Dragon Is Dead

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 119 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Dragon Is Dead Game Cover
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In "Dragon Is Dead" , take on the role of the Dragon Slayer, tasked with defeating the last dragon, Guernian, who has become corrupt and is wreaking havoc on the world. Battle fearsome monsters and giant foes, utilizing a variety of skills, abilities, and equipment to emerge victorious. Experience diverse skill builds with unique characters and retain the power of your equipment and runes as you progress. Your mastery of combat and strategy will be key in defeating the demons of Guernian and saving the world from destruction.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 119 reviews
gameplay15 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions
  • The game features a nostalgic side-scrolling design reminiscent of classic games, with engaging combat mechanics and a solid atmosphere.
  • The skill tree and artifact system allow for diverse build experimentation, making each run feel unique and rewarding.
  • The pixel art and overall aesthetic are visually stunning, contributing to an immersive dark fantasy atmosphere.
  • The game suffers from clunky movement and combat mechanics, including issues with dodge timing and attack animations that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • Players lose all levels and skills upon death, which can feel punishing and detracts from the sense of progression typically found in roguelikes.
  • The narrative and lore delivery can be overwhelming and poorly structured, leading to confusion and a lack of engagement with the story.
  • gameplay27 mentions

    The gameplay is generally praised for its solid mechanics, addictive nature, and engaging rogue-like elements, drawing comparisons to popular titles like Diablo and Dead Cells. While the core gameplay loop is satisfying and features a sprawling skill tree and unique artifacts, some players express a desire for more variety in weapon animations and skills, as well as improvements to the synergy system. Overall, the game shows great potential, especially with ongoing updates and bug fixes from the developers.

    • “The gameplay is addictive; I like the amalgamation of souls and Diablo.”
    • “The bones of the game are great, and the gameplay loop is satisfying so far.”
    • “Gameplay loop is fun; relics and uniques inspire you to want to do new runs.”
    • “The gameplay needs serious improvements to variety; weapon animations, skills in the tree, different elements in different zones, perhaps a reworked synergies system that focuses on changing gameplay a bit more.”
    • “The gameplay pace is definitely a slow burn, which is a bold choice by the devs. I'm kind of disappointed that multiple weapons look the same in combat (the sword animation and the club animation, for example).”
    • “Dragon is dead is better visually, but Elderand has more combat variety and mechanics.”
  • graphics15 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received praise for their stunning pixel art and atmospheric design, effectively blending a grimdark fantasy aesthetic with fluid animations. Many reviewers appreciate the homage to classic titles like Diablo 2, highlighting the art style and setting as standout features that enhance the overall experience. However, some criticism exists regarding the lack of polish and cohesion in the visual presentation, with occasional issues like cluttered screens during intense moments.

    • “I love the general grimdark fantasy art style, and the character models are a particular highlight.”
    • “The graphics have beautiful pixel art with fluid animations, and the ambiance is dark, which is great.”
    • “What we have here is a game that takes the art style of Blasphemous and then it just pays homage to Diablo 2 in every way; this is what Diablo 2 would look like as a sidescroller hack and slash roguelike.”
    • “Diablo itemization; the skill trees are copied from D4 even aesthetically.”
    • “This sombre yet stunning atmospheric hack and slasher boasts the usual macabre yet stylish pixel graphics we've become accustomed to, further enhanced by a haunting soundtrack making repeat run-throughs a compelling experience.”
  • music13 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience with haunting soundtracks that complement the visuals and lore. However, some players find it lacking in variety and memorability, suggesting that more diverse musical elements could improve the ambiance further. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, opinions vary on its depth and engagement.

    • “What this game exceeds at is great atmosphere, art, music, animation, and the ability to change your build on the fly.”
    • “The music and ambience are great, the enemy design is truly original and very inspired.”
    • “This sombre yet stunning atmospheric hack & slasher boasts the usual macabre yet stylish pixel graphics we've become accustomed to, further enhanced by a haunting soundtrack making repeat run-throughs a compelling experience.”
    • “The music is boring, not memorable or interesting in the slightest.”
    • “More music variation would be nice, even if it's just ambient textures for each region.”
    • “Is it the music?”
  • story12 mentions

    The story has received mixed reviews, with some praising its dark themes, strong lore, and integration into the roguelike gameplay, while others criticize it for being generic, poorly written, and filled with plot dumps. The visuals and music complement the narrative well, but there are concerns about grammatical errors and a lack of depth in the storytelling. Overall, the narrative seems to evoke nostalgia for classic gaming while struggling to deliver a cohesive and engaging plot.

    • “It has nice ideas of building characters, even better of progressing roguelike, and good storytelling in a roguelike world (somewhat like Children of Morta / Dead Cells does).”
    • “Music and background setting fit so well; I mean, it is so well put together. Plus, the graphics are stunningly made, with great lore and a great story.”
    • “Through mist and murk, its story spreads, an echo of life, where once it tread.”
    • “I am writing after having gotten to the end of the story content that was available.”
    • “- The plot dumps begin early and happen often.”
    • “Don't get me started on the story; the text feels like it was written by a 15-year-old who wanted to write some Dark Souls fanfiction.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its stunning pixel art, haunting soundtrack, and well-structured world-building, creating a moody and immersive experience. Reviewers note the effective combination of art and music that enhances the overall ambiance, making it a compelling environment for gameplay. However, some feel that while the music is good, it may not be enough to fully establish the atmosphere on its own.

    • “What this game exceeds at is great atmosphere, art, music, animation, and the ability to change your build on the fly.”
    • “The moodiness and atmosphere are absolutely perfection.”
    • “This sombre yet stunning atmospheric hack & slasher boasts the usual macabre yet stylish pixel graphics we've become accustomed to, further enhanced by a haunting soundtrack making repeat run-throughs a compelling experience.”
    • “The atmosphere is thick and foreboding.”
    • “The music is good and reminds me of Diablo II, but there's really nothing else to create the atmosphere.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the early stages where repetitive tasks and a slow progression can lead to frustration, especially if bugs cause loss of progress. While some appreciate the challenging, "Dark Souls"-like grind, the overall sentiment leans towards the grind feeling more laborious than enjoyable due to delays in actions and the need to restart with minimal abilities.

    • “One bug can wipe hours of progress of gear/stat grinding.”
    • “The fact that there is a 1 to 2 second delay after most actions makes most situations more tedious than fun.”
    • “Regardless, the early game is pretty repetitive, with a bit of a grindy slog through the early stages over and over as you level up.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with users reporting minor glitches that are not game-breaking but can be distracting. Players have noted that it runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck, contributing to an enjoyable experience despite occasional audio and visual issues.

    • “I have nothing to put my fingers on; the game runs great. It has impactful combat, loot, and the music and ambience when entering a camp are incredible—you can almost feel the despair.”
    • “Runs great on Steam Deck so far; the addictive dodge mechanic adds to the overall experience.”
    • “There are various small glitches and issues throughout; nothing game-breaking, but the occasional audio or visual glitch can be jarring.”
    • “The game suffers from frequent crashes that disrupt the experience, making it hard to enjoy.”
    • “I've encountered several bugs that affect gameplay, leading to frustrating moments that pull me out of the experience.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Players highlight the game's strong replayability, attributing it to its run-based design and extensive stat customization options, which promise a wealth of content beyond the initial playthrough. With a solid foundation, the game encourages multiple play sessions to explore different strategies and experiences.

    • “The foundation for the game is very solid with a good amount of replayability.”
    • “In my ~7 hours of playtime, I've managed to get to the second boss, and my sense is that there's plenty of content ahead of me, not to mention replayability due to the run-based design and heavy focus on stat customization.”
    • “After completing the game once, I found little incentive to go back. The story doesn't change, and the gameplay feels repetitive after the first run.”
    • “While the game offers a variety of characters to play, the core mechanics remain the same, making it hard to feel motivated to replay.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The character development in the game effectively captures nostalgic elements reminiscent of the Diablo series, enhancing both the atmosphere and the progression of characters within the city.

    • “It captures the nostalgic Diablo tones beautifully, especially in terms of the atmosphere and character development.”
    • “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form a strong emotional connection with each character.”
    • “I love how the game allows for meaningful choices that significantly impact character growth and relationships.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
    • “I was disappointed by the limited options for character growth; it feels like a missed opportunity.”
    • “The characters seem one-dimensional, and their arcs don't evolve in a meaningful way throughout the game.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for its poor writing, which fails to engage players or evoke feelings, leading to a lack of impact and overall undervaluation of the content.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
5-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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