Run or Die

About

Run or Die is a single player action game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Team Flow and was released on December 11, 2014. It received positive reviews from players.

"Run or Die" is an endless runner game where you control a stick figure and avoid obstacles in a procedurally generated world. The game features various environments, including cities and deserts, and the objective is to run as far as possible while collecting coins and power-ups. You can unlock new characters, power-ups, and abilities as you progress through the game, providing additional replayability.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 109 reviews

gameplay14 positive mentions

atmosphere2 negative mentions

The game features nice pixel graphics and a comfy soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
Gameplay is engaging with randomized abilities that keep each run interesting and challenging.
Despite its flaws, the game is addictive and offers a fair challenge, making it enjoyable for fans of the endless runner genre.

The level design can be frustrating, with unclear visual cues leading to unfair deaths and reliance on trial and error.
There are numerous bugs and gameplay issues, such as imprecise hitboxes and inconsistent power mechanics, that detract from the experience.
The game can feel repetitive over time, and the lack of a clear distinction between foreground and background elements can lead to confusion.

gameplay
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
54%
8%
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of simple mechanics and challenging elements, offering a blend of precision and timing that keeps players engaged. While some reviews highlight issues with repetitiveness and a lack of depth in abilities, others praise the game's fair balance, beautiful pixel art, and enjoyable soundtrack, making it a solid choice for fans of the endless runner genre. Overall, the experience is described as fun and addictive, with a focus on skill and replayability, despite some criticisms regarding its limitations.
- “The mechanics feel tight with a cool pixelated aesthetic.”
- “An endless runner with good music, lovely pixel art, interesting and consistent mechanics, and no microtransactions?”
- “I think that anyone looking for a challenging but fair game should give this one a chance, because the gameplay feels fun, challenging but not frustrating, where failure helps in learning more about the game and becoming better at it.”
- “The graphics are nice and the music is comfy, but there are bits and pieces of gameplay issues that make the experience a lot more painful than it should be.”
- “In some ways this is a lovely trifecta of everything you should never do with a game... it's pixel crap (looks bad), it's a mobile app (not even close to a real PC game), and it's an endless runner (terrible gameplay concept).”
- “The gameplay is fine on the surface, but falls apart on deeper inspection.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
50%
9%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the charming pixel art and retro aesthetic that evoke nostalgia, while others criticize it as lazy and inauthentic. Many players appreciate the stylish visuals and how they complement the gameplay, though there are complaints about the lack of resolution options and some visual inconsistencies. Overall, the graphics are described as simple yet effective, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
- “The challenges are fun and challenging, endless mode is great if you want to flex your skill, daily run is also great for skill flexing, graphics are beautiful and well done, music is very chill and has good vibes.”
- “Not only is the gameplay fair and balanced, the art style and pixel graphics are honestly top-notch.”
- “The pixel art style, the animations, the soundtrack - really good!”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “Visually, this is a ham-fisted mess, a dog's breakfast of bad visuals, and this kind of laziness and poor quality should never be foisted on gamers.”
- “The graphics design is terrible.”
music
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
32%
9%
The music in the game is generally praised for its chill, soothing quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its catchy and non-repetitive nature. While some found it to be less original or occasionally boring, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a standout feature that complements the gameplay and graphics effectively. Overall, the music contributes positively to the gaming experience, making it enjoyable and immersive.
- “The challenges are fun and challenging, endless mode is great if you want to flex your skill, daily run is also great for skill flexing, graphics are beautiful and well done, music is very chill and has good vibes.”
- “I'm not necessarily in for endless runners, or at least usually... however the atmosphere of the game - brought to life with both the graphics and the simple, yet amazing soundtrack - is just overwhelming.”
- “The soundtrack is awesome.”
- “The music is boring though...”
- “There's only one song that plays on the menu and when running, and it can get repetitive after a while.”
- “Not terribly original, but fitting and of above-average quality.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many players noting that while there are hints of an interesting narrative, it ultimately remains underdeveloped and vague. Some appreciate the potential for imagination, but overall, the absence of a fleshed-out storyline detracts from the experience, leaving players wanting more context and narrative substance.
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “Pros: a vague yet simple story open for imagination, beautiful 16-bit graphics and anime artwork, pretty great music, tight controls, fun abilities, and addicting gameplay.”
- “If there are requests I can make, one of them would be for a fleshed out story mode (part of it is introduced in the intro).”
- “Sadly, no story is told.”
- “Depends, if you enjoy repeating a lot of time after dying and playing it all the way from the beginning with the barest scrap of story, then yeah, buy this endless runner game.”
- “If there are requests I can make, one of them would be for a fleshed-out story mode (part of it is introduced in the intro).”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered moderate, with unique chunks and various game modes providing some variety for players. However, many reviewers feel that the content is limited, resulting in only a few hours of engaging gameplay before it becomes repetitive. While features like daily challenges and competition with friends offer additional incentives, they may not be enough to sustain long-term interest.
- “Endless mode is tough but fair, and the daily challenges could add a lot of replay value and competition between friends.”
- “'Run or Die' is a nice endless runner with a decent amount of replayability, but nothing game-changing.”
- “[b]Replayability verdict[/b]: different game modes spice up a down-to-earth endless runner that provides a small amount of replay value.”
- “While the chunks do add replay value as they make runs feel unique (at least for the first few hours), the chunks themselves aren't always well designed.”
- “I suppose there’s a certain amount of replayability based on competing with friends or a self-interest in short-term goals, but I don’t feel like there’s enough content to justify more than a few hours of gameplay.”
- “'Run or die' is a nice endless runner with a decent amount of replayability, but nothing game-changing.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating graphics and exceptional soundtrack, creating an immersive experience that can put players in a trance-like state. Reviewers highlight the combination of beautiful artwork and solid gameplay as key elements that enhance the overall ambiance.
- “Great atmosphere, lovely artwork and solid gameplay.”
- “The atmosphere puts you in a state of trance which makes the time go by.”
- “I'm not necessarily in for endless runners, or at least usually... however the atmosphere of the game - brought to life with both the graphics and the simple, yet amazing soundtrack - is just overwhelming.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that grinding is a significant and unavoidable aspect of the game, suggesting that it will occupy a considerable amount of time and effort.
- “Grinding is what you will be doing!”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding makes the game feel more like a chore than a fun experience.”
- “I spent hours grinding for resources, and it felt like I was just going in circles without any real progress.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mix of frustration and accomplishment in their emotional experiences with the game. While imprecise mechanics can lead to unexpected deaths, successfully executing strategies and overcoming challenges fosters a sense of achievement and motivates players to improve their skills.
- “Executing the plan to perfection to get all the discs on the first of the easy levels made me feel quite accomplished, all the while making me think about how much better I'll have to become since it was just an easy level.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of "Run or Die" has been criticized as a cash grab, with users noting its origins as a low-effort mobile app rather than a genuine PC game. In contrast, some players appreciate the absence of microtransactions in other endless runners that offer quality gameplay and aesthetics.
- “Run or Die is a mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as if it were a real PC game (it's not). It's a cash grab from greedy mobile developers. This mobile app is yet another of several hundred, if not thousands, of garbage low-effort endless runners plaguing Steam.”
- “An endless runner with good music, lovely pixel art, interesting and consistent mechanics, and no microtransactions?”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to performance issues that detract from the overall experience.