Knock on the Coffin Lid

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 849 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Knock on the Coffin Lid Game Cover
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"Knock on the Coffin Lid" is a narrative-driven game where you wake up in a crypt with no memories, and must uncover the secrets of your death and plan your route to return home. Explore three mysterious regions, form unexpected alliances, and make decisions that will change the world. Build unbeatable decks, collect artifacts, and fight enemy factions in tactical battles.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 849 reviews
story144 positive mentions
grinding13 negative mentions
  • Engaging story and atmosphere that keeps players hooked.
  • Unique mechanics with equipment and character classes that enhance replayability.
  • High production value with stunning art, animations, and voice acting.
  • Unbalanced difficulty spikes, especially in boss fights, leading to frustrating experiences.
  • Some mechanics and card descriptions are unclear, causing confusion during gameplay.
  • Repetitive gameplay due to fixed map paths and reliance on RNG for item drops.
  • story369 mentions

    The game's story is a significant draw, featuring a rich narrative that unfolds through multiple playthroughs, with engaging characters and intriguing lore that keeps players invested. While some players appreciate the depth and complexity of the storytelling, others find it can become tedious or convoluted, particularly when it interferes with gameplay. Overall, the combination of captivating art, voice acting, and a well-crafted narrative enhances the roguelike experience, making it appealing for those who enjoy story-driven games.

    • “The game's story takes a while to unfold, and over successive runs you gradually learn more about how your character ended up dead and the motivations and machinations of the various characters.”
    • “What really stands out in this title is the rich story and engaging quests that keep you hooked from the start.”
    • “The story is intriguing, I haven't unlocked all the characters yet nor have I explored all the avenues, but I like the narrative.”
    • “The main issue is the story.”
    • “The story is absolutely meaningless and makes little sense.”
    • “So after slaving away for many hours on hardcore, I finally learn not from the game but searching it online that you can get permanent bonuses to the character in story mode by doing challenges!”
  • gameplay244 mentions

    The gameplay of this title is heavily inspired by "Slay the Spire," featuring familiar card mechanics and a roguelike structure, but it introduces unique character classes and subclasses that offer distinct playstyles and strategies. While many players appreciate the engaging core gameplay loop and the integration of narrative elements, some criticize the clarity of mechanics and balance issues, particularly with certain boss fights and class effectiveness. Overall, the game is seen as a solid entry in the genre, with potential for improvement and a captivating story that enhances the gameplay experience.

    • “In terms of gameplay, the three classes are all radically different from each other with unique mechanics on how their cards are used.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, there is a great variety of subclasses for every character that feel somewhat all viable and interesting.”
    • “The game brilliantly combines deckbuilding with RPG elements such as equipment, sets, and subclasses, which really adds a lot of diversity to the gameplay and gives a ton of replayability.”
    • “I'm hoping that the devs come back to this and rework a lot of the gameplay, because as it stands, I would recommend any other roguelike deck builder above this one.”
    • “The game mechanics, even the cards and items, are copy/paste from Slay the Spire.”
    • “The gameplay is neat and I love the fact that there's a bit of role-playing mixed into it.”
  • graphics116 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their stunning art style, crisp animations, and engaging visual design, which enhance the overall gameplay experience. Many reviewers highlighted the charming and immersive artwork, often comparing it favorably to other titles in the genre, particularly "Slay the Spire." While some noted minor issues with resolution support and occasional bugs, the overall consensus is that the visuals are a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.

    • “The cartoon-style graphics are visually appealing and add to the overall charm.”
    • “The graphics are excellent, and the voiceover is almost as good.”
    • “The art style is beautiful and it's tough as nails, but not so much so that it felt over the top.”
    • “The graphics are okay but not amazing; gameplay is subpar compared to others of the genre (maybe 2 or 3 real different builds), but the worst is the way they designed the final boss.”
    • “No support for ultra wide or 4k resolution; artwork is polished but it's a shame you have to watch it with a monitor from 1994.”
    • “After the first act and especially in the third, there are unfinished graphics and texts.”
  • replayability47 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players highlighting the depth, complexity, and variety of gameplay options available. The combination of deck-building and RPG elements, along with diverse character classes and story paths, encourages players to return for multiple playthroughs. However, some reviews note that certain aspects, like card descriptions and limited character options, could impact the overall replay value.

    • “Additionally, the game offers high replayability, ensuring you'll want to come back for more.”
    • “Endless hours of fun and an extremely replayable world that gets better with each run!”
    • “This game is a gem in the roguelike deck-building genre, offering near-endless replayability through thoughtful design, and a level of polish that’s rare to find.”
    • “This is interesting as it ties into the story and is good for planning runs on higher difficulties, but it lacks the random replayability of other roguelikes.”
    • “The game is very solid, but poor card descriptions and inconsistent wording really hampers the replay value for me, as struggling to remember if someone is actually going to do as it is worded every run is just not something I am willing to put up with.”
    • “Replayability is mediocre or non-existent at all after you beat the game with each character.”
  • music31 mentions

    The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its quality, diversity, and ability to enhance the overall immersive experience. While some noted minor issues like repetitiveness in certain tracks, the majority highlighted the soundtrack as a standout feature that complements the game's art and storytelling. Overall, the music is described as catchy, atmospheric, and integral to the game's appeal.

    • “Music is a 10/10, the graphics are wonderfully stylized and events have a satisfying animation to them which makes them fun to watch.”
    • “From even the first minutes this game just blasts you with a ridiculous amount of production value starting from the excellent voice acting - beautiful hand-drawn art and just the banger of a music - it reels you in and the hours just go by while you are playing.”
    • “Gorgeous animated art and an extremely catchy soundtrack.”
    • “This game looks like a flash game, the animations look like flash and everything is stiff and ugly; the music is generic and the story is too.”
    • “Devs, please give us a toggle to disable the music ducking during combat.”
    • “There's a few rough edges, such as the map menu music being repetitive, some poor translations (that are in the process of being fixed) and some buffs/debuffs not being very descriptive as to what they do.”
  • grinding13 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and frustrating, with players expressing that it detracts from the overall enjoyment. Many feel that the need for constant grinding to progress, coupled with long, unskippable text and unwinnable battles, makes the experience feel cruel and unforgiving. While some players appreciate the solid gameplay and fun exploration, the endgame grind is often seen as a major drawback that hampers the overall experience.

    • “This game is needlessly grindy, cruel, unforgiving and will make you hate it every turn until once where you can finally make it to the (real) final fight.”
    • “It takes a lot of grinding just to level up and no weapons, armor or potions carry over at defeat.”
    • “Most of my runs end with a battle that's unwinnable yet tediously drawn out.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating storytelling, charming hand-drawn visuals, and a dark, immersive vibe enhanced by quality audio design. Players appreciate the unique blend of RPG and card-based roguelike elements, with many noting the effective use of Slavic mythology and well-crafted characters that contribute to a memorable experience. However, some users have pointed out that technical bugs can detract from the overall atmosphere despite its engaging qualities.

    • “The atmosphere and story are a very captivating addition to a well-rounded and engaging core gameplay loop.”
    • “Charming art style: the hand-drawn visuals and gothic vibe create a distinct, memorable atmosphere.”
    • “Quality audio design: the atmospheric sound effects and haunting soundtrack enhance the immersive experience, not to mention the professionally recorded voices.”
    • “This game is an awesome mix of RPG and card-based roguelike with a dark atmosphere.”
    • “The well-crafted deckbuilder with a heavy emphasis on story and atmosphere.”
    • “I'm not a fan of spine-animated characters, but on the other hand, it allowed me to equip the character with different armor and weapons, which works well for the atmosphere.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some players report no significant bugs or crashes, others experience performance issues such as lag, long load times, and poorly optimized UI elements. Minor stutters and occasional freezing have also been noted, indicating that certain areas of the game may require further refinement.

    • “I’ve encountered no significant bugs, crashes, or performance issues—except for a minor stutter during the final cutscene when playing as Vanadis.”
    • “However, outside of some light things on the margins, I've run into no performance problems or crashes.”
    • “Have only tried Bjorn so far, but I'm loving him; some areas in the game feel unoptimized with a few bugs and translations missing from Russian.”
    • “The game itself feels badly optimized.”
    • “Performance is a bit iffy, strangely in the 1.0 release - long load times/freezing (sometimes).”
    • “Some areas in the game feel unoptimized with a few bugs and translations are missing from Russian.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a dark and sardonic tone, featuring quirky characters and an engaging storyline that keeps players invested. While some players wish they could skip dialogues, many appreciate the well-written, atmospheric script that balances grim themes with clever wit. Overall, the humor is seen as a refreshing departure from typical fantasy tropes, appealing to those who enjoy a mix of strategic gameplay and dark comedy.

    • “The dark, humorous narrative keeps you hooked with quirky characters and intriguing lore.”
    • “"Knock on the coffin lid" is a gem for fans of RPGs who enjoy a mix of strategic card play and dark humor.”
    • “The style is atmospheric, well written (not overwrought like usual fantasy game script), and the humor is funny in a sardonic kind of way - for me, something of a lost art in the self-referencing, smug, preachy, fourth-wall breaking utopia we live in at the moment.”
    • “It's so unbalanced, it's not funny at all.”
    • “The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
    • “I expected humor, but it just missed the mark completely.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by strong worldbuilding and appealing character design, particularly with the character Percival, which evokes a medieval fantasy atmosphere reminiscent of The Witcher. While some users feel that certain aspects of character design are lacking, the overall integration of story-driven RPG elements with card mechanics suggests a promising direction for deeper character engagement.

    • “The worldbuilding and character design are amazing, giving off strong Witcher vibes.”
    • “I think the developers did an amazing job with the worldbuilding and the character design.”
    • “I feel like the developer for this game was lazy in character designing and animating it.”
    • “Character design, backgrounds, small dialogues, and sounds are lovely; apart from that, the UI is really intuitive.”
    • “I find it fresh, and I believe the direction in which it is headed is a step toward the ultimate logical conclusion of all these deckbuilders: a properly integrated story-driven RPG with card mechanics as the combat system, along with the character development and full immersion of classics like Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, and its slowly devolving successors.”
  • stability7 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report frequent bugs and occasional crashes, particularly during startup and transitions, others note significant improvements over time. Overall, it is characterized as buggy but enjoyable, especially for those who approach it with the understanding that it is still in early access. Players appreciate the developers' efforts to address issues, leading to a more polished experience despite the remaining glitches.

    • “Knock is an excellent early access game. In my opinion, this is what early access is all about. It features an enjoyable campaign that, while short, is highly polished, replayable (incentivized by perk unlocks), and is for the most part remarkably bug-free.”
    • “The gameplay is good, but the game is buggy and it feels like there's new bugs every time a patch comes out.”
    • “It also freezes when trying to boot up the game.”
    • “If you don't mind an early-access, somewhat buggy, mildly prone to crashing game (and really, it's gotten way better since I first bought it, mad props to the devs for taking care of that as quickly as they can; now it really only crashes occasionally when moving between zones) and love deck builders with tons of diverse, viable strategies, this is your game.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    Reviewers indicate that the game's monetization strategy is not overly aggressive, focusing instead on enhancing gameplay rather than prioritizing profit. While the story may be lacking, the overall design reflects a commitment to creating a quality gaming experience without heavy reliance on monetization tactics.

    • “It screams love for building a good game over heavy monetization.”
    • “The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel intrusive.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content without pushing for purchases.”
    • “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
    • “It's frustrating how many features are locked behind paywalls, which ruins the overall experience.”
    • “The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the gameplay and makes it feel more like a cash grab.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

28hMedian play time
33hAverage play time
20-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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