Die for the Lich launched on Steam Early Access on November 10, 2025, bringing a fresh twist to the roguelike deckbuilder genre by replacing cards with dice. Developed by Monovoid and published by 2 Left Thumbs, this dark fantasy game challenges players to roll magical dice, pair them with weapons, and push their luck against legendary monsters on the path to defeating the Lich, the King of the Undead. The public demo already earned a staggering 98% positive rating from 133 reviews, suggesting this indie gem might be the next big thing in the genre.
What makes Die for the Lich stand out in a crowded field of roguelike deckbuilders is its risk-reward dice mechanics combined with weapon pairing systems. You’re not just rolling dice and hoping for good numbers. You’re strategically building a dice pool, collecting weapons and trinkets with specific Critical Values, and deciding when to push for higher rolls versus playing it safe. It’s Slay the Spire meets Dicey Dungeons with a gothic horror aesthetic that would fit perfectly next to Darkest Dungeon on your library shelf.
How the Dice Mechanics Actually Work
Unlike traditional deckbuilders where you draw cards, Die for the Lich has you rolling dice each turn. But these aren’t simple d6s. The game features 25 different types of dice, each with unique properties, special abilities, and varying risk levels. You’ll encounter everything from basic numbered dice to magical variants that trigger special effects based on their results.
Here’s where it gets interesting: your weapons and equipment have Critical Values, specific numbers that unlock bonus abilities when you match them with your dice rolls. Let’s say you have a weapon with Critical Value 13. Roll exactly 13 with your dice combinations, and you trigger powerful bonus effects. This creates constant tension between going for the exact number you need or settling for a safe roll that deals basic damage.
The push-your-luck element comes from deciding whether to reroll dice to chase that perfect Critical Value or accept what you have and avoid potential disaster. Reroll too aggressively and you might brick your entire turn. Play too conservatively and you miss opportunities to obliterate enemies with critical hits. That balance defines every combat encounter and keeps runs feeling tense even dozens of hours in.
Weapons, Trinkets, and Build Crafting
Die for the Lich currently features 51 weapons ranging from rusty shovels and coffin shields to ghost sabers and mystical armaments. Each weapon fundamentally changes how you approach combat, similar to how relics in Slay the Spire reshape your entire strategy. Weapons aren’t just stat sticks – they define your playstyle and determine which dice and trinkets synergize with your build.
The 28 trinkets add another layer of strategic depth. These magical items modify dice results, trigger on specific conditions, or provide passive benefits that combo with your weapons and dice pool. Building effective synergies between your dice, trinkets, and weapons is where the game’s strategic ceiling lives. Experienced players will recognize good combos immediately while newer players can experiment to discover powerful interactions.
As you progress, you level up and select from 13 unique abilities that further customize your approach. These player upgrades persist throughout a run, letting you double down on strategies that are working or pivot when you discover powerful new gear. The combination of persistent upgrades, temporary trinkets, and weapon choices means no two runs feel identical even when using the same starting character.
Three Characters, Three Playstyles
The Early Access version launches with three playable characters, each with completely different playstyles. The Undertaker and Dante were available in the demo, with the third character unlocking as you progress. Based on the demo’s 98% positive rating, the character design successfully creates distinct gameplay experiences rather than just cosmetic differences with minor stat variations.
The character you choose determines your starting dice pool, initial weapon, and which abilities you can unlock. This isn’t just picking between a tanky character and a glass cannon. Each character encourages fundamentally different approaches to risk management, dice building, and weapon synergies. Mastering one character doesn’t guarantee success with another, giving the game significant replay value beyond the usual deckbuilder formula.
Three Acts Plus Endless Mode
Die for the Lich structures its campaign across three full acts, each with distinctive enemies, challenging boss encounters, and escalating difficulty as you approach the Lich’s throne. The demo offered Act 1 plus an endless mode called the Lich’s Abyss, suggesting the full Early Access release includes all three acts with the endless mode providing additional challenge for players who master the base campaign.
The enemy designs draw inspiration from myth and folklore across cultures, giving the bestiary variety beyond the standard zombie/skeleton/vampire lineup you see in most dark fantasy games. Reviews of the demo specifically praised the enemy variety and how different monster abilities force you to adapt strategies rather than spamming the same approach every fight.
Boss fights reportedly require understanding the boss’s unique mechanics rather than just having a strong build. This design philosophy aligns with games like Slay the Spire where Act bosses demand specific counters or strategies. Players who optimize builds for regular combat might struggle against bosses that punish those exact strategies, creating interesting tension in how you build your dice pool and select upgrades.
Daily Runs and Achievements
For competitive players, Die for the Lich includes Daily Runs with leaderboards. Everyone gets the same seed and starting conditions, eliminating RNG advantages and creating a pure test of skill and decision-making. This feature extends the game’s lifespan significantly, giving players reasons to jump in every day even after completing all three acts.
The achievement system offers 11 goals for completionists to chase, though that number will likely expand during Early Access. Based on similar roguelikes, these probably include challenges like beating the game with specific restrictions, discovering certain rare items, or achieving victory with sub-optimal builds. Achievements in roguelikes serve as natural difficulty modifiers, giving experienced players goals that push them outside their comfort zones.
Early Access Plans and Pricing
Die for the Lich launched at $10 with a 10% discount during the introductory period, making it $9 until November 24. The developers at Monovoid have stated the price will increase as development continues, a common Early Access strategy that rewards early adopters while reflecting the growing content and polish.
The development team is committed to releasing new content and features throughout Early Access, though specific roadmaps haven’t been detailed publicly. Typical roguelike Early Access cycles add new characters, items, enemies, and sometimes entire acts or alternative game modes. Given the positive reception and the developers’ promise to notify players well in advance of price increases, this seems like a project with genuine long-term support planned.
The 98% Demo Rating Tells a Story
That 98% positive rating from 133 demo reviews is remarkable. For context, many successful indie roguelikes hover around 85-90% positive during their demo phases. Breaking 95% suggests the core gameplay loop is exceptionally satisfying and the mechanical depth supports repeated playthroughs without feeling repetitive.
Demo reviews specifically praised the push-your-luck tension, the satisfying crunch of landing Critical Value hits, and the dark gothic aesthetic. The comparison points players mentioned most frequently were Slay the Spire (for the strategic deckbuilding depth), Dicey Dungeons (for the dice mechanics), and Darkest Dungeon (for the oppressive atmosphere and gothic horror style). That’s a strong combination of influences that suggests Die for the Lich successfully synthesizes ideas from proven hits rather than just copying one game.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Die for the Lich launch and how much does it cost?
Die for the Lich launched on Steam Early Access on November 10, 2025. It costs $10 USD with a 10% launch discount making it $9 until November 24, 2025. The developers have stated the price will increase as development continues, with advance notice given to players before price changes.
What is Die for the Lich about?
Die for the Lich is a dark fantasy roguelike deckbuilder where you build a collection of dice instead of cards. You roll magical dice each turn, pair them with weapons to hit Critical Values for bonus effects, and battle through three acts of monsters to defeat the Lich, the King of the Undead. It combines push-your-luck dice mechanics with strategic deckbuilding.
How many characters are in Die for the Lich?
The Early Access version launches with three playable characters, each with completely different playstyles, starting dice pools, and available abilities. The Undertaker and Dante were showcased in the demo, with the third character unlocking during progression. Each character encourages fundamentally different approaches to combat and build crafting.
What makes Die for the Lich different from other deckbuilders?
Instead of drawing cards, you roll 25 different types of dice with unique properties. Weapons have Critical Values that trigger powerful bonuses when you match them with exact dice combinations. This creates constant tension between pushing for perfect rolls or playing safe. The risk-reward balance and weapon-dice synergies set it apart from traditional card-based deckbuilders.
How long is Die for the Lich?
The game features three full acts with distinctive enemies and boss encounters. The Early Access version also includes the Lich’s Abyss endless mode and Daily Runs with leaderboards. Typical roguelike runs likely take 1-2 hours, with dozens of hours needed to master all characters and unlock everything.
Is Die for the Lich worth buying in Early Access?
The demo earned a 98% positive rating from 133 reviews, suggesting the core gameplay is extremely solid even before full release. At $9 during the launch discount, it’s priced accessibly for roguelike fans. The developers promise ongoing content updates, and the price will increase later, making Early Access purchase appealing for anyone interested in the genre.
What games is Die for the Lich similar to?
Players and developers cite Slay the Spire for strategic deckbuilding depth, Dicey Dungeons for dice-based mechanics, and Darkest Dungeon for gothic horror atmosphere. It synthesizes elements from all three into a unique experience focused on risk-reward dice rolling paired with weapon Critical Values.
Does Die for the Lich have controller support?
Based on Steam data, the game supports controllers and includes controller configuration features. The turn-based strategic gameplay translates well to controller input, making it suitable for couch gaming or Steam Deck play, though specific Steam Deck verification status wasn’t mentioned in available information.
Why Dice Fans Should Pay Attention
If you’re a tabletop RPG player who lives for that moment when you roll a natural 20, Die for the Lich captures that same dopamine hit in digital form. The game understands what makes dice exciting: they’re unpredictable, they create stories, and they reward calculated risks. But unlike actual tabletop sessions where a bad roll can ruin your night, Die for the Lich gives you tools to mitigate disaster through smart build crafting and strategic rerolling.
For deckbuilder fans tired of card-based mechanics, the dice system offers genuine novelty without sacrificing strategic depth. You’re still building a resource pool, creating synergies, and optimizing your approach. The dice just add that extra layer of push-your-luck excitement that makes every turn feel tense even when you’re ahead.
The $9 launch price during the discount period is low risk for potentially dozens of hours of entertainment. That 98% positive demo rating suggests the developers nailed the fundamentals, and Early Access should only improve the experience as content expands. If you enjoy roguelikes, deckbuilders, dice games, or gothic horror aesthetics, Die for the Lich deserves a spot on your wishlist at minimum.
The game built by Monovoid using the Godot Engine proves you don’t need AAA budgets to create compelling genre entries. Sometimes a focused vision, solid mechanics, and genuine passion for the subject matter beats massive production values. Die for the Lich looks like one of those rare indie gems that could become the next cult classic roguelike, and getting in during Early Access means being part of that journey from the beginning.