Mini-Dead

About

Mini-Dead is a single player action game. It was developed by Milo Games and was released on September 29, 2016. It received very positive reviews from players.

144 FPS boss battle action with a devilishly creative game mechanic.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 292 reviews

gameplay24 positive mentions

story2 negative mentions

Unique gameplay mechanics that combine movement and attack, providing a fresh take on the boss rush genre.
Challenging yet fair difficulty, with each boss offering distinct patterns that require skill and strategy to defeat.
Free to play, making it accessible for anyone looking for a short but engaging gaming experience.

The final boss fight, which combines all three bosses, can feel unfair and heavily reliant on RNG, making it frustrating for players.
Graphics are simplistic and may not appeal to everyone, potentially detracting from the overall experience.
Short gameplay length, with many players wishing for more content and additional bosses.

gameplay
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
52%
5%
The gameplay is characterized by its unique mechanics, blending simple controls with challenging boss fights and bullet hell elements, making it engaging and fun. Players appreciate the smoothness of the mechanics, though some find the teleportation feature can lead to frustrating moments. Overall, the game offers a short yet rewarding experience, appealing to fans of reflex-based gameplay and those seeking a fresh take on the genre.
- “The gameplay feels very interesting and smooth in my opinion!”
- “The game mechanics are very simple; you just have to improve your skills in order to win.”
- “The gameplay is extremely unique, and I loved every second of it, even when I was getting wrecked.”
- “The gameplay is fine, however, the dev's concept of 'no cheap deaths' doesn't work well here, especially in the secret fight.”
- “This is a simple game to understand, yet hard to recommend unless you really like punishing and unfair gameplay.”
- “Once you learn how each boss fights, it's super easy to beat them, except for the fact that the teleportation mechanic is terrible and often teleports you into taking damage even though you tried to teleport somewhere else on screen.”
graphics
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
61%
13%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist black-and-white pixel art style that evokes nostalgia, reminiscent of titles like "The Binding of Isaac." While some players appreciate the unique and clean aesthetic that enhances gameplay clarity, others criticize the graphics as basic and lacking in detail, describing them as "phoned in" and "ugly." Overall, the art style is polarizing, with many finding it charming and fitting for the game's fast-paced mechanics, while others feel it falls short of modern graphical standards.
- “The pixelized art style, the dodging mechanic, the black and white theme, and the ominous music in the main menu when you kill all three at once with an achievement earned 'What Have You Done' create a unique atmosphere.”
- “I really like the clean, uncluttered, black and white aesthetic, with a little bit of red thrown in for flavor, making for a game where all the visuals are incredibly easy to parse, something hugely helpful for a fast-paced, bullet-dodging game like this.”
- “The art style looks like it was inspired by The Binding of Isaac, yet it feels so fresh and different, providing a nostalgic yet unique experience.”
- “Don't let the 1980 graphics fool you.”
- “Graphics are completely phoned in, locked resolution, ugly 2D retro pixel monochrome 'art' used instead of proper graphics.”
- “The graphics are basic and the audio fits the minimalist style, but nothing special.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
29%
21%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its fitting and engaging soundtrack, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight its retro quality and ability to evoke emotions, particularly during intense moments like boss fights. Overall, the audio complements the minimalist graphics and gameplay mechanics, contributing to a memorable atmosphere.
- “The music and minimalist graphics are pleasantly retro but also well-made.”
- “Props have to be given to the audio and music in particular.”
- “Before I forget, the OST was so fitting and blended in nicely with the game.”
- “But you're a bad guy because the main menu music gets scary, you idiot!”
- “Mini Dead favors a truly ambitious control scheme and hair-raising soundtrack to break into the player's heart.”
- “The pixelized art style, the dodging mechanic, the black and white theme, and the ominous music in the main menu when you kill all three at once with an achievement earned 'what have you done'.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The story is described as unconventional and darkly humorous, featuring bizarre encounters such as battling a fetus and a sword-wielding antagonist, with memorable lines like "see you in hell." While some players appreciate the unique narrative elements, others note that the overall story is minimal, primarily consisting of three boss fights without a deeper plot. A suggestion for a small story mode akin to Undertale is made to enhance player engagement and skill development.
- “No story, just three boss fights and one where they're all together.”
- “A small story mode a la Undertale can introduce and let the player practice and experiment with the mechanics, alongside a main roguelike mode where the player will develop and improve their skills.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of Mini-dead is criticized as it serves primarily as a free advertisement for the developer's main game, Dead, rather than offering a standalone experience. Reviewers express disappointment in its perceived lack of effort, likening it to a cash grab typical of low-quality mobile games.
- “While this is free, it's just because it's an advertisement for another game, and I can't recommend advertisements or lazy retro pixel mobile phone tier garbage to PC gamers.”
- “Very often, GameMaker Studio is used to make shovelware and lazy cash grabs.”
- “Mini-Dead is a demo/advertisement/de-make of another game called Dead from the same developer.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring additional lives to effectively progress.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers minimal replayability, primarily limited to re-fighting the same bosses, but many players feel that this aspect is not necessary for the overall experience.
- “There isn't any replay value, unless you want to play the same bosses again, but it doesn't feel necessary.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and experience it again.”
- “The lack of varied outcomes or different paths makes replaying the game feel redundant.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is reported to run smoothly without any issues once players acclimate to it, indicating effective optimization.
- “Runs smoothly and didn't have any issues after I got used to it.”
- “The optimization is impressive, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I appreciate how well the game runs; it feels polished and responsive.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be a source of great wholesome fun, evoking positive emotions and creating a joyful experience.