Death Howl is not your typical deckbuilder. It is not your typical soulslike either. It is something that lives in the space between genres, refusing to be easily categorized. Developed by The Outer Zone and published by 11 Bit Studios, this game arrived in December 2025 and immediately split critics down the middle. Some call it a masterpiece. Others struggle with its pacing. Everyone agrees it is unforgettable.
The premise hits hard. You play as Ro, a hunter from a small tribe who loses her son. Guided by mysterious voices, she descends into the spirit realm to bring him back. This is a game about grief, healing, and the lengths a parent will go to defy death itself.
What Is Death Howl
At its core, Death Howl is a turn-based deckbuilder with soulslike elements. Combat plays out on a grid where every action costs energy. You draw five cards each turn and have five energy pips to spend. Cards deal damage, grant armor, draw more cards, or enhance other effects. If you have played Slay the Spire, the basics will feel familiar.
But Death Howl adds layers. Movement costs energy. Positioning matters. Enemy attack ranges create tactical puzzles. Defeated enemies release Death Howls, a currency you spend to unlock progression and craft new cards. Checkpoints reset enemy spawns, creating that classic soulslike loop of learning, dying, and improving.
The game blends these mechanics with a heavy narrative focus rarely seen in deckbuilders. This is not just about building the perfect combo. It is about a mother’s journey through sorrow.
Story and Atmosphere: Grief in Pixel Form
Death Howl tells its story through environmental details, item descriptions, and haunting encounters. The pixel art style might seem retro at first glance, but it carries surprising emotional weight. Every screen oozes atmosphere. The sound design deserves special mention – subtle, eerie, and constantly unsettling.
The narrative follows Ro as she navigates the Meadows of Illusion and other spirit realms. She collects shamanic totems, crafts powerful cards, and uncovers forgotten tales that shape her path. The writing avoids heavy-handed exposition, letting players piece together the story through gameplay.
Some critics found the storytelling hard to follow. Others praised its subtlety. The game demands patience and attention, rewarding those who immerse themselves in its world.
Combat: Where Cards Meet Souls
The combat system shines when everything clicks. You juggle movement, ranged and melee attacks, enemy positioning, and card synergies. Each fight becomes a puzzle where the solution changes based on your deck and the enemies you face.
Death Howl understands what makes From Software’s games compelling. The loop of reaching a sanctuary, facing tough enemies, grinding for specific gear, and learning attack patterns feels satisfying. Checkpoints are spaced to create tension without feeling unfair.
The deckbuilding element adds strategic depth. You craft cards, build synergies, and adapt your strategy to different biomes and enemy types. The game offers plenty of room for experimentation, and discovering powerful combos feels great.
However, some reviewers noted issues with enemy design and progression speed. The grinding can feel repetitive, and certain enemies lack the tactical variety needed to keep combat fresh across long sessions.
Visual Style and Presentation
The pixel graphics in Death Howl are stunning. The Outer Zone has created a world that feels both nostalgic and fresh. The SNES-style aesthetic clashes beautifully with the dark themes, creating something that looks like a lost classic from an alternate timeline.
Each biome has a distinct personality. The Meadows of Illusion biome features ethereal landscapes and ghostly enemies. The pixel art conveys emotion through subtle animations and detailed backgrounds. This is not retro for retro’s sake. It is a deliberate artistic choice that serves the story.
The UI can feel cluttered during intense battles. With cards, energy counters, enemy intents, and grid positioning all vying for attention, information overload becomes a real issue. The game could benefit from better visual hierarchy.
What Critics Are Saying
Review scores for Death Howl span a wide range, reflecting the game’s polarizing nature. Here is how major outlets rated it:
| Publication | Score | Key Quote |
|---|---|---|
| DualShockers | 9.5/10 | “Sophisticated yet accessible deck builder” |
| The GameSlayer | 9/10 | “Seamlessly combines brutality of Soulslike mechanics” |
| Try Hard Guides | 9/10 | “Exceptional storytelling and art style” |
| Screen Hype | 7.5/10 | “Boldly intertwines grief-driven storytelling” |
| Sixth | 6/10 | “Demands considerable repetitive grinding” |
Pros and Cons
What Works
- Unique genre fusion that feels fresh
- Stunning pixel art with genuine atmosphere
- Grief-driven narrative adds emotional weight
- Satisfying deckbuilding with deep synergies
- Effective soulslike loop of challenge and reward
- Rewarding difficulty curve that teaches through failure
- Haunting sound design enhances immersion
What Needs Work
- Steep learning curve with minimal tutorial
- Pacing can feel sluggish between major story beats
- Some enemy designs lack tactical variety
- Progression system requires repetitive grinding
- On-screen chaos can overwhelm during complex fights
- Narrative elements may be too subtle for some players
- Quest design occasionally feels unfocused
Difficulty and Accessibility
Death Howl does not hold your hand. The lack of a comprehensive tutorial means you learn by doing, dying, and experimenting. This approach will alienate some players. Those who stick with it find a rewarding experience where each victory feels earned.
The game demands tactical thinking and adaptability. Randomness in card draws can create frustrating moments, but the sanctuary system lets you retreat, regroup, and try new strategies. The difficulty scales through enemy variety rather than raw stat increases, which keeps encounters interesting.
Accessibility options are limited. The pixel art style and dark color palette may cause issues for players with visual impairments. The game could benefit from colorblind modes and UI scaling options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Death Howl?
The main story runs 15-20 hours, but completionists can spend 30+ hours unlocking all cards and secrets. The roguelike elements add replayability.
Is Death Howl a roguelike?
It has roguelike elements but is not a pure roguelike. Checkpoints and sanctuaries provide permanent progression, while death resets your current run.
Do I need to like soulslike games to enjoy Death Howl?
Not necessarily. The soulslike elements are more about the loop and challenge than precise timing. Deckbuilding fans who enjoy strategic difficulty will feel at home.
Can I customize my deck?
Yes. The crafting system lets you create custom cards, and you can build multiple decks for different situations. Experimentation is encouraged.
Is the story hard to follow?
It can be. The narrative is subtle and environmental. Players who want clear-cut storytelling may struggle, but those who enjoy piecing together lore will find it rewarding.
What makes Death Howl different from Slay the Spire?
The soulslike elements, grid-based combat, and heavy narrative focus set it apart. It is less about climbing a spire and more about journeying through a haunting world.
Will Death Howl get post-launch content?
11 Bit Studios has not announced DLC plans yet, but the game’s structure could support additional biomes and cards. The base game offers substantial content.
Final Verdict
Death Howl is a flawed masterpiece. It combines genres in ways that feel fresh while stumbling over pacing and accessibility. The pixel art and atmosphere create an unforgettable world, but the learning curve will deter some players.
If you enjoy deckbuilders and want something that treats its story seriously, Death Howl delivers. If you love soulslike games and want to see that challenge translated into cards, this game succeeds. If you prefer clear tutorials and steady progression, you might bounce off it.
The game demands patience and rewards persistence. Its best moments come when you are deep in a run, your deck is humming, and you have mastered a biome that once seemed impossible. Those moments make the early frustrations worth it.
Death Howl is not for everyone, but for the right player, it is essential. It proves that indie developers can take big swings and connect, even if the bat cracks a little on impact.