Death Howl
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Death Howl Media
Death Howl | Date Reveal Trailer
Death Howl | Gameplay Trailer
Death Howl | Announcement Trailer
Critic Reviews for Death Howl
Death Howl is a complex, yet easy-to-get-into deck builder that utilizes a slick, stylish mix of Soulslike gameplay systems and card-based combat. The world and story are breathtaking, with outstanding pixel art and ominous, subtle sound design. Combat feels excellent, but if RNG and dying a lot in games isn't your idea of a good time, it may not win you over in that regard.
Death Howl has a strong central theme to it, the cards are well made, and there's a decent variety to build out decks. But it is also a game that can require a lot of repetitive grinding to make small amounts of progress, and the quests could have been better designed.
Though I felt the game’s progression system was somewhat flawed, Death Howl still managed to impress me thoroughly with its incredible storytelling, art, and unique blend of genres, creating something utterly unique and highly memorable.
Death Howl is one of 2025's best games, mixing Soulslike and Deck builders into something I never knew I needed so badly.
Death Howl blends Soulslike brutality with deckbuilding and roguelike progression in a way that swallowed me whole, delivering challenging and thought-provoking gameplay wrapped in The Outer Zone's now signature crunchy pixel art and moody color palette. What ultimately makes it shine is its aesthetic: a grimy fusion of SNES-era pixels and atmospheric horror where every sound, creature, and environment reinforces a world that's disgusting, beautiful, and unforgettable. It can be a little tricky to follow along with the narrative, and some aspects felt a bit too slow for my liking, but all-in-all, this is a genre-splice that comes off without a hitch.
Can a Deck-Builder really be considered a Souls-like? The short answer is yes and Death Howl is all the proof you need. It exudes confidence with a dark, gripping thirty-hour narrative, infused with tactical gameplay that felt reminiscent of Into The Breach that it doesn’t need to rely on roguelike elements, as the deckbuilding genre often does. If Death Howl must be labeled as a deckbuilder, it’s one of the best there is and belongs alongside other genre titans like Slay The Spire, Balatro and Inscryption.
By combining elements from seemingly very different genres and focusing on narrative as the guiding thread for the journey, Death Howl proves to be a deckbuilder that is as original as it is captivating. Although its high difficulty may be daunting at first, it is worth embarking on this melancholic journey through the afterlife and the power of maternal love.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
