Death's Door

Death’s Door is a game that you can see is crafted with love and purpose. Nothing seems to be done in order to add pointless game time.

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In Death's Door, players control a Crow Knight, tasked with reaping souls in a fantasy world. The game features challenging combat and clever puzzles as you navigate through various levels to claim the souls of your targets. With a unique art style and atmospheric world design, Death's Door delivers a satisfying action-adventure experience.

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,873 reviews

music1,587 positive mentions

grinding197 negative mentions

Beautiful art style and engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
Challenging yet fair combat mechanics that encourage players to learn enemy patterns.
Charming characters and a whimsical story that adds depth to the gameplay.

Lack of a map makes navigation confusing and can lead to tedious backtracking.
Some combat encounters feel repetitive due to limited enemy variety and predictable patterns.
The true ending requires excessive backtracking and collecting items, which can feel like a chore.

music
2,197 mentions
72 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in "Death's Door" has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful and atmospheric compositions, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Many players noted that the soundtrack effectively complements the game's visuals and narrative, with distinct themes for different areas and boss encounters that evoke a range of emotions. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersion.
- “The soundtrack is amazing and suits the game perfectly.”
- “The music works well with each area and keeps you hooked; it is quite soothing and melodic, which gives an ethereal feel to the world as a whole.”
- “The art direction, animations, visual effects, music, sound effects, and general good controls all elevate the game to give it quite a polished feeling.”
- “The music is pretty soothing also, which for me, game music is often annoying.”
- “The music is fitting but gets repetitive when you spend too long in one area.”
- “The only downside I found was the music sometimes didn't fit the atmosphere of the level.”
story
2,172 mentions
56 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of "Death's Door" is generally well-received, characterized as simple yet engaging, with a charming blend of humor and melancholy. Players appreciate the intriguing narrative that unfolds through exploration and character interactions, often highlighting the game's themes surrounding life and death. While some find the plot predictable or lacking depth, many agree that the storytelling is enhanced by the game's beautiful art style and atmospheric music, making for a memorable experience overall.
- “A really satisfying game with interesting characters, great mechanics, and a compelling story.”
- “The story is simple but good, the NPCs have short but charming dialogue, and the game respects your time.”
- “The story is engaging, the characters are very likeable, and the graphics look amazing.”
- “The story is non-existent and the few crumbs you get are nonsensical and weird in typical soulslike flavor, which I find a really outdated and boring way to tell a story in 2024.”
- “None of the bosses or side characters you chase down or befriend in the game’s middle section mean anything or contribute anything, nor do they have anything to do with the larger story Death’s Door is trying to tell.”
- “The story doesn't stand out and is confusing at times.”
gameplay
1,736 mentions
50 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Death's Door" is generally praised for its blend of familiar mechanics from classic titles like "Zelda" and "Dark Souls," offering a mix of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving that feels engaging and rewarding. While many players appreciate the smooth controls and charming aesthetics, some critique the gameplay for being simplistic or repetitive, with a desire for more depth and variety in mechanics and enemy encounters. Overall, the game strikes a balance between accessibility and challenge, making it enjoyable for both casual and more experienced players.
- “A really satisfying game with interesting characters, great mechanics, and a compelling story.”
- “Rather than overwhelming you with flashy mechanics or complex RPG systems, it keeps things simple yet highly effective: tight combat, a compelling world, and a surprisingly deep story.”
- “The gameplay is a delightful mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat.”
- “I think what negatively impacted my experience the most were the constant interruptions to the gameplay, like blocked paths because you’re missing a skill, or the sheer number of enemies in certain areas.”
- “The gameplay is shallow, the world puzzles are shallow, etc. Nothing was driving the story and it began to feel like busy work.”
- “The gameplay while nice is a bit lacking in certain aspects like for example the upgrades to your stats aren't very noticeable and the rewards for exploring are a bit underwhelming.”
graphics
1,558 mentions
68 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Death's Door" have been widely praised for their charming and beautiful art style, which draws inspiration from Studio Ghibli and combines elements of whimsy with darker themes. Players appreciate the game's vibrant visuals, smooth animations, and the way the aesthetic complements the overall atmosphere and storytelling. While some critiques mention a lack of variety in environments, the overall consensus is that the graphics significantly enhance the gaming experience, making it visually captivating and engaging.
- “Death’s Door dazzles with its beautiful and charming art style.”
- “The level of polish here is brilliant and the combination of the visuals, music, and overall energy the game presents elevate the entire experience even when it doesn’t deserve it.”
- “The art style is lovely and so are the locations.”
- “Unfortunately for me, it clashed a little bit with the game’s 50’s film-noir aesthetics and the somber tones of the introductory areas and characters.”
- “The visuals and music are fine and have some charm, but they're not enough to carry the overall experience.”
- “The gameplay felt kind of bland, the graphics and general are ok but nothing to keep you awake at night, kind of generic and shallow.”
humor
457 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Death's Door" is widely praised for its cleverness and charm, effectively balancing lighthearted moments with the game's darker themes surrounding death. Players appreciate the witty dialogue, quirky character interactions, and the game's ability to evoke laughter without undermining its serious undertones. While some found certain jokes hit or miss, the overall consensus is that the humor enhances the experience, making it both engaging and enjoyable.
- “Death's Door attempts to spice up its premise with its own brand of silly, charming, and playful humor interspersed throughout your adventure.”
- “The characters are memorable, the script is great, the humor is on point, the bosses are challenging without being unfair.”
- “The writing is funny and surprising, and it's full of memorable characters.”
- “There is no map or functional compass in the game, which would be rather useful because running in circles for several minutes to get to the one specific location is not funny.”
atmosphere
346 mentions
70 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Death's Door" is widely praised for its captivating blend of beautiful art, haunting music, and immersive world design, creating a unique and engaging experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to balance lightheartedness with darker themes, enhanced by thoughtful sound design and charming character interactions. Overall, the game's aesthetic and atmospheric elements significantly contribute to its appeal, making exploration and combat feel rewarding and enjoyable.
- “The gentle pastel shading of the game’s regions and dungeons, alongside expertly managed lighting effects, provide tons of atmosphere to each location and make navigating them a joy.”
- “It perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, with hauntingly beautiful melodies that enhance the emotional weight of the story and the tension of combat.”
- “The atmosphere strikes a nice balance, blending grim drudgery and unrestrained tyranny with bright humor and hope that things will get better.”
- “Gameplay and visuals were good, but the story and atmosphere were lacking, which sadly dragged the entire experience down.”
- “The strong art style, together with the beautiful soundtrack, create a melancholic atmosphere of a stagnant, dying world.”
- “The visuals and soundtrack are both very good and create an immersive atmosphere, but the gameplay is basic and tedious.”
grinding
216 mentions
5 % positive mentions
4 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can often feel tedious and repetitive, particularly during backtracking and boss fights, which some players found to be damage sponges. While some appreciated the challenge and exploration aspects, many noted that the lack of a map and the necessity for extensive grinding to achieve 100% completion made the experience frustrating and less enjoyable. Overall, the game offers a mix of rewarding moments and tedious tasks, especially for completionists.
- “I'm currently about halfway through the post-game, considering 100% since it seems pretty achievable and not too tedious (aside from maxing out upgrades).”
- “No grinding is needed that much to finish the game but if you want to maximize your skills, you need to allot extra time for it.”
- “Deaths Door has a satisfying combat system, no tedious grinding, good pacing with the story, nice aesthetic and great soundtrack, and a good sense of humor.”
- “And that just loses the fun after a while of grinding non-stop but still never get what you need; it gets boring.”
- “The game’s biggest sin is the tediousness of its final boss: rather than being the coda for the player mastering the game, it’s a punishing and boring slog that will make you hate the game for all the wrong reasons.”
- “The lack of any in-game map makes navigation frustrating and tedious.”
character development
114 mentions
61 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its exceptional character designs, which are often described as whimsical, charming, and reminiscent of Studio Ghibli's style. Players appreciate the unique and memorable character designs that contribute to the game's rich atmosphere and storytelling, although some feel that deeper character development could have enhanced the experience. Overall, the combination of engaging visuals, quirky characters, and a captivating soundtrack creates a strong emotional connection, making character design a standout feature of the game.
- “The character designs, environments, and animations are all amazing and so full of personality and life (or death, as it may be for this game).”
- “The character designs are really fitting and the crows are super cute (all those name puns).”
- “This game does a lot of things very well, such as graphics, character designs, and controls, but the area designs are absolutely mindless.”
- “It's a bit on the short side and some of the story/character development could've been done more thoroughly, but the gameplay's fun enough for its length.”
- “This game does a lot of things very well, such as graphics, character designs and controls, but the area designs are absolutely mindless.”
- “- little character development.”
emotional
87 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its touching and heartfelt narrative, which explores themes of death and existentialism while balancing humor and melancholy. Players appreciate the well-written characters and the game's ability to evoke genuine feelings, from laughter to sadness, often resonating deeply with personal experiences. However, some critiques mention a lack of character development and emotional impact in certain moments, leading to mixed feelings about the overall emotional engagement.
- “Underlying action dungeon crawling combat ala [i]souls[/i] + [i]legend of zelda[/i] is a story at once touching and wholesome... about death and dying.”
- “The story is well written and heartfelt.”
- “The balancing act of humor and earnest, heartfelt storytelling works out perfectly in this bleak but intrinsically cheeky setting - you are a soul-reaping crow wielding a glowing sword arriving by bus at an office building greeted by baul plart after all.”
replayability
55 mentions
29 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with many players noting that once the story and puzzles are known, there is little incentive to replay. While some appreciate the potential for speedruns and achievement hunting, the lack of significant post-game content or a new game plus mode limits the experience for those seeking more replay value. Despite its charm and engaging story, most reviews suggest that the game is best enjoyed in a single playthrough.
- “Game is easy to understand, totally replayable, and the story is 10/10.”
- “There's a lot of replay value in this game to experiment with different builds so you won't be bored.”
- “Great story, wonderful art style, amazing music and sound, plenty to explore, and good replayability.”
- “I'm not sure about 20 dollars because I don't see much replay value.”
- “I really enjoyed the game, but it's probably worth noting that it's only about 10 hours of play time with very little added replay value.”
- “And lastly, you'll see everything the game has to offer in a single run, thus significantly nullifying its replayability.”
optimization
48 mentions
23 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing smooth performance and high framerates, particularly on devices like the Steam Deck, while others reported significant stuttering and performance issues, even on higher-end PCs. Many users noted that the game requires tweaking settings to achieve stable performance, and some found it poorly optimized overall, leading to frustration during gameplay. Despite these issues, the game's art and mechanics were often praised, suggesting that optimization could enhance an otherwise enjoyable experience.
- “What stands out to me the most are the art, animations, and performance/stability of the game.”
- “A truly insightful and compelling story combined with amazing mechanics, wonderful art and theming, and great optimization for a perfectly smooth, immersive experience.”
- “Performance and polish is impeccable in this game.”
- “I got this on sale, and yet... not sure I would have paid if I knew the game is so badly optimized.”
- “The game is good but it is poorly optimized; my PC is not a 'monster' PC but it is way past the recommended system requirements and it still lags, especially in the first area.”
- “Unfortunately for me, the game suffered from an incessant stuttering, despite messing around with all of the in-game graphical settings, updating all my drivers, hard-capping the frame rate, and disabling VSync from the NVIDIA control panel.”
stability
24 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with most players reporting a polished experience free of major bugs, glitches, or crashes. While some minor issues, such as occasional visual glitches and controller support problems, have been noted, they do not significantly detract from the gameplay. The game runs smoothly, with quick loading times and good optimization, making it a reliable choice for players.
- “Good optimization, no freezes.”
- “I love the puzzles and it runs great on my Steam Deck.”
- “Well made, not buggy, cute graphics and all... but still a souls-like.”
- “Controller support is buggy and not functional.”
- “Still a little buggy, but nothing game-breaking.”
- “Although many of these issues will likely be ironed out soon, given that the game was only just recently released, there were some instances where clear glitches could be observed.”
monetization
10 mentions
20 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is praised for its lack of microtransactions and subscription models, offering a pure gaming experience reminiscent of classic titles. Players appreciate that the game does not rely on false advertising or cash grabs, instead delivering engaging content without the pressure of endless purchases. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing departure from the prevalent monetization strategies in modern gaming.
- “No false promises and microtransactions trying to force you into a subscription or endless purchases.”
- “Many thanks for such a pure game in times of microtransactions and season passes.”
- “Not only are you jumping faster than the player on many concepts which the game's cute art style and advertising imply should be more accessible, but you do so badly and without adequately offering up any real options for engagement outside of an extremely basic and boring hack, slash, and roll formula.”
- “The graphics are fabulous, but I don't think the advertising represents the game accurately.”
- “The art style is unique in how the gameplay is exactly the same as both the cutscenes and the advertisements promoting Death's Door.”