1000 Deaths

1000 Deaths is a bold indie platformer that blends artistic experimentation with a surprising, emotional narrative. Despite some technical limitations such as camera issues and stabilization, its visual creativity, distinctive music, and high replayability make it a unique experience in the indie gaming scene.

Platforming is the star of the show, but the stories 1000 Deaths tells are fun and sometimes resonant.

While there’s certainly no shortage of retro-tinged 3D platformers that have very identifiable influences, I don’t think I’ve played one yet that evokes the past without being tied to it the way 1000 Deaths does. For that reason – and also the reason that it’s pretty good – it’s very much worth your time.

1000 Deaths is a trippy platformer with tricky stages and wacky characters, that would be easy to recommend without the camera issues.

1000 Deaths feels like it's a crazy fever dream I had in the early 2000s after falling asleep in front of the TV. I mean this in the best way possible. Filled with fun levels, genuine heart and a killer, crazy aesthetic, if you're looking for a colourful experience reminiscent of classic 3D platformers, this is for you.

1000 Deaths is a novel concept that certainly has legs to intrigue those who want more than just another 3D platformer. Apparently, this game was in development since 2019 and for a debut game, Pariah Interactive has shown a huge amount of promise and hopefully they can do more as this concept was fantastic to check out.

1000 Deaths is an interesting concept with elements speedrunners will appreciate and a solid foundation in some of its level design. Unfortunately, the camera, movement, and clashing aesthetics often caused motion sickness for me, taking away from the overall experience. While I appreciate the story-driven choices, I never connected with the characters—they felt flat and uninteresting. If you’re looking for a story-driven platformer, Donkey Kong Bananza delivers a much better experience. If arcade-style speedrunning is your thing, this might be worth checking out—but with options like Neon White available, it’s hard to recommend this one over more polished alternatives.

Jokes aside, whilst I enjoyed the platforming on offer in 1000 Deaths, I did find the camera controls to be a little janky. This was especially annoying on the timed arcade runs. Whilst it didn’t ruin the platforming for me, it was a touch annoying to die to a camera issue on occasion. However, the platforming aspect was tight and responsive. With the interesting mechanic of my character being able to defy gravity, walk around curved edges, or hang upside down. It’s a small detail, but it enhanced the gameplay and offered some much-needed variety in the levels. The arcade mode was a lot of fun, and trying to beat the time trials was both frustrating and exhilarating. Attempting to take on my previous scores’ ghost was a nice touch and helpful for tackling my best times.

1000 Deaths is an enjoyable indie that takes a lot of inspiration from TV pop-culture and infuses it with classic platforming gameplay, then garnishes with its creative gravity-bending mechanic. The story and all the paths we can take are interesting, even if a little confusing at times.