Iratus: Lord of the Dead

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,692 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Iratus: Lord of the Dead Game Cover
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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.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,692 reviews
gameplay190 positive mentions
grinding115 negative mentions
  • Unique twist on the Darkest Dungeon formula, allowing players to control the villains and inflict stress on enemies.
  • Variety of minions and customization options provide engaging gameplay and strategic depth.
  • Good voice acting and humor add charm to the game, making it enjoyable to play.
  • Repetitive gameplay and long run times can lead to boredom, especially after completing the game once.
  • Difficulty spikes can feel unfair, particularly in boss fights, leading to frustration.
  • Lack of meaningful story and character development diminishes the overall experience.
  • gameplay610 mentions

    The gameplay of "Iratus: Lord of the Dead" is often compared to "Darkest Dungeon," featuring similar turn-based mechanics but with unique twists, such as a stress system that allows players to inflict insanity on enemies. Players appreciate the depth and variety of mechanics, including minion crafting and resource management, which contribute to a rewarding and addictive gameplay loop. However, some reviewers note that the game can become repetitive and lacks sufficient explanation of its mechanics, leading to frustration, especially at higher difficulty levels.

    • “The gameplay is smooth and engaging, with a variety of mechanics that keep it interesting.”
    • “Once you learn the basic mechanics, this game is highly addictive and offers a lot of strategic depth.”
    • “The mechanics are fun and it's great seeing combinations work, making for a rewarding gameplay experience.”
    • “The game is simultaneously very simple, but doesn't take the time to adequately explain some of its important mechanics.”
    • “There's the core of a fun game here but it's completely ruined by very inconsistent explanations of combat mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay can get a bit repetitive and the RNG mechanics are a bit of an issue at the moment but other than that this game is great.”
  • graphics247 mentions

    The graphics of "Iratus: Lord of the Dead" receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the dark, stylized artwork and atmosphere, often comparing it to "Darkest Dungeon." While some praise the game's unique aesthetic and detailed character designs, others criticize it for being less polished and lacking originality. Overall, the visuals are generally considered good for a smaller studio, though they may not meet the high standards set by its more renowned counterparts.

    • “The graphics are lovely, too; sure, 'deliberately rough strokes' and 'big black blotch over the eyes' and so forth are valid stylistic choices, but Iratus is nice to look at.”
    • “The production values and visuals are detailed and top quality, even given that the developer didn't have outrageous AAA resources to work with.”
    • “The graphics are amazing, the music is amazing, but the gameplay is even better.”
    • “The people who compare this to Darkest Dungeon are greatly insulting Darkest Dungeon; this game is a mess of below-average graphics, the saddest attempt to capture the ancestors' brutal and visceral dialogue, and a clunky interface and upgrades that none of which really matter.”
    • “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.”
    • “I had constant graphical glitches where parts of the images popped all over the screen and made it a mess.”
  • story174 mentions

    The story in "Iratus: Lord of the Dead" is generally viewed as simplistic and lacking depth, often compared unfavorably to "Darkest Dungeon." While some players appreciate the dark, macabre themes and the unique perspective of playing as a villainous necromancer, many criticize the narrative for being thin and underdeveloped, with a straightforward plot that fails to engage deeply. Overall, the game offers a fun gameplay experience, but those seeking a rich story may find it lacking.

    • “I love this game, between its themes, its gameplay, and its maybe slightly cheesy but highly enjoyable story.”
    • “The story was intriguing to me and the concept, as well.”
    • “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.”
    • “No interesting story or mechanics to speak of.”
    • “The game is well crafted, the combat is quite alright if repetitive and the story is pretty much non-existent.”
    • “The story is the weakest aspect of this game.”
  • grinding123 mentions

    The reviews highlight a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with some players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly regarding achievement unlocks and character progression. While some appreciate the reduced grind compared to similar titles like Darkest Dungeon, others feel that certain aspects, such as long maps and specific achievements, can lead to a dull experience. Overall, the game offers a balance, with some players enjoying the strategic elements while others find the grinding elements detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “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.”
    • “No farming/backtracking, so if you die it is hard to recover.”
    • “This game is like playing whack-a-mole in a cemetery, except the moles are your sanity and the mallet is a tediously repetitive grind fest dressed up in some seriously gloomy pixelated rags.”
    • “The game, however, becomes quite stale over time due to some extremely grindy and repetitive achievements.”
    • “Unlocking them all for the first time is fun and challenging, but each time after that it just becomes more tedious and annoying after a while.”
  • replayability106 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its potential for varied team compositions and difficulty levels, which encourage experimentation and strategic play. However, some reviewers noted that the large maps and certain gameplay mechanics can hinder replayability, leading to a sense of repetitiveness after multiple runs. While many find the game engaging enough for repeated playthroughs, others feel it lacks sufficient variety to maintain long-term interest.

    • “Great game with lots of replayability; I often play it while stuck on long flights.”
    • “I've done 3 playthroughs and still have not encountered every enemy type, so there's plenty of replayability between building different teams and trying out the various difficulties.”
    • “This game has plenty of content as is, and the roadmap the devs laid out for early access is promising even more minion types to try, more enemy variety, more dungeon levels, and just overall more variety to most aspects of the game that will further extend its replayability.”
    • “Due to the wide offer of playable minions, there is some room for replayability, but not too much.”
    • “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.”
    • “I can already see its low replay value... who wants to be bored twice?”
  • music81 mentions

    The music in the game generally enhances the atmosphere, with many players appreciating its fitting and atmospheric qualities, though some find it repetitive and lacking in variety. While the soundtrack is described as good and enjoyable by some, others criticize it for being generic or too quiet, leading to a desire for more dynamic tracks. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's aesthetic, but it may not stand out significantly or match the quality of similar titles.

    • “The music assists with the atmosphere but it is never as oppressive as its main inspiration.”
    • “The music does its job well, both in combat and out, but it's not winning any awards.”
    • “The atmosphere is great and it has an amazing soundtrack.”
    • “The music's a little monotonous; there is not much variety, and that really sucks.”
    • “The music is generic and boring.”
    • “After about ten hours of playing, I had switched the music off to listen to a playlist instead.”
  • humor72 mentions

    The humor in "Iratus: Lord of the Dead" is characterized by a blend of dark and gallows humor, often delivered through witty dialogue and the ironic narration of the titular character. Players appreciate the comedic elements that lighten the otherwise grim themes of dark fantasy, with many finding the interactions and remarks from both Iratus and his minions to be genuinely funny. However, some reviewers noted that the humor can become repetitive over time, and not all comedic attempts resonate equally with players.

    • “If you enjoy that icy, relentless lich-king fantasy - with a bit of humor to undercut it and remind you that you're playing the villain, Iratus delivers it.”
    • “The dark sense of humor is excellent and the artwork is great.”
    • “There are moments that made me laugh maniacally along with Iratus.”
  • atmosphere68 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its engaging and darkly whimsical elements, with many reviewers noting the effective use of music and art to enhance the experience. However, comparisons to "Darkest Dungeon" reveal that while the game captures some atmospheric qualities, it often falls short in tension and depth, leading to mixed feelings about its overall impact. Despite these critiques, the unique setting and character designs contribute to a memorable atmosphere that resonates with fans of the genre.

    • “The tense atmosphere of managing the resources as you send a group to explore a very dangerous location, making sure they don’t go insane or come back with some crippling consequence was a hook that wasn’t common and seldom learned so much in the horror elements.”
    • “Incredible atmosphere and gameplay.”
    • “Beautifully creepily done atmosphere (which is fitting for the genre) yet not depressing as the color palette is just bright enough to still be easy on the eyes during long periods of gameplay.”
    • “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.”
    • “The puzzle-like combat is there, but the dark atmosphere has been replaced by 80's villain cheese.”
  • monetization22 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn mixed reviews, with users criticizing the use of misleading retail prices and intrusive advertisements on the main menu and loading screens, which detracts from the gaming experience. While some players appreciate the content offered in DLCs and the developers' engagement with the community, the presence of ads is widely viewed as a cash grab that undermines immersion. Overall, many players express a strong aversion to in-game advertising, leading some to seek refunds.

    • “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 balanced 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.”
    • “There is a straight up advertisement for different games from the same publisher (Daedalic Entertainment) on the home screen of the game in the bottom left corner.”
  • stability19 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and lack of bugs, particularly on Linux and macOS. However, others have reported significant issues, including crashes, freezes, and graphical glitches, especially after extended playtime. Overall, while many users have experienced a stable gameplay experience, a notable portion has encountered frustrating technical problems.

    • “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.”
    • “Buyers beware, this game is incredibly buggy.”
    • “74 battles under my belt, closing in on my first victory, the game crashes while loading a battle and permanently freezes every time I try to load my save.”
    • “The game gets buggy close to an hour after starting.”
  • optimization16 mentions

    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 limited graphical options, suggesting that while the game runs well for most, there are areas that could benefit from further refinement.

    • “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 crap.”
    • “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 development12 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by its impressive and original character designs, which contribute to a visually appealing atmosphere. However, some players feel that the variety in team composition diminishes at higher difficulty levels, and there are concerns about the overly sexualized portrayal of characters in a game with a dark theme. Overall, while the character design and animations are praised, there is a desire for more depth and variety in character roles and development.

    • “Real in-depth, robust RPG with great art, character design, and sound design.”
    • “Iratus is a fun game that combines beautiful character design and animation with some simple resource management and crafting.”
    • “The art is great, the character design is original, and I love the different ways that the minions can be used to build a party.”
    • “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.”
    • “Character design has no punch.”
    • “The character design, the gameplay.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mix of feelings, from moments of heartbreak, such as losing a beloved character, to a sense of empowerment as players embody the undead lord. While the game offers a compelling concept that keeps players engaged, some reviewers noted a lack of emotional attachment to characters, suggesting that a deeper narrative and rivalries could enhance the emotional investment. Overall, the experience is described as enjoyable yet somewhat lacking in depth regarding emotional connections.

    • “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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

15hMedian play time
50hAverage play time
5-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 23 analyzed playthroughs

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