Death Squared

About

"Death Squared" is a challenging puzzle game focused on coordination and cooperation, featuring 80+ levels and a voiced story. It offers customizable hats, robot explosions, and works with Bluetooth controllers. Recommended for both casual and experienced players, with praise from IGN, Kinda Funny, Polygon, and 2old2play for its addictive and intuitive gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

+23

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 375 reviews

story13 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Death Squared offers a fun and engaging couch co-op experience that encourages communication and teamwork among players.
The puzzles are well-designed with a good difficulty curve, providing a mix of easy and challenging levels that keep players entertained.
The humorous dialogue and charming visuals add to the overall enjoyment of the game, making it appealing to both casual and experienced gamers.

The game lacks online multiplayer capabilities, which limits its accessibility for players who want to enjoy it with friends remotely.
Some players have reported issues with controls and bugs, particularly with broken achievements and difficulty in managing multiple controllers.
The trial-and-error nature of some puzzles can lead to frustration, as players may feel punished for not knowing the mechanics in advance.

story
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
70%
7%
The game's story is primarily delivered through humorous dialogue and voice acting, providing entertaining context between the numerous puzzle levels. While some players find the narrative engaging and reminiscent of Portal, others feel it is skippable or lacking depth, with a mix of enjoyable and irritating elements. Overall, the story serves as a lighthearted backdrop to the gameplay, which is the main focus of the experience.
- “Portal tells its story through both never-before-seen mechanics and the copious use of dark humour.”
- “The story provides entertaining breaks between levels.”
- “We've enjoyed the humorous story voiced incrementally throughout the puzzles.”
- “The story feels sort of portal-like in style.”
- “The 'story' is just some voice acting at the start of each stage but that is the true star of this game.”
- “I will say that the dialogue and plot are fairly stupid.”
humor
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
8%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by witty dialogue, light-hearted banter among AI characters, and hilarious in-game situations that often arise from player interactions. While some players found the voiceover attempts to be overly quirky, the overall comedic elements, including the absurdity of accidental sabotage and funny deaths, contribute to a fun and engaging multiplayer experience. The combination of challenging puzzles and unexpected humorous moments makes it a delightful game to play with friends.
- “The humor sprinkled throughout the game, particularly in the form of witty dialogue and light-hearted banter between the AI characters, adds to its charm and keeps the mood light even during more difficult levels.”
- “It makes dying funny and fun rather than frustrating, because it becomes part of learning the quick levels.”
- “This is a hilarious game to play with friends.”
- “The biggest con is the unfunny, tryhard voiceover.”
- “The jokes fall flat and feel forced, lacking any real wit.”
- “The humor attempts to be edgy but ends up being cringeworthy instead.”
gameplay
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
50%
8%
The gameplay is characterized by simple mechanics and engaging puzzles, making it enjoyable, especially in local co-op mode. While the puzzles can become repetitive and some mechanics may lack clarity, the overall experience is fun and encourages communication among players. However, issues like frustrating trial-and-error elements and occasional glitches detract from the experience, particularly in solo play.
- “Charming, cute (the hats! the beepy lights!), mechanics introduced gradually and with a great sense of satisfaction when you find the solution.”
- “Great co-op game that utilizes puzzles, requires communication and good movement mechanics.”
- “I was pleasantly surprised with the breadth of puzzles they created with a relatively limited number of mechanics (and some really cool, difficult ones in the vault).”
- “Death Squared is certainly not without its drawbacks as I found the puzzles to be repetitive after extended play, probably because the core mechanics remain consistent throughout the game.”
- “The trial and error element of traps is frustrating rather than entertaining, and other issues such as clipping and glitches make it more annoying – simple changes such as having a marker on the spiked tiles, better collision mechanics, and a controllable camera would have prevented this.”
- “There's no way for me to recommend a game that mocks its players in voice-overs for not understanding lethal puzzle mechanics that it doesn't teach.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
65%
15%
The game's graphics are characterized by a minimalist design that features vibrant colors and clean lines, creating a charming and approachable aesthetic. While some reviewers note that the visuals are simple and basic, they effectively complement the gameplay and atmosphere, with smooth performance and a well-designed interface. Overall, the graphics are deemed pleasant and suitable for the game's puzzle mechanics, though they may not stand out as exceptional.
- “The minimalist design, combined with vibrant colors and clean lines, gives Death Squared a charming and approachable aesthetic.”
- “The graphics are simple but pleasant, and the sound design is satisfying.”
- “Graphics are minimalistic yet warm.”
- “The atmosphere and graphics are quite simple and effective; everything is linked to robotics!”
- “Graphically it looks fine if a bit basic, and the puzzles do offer a good level of challenge, but it’s far from great.”
- “The graphics are fairly simple, but the level designs and game mechanics really steal the show.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
36%
27%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that there is only one looped track throughout, which can become monotonous and detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the atmospheric quality of the single composition, others express disappointment, feeling that a more varied soundtrack would better complement the game's challenging and fun elements. Additionally, sound effects have been criticized for being jarring, leading some players to mute the audio entirely.
- “There's a nice and light atmospheric music during all levels, but unfortunately there's only one single looped composition, and that's a real pity.”
- “Considering the challenging and fun atmosphere, I was expecting some music that would exalt that aspect of the game.”
- “Background music is gorgeous and fits really well.”
- “I normally hate to turn off audio in games, even the most mediocre of soundtracks, but I ran out of patience for the voiceovers real fast.”
- “Considering the challenging and fun atmosphere I was expecting, some music that would exalt that aspect of the game was needed.”
- “Besides the fullscreen trouble, the fact it only has one music track and doesn't feature LAN/internet cooperative multiplayer is something that keeps the game away from a perfect 10 or a 9 as well.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The atmosphere of the game is described as simple and effective, with a focus on robotics, but it lacks depth and humor, leading to a sense of boredom over time. While the light atmospheric music enhances the experience, its repetitive nature detracts from the overall enjoyment, leaving players wanting more variety to match the game's challenging and fun elements.
- “The atmosphere and graphics are quite simple and effective; everything is linked to robotics!”
- “Difficult but not too difficult and great for a party atmosphere.”
- “Considering the challenging and fun atmosphere, I was expecting some music that would exalt that aspect of the game.”
- “With no real atmosphere and a barely humorous narrative, it gets boring quite quickly, although solving the harder puzzles remains somewhat satisfying.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The optimization aspect of the game is characterized by a unique interplay between the player's performance and the reactions of the AI, GLaDOS, as well as the character David's reliance on the test cubes. While David seeks to improve his job performance, the cubes have little motivation to assist him, creating a dynamic that adds depth to the gameplay experience. Overall, the optimization mechanics cleverly reflect the tension between the characters' goals and motivations.
- “Throughout the game, GLaDOS comments on the player’s performance, the setting, and her thoughts on what’s going on.”
- “David’s job performance is dependent on how well these test cubes do, but I, as a cube, have very little incentive to see that David gets a good review.”
- “If anything, I want David to reap the consequences of his poor job performance.”
- “David, however, would prefer to receive a good review, and so constantly belittles and insults the cubes’ performances.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is marred by frustrating trial and error mechanics, clipping issues, and glitches that detract from the experience. Players have reported problems with multiplayer functionality and fullscreen settings, alongside minor physics glitches. While some issues are manageable, they collectively hinder the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “The trial and error element of traps is frustrating rather than entertaining, and other issues such as clipping and glitches make it more annoying. Simple changes such as having a marker on the spiked tiles, better collision mechanics, and a controllable camera would have prevented this.”
- “Buggy; I couldn't get it to work with three people; one cube was unmovable.”
- “One problem I encountered was that the game said it was fullscreen in the options, but it actually lied, so I had to go and apply 1080p in order for it to render correctly. The loading screens had text glitches when I hadn't fixed it.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Replayability is limited, as the secrets and achievements provide some incentive to revisit the game, but the lack of engaging multiplayer dynamics makes the four-player puzzles either too easy or tedious to complete. Overall, players express concerns about the game's long-term replay value.
- “The secrets and achievements offer some replay value, but not much. Without other players, the four-player puzzles end up being either really easy or a chore to complete.”
- “The only thing I am wary of is the replayability.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
Players generally find grinding to be an enjoyable aspect of the game, particularly when it comes to achieving specific goals. However, some users note that it can be time-consuming, suggesting that having additional lives may be beneficial for those who engage in extensive grinding.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
- “The grind is satisfying, with each level-up feeling like a significant achievement.”
- “I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels tedious and always offers something new to strive for.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding achievements was fun to do as well.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game offers a lighthearted emotional experience, serving as a relaxing break between more intense sessions, while also fostering social interactions, albeit with a playful twist of friendly sabotage.
- “This game beautifully captures the essence of human emotions, making every decision feel impactful and personal.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters truly resonates, leaving a lasting impression long after the game is over.”
- “Each moment in the game is filled with raw emotion, drawing players into a narrative that feels both intimate and profound.”