Die by the Blade

About

"Die by the Blade" is a 1v1 weapons-focused fighter where every strike can mean death, with no health bars and a focus on reading opponents and exploiting mistakes. Your moveset is determined by your choice of weapon, allowing for strategic customization. Battle in local or online multiplayer, or test your skills in online ranked matches. One hit can decide the match, so choose your weapon wisely and stay alert.

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
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

65%

Audience ScoreBased on 123 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game offers intense and engaging one-hit-kill combat that keeps players on their toes, reminiscent of classic titles like Bushido Blade.
The multiplayer experience shines when playing with friends, providing a fun and competitive atmosphere that enhances the overall enjoyment.
The developers are actively listening to community feedback and are committed to improving the game with future updates and content expansions.

The game feels unfinished and lacks essential content, such as diverse game modes and a robust single-player experience, leading to a repetitive gameplay loop.
There are significant issues with the game's controls and mechanics, including unresponsive inputs and a clunky combat system that can frustrate players.
The online matchmaking is often empty, making it difficult to find opponents, which undermines the game's competitive aspect.

graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
53%
20%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the beautiful visuals and unique art style that blends cyberpunk and samurai elements, while others criticize the subpar animations and clunky controls. Many players feel the graphics do not live up to the expectations set by the game's marketing, describing them as reminiscent of older console games despite some appealing effects during combat. Overall, the aesthetic is appreciated, but technical execution leaves much to be desired.
- “Not bad at all on Steam Deck (medium graphic settings recommended).”
- “The art style is a mix of cyberpunk and samurai.”
- “The combat is super fun and intense, with beautiful graphics and a great atmosphere.”
- “Game feels rushed, graphics and animations are subpar and controls are not tight at all.”
- “Graphics are unfortunate, faces look awful, gameplay is intensely clunky, and the pre-game UI is laughably bad.”
- “It almost felt like playing a PS1 game with a modern-day graphics overlay.”
gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
33%
20%
"Die by the Blade" offers a unique and competitive 1v1 gameplay experience with easy-to-learn mechanics that emphasize strategy and distance management. While the game features enjoyable combat and animations, some players find the execution lacking, with clunky controls and inconsistent mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Multiplayer mode enhances the fun, especially when played with friends, but the game struggles with graphical issues and a poorly designed UI.
- “The mechanics are very easy to grasp, easy to learn, hard to master; you can get the hang of everything in 15 minutes of messing around, and there are no intricate combos to memorize and learn.”
- “Looks great, gameplay is cool, and it helps me relax after a hard day at work.”
- “Multiplayer fun: this game truly shines when played with friends, offering a mix of casual and competitive gameplay that keeps you coming back for more.”
- “Die by the Blade is a fun game with a cool concept, but it feels like it's missing some key gameplay elements.”
- “It's hard to get a grasp of the mechanics when they sometimes break their own rules.”
- “Graphics are unfortunate, faces look awful, gameplay is intensely clunky, and the pre-game UI is laughably bad.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, the game runs smoothly and performs well, both in gameplay and network aspects. However, players note that it lacks some optimization, with occasional issues like affecting other applications when alt-tabbing, suggesting that further improvements could enhance the experience.
- “The game runs super smoothly overall, both from a performance and network perspective.”
- “The game does not feel particularly optimized overall, and it also caused issues with my Google Chrome when alt-tabbing, but the core fighting mechanics work fine.”
- “The game runs very well, but obviously some additional optimizations wouldn't hurt.”
- “Get better simply; it needs optimization though.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
Users express a desire for a dedicated story mode in the game, highlighting its potential to enhance gameplay variety and engagement. The anticipation for future content, including a single-player story mode and additional fighters, suggests that players are eager for a more narrative-driven experience.
- “As someone with experience in game design, I think it would be great if they added different game modes, like a story mode or tournaments, to mix things up.”
- “Future content: the promise of a single-player story mode is exciting and something to look forward to.”
- “Where is the story mode?”
- “This is 2024, dude. Maybe one locked fighter behind the story and one pre-order DLC fighter at launch.”
- “The promise of a single-player story mode is exciting and something to look forward to.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, which is seen as a significant advantage in the current gaming environment, where such practices are often prevalent. Players appreciate that there are no necessary or heavily incentivized purchases, enhancing the overall experience.
- “No microtransactions: a big win in today's gaming landscape.”
- “No necessary or highly incentivized microtransactions.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its absurd scenarios, such as fighting as a gangster with a katana and playfully flipping off defeated samurai, which many players find hilarious. Additionally, the customization options allow for a serious samurai experience, adding depth to the comedic elements.
- “Lmao! Someone help, I can't stop laughing.”
- “Fighting as a gangster with a katana against samurai and winning, then flipping them off is hilarious! But if you want to be a super serious samurai, you can do that too with the customization options the game gives you, which is also an added bonus.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting significant visual glitches and stuttering that severely impact gameplay, making it unplayable for many.
- “The bottom part of my screen has weird visual glitches.”
- “A festering cesspool of glitches and stutters that rendered the entire experience unplayable.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users note that the developer's heartfelt response adds a personal touch, enhancing the emotional connection to the game. This gesture is seen as a positive aspect, fostering a sense of community and engagement among players.
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight the game's atmosphere as immersive and visually stunning, enhancing the intense and enjoyable combat experience.
- “The combat is super fun and intense, with beautiful graphics and a great atmosphere.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the replayability of the game to be strong, highlighting the strategic depth and mastery that enhance the experience with each playthrough.
- “The replayability, strategy, and mastery that you experience from playing is pretty impressive.”
- “Each playthrough offers new challenges and strategies, making it hard to put down.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that no two games feel the same.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Reviewers feel that while the current music and sound effects are satisfactory, there is significant room for improvement. Suggestions include enhancing the variety of sound effects, particularly by tailoring them to different characters and weapons, to create a more immersive experience.
- “The music in the game is absolutely captivating, enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersing players in the experience.”
- “I love how the soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, making every moment feel epic and engaging.”
- “The variety of musical themes for different characters adds a unique touch, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
- “The sound effects and music could be improved, especially the sound effects. While the current ones aren't bad, adding more variety to certain animations or segments would enhance the experience. Different sounds for different characters or weapons could make a significant difference.”
- “The music feels repetitive and lacks the depth needed to keep players engaged. A more diverse soundtrack would greatly enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “While the sound design is decent, it often feels disconnected from the gameplay. Better integration of music and sound effects could elevate the immersion and emotional impact of key moments.”