developers have prioritized stability; it makes for a seamless gaming experience that keeps me engaged for hours.”
“Fun time waster with a cool setting, that at times may feel a little unfair and has a few glitches that can be annoying.”
“I did notice a couple of glitches, like some spelling that needs to be corrected and one gadget (flask of oblivion) that needs to be fixed.”
“There are a couple of little issues (card animation glitches that can freeze the game, especially if the AI dies before it resolves all cards in a skid), but they are minor annoyances.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its clever commentary on relationships, particularly the struggle of leaving toxic situations, and includes lighthearted elements like amusing interactions with enemies and the suggestion of whimsical features, such as a card to change the music. Overall, the humor adds a playful layer to the gameplay experience.
“But love's a funny thing - it makes it very difficult to leave toxic relationships, like the one I have with Death Roads Tournament.”
“Heck, a card to change the music would be hilarious.”
“Bumping into enemies - humorous check.”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While opinions on character design vary, with some not favoring it, the overall enjoyment of the game remains a highlight. The battle animations and aesthetic elements are particularly praised, contributing positively to the character development experience.
“The character designs and battle animations in Death Roads nail the aesthetic.”
“The character development is engaging and adds depth to the gameplay.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game has appealing features, but players report that it lacks proper optimization, resulting in performance issues and a less smooth gameplay experience.
