Death or Treat

Death or Treat is a nice little indie gem that would have been perfect for Halloween night. The great visual presentation combined with a fitting soundtrack would have been a perfect fit for the theme night. However, it has to be acknowledged that the game is only fun in short bursts, as the grind is immense to eventually reach the end of the game. Nevertheless, it's fun to immerse yourself in the world of Hallowtown and will also appeal to fans of roguelites and roguelikes. Definitely a thumbs up from me!

Death or Treat is a hack-and-slash in 2D, beautifully drawn. It’s a game that playfully satirizes everything and while it clearly takes inspiration from Hollow Knight, it still possesses its own unique personality.

From the moment you boot up Death or Treat, it's clear where all the care and attention went. You're greeted with a really nice-looking animation sequence that looks far better than nearly any other game you could name. It's rare that a game that boasts of being hand-drawn or hand-painted actually looks amazing, but in this case, you could honestly say that about Death or Treat and not be exaggerating. Unfortunately, it's all downhill from that point.

With its wonderful hand-drawn aesthetic Death or Treat looks like it should be fantastic. Never judge a video game by its visuals however, as those visual delights disguise a bland and repetitive roguelite. Death or Treat? More like Death or Trick.

In short, Death or Treat is a very pretty game with a nice soundtrack. It looks like it should be fun. Unfortunately, after a certain point–when you reach the first boss–it stops being fun. I really hope the control issues are the result of a lackluster PC port and not inherent to the game. Either way, I don’t think I’ll play it again until the controls are fixed.

An aesthetically fine action roguelite that does not offer any particular gameplay cues but allows itself to be enjoyed. It lacks a bit of optimization that materializes in a few too many stumbles both at the technical level and in usability.

Death or Treat delivers the basics of the roguelike genre well done to a certain extent, but doesn't dare to offer something innovative. However, the experience is positive, especially for players who are not used to the genre. Combat is easy to master, but a little tedious over time. But the title manages to captivate due to its excellent art direction and fluid movement of its protagonist.

There are more polished, quality roguelites out there that will engage you for a longer period than Death or Treat, but that says less about its own achievements and more about the incredibly high bar set by its predecessors.

Death or Treat is a very fun 2D action roguelike with impressively immersive combat that'll have you giddily juggling Halloween monstrosities while they spew out candy as if they're piñatas and it's your birthday.

If Death or Treat is your first foray into the action roguelike genre, then you will find a lot to love about it. For those more versed, you may find a very overly familiar experience that doesn’t reinvent the formula. I fall more into this latter category. I liked experimenting with the different weapons and builds before venturing off on a new run, but I felt like I’d done this all before. Death or Treat is not a bad game; it succeeds in what it sets out to do, a fun experience to grind away with a fantastic art direction. Suited to those looking for a short gaming fix or ready to settle in for a good game night. Halloween or not, you can enjoy this any day of the year.