Iratus: Lord of the Dead

About

Iratus: Lord of the Dead is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by IratusLord and was released on April 23, 2020. It received positive reviews from players.

Iratus: Lord of the Dead is a turn-based tactical RPG where you lead an army of the undead. As you delve deeper into the catacombs, you'll face tougher enemies and must strategize accordingly by customizing your necrobuilds and managing resources. The game offers a dark, engaging narrative and a challenging, rewarding combat system.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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85%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,244 reviews

gameplay231 positive mentions

grinding146 negative mentions

Engaging turn-based combat with a variety of minions and strategies to explore.
Unique twist on the genre by allowing players to control the undead and inflict stress on enemies.
High replayability with different minion combinations and difficulty settings.

Long playtime for a single run, often taking 10+ hours, which can feel repetitive.
Difficulty spikes can be frustrating, especially when losing high-level minions.
Some mechanics and UI elements are poorly explained or cumbersome, leading to a less enjoyable experience.

gameplay
768 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
63%
7%
The gameplay of "Iratus: Lord of the Dead" is often compared to "Darkest Dungeon," featuring tactical turn-based combat with a unique twist where players control a necromancer and inflict sanity damage on enemies. While many players appreciate the depth and variety of mechanics, including minion crafting and stress management, some criticize the gameplay for becoming repetitive and lacking in complexity as the game progresses. Overall, it offers a mix of engaging mechanics and strategic options, appealing to fans of the genre, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more profound gameplay experience.
- “The combat is deeply tactical, with a focus on a unique 'sanity' mechanic that allows you to break enemies' minds, making them attack their allies or flee in terror.”
- “Enjoyable gameplay, easy to learn and love, with a nice variety of monsters to use for your team.”
- “Great gameplay, and I feel like Iratus was extremely fleshed out.”
- “The difficulty, while rewarding for hardcore strategy fans, can be off-putting for casual players or those unfamiliar with unforgiving roguelike mechanics.”
- “Despite what the game wants you to believe, the mechanics really aren't deep and once you've got them figured out, you're playing a slot machine basically.”
- “Gameplay feels bloated.”
graphics
324 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
3%
The graphics of "Iratus: Lord of the Dead" are generally praised for their dark, gothic art style and detailed hand-painted visuals, which effectively convey the game's macabre atmosphere. However, many reviewers note that while the artwork is appealing, it often lacks the unique charm and polish found in similar titles like "Darkest Dungeon," with some animations described as clunky or simplistic. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point of the game, though opinions vary on their execution and depth compared to its peers.
- “The dark, gothic atmosphere of the game is beautifully portrayed, with stunning hand-drawn visuals that perfectly capture the grim and eerie nature of the world.”
- “The graphics are amazing, the music is amazing, but the gameplay is even better.”
- “The artwork is beautiful and the gameplay solid.”
- “However, it should be noted that these 2D graphics can feel a bit boring or lack the unique character of its peers, like Darkest Dungeon.”
- “Outdated graphics, boring mechanics, and a slow pace turn the playthrough into a painful ordeal.”
- “The graphics are less than okay, the gameplay is repetitive, there is little voice acting and it is really hard to feel a connection to the undead characters.”
story
221 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
69%
10%
The story in "Iratus: Lord of the Dead" serves primarily as a backdrop for gameplay, featuring a straightforward revenge narrative where players control a necromancer seeking to reclaim power. While the writing and atmosphere are generally praised, many reviewers find the plot to be thin and lacking depth, with little motivation for long-term engagement. Overall, the game is noted for its entertaining elements and dark themes, but those seeking a complex or immersive story may be disappointed.
- “The game has a fun story with some cool lore, great atmosphere, and voice acting.”
- “Playing as this intensely powerful necromancer breaking free is an awesome gothic power fantasy, and it really nails the feel of you being the villain in someone else's story.”
- “I love the story in the game about necromancy and all the body parts, collecting them and using alchemy, etc. It's quite fun and silly.”
- “The story acts as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a central focus.”
- “While the writing for Iratus is entertaining, the overall plot lacks complexity and doesn't offer a strong motivation for a long-term campaign.”
- “The story overall definitely falls short, but the setting is fantastic.”
grinding
155 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
3%
94%
The reviews indicate that the game has a mixed reception regarding grinding, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, especially in the later stages where combat becomes monotonous and achievements require extensive grinding. While some appreciate the reduced grind compared to similar games like Darkest Dungeon, others feel that the lack of meaningful progression and the necessity to grind for achievements detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant flaw, leading to a less engaging gameplay experience for many players.
- “No grinding, less time wasted on leveling new units.”
- “The variety of available minions is to my liking (and there will be more), there are enough possible ways to create and use different builds and the progression is decent enough (not too grindy, not too fast).”
- “No grinding.”
- “The problem is, combat rooms feel repetitive; every enemy is basically the same, which makes the long maps boring and tedious.”
- “It gets extremely tedious after the first 5 or 6 hours because you're just repeating the same moves over and over again.”
- “The game, however, becomes quite stale over time due to some extremely grindy and repetitive achievements.”
replayability
125 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
55%
5%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its variety of minions, builds, and difficulty settings that enhance replay value. However, some reviewers noted limitations due to short campaign length, linear progression, and repetitive gameplay, which can diminish the overall experience after multiple runs. Overall, while there is potential for high replayability, especially with different strategies and team compositions, some players feel it may not sustain long-term interest.
- “Great game with lots of replayability; I often play it while stuck on long flights.”
- “Incredible visual and sound design, interesting characters that all have their own personalities and backstories, dozens of different ways to play, and a great amount of replayability.”
- “The game has great replay value, fun tactical gameplay, and a lot of potential to become an even better game, considering it's still in early access.”
- “As a first timer, I really enjoyed this game, but it's only worth it at a lower price as it is very short and even with all the minions, it lacks replayability due to the above issues.”
- “Becomes a bit of a slog at the end, and I didn't find it replayable after finishing it the first time as there weren't enough new options available to make it a different experience.”
- “Disappointing, the game encourages players to replay to unlock characters, but it has no replayable experience; the story is mediocre and forgettable.”
music
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
53%
8%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its atmospheric qualities and fitting gothic horror themes, while others find it repetitive and lacking in variety. Many agree that while the soundtrack complements the game's aesthetic, it does not stand out or leave a lasting impression. Overall, the music is described as decent but not exceptional, with some players opting to turn it off in favor of their own playlists.
- “The game has a strong gothic horror aesthetic, with grim environments, a moody soundtrack, and evocative narration by Stephan Weyte, who adds a lot of charisma to Iratus.”
- “The music assists with the atmosphere but it is never as oppressive as its main inspiration.”
- “Additionally, the soundtrack perfectly complements the eerie atmosphere of the game, adding to the overall immersive experience.”
- “The music is standard fare and unremarkable in its mediocrity.”
- “The music's a little monotonous, there is not much variety and that really sucks.”
- “The only real downsides I see are the short playtime, some overtuned enemy types, and lack of variety for music.”
atmosphere
103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
39%
4%
The atmosphere of "Iratus: Lord of the Dead" is widely praised for its dark, gothic fantasy setting, enhanced by strong audio design, detailed graphics, and immersive music. While many reviewers note its similarities to "Darkest Dungeon," they also highlight that it offers a unique twist with its reverse narrative perspective and engaging gameplay. However, some critics feel that it lacks the depth and tension of its inspiration, resulting in a less enveloping experience overall.
- “The dark, gothic atmosphere of the game is beautifully portrayed, with stunning hand-drawn visuals that perfectly capture the grim and eerie nature of the world.”
- “The atmosphere created by the character designs, the bits of lore, and the theme give it a nice mix of dark and quirky.”
- “Incredible atmosphere and gameplay.”
- “While the writing and atmosphere are generally strong, the story itself is relatively thin beyond the overarching revenge narrative.”
- “It's clearly very inspired by Darkest Dungeon but it does nothing to capture its atmosphere, tension, and urgency.”
- “The colors of the game are too bright, and thus feel contrary to the atmosphere that is trying to be built.”
humor
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Iratus: Lord of the Dead" is characterized by a blend of dark and macabre elements, with players appreciating the witty voice acting and clever dialogue that often undercuts the game's grim themes. The protagonist, Iratus, delivers a sinister yet humorous narrative, while interactions between characters and enemies add layers of comedic relief, making the experience both engaging and entertaining. However, some players noted that the humor can become repetitive over time, and not all attempts at comedy land successfully.
- “The voice acting, particularly that of Iratus himself—performed with delightfully sinister flair by Stephan Weyte (best known as the voice of Caleb in Blood)—adds a layer of dark humor and villainous charisma to the game.”
- “The game is full of black humor and macabre elements that bring it to life.”
- “It's refreshing to see a game that can successfully balance serious gameplay with humor.”
monetization
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
96%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, primarily due to the presence of intrusive advertisements on the main menu and loading screens, which many players find tacky and disruptive to the gaming experience. While some downloadable content (DLC) is viewed as reasonably priced and adds value, the overall sentiment leans towards the belief that the developers are resorting to cash grab tactics, especially given the misleading promotional pricing and the reliance on ads despite having sold supporter packs.
- “The developers do an excellent job staying in contact with the community and do not resort to microtransactions.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers a fair monetization model, allowing players to enjoy the experience without feeling pressured to spend money.”
- “The in-game purchases are optional and do not affect gameplay, which makes for a more enjoyable experience.”
- “Daedalic are advertising this game and Inkulinati as being heavily discounted by using fake retail prices that are close to double the actual price.”
- “I absolutely loathe the 'advertising' of other games in the title screen.”
- “I mean, you already sold the supporter pack and you still chose ads for money, really?”
stability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
61%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting frequent freezes and bugs, particularly during specific gameplay moments, while others have experienced smooth performance with no issues. Many users noted that the game runs well on various operating systems, including Linux and macOS, and some found it surprisingly stable for an early access title. Overall, while there are significant stability concerns for some, others have enjoyed a largely bug-free experience.
- “It runs great, it's not PC requirement hungry.”
- “Issues and bugs: the game runs 'straight out of the box' and appears to be bug free.”
- “But aside from that, it's been bug free my entire playtime, and I haven't run into any performance issues.”
- “Brand new gaming computer, game freezes non-stop.”
- “Buyers beware, this game is incredibly buggy.”
- “74 battles under my belt, closing in on my first victory, game crashes while loading a battle, permanently freezes every time I try to load my save.”
optimization
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players reporting smooth performance and minimal bugs, even on lower-end systems. However, some users experienced intermittent performance stutters and noted that certain aspects, like difficulty balancing, could benefit from further optimization. Graphical options are somewhat limited, but the game maintains a solid frame rate for most players.
- “The game runs smoothly on my machine and I don't remember experiencing any major bugs.”
- “Performance-wise, the game ran perfectly for me and my computer is a 5-year-old, $200 stock piece of hardware.”
- “But aside from that, it's been bug-free my entire playtime, and I haven't run into any performance issues.”
- “There were a few temporary performance issues that didn't really make sense to me.”
- “Surprising and confusing intermittent performance stutters.”
- “If you can overlook the cheapness, substandard performance, and lack of anything beyond what other video games came before, then enjoy.”
character development
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
29%
21%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its impressive and unique character designs, which are beautifully animated and contribute to the overall atmosphere. While players appreciate the depth and variety in character abilities and team composition, some express a desire for more diversity and criticize the overly sexualized designs in a dark-themed context. Overall, the character design is a strong point, enhancing both gameplay and the game's aesthetic appeal.
- “The character design is exemplary, with unique looking, beautifully animated heroes to fight, armed with thoughtfully crafted sets of abilities that mesh more or less well with their peers and create challenges of varying degrees to your own minion team builds.”
- “Iratus is a fun game that combines beautiful character design and animation, with some simple resource management and crafting.”
- “The character designs are a huge problem and would really push this game forward if they weren't so overly sexualized for a game that's supposed to be dark and eerie.”
- “The character design has no punch.”
- “The atmosphere created by the character designs, the bits of lore, and the theme give it a nice mix of dark and quirky.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mix of feelings, from moments of heartbreak, such as losing a character, to a sense of detachment due to the perceived disposability of minions. While some players appreciate the emotional highs and lows, others feel that the lack of deeper character development and rivalries diminishes their overall emotional investment in the game. Overall, the experience can be both impactful and lacking in depth.
- “Really cool and can get a bit heartbreaking... but all worth it.”
- “Yes, I cried when I lost my first death knight.”
- “A more finished game should aim to flesh this world out, as ancient and evil as the necromancer is; some other hero/villain/rivals to overcome would give someone more emotional investment in the game.”