Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap

About

Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is an action-packed third-person shooter and trap defense game. Evolve as an orc-slaying War Mage through rogue-lite choices and obliterate, eviscerate, and incinerate massive hordes with up to four players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,092 reviews

gameplay133 positive mentions

story56 negative mentions

The game offers a fresh take on the Orcs Must Die! formula, incorporating roguelite elements that enhance replayability.
The character abilities and unique traps add variety and depth to gameplay, making each run feel different.
The developers are responsive to feedback, quickly addressing concerns such as the barricade limit with patches.

The limited number of barricades can feel restrictive, making it difficult to create effective kill boxes on larger maps.
The game lacks a traditional campaign mode, which may disappoint fans of the series looking for a story-driven experience.
Some players may find the game unbalanced for solo play, as it seems designed primarily for multiplayer.

gameplay
519 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
66%
9%
The gameplay of "Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the core mechanics of tower defense and action but criticizing the new rogue-lite elements and limitations on barricade placements that can hinder strategic depth. While some find the gameplay loop engaging and fun, especially in multiplayer, others feel it lacks innovation and can become repetitive over time. Overall, the game offers a fresh take on the franchise, but it may require further refinement and additional content to fully satisfy both new players and series veterans.
- “Gameplay loop is very fun and still feels solid and fluid.”
- “It takes the classic trap-based mayhem and layers in roguelike mechanics that make every run feel fresh and unpredictable.”
- “The gameplay is great, controls are good, levels are awesome, traps are great and there are many chances to improve your loadout.”
- “Gameplay is boring and feels like a chore.”
- “The lack of variety in objectives and mechanics can make the experience feel like you’re doing the same thing over and over, which drains the excitement over time.”
- “The core gameplay loop is severely flawed.”
story
462 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
81%
12%
The game's story is largely absent, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of a structured narrative or campaign, which was a hallmark of previous entries in the series. Instead, players are thrown into a series of missions with minimal context, relying on random map selections and gameplay mechanics rather than a cohesive storyline. While some appreciate the roguelite elements and character upgrades, the overall sentiment is that the game feels empty without the engaging story and character development that fans have come to expect.
- “Omd have always been a story-driven experience, this is not so for OMD!D.”
- “We play as 6 rookie warmages to protect the rifts in one of the 9 maps in random sequences, and that's basically the story.”
- “While the game is going in a fun direction, there is an overall feeling of emptiness from the story.”
- “The game doesn't have a story like previous entries did.”
- “There is no story really but it does build off the story from the previous OMD games.”
- “The story and characters lack depth, which can be disappointing for some players.”
optimization
172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
66%
24%
The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with many players reporting poor performance, stuttering, and frame rate drops even on capable hardware. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay, particularly on lower settings or specific configurations, the overall consensus indicates that the game feels unoptimized, especially compared to its predecessors. Many hope for future updates to address these performance issues, as the current state detracts from the overall experience.
- “It rewards intelligent placement, taking advantage of physics, and doesn't rely on hyper-optimized kill boxes (though you still need to know how to make them).”
- “Lots of decisions to be made and optimization (especially if you're playing co-op, ensuring you're boosting different trap types, etc.).”
- “As it stands in its current state at the time of this review, optimization is really my biggest concern, but the devs were quick to make adjustments based on community feedback and I have faith we'll see more updates sooner rather than later to address the performance.”
- “Atrocious performance, especially compared to its predecessors.”
- “Incredibly poorly optimized.”
- “Unoptimized to a point where it's barely playable, and the graphics glitch on low settings.”
graphics
141 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
67%
6%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising the medieval fantasy aesthetic and vibrant visuals, particularly for traps and spell effects. However, many players have criticized the performance issues, graphical glitches, and a perceived downgrade from previous titles in the series, leading to frustration over the game's optimization and overall visual quality. While some find the graphics appealing and nostalgic, others feel they detract from the gameplay experience, especially on lower settings.
- “Graphics look good and traps especially look stellar; they are the best looking and feeling than any other game released thus far.”
- “The visuals are gorgeous (with reflections turned up, mind you; if you don't put this setting high, this might end up looking like an N64 game).”
- “Very impressed by the visuals, and while the game is grindy, I've had a ton of fun playing some solo matches as well as co-op with friends.”
- “Visuals are a huge step down for me, game looks terrible.”
- “The graphics only look passable with very specific settings to the detriment of the performance of the game.”
- “This game has no right to even run this bad for the graphics and gameplay it has; it is a tower defense game and it runs worse than recent AAA games.”
replayability
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
70%
8%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many praising the introduction of roguelite elements, randomized maps, and character upgrades that enhance variety and encourage multiple playthroughs. However, some players express concerns about content limitations, such as the lack of purchasable barricades and the randomness of mechanics, which can hinder strategic depth and overall replay value. Overall, while the game offers significant replayability potential, it may require further updates and content additions to fully realize this promise.
- “🔹 Highly replayable – with randomized upgrades, evolving challenges, and different strategies to explore, no two runs play out the same.”
- “The threads/distortion mechanic makes the game hugely varied and replayable.”
- “The roguelite elements make it highly replayable, and it's very fun to see how far you can make it.”
- “Solid game but lack of content hurts replayability; feels like early access.”
- “Maybe with a few updates it will be, but now it's a poorly optimized, sluggish game with little replayability.”
- “But it just doesn't provide the replayability it needs.”
humor
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players enjoying the comedic dialogue, funny character lines, and the antics of orcs, who deliver over-the-top reactions and humorous quips. While some fans miss the charm of previous characters like Max, the new traps and enemy interactions still provide plenty of laughs, contributing to the game's overall fun atmosphere. Despite some criticisms regarding character depth, the blend of gore and goofy humor remains a highlight for many players.
- “If not for the gameplay, the soundtrack is great and so are the funny character lines, with many references to orcs in other IPs that I just can't help but laugh.”
- “For example, when set on fire, an orc might scream, 'hot hot hot hot!' in a hilariously over-the-top way – I laugh every time I hear it.”
- “After all, if there’s one thing I love, it’s delivering orc-ward deaths in increasingly hilarious ways.”
- “These kids are not funny.”
grinding
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
4%
94%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players noting that while it offers a deep and impactful progression system, it can also feel excessively tedious and time-consuming. Some enjoy the grind for upgrades and character development, finding it rewarding, while others criticize it as lazy and overly repetitive, particularly in comparison to previous titles in the series. Overall, the game's grindiness is a significant factor that may appeal to dedicated fans but could deter casual players.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Your game is so grindy, it makes it tedious to progress through it.”
- “The achievements are either way too grindy or require such ridiculous setups that they’re borderline impossible without exploiting the game’s broken mechanics.”
- “Whilst the foundation of the idea is still solid and provides many an hour of fun, the implementation is needlessly grindy and imperfectly scaled.”
music
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
40%
10%
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising the soundtrack as fantastic and fitting well with the gameplay, particularly highlighting the work of artist Phil Boucher. However, some players feel that certain tracks are generic or lack the charm of previous entries, expressing a desire for more variety and the return of classic tunes. Overall, while the music enhances the experience for many, there are notable criticisms regarding its engagement during specific gameplay moments.
- “Music is awesome, dare I say the best it's been and legitimately has never disappointed.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic, as with every OMD entry, the sound design is fine and the enemy voice acting is enjoyable and funny.”
- “Gore, goofy humor, blood and guts, and a killer soundtrack.”
- “Music is not great; I can enjoy some good bardcore metal on occasion, but this ain't it. It sounds like generic music you could get from a free stock site.”
- “Music in 'the fortress' is awful.”
- “No music during setup though?”
stability
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
71%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, crashes, and visual glitches that hinder gameplay, suggesting it may have been released prematurely. However, some users have experienced smooth performance with no issues, indicating that stability may vary depending on individual setups. Overall, while there are notable stability concerns, ongoing updates appear to be addressing some of these problems.
- “Technically the game runs great: no bugs or disconnects or graphics problems for me running at ultra settings.”
- “Runs great on my computer, no lag, no hiccups so far.”
- “Smooth, mostly bug-free, rejoin option is fantastic, and good scaling.”
- “Buggy, keeps crashing, doesn't save between runs, unplayable at present.”
- “It's buggy, and the maps clearly did not pass a final polish given the amount of gaps and physics glitches in each environment.”
- “However, this game has some flaws, mainly in the performance and visual department (a lot of visual glitches). I do believe this game needed more time in the oven before releasing, or at least it should have been an early access release.”
character development
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
73%
15%
Character development in the game has received largely negative feedback, with many players finding the character designs bland and uninspired compared to previous titles like "Orc Must Die! Unchained." Reviewers express a desire for more diverse and creative character aesthetics, suggesting the addition of a robust cosmetic system to enhance personalization. Overall, the character designs fail to convey distinct personalities or abilities, detracting from the overall experience.
- “These character designs already tell you something about their personalities, their abilities, etc.”
- “The most passionate and creative piece of character design is that Vaan has the Supreme Kai earring from Dragon Ball.”
- “I guess most of the character designs aren't particularly inspired, but on the other hand, the maps are absolutely gorgeous and full of detail.”
- “The character design is underwhelming, especially after what we had in OMDU.”
- “As someone who played OMD Unchained, I have to say these character designs do not stand a chance against OMDU's characters.”
- “These character designs already told you something about their personalities, their abilities, etc. Deathtrap's characters (especially the human ones) unfortunately just don't.”
monetization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
Reviews indicate that while some players perceive the game as a cash grab, many argue that it genuinely reflects the developers' passion for the series and does not employ typical monetization tactics like microtransactions or pay-to-win mechanics. Instead, progression is achieved through gameplay, reminiscent of classic unlocking methods. Overall, the monetization approach is viewed positively, with a focus on player experience rather than profit.
- “Another amazing thing here is that this game is not pay to win and, as far as I know, doesn't have any microtransactions.”
- “The more you play, the stronger you get; the easier it gets. Maybe people forgot that the old way of unlocking isn't through microtransactions.”
- “Cash grab that looks to have been outsourced to some 1st year game dev students or dumb AI.”
- “People also state 'this is a cash grab game', well... probably the developers needed money sure, but this really doesn't feel like a cash grab game in the slightest.”
- “The more you play the stronger you get the easier it gets, maybe people forgot that the old way of unlocking isn't through microtransactions.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game's atmosphere is described as relaxed and lighthearted, making it suitable for casual play. However, many reviewers feel it lacks depth due to insufficient worldbuilding and dialogue, resulting in a hollow experience. Suggestions for improvement include introducing a compelling villain and darkening the overall tone to enhance engagement and immersion.
- “The game doesn't take itself too seriously, which creates a relaxed atmosphere – ideal after a long day.”
- “I would actually recommend adding a good villain and darkening the atmosphere so people don't think this is some sort of Fortnite game mode launched as a Steam game.”
- “I am completely disappointed and the game feels hollow with its giant maps, despite Orcs Must Die! 2 having way more atmosphere and overall soul.”
- “But there feels like a lack of worldbuilding, dialogue, and atmosphere that makes it feel like you are doing something.”
- “I am completely disappointed, and the game feels hollow with its giant maps, despite 'Orcs Must Die 2' having way more atmosphere and overall soul.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for lacking impactful mechanics, such as cooldown reductions and buffs, which diminishes the player's sense of power and connection to their character. This absence of dynamic effects leaves players feeling less engaged and emotionally invested in their gameplay experience.