Deathbound

About

Deathbound is a single player role playing game with horror and fantasy themes. It was developed by Trialforge Studio and was released on August 8, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Deathbound is a one-of-a-kind party-based soulslike set in a callous world where Faith and Science clash. The forbidden city of Akratya is an unforgiving land that cannot be conquered alone. Bind with fallen warriors found throughout your crusade and dynamically transform between characters seamlessly in mid-combat with the unique 4-hero party system. The fallen are individual characters with …

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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74%

Audience ScoreBased on 115 reviews

gameplay22 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Innovative party-based combat system that allows for seamless character switching, adding depth to gameplay.
Engaging story with well-developed characters and interesting lore that enhances the overall experience.
Challenging yet rewarding gameplay that provides a satisfying sense of progression as players master the mechanics.

Clunky controls and unresponsive mechanics can lead to frustrating combat experiences, especially during boss fights.
Shared health and stamina mechanics create punishing situations where losing one character can lead to an instant game over.
Technical issues such as crashes, poor hit detection, and inconsistent animations detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

gameplay
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
74%
3%
The gameplay of "Deathbound" is characterized by its innovative morphing mechanic, allowing players to fluidly switch between four unique characters during combat, which adds depth and variety to the experience. However, the gameplay can feel clunky and punishing due to a lack of defensive mechanics and some balance issues, particularly in boss encounters. While the core mechanics are engaging and offer a fresh take on the souls-like genre, the execution is marred by repetitive environments and a convoluted narrative, leading to mixed reviews overall.
- “What sets Deathbound apart is its innovative gameplay mechanic that allows players to control a party of four unique characters, switching between them fluidly during combat.”
- “The mechanic of changing between characters at all times, even during combos, is really fun and interesting, especially because there are a good amount of choices and variety of fighting styles, and adding up the affiliation for synergies is great in every way.”
- “Mastering the morphing mechanic opens the door to some truly epic battles, and the satisfaction of overcoming these challenges is immense.”
- “The gameplay does feel clunky.”
- “The absence of defensive mechanics like parrying or taking cover, coupled with shared health and stamina resources among the party, can sometimes make battles feel punishing or overwhelming, especially in more demanding boss encounters.”
- “The game has randomly crashed twice now in the four hours I've played it, both at totally random times during normal gameplay.”
story
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
69%
5%
The story of "Deathbound" is set in the dystopian city of Akratya, following Therone Guillaman, a cursed crusader battling monstrous foes. While some players appreciate the engaging narrative and character perspectives, others criticize it for being convoluted, filled with cringe-worthy dialogue, and plagued by unskippable exposition. Overall, the game offers a mix of intriguing lore and character-driven storytelling, though opinions vary on its execution and memorability.
- “Set in the crumbling city of Akratya, the game tells the story of Therone Guillaman, a crusader cursed with immortality who must face a plague of monstrous enemies unleashed by heretical followers of Lady Death’s twin sister.”
- “Deathbound, however, fills this gap admirably, offering a well-crafted story that blends sci-fi and fantasy elements into a grimdark, medieval, post-apocalyptic world.”
- “The combination of a well-structured plot with a carefully crafted environment results in a rich and immersive narrative experience.”
- “The story seemed cringe, and the game seems dead.”
- “Unplayable because of unskippable cringe story sections that can last over 10+ minutes; by that, I don't mean cutscenes.”
- “The story and the characters were honestly boring, and the dialogue makes one cringe.”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
35%
18%
The graphics of Deathbound are generally praised for their striking blend of medieval and futuristic aesthetics, with many reviewers noting the solid visuals and impressive 3D performance. However, some criticism arises regarding the lack of facial animations and character customization options, which detracts from the overall experience. While opinions on the art style vary, the game's visuals are considered functional and appealing, especially for a non-AAA title.
- “Visually, Deathbound presents a striking mix of medieval and futuristic aesthetics.”
- “With its solid visuals, challenging gameplay, and interesting story, it’s a title that demands attention.”
- “The graphics are not only visually appealing but also functional, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “It could benefit from some graphical improvements; for example, there are no facial animations, which makes some of the cinematics a little weird.”
- “Unfortunately, you cannot customize these characters' aesthetics or gear in any way, shape, or form.”
- “Lousy, mid-2000s graphics?”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game's music has received mixed reviews, with some praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and tension during battles, while others criticize it for being sparse, bland, and forgettable. Many players feel that the soundtrack plays a secondary role and lacks memorable tracks, particularly in a narrative-driven context. Overall, the music is seen as a missed opportunity to elevate the game's emotional impact.
- “The game’s soundtrack and audio design complement its dark and foreboding tone.”
- “The music dynamically shifts to suit the mood of each locale and battle, enhancing the sense of tension and urgency.”
- “Like exciting boss music and some environmental stuff.”
- “There barely is any music, but what is there mostly serves a secondary role.”
- “What is there is bland, forgettable, 'time to stress during the boss fight' music.”
- “I wish there was a bit more music, as it feels pretty sparse outside of the boss music.”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
Overall, "Deathbound" is generally well-optimized for PC, delivering smooth performance and high frame rates, though some users have experienced technical issues like crashes and stuttering, particularly on the Steam Deck. While the game showcases impressive 3D graphics, the voice acting quality varies, occasionally detracting from the overall experience. Performance can fluctuate based on graphical settings, with some players noting significant drops in frame rates during intense visual effects.
- “Performance for me has been excellent, but massive stutters in transitions from area to area.”
- “PC requirements: high, the game is well optimized though.”
- “It runs super smoothly FPS-wise, very optimized (i7 9700KF/RTX 3070Ti/32GB RAM).”
- “Performance-wise, Deathbound generally runs smoothly on PC, though some users have reported technical issues such as crashes and bugs, particularly on the Steam Deck where stuttering and save file glitches have been noted.”
- “Performance goes from 60 to 30 depending on particle effects.”
- “I am still at a loss as to how they used moving sketches for the game intro with basic text while the game has some of the finest 3D graphics and game performance out there.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The atmosphere in Deathbound is characterized by its tense and oppressive design, featuring detailed environments with moody lighting that immerse players in a bleak, collapsing urban landscape. While the brutalist architecture and rich lore create an intriguing and captivating world, some players may find the consistently dark level design frustrating. Overall, the game successfully combines a challenging soulslike experience with a compelling and immersive atmosphere.
- “The environments are detailed, with atmospheric lighting and textures that immerse players in the bleak urban landscape.”
- “Additionally, the atmosphere of the game's universe is immersive and intriguing, keeping the player invested in discovering more about the world around them.”
- “This design choice creates a tense atmosphere but may lead to moments of frustration for players accustomed to more forgiving soulslike combat.”
- “The city of Akratyia is rendered with imposing brutalist architecture and a moody, oppressive atmosphere that effectively conveys a world on the brink of collapse.”
- “The settings and atmosphere remind me of Immortal Unchained or Hellpoint for some reason.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find grinding in the game enjoyable, particularly in the early areas where experience points (XP) can be easily farmed. However, as they progress, the enemy placement becomes tedious, and some bosses feel rushed, leading to a decline in enjoyment of the grinding experience. Overall, while grinding can be effective for leveling up, it may lose its appeal over time.
- “Enemy placement gets a lot more tedious, and the 'secret' boss felt particularly rushed in design.”
- “I started enjoying it a lot less until I spent a little time grinding levels.”
- “I'm not too far because I'm really enjoying just grinding the opening area for XP.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers a blend of challenging combat and innovative mechanics, alongside a story that evokes a range of emotions, particularly through its deep character relationships. While some players found the emotional impact to be somewhat lacking, others appreciated the strong emotional connections fostered throughout the gameplay. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking both challenge and emotional engagement.
- “Tough but fair combat mixed with some interesting new mechanics and a story that takes you to new, emotional places.”
- “This depth in relationships helps build an emotional connection with the game, making it hard not to feel a wide range of emotions towards them.”
- “If you’re looking for a title that offers both challenge and emotional involvement, this game is an excellent choice.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Character development in the game is highlighted by a compelling story and engaging combat, though some users criticize the character design as unattractive. Overall, the narrative and gameplay elements contribute positively to the character experience.
- “Good story, fun combat, outstanding character designs.”
- “The character development feels shallow and uninspired.”
- “I found the characters to be one-dimensional and lacking depth.”
- “There is little to no growth in the characters throughout the game.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, "Deathbound" runs smoothly on PC, but users have reported various technical issues, including crashes and bugs, especially on the Steam Deck, where stuttering and save file glitches are common. While the game has an intriguing concept, it suffers from clunky mechanics and occasional game-breaking glitches that players hope will be addressed in future patches.
- “Performance-wise, Deathbound generally runs smoothly on PC, though some users have reported technical issues such as crashes and bugs, particularly on the Steam Deck where stuttering and save file glitches have been noted.”
- “It's not a bad game per se... it's clunky and buggy/glitchy, but the setting and concept for it is interesting.”
- “There are a few game-breaking glitches that occur randomly (morphing the exact moment you're kicked sends you under the map, stuff like that), though I can only hope those will be patched eventually.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the game is considered fairly priced for its content, many users feel that it lacks significant replay value after the initial completion.
- “It's fairly priced for what it offers, although I don't think there will be much replay value once you complete it the first time.”