Kharon's Crypt: Even Death May Die

About

"Kharon's Crypt: Even Death May Die" is a challenging first-person dungeon crawler. Fight through hordes of enemies in procedurally generated levels, using a variety of weapons and spells. With permadeath and limited resources, every decision counts in your quest to defeat the crypt's ultimate guardian. Can you escape Kharon's Crypt alive?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Kharon's Crypt: Even Death May Die screenshot

+14

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 70 reviews

gameplay28 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

The game features a unique possession mechanic that allows players to inhabit enemies, each with their own abilities, enhancing puzzle-solving and exploration.
The level design and puzzles are well-crafted, providing a nostalgic Zelda-like experience with a spooky atmosphere and rich lore.
The pixel art and music are beautifully executed, creating an engaging and immersive environment that resonates with fans of classic dungeon crawlers.

The game lacks fast travel options, making backtracking tedious and time-consuming, especially in a labyrinthine dungeon structure.
Combat can feel unpolished and repetitive, with some boss fights being overly long and frustrating rather than challenging.
The saving system requires consumable items, which can lead to unnecessary stress and limit players' ability to explore freely.

gameplay
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
57%
4%
The gameplay is centered around a unique enemy possession mechanic, allowing players to utilize various enemies' abilities to solve puzzles and navigate levels, reminiscent of classic Zelda titles. While the game features smooth controls and well-designed levels, some players find the combat repetitive and the possession mechanic somewhat shallow. Overall, it offers a refreshing blend of retro aesthetics and modern gameplay elements, appealing to fans of dungeon-crawling and puzzle-solving genres.
- “The level design and puzzles are on point, and they work very well with the central possession mechanic, as well as the puzzle-solving tools you receive throughout the game.”
- “A very fun game combining a unique mechanic (possession of enemies) with the Legend of Zelda - A Link to the Past type gameplay.”
- “This game has a unique and addictive mechanic in which you can possess any kind of monster and use it to advance in the crypt: fly through an abyss with a bat, open doors, chests, activate or deactivate mechanisms with skeletons, swim, jump gaps, etc.”
- “The body possession mechanic is also ultimately shallow.”
- “If I try to come up with some criticisms of the gameplay as it is, I would say that the 'basic combat' can become boring/repetitive after the first 5 floors or so, because it never feels like defeating minor enemies becomes any less tedious with your basic hit attack, even if you have a ton of items and collectibles with you and having defeated a bunch of bosses already.”
- “The game mechanics are okay but I think they need to improve it a little better.”
story
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
The game's story is well-established and becomes more engaging as players progress, particularly in the final part. While initially appearing simple, it reveals deeper emotional layers upon closer examination, complemented by beautiful artwork and music that enhance the overall experience. However, some players found the narrative elements, such as story pages, less engaging and were reluctant to delve into them.
- “The story is very well established.”
- “Together with the music, everything establishes an environment that introduces the player to the story.”
- “The game is still in the process of being improved, and the story and gameplay mechanics still have potential.”
- “Moreover, the story, although it seems pretty simple at first glance, if you watch closely and understand everything, it is a very deep and emotional one.”
- “I won't spoil much here, just know that the game's base story, while not mentioned too much until the final part of the game, is pretty good.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience and storytelling. Players particularly highlight the emotional impact of certain tracks, especially a standout piece late in the game that evokes strong feelings. Overall, the soundtrack complements the pixel art beautifully, creating a captivating vibe throughout the gameplay.
- “I also loved the music throughout, as it always felt nostalgic and very fitting to the scenery and atmosphere of each floor.”
- “Together with the music, everything establishes an environment that introduces the player to the story.”
- “But there is also one piece of music very late in the game, which honestly makes me emotional by how incredibly beautiful it is.”
- “I have found myself several times in the past weeks opening the game and leaving it on that floor just to listen to the music for a while.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
25%
8%
The graphics of the game are praised for their nostalgic and beautiful retro pixel-art style, reminiscent of classic SNES titles like "The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past." The unique color palettes effectively complement the game's morbid themes, and the detailed artwork in the inventory adds to the overall aesthetic appeal. However, some players noted visibility issues during certain boss encounters due to faded projectiles and a foggy foreground.
- “The graphics are nostalgic and beautiful.”
- “I tried the demo of the game because the art style looked appealing (very retro looking pixel art with color palettes fitting the game's unique morbid themes) but then the base mechanic of the game (possessing corpses) felt so interesting that it made me get the early access version, to see what direction the game goes into (what kind of enemies you can possess, what kind of puzzles there would be, what kind of look deeper floors of the game would have to stay interesting).”
- “What I like about the game is the pixel-2D graphics and designs that remind me of the old Super NES games like Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past.”
- “For the most part, the visuals in this game are not a problem, but I was very annoyed by the first act boss; his projectiles were very faded and the foggy foreground made it even harder to see.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the repetitive nature of basic combat and the need to backtrack for secrets. This repetitiveness can diminish enjoyment, especially after progressing through the initial levels, leading to a sense of monotony despite having various items and collectibles.
- “The only issue I have is going back down and up and finding all the secrets as it becomes tedious.”
- “These three things combine to make the game more tedious than it needs to be.”
- “If I try to come up with some criticisms of the gameplay as it is, I would say that the 'basic combat' can become boring and repetitive after the first 5 floors or so, because it never feels like defeating minor enemies becomes any less tedious with your basic hit attack, even if you have a ton of items and collectibles with you and have defeated a bunch of bosses already.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
50%
33%
Kharon’s Crypt is praised for its original and polished atmosphere, characterized by an eerie tone that enhances the overall experience. The writing, while occasionally convoluted, contributes to a dense ambiance, and the nostalgic music complements the scenery effectively across different floors.
- “Kharon’s crypt is so original, polished, and just oozing with atmosphere.”
- “The writing of these dark fairy-tales is sometimes convoluted; nevertheless, it manages to express quite an eerie tone, which further enhances the overall dense atmosphere.”
- “I also loved the music throughout, as it always felt nostalgic and very fitting to the scenery and atmosphere of each floor.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its blend of dark and whimsical elements, with players appreciating the clever juxtaposition of cute visuals and macabre descriptions, such as a cute slime being referred to as "human pulp." The optional text adds depth to the comedic experience, showcasing both poetic and humorous translations.
- “The amount of optional text itself is also pretty commendable, especially with the translation challenges with some of the more poetic parts, as well as some very funny and dark moments!”
- “[spoiler] I think it's a little funny that you see a cute slime, and then the Necronomicon says it's human pulp.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally impactful, particularly praising a beautiful piece of music that evokes strong feelings. Additionally, the story, while initially appearing simple, reveals deeper emotional layers upon closer examination, enhancing the overall experience.
- “There is one piece of music very late in the game that honestly makes me emotional because of how incredibly beautiful it is.”
- “The story, although it seems pretty simple at first glance, is actually very deep and emotional if you watch closely and understand everything.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players consistently highlight the game's high replay value, noting that it offers a rewarding experience that justifies its affordable price.
- “The game has a lot of replay value and is well worth the small price tag.”