Have a Nice Death Reviews
Have a Nice Death is a punishing but satisfying roguelike with some extremely tough boss fights, but it could be a bit less stingy with long-term progression.
The game itself is beautiful and the battle mechanics feel great, but the deeper I dig into Have a Nice Death, the less value I find.
Have a Nice Death has enough of a fun gameplay loop and feels rewarding enough that I enjoyed returning for repeat runs. There are a few things that didn't quite work, like the more repetitive level design, some of the confusing stat numbers, and some of the repetitive humor, but Magic Design Studios has still put together a compelling roguelike. The combat is buttery smooth, the art style manages to be vibrant while retaining a dreary color scheme, and there are enough secrets to keep players engaged for the long haul. It might not be Employee of the Month when it comes to roguelikes, but Have a Nice Death is strong enough to warrant a positive employee evaluation.
A 2D action roguelite that offers plenty of fun combat encounters and also boasts a truly beautiful and inspired art direction that makes every moment spent in a game a joy to watch (and play). It's not without flaws, though, especially when it comes to its pacing and progression, and while combat is generally quite fun, many of the special abilities and spells are not really well balanced, which can sometimes make you feel like you rely a bit too much on the RNG factor to have a good run.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Have a Nice Death is a fantastic action Roguelike, with silky smooth combat and a ton of upgrades to experiment with.
Have a Nice Death is a gorgeous, weapon-filled adventure that could slice and dice its way to the top of the roguelike genre. Its almost ‘cutesy’ nature plays well against the sometimes dark themes it contains, but the vast array of weapon and spell combinations will be what draws and then keeps players within the walls of Death Inc. It has the rare ability to be enjoyable for both the high-difficulty, build-crafting RNG fans and the more casual crowd. Players will delight with its sublime art, memorable fights, and its well-crafted, lore-filled world. If someone has to be Death, Have a Nice Death is going to make it enjoyable.
However, there's a good, steady sense of progression, and elevators that take you to the end of each department alleviate some of the repetition. When you get on a good run and build yourself up with beneficial buffs and powerful attacks, the game starts to sing. There's definitely plenty to like about Have a Nice Death, but its flaws prevent it from reaching the heights of its contemporaries.
Have a Nice Death is not only this game's title, it's an interjection. It's the bully at the gaming playground. It's the ex that keeps coming back to your house to get their belongings, one thing at a time. You beat these types of games before, right? All of that is gone. Still a little buggy, but at it's price point, you'll have a hard time blaming the glitches, and spend more time telling yourself that you're not good at the game.
Despite having some of the best combat I have seen in a 2D game and loving the dark and dreary art style I just couldn’t vibe with Have a Nice Death the same way I have with other games in the genre like Hades. While there are a few weapons to try and some combos to create with curses, It just never reached the same heights as the latter did for me. I will say that the writing here is top notch, and the commentary on display whether on purpose or not was genuinely funny. While I may not have loved this game personally, I do think there is a lot here for others to love not the least of which is the jingle that plays when Death spawns back in his office after having to RIP (Rest In Paperwork).
Once again, we come to the important question: is this roguelike worth your time? That depends. Fans of the genre will appreciate the challenge level, the smooth combat, and the robust skill selection. Newcomers and outsiders will love the unique aesthetic and the high level of polish. On the other hand, this game is proper tough. If that’s what you’re looking for, great! You’re in luck. If you’ve been softened and spoiled by other, more considerate roguelikes, then consider yourself duly warned. Have A Nice Death is a slick, relentless roguelike with all the charm and challenge you could need.
Have a Nice Death is a beautiful example of rogue-lite. Fast, beautiful to look at and fun to play with. Furthermore, with his dark humour, he touches on delicate issues such as crunch, burnout and the problems of a society focused too much on work and little on the person. Have a Nice Death is a must-have for both those looking for a challenge and for those who want something light to play in their breaks and want to enjoy some nice animation.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A macabre roguelike with stunning visuals and incredibly solid, fast-paced combat.
Have a Nice Death may not reinvent the wheel for roguelites, but this is a high-quality new entry in the genre. The brutal difficulty, creative theming, and satisfying combat all combine to make this a memorable and worthwhile experience, even if we wish it had better performance. We'd recommend this to anyone looking for another extremely competent and humorous action roguelite to add to their collection, though with the caveat that you should only take the plunge into this underworld if you feel confident in the sharpness of your skills. There's a lot to love about Have a Nice Death, but as the name suggests, the bony hand of the reaper will be the only one holding yours.
Have a Nice Death has been steadily cranking out content for just over a year in Early Access, and there are some nice combat-related surprises in store for players, like the rare alternative bosses that sometimes pop up in departments you’d long since thought you had mastered. But there still seems to be barely enough variety here to compel players to find the secret ending, let alone to keep replaying on increasingly harder “breakdowns” (the game’s version of difficulties). Turns out, the game’s comic perversion of R.I.P. is truer than it knows. There’s no peace to be found in this endless depiction of Death’s toil, only (paper)work.
Here’s to hoping that Magic Design Studios gets the recognition it deserves for crafting one hell of an underworld experience and that it’ll be able to build upon it even more from here.
Have a Nice Death is an excellent Roguelite. The gameplay satisfies the refined palates, as well as those accustomed to challenges that are anything but forgiving.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Have a Nice Death should satisfy any player looking for a roguelike that excels at being more than merely competent. Bolstered by an incredible art style, accessible combat with a taste for encouraging lengthier and harder playthroughs sets Have a Nice Death firmly amongst the heaviest of competition.
All things considered, Have a Nice Death excels on just about all fronts as a roguelike. Playing as Death himself lets the player experience power with the sheer number of combinations spanning weapons and spells. The fact that these combinations allow for seamless chains of attacks is the icing on the leftover cake in the office fridge. Its charm and writing are fantastic, and I cannot help but want more from the world of Death Inc. Magic Design Studios' appreciation for a good roguelike is evident here, as I am struggling to stop playing this game. If you're looking for something incredibly refreshing to play while on the job, look no further than Have a Nice Death.
Difficulty spikes, no matter how steep, are fine in games of this ilk, but it's harder to forgive Have A Nice Death's approach to rewarding players. There is, however, so much joy in Have A Nice Death's gloriously grim setting that it's absolutely easy to recommend, but for roguelike players that prefer their rinse-and-repeat gaming a little more forgiving and, most importantly, rewarding, there are plenty of better options out there.