Have a Nice Death

About

"Have a Nice Death" is an action-packed roguelike game where you play as the Grim Reaper, tasked with maintaining balance in the afterlife. Traverse through procedurally generated levels, battling quirky characters and Nemesthesises while upgrading your abilities to become a more efficient reaper. Face the chaos caused by your overzealous management and prove that death can indeed be a pleasant experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,306 reviews

graphics493 positive mentions

grinding50 negative mentions

Stunning art style and animations that create a charming atmosphere.
Engaging and fluid combat mechanics with a variety of weapons and spells.
Humorous dialogue and quirky characters that add personality to the game.

Repetitive gameplay with long runs that can feel tedious, especially when dying to bosses.
Unbalanced difficulty where bosses can deal excessive damage while regular enemies are too easy.
Lack of meaningful progression as upgrades and items do not carry over between runs.

graphics
783 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
36%
1%
The graphics of "Have a Nice Death" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning art style and smooth animations, often compared to beloved titles like Hollow Knight and Dead Cells. Players appreciate the charming character designs and vibrant visuals that enhance the game's whimsical yet dark themes, contributing to an engaging atmosphere. However, some critiques mention that while the graphics are impressive, the gameplay can feel repetitive, and certain visual elements may blend into the background, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The art style is beautiful, almost like a twisted Looney Tunes aesthetic, and the game in motion is a joy to watch.”
- “The art style is honestly absolutely gorgeous, easily one of the most stunning I have ever seen.”
- “The artwork is amazing, the animations are incredibly smooth, and the overall aesthetic is charming and engaging.”
- “Apparently, there is a high chance the game may crash with incorporated graphics, especially Intel, which most notebooks/PCs have unless upgraded.”
- “Levels are bland, fighting is not that great either as it just boils down to hitting and dodging; I know most roguelikes are just this, but the other titles in this ballpark have some flow to the combat.”
- “The graphics, while most of the time cute and charming, are well animated and provide a perpetual ambiance throughout its course that is nothing short of wonderful.”
gameplay
728 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
48%
6%
The gameplay of "Have a Nice Death" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its fluid mechanics, engaging combat, and charming art style. However, criticisms often focus on the repetitive nature of the gameplay loop, frustrating healing mechanics, and a lack of depth in progression systems, leading to a sense of monotony over time. While some players find the game enjoyable and addictive, others feel it falls short compared to other roguelikes, citing issues with balance and clarity in gameplay mechanics.
- “The gameplay loop is fun and has interesting and unique mechanics.”
- “The art style is beautiful, the gameplay is smooth, and the perk balancing, economy, and run consistency are very lackluster.”
- “The gameplay is fun and somewhat rewarding.”
- “Cannot recommend the game for people who are looking for gameplay.”
- “The art style and overall energy of the game is fun and engaging, but the gameplay loop is so tedious that I cannot recommend this game.”
- “Great art, decent music, terrible gameplay, progression, balancing, and replayability, not to mention abysmal writing/dialogue - all wrapped into an aggressively mediocre package.”
humor
327 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and cleverness, often blending dark and workplace-related themes that resonate with players. Many reviews highlight the amusing dialogue, quirky character interactions, and the overall lighthearted approach to serious topics like death and burnout, making the experience both entertaining and relatable. However, some players feel that the humor can be overdone or repetitive, occasionally detracting from the gameplay experience.
- “Absolutely hilarious and totally worth getting.”
- “The work jokes and dark humor land beautifully, the character's struggle is incredibly relatable, the gameplay is fun and challenging, the artwork is pleasing to look at and wonderfully put together.”
- “The humor mixed into the game is a wonderful touch.”
- “It's just a never-ending spam of unfunny jokes; it feels like a Rick and Morty episode.”
- “The basic attack is so unusable, it's not funny.”
music
289 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
39%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its charm and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many players praising the soundtrack as catchy and fitting for the game's themes. While some users noted a desire for more variety in the music, particularly in different areas, the general consensus is that the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's appeal, making it enjoyable even during repetitive gameplay. Overall, the combination of engaging music, beautiful art, and smooth animations creates a captivating experience for players.
- “The art style is beautiful, the soundtrack is exquisite, and the characters are bursting with charm.”
- “The soundtrack is beautiful and fits the vibe of the game really well.”
- “The music is great, the characters are fun, and the overall theme is on point.”
- “The old soundtracks were much better, and I wish new players of the game could have heard it.”
- “Great art, decent music, terrible gameplay, progression, balancing, and replayability, not to mention abysmal writing/dialogue - all wrapped into an aggressively mediocre package.”
- “My other complaint is about the soundtrack, as I sometimes feel like it's not even there; it's too smooth to notice. If I have to remember one, it must be the elevator song, which says a lot.”
story
266 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
58%
3%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its humorous and quirky take on themes like bureaucracy and death, while others find it lacking depth and engagement. Some reviews highlight the charm of the characters and the entertaining dialogue, but note that the narrative can feel repetitive and disconnected from gameplay, often leading to players skipping through text. Overall, while the art and humor are praised, the story's impact varies significantly among players, with some wishing for a more cohesive and immersive narrative experience.
- “Have a Nice Death explores a novel storyline where Death built up a corporation to manage the increased amount of souls that needed to be processed over the ages.”
- “The story is also simple and can relate to real-life emotions, which is also hilarious.”
- “The story of this game is great, the characters are well thought out, and I appreciate the bringing of mental health issues (burnout, stress, depression, etc.) into the light in a fun, humorous way.”
- “A majority of the NPCs that you interact with in the background story are forgettable, with the exception of the pumpkin, who is thrown at you at every available moment, but even that became boring after a few hours.”
- “The story was serviceable, but unfortunately in the replayability department-- especially for a 'roguelite' is quite lacking.”
- “The story and dialog don't make a lot of sense (and yes, I have a desk job).”
grinding
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
96%
The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium associated with grinding in the game, with many players finding the repetitive levels, unchallenging enemies, and lengthy achievement requirements to be frustrating. While some appreciate the game's art and combat mechanics, the overall gameplay loop is criticized for being monotonous and unrewarding, leading to a lack of motivation to continue playing. The grinding aspect is often described as excessive, detracting from the enjoyment and making the game feel more like a chore than a fun experience.
- “The visuals are stunning, the combat is super smooth, and the progression feels just right—not too grindy and super fun. I never get bored fast, and the story and lore are really interesting. Overall, the gameplay is just fantastic.”
- “Grinding in this game is engaging and rewarding, making it feel less like a chore and more like an adventure.”
- “The balance of grinding and progression keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting, allowing me to enjoy the journey without feeling overwhelmed.”
- “The levels are repetitive and grindy, the unlocks are unsatisfying, and the gameplay explanations are obfuscated under pages of puns that make it hard to find the actual information.”
- “It's a damn shame that all the beauty is bound together with mediocre, tedious, samey, and unrewarding gameplay.”
- “Certain achievements in this game are extremely grindy and elusive as well, to the point where getting them all would take potentially hundreds of hours; assuming none of it is glitched and the player gets lucky.”
replayability
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
54%
7%
The reviews on replayability are mixed, with some players praising the game for its diverse builds, upgrades, and engaging combat that encourage multiple playthroughs, while others criticize it for lacking depth and content, leading to a repetitive experience. Many agree that while the game offers some replay value, it does not reach the levels of other roguelikes like Hades or The Binding of Isaac. Overall, the potential for replayability exists, but it may not satisfy all players seeking extensive replay options.
- “Easy to lose a lot of hours, great replay value.”
- “There's a lot of replayability to it, to experiment with different builds and paths, and the combat is fast-paced and fun.”
- “An excellent roguelike with massive replayability.”
- “The story was serviceable, but unfortunately in the replayability department—especially for a 'roguelite'—is quite lacking.”
- “Game is very repetitive, very challenging and not much replayability due to the fact that there is no replayable progression - you will be stuck on the same level over and over again and if you die you start all over again until you learn the boss's pattern or give up and uninstall.”
- “While appropriately difficult, the reason I'm calling 'Have a Nice Death' an entry-level roguelike is because a lot of the depth and replayability seen in roguelikes and -lites isn't quite here.”
atmosphere
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
18%
8%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming art style, engaging music, and clever humor, creating a unique blend of lightheartedness and darker themes. Players appreciate the immersive environments and thematic diversity across biomes, which enhance the overall experience. The combination of beautiful graphics, fluid animations, and a captivating sound design contributes to an atmosphere that draws players in and keeps them invested in the game's world.
- “The atmosphere of each biome is near perfect; the music, the enemies, and the thematic changes between each are wonderful.”
- “Beautiful and quirky atmosphere mixed with a fun but grim office grind theme to the afterlife.”
- “Despite all this, and many more problems I have with the game, I still love the theme, visuals, and atmosphere of the game.”
- “The cute, well-detailed graphics create a lighthearted atmosphere, helping players overlook the game's darker themes about accidents and death.”
- “So far it feels like a mix and monster mash of some of the elements from Hollow Knight, Hades, and Dead Cells with the charming characters and atmosphere from the Luigi's Mansion series.”
stability
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
5%
87%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous glitches, bugs, and occasional freezes that disrupt gameplay. While some users find the game enjoyable despite these issues, others express frustration over persistent problems, such as characters getting stuck or the game crashing. Overall, the consensus is that while the game shows potential, it requires significant stability improvements before it can be confidently recommended.
- “This is a great side scroller game that runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “But other than that, so far bug free.”
- “Love it, almost no glitches and bugs.”
- “The game is a bit buggy as it is in early access.”
- “This game was a buggy mess on release; you could clip through the floor, become invincible, do infinite damage, etc. If you're expecting it to be perfect, you're silly.”
- “Game is very very buggy at the moment, just needs to be patched up and this game will be incredible.”
character development
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
31%
9%
Character development in the game is highly praised for its exceptional art style and unique character designs, which are described as clever, fun, and fitting the overall theme. Reviewers appreciate the smooth animations and the humorous elements tied to the characters, although some express a desire for deeper character progression systems. Overall, the aesthetic appeal and memorable character designs significantly enhance the gaming experience.
- “The character designs are unique and play along with the character's punny names or defining features.”
- “I love the character designs as well; some favorites are Death, Pumpquin, Harriet, Camille (Thanager), and both the bosses in the natural disasters area (Thundercloud and Catherine Imamura) but honestly, I love all the characters.”
- “The artwork alone is amazing, coupled with unique character design, great animations, and a fluid fighting system; this game has immense potential.”
- “I love the character designs, but this game has some of the most god-awful writing I have ever tried to read.”
- “There is no character development.”
- “While the art direction, character design, and animations are all absolutely top-notch, the overall character development is lacking.”
optimization
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
47%
16%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and enjoyable gameplay, others experience significant bugs and crashes that hinder their experience. Many users note that the game runs well on low-end PCs, but there are still performance hiccups and balance issues that need addressing. Despite these challenges, players remain hopeful for future optimizations to enhance the overall experience.
- “Also, the game is highly optimized so even people with low-end PCs can easily play the game and enjoy it.”
- “The ability to receive a performance evaluation after each run ensures that players can unlock interesting items and enhancements to enrich and advance their journey.”
- “Performance is good, gameplay is fun and satisfying.”
- “But there's balance problems, performance issues, huge bugs that can make the game unplayable, and the story doesn't end up being as interesting as you'd think, at least 6 hours in.”
- “My only issue is with performance; I had the game crash two or three times, and I by no means have a bad PC; I can comfortably run Baldur's Gate.”
- “Basically, it's a bit of a buggy mess, but a really fun buggy mess. I hope optimizations come soon and that the full release will one day let this game fully shine!”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome characters and lighthearted design, which uplift players' moods while addressing deeper themes. Reviewers appreciate the balance of adorability and emotional depth, creating a heartwarming yet poignant experience. However, some comments veer off-topic, reflecting a mix of humor and personal experiences that may not align with the game's intended emotional impact.
- “The characters are really wholesome and the game lights up my mood every time I decide to boot it up.”
- “It has a more lighthearted attitude than most while still touching on very deep and important themes.”
- “It's adorable yet heart-wrenching in a way that makes me enjoy the game more and more.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The game features no microtransactions, making it accessible for newcomers to the roguelike genre, and is praised for its engaging art style and minimal bugs. While ads are present, they do not detract from the overall experience.
- “If this is your first roguelike, the game is more than good enough to give you an idea if you want to keep investing in the genre, not to mention its amazing art style and personality, or how it has very few bugs and no microtransactions.”
- “The game has very few bugs and no microtransactions, which is a refreshing change in today's gaming landscape.”
- “I saw the ads, and I loved it immediately.”