Cheat Death

After 1 hour of playing I am addicted. Didn't play the demo prior but the small preview video enticed me with the premise and atmosphere. While death may be inevitable, it does come for us all in the end, trying to figure out how to circumvent that is indeed a lot of fun. Feels like there is a lot more to discover and I cannot wait!

Great game, played hour straight then got distracted by kids and wife. can recommend. Honest work, I can feel indie soul

[b]Highly recommended for fans of Inscryption and anyone who enjoys unique card roguelikes with a strong atmosphere.[/b] Damn.. this one has this amazing “one more run” feeling. I only played a short while, but this game already managed to hook me completely. It has that rare feeling where you start a run and suddenly realize you’ve spent way more time than planned. The atmosphere is what sold me the most, it gave me strong Inscryption vibes. Big respect to the developer for making something with its own identity. I hope it gets more updates and content in the future because it really deserves it!

Completely bounced of it. Fundamentally, the gameplay of dice poker just isn't interesting enough. Black Jacket fared a lot better because Blackjack offers more interesting gameplay, and in that game you could actually build a deck. Here, all I have done is roll dice. Of course, I have only played for one hour, but that's how little time it took for me to get bored. At least there are people who seem to be enjoyed it, but sadly I am not one of those people.

Excellent game! Has just the right amount of risk/reward throughout a run to keep you thinking and planning. Really interesting synergies between the different items and even a story which at this price point you don't often see. Great work devs, congrats!

I do like it but its biggest flaw it definitely its budget. Inscryption but with dice is a great premise and the gameplay is executed well enough, but it's missing a level of polish that it could have benefited from. I either think it needed voice acting or a lot more going on visually (like Inscryption) for the story and vibe. And the gameplay could use more flourishes. Still, it's worth the entry price and it's definitely not slop. The devs got the assignment and delivered the best product they could have.

смесь инскрипшена и балатро - 9 на 10 если бы запихнул сюда нойту то было бы 10 на 10

A fun and entertaining game! The art style is fairly distinct, especially in the department of Deaths design. I find the 'faces' Death makes in boss battles amusing, and an interesting way to give the otherwise (mostly) faceless opponent to have some more expression. Its a fairly easy game to learn, but takes some time to master as each 'Aspect' has distinct abilities and Boons that change your playstyle, and like any roguelike you need to be adaptable because you may not always get the boons needed for a preferred playstyle The multiple endings help add to replayability for the game, and unlocking the story with each successful run is a nice reward for victory. Meeting the different spirits and demons and deciding their fate is a fun little challenge as well. Overall, ive enjoyed the game! I intend to go back through later on and do all the endings, but currently in my save where Ive completed the story, its a nice little game I can open up to kill time and just go for a high score. Overall, if you like the roguelite genre, and playing a game where the whole concept is 'who can cheat harder'? Absolutely check this game out. Good art, good sound design, neat stories and events. And character aspects you unlock that work with a variety of playstyles. I have enjoyed my time spent with this game! And breaking it. I did a significant amount of breaking it lol Literally the only negative I have? A hard mode might be a fun later addition. As it stands, once you have a few good upgrades and play smart? Theres not a lot to threaten your run. A mode with increased damage taken/limits decision choices might be neat, but that isnt easy to just implement put of the blue lol. But as it stands its still a very enjoyable gaming experience!

Simply put, it's fine. As a roguelike, though, it leaves a lot to be desired. The Inscryption inspiration is cool, but fundamentally the game has no replayability. no sauce. I've played it for about 30 minutes, and nothing has inspired me to keep going, unfortunately. I wish the boons weren't so flat, and the permanent unlocks were more interesting. As it stands, it just isn't that fun. It feels like asking someone who doesn't play roguelikes to make a roguelike purely from memory. I know it's a bit of a meme to quote this, but it perfectly describes how this game feels: it has everything, it just needs a little more sauce. As much as I hate doing this, let's use some popular roguelikes as a reference. Take Balatro, for example. The way its multipliers stack and interact completely changes how each run plays. If the boons in this game had more dynamic synergies and interactions, this game would be so much better. The bosses are there, and so are the challenges, but there's never that moment where you feel like you've completely broken the game. "Cheat Death," as the game says, doesn't feel that cheaty. Also, it didn't save my run from the last session (not sure if this is a bug or intended). For some reason, I was sent back to the very start of the game, which kind of put me off playing it. Maybe a saves feature would be nice?

Cheat Death, developed by GG Studio and published by Polden Publishing, takes a familiar roguelite formula and reshapes it into a dark game of survival where the player sits across from Death itself. Rather than fighting enemies with swords or firearms, the game places its faith in poker hands, cursed dice, and the constant temptation to manipulate fate. Its premise is simple yet highly effective: every match is a wager against oblivion, and every victory is another opportunity to postpone the inevitable. From the moment the Grim Reaper welcomes players to his table, Cheat Death establishes a distinctive identity that combines horror aesthetics with strategic gameplay. At the heart of the experience is an inventive dice-building system inspired by poker. Players collect and upgrade an assortment of dice, each carrying special traits that can significantly alter the outcome of a run. Building powerful combinations becomes the primary objective, and the game succeeds in making experimentation rewarding. A seemingly weak die may become invaluable when paired with the right relic or boon, encouraging players to constantly rethink their approach. The roguelite structure ensures that adaptability is essential, creating a satisfying loop of learning, failing, and returning with a deeper understanding of the game's systems. What makes Cheat Death particularly memorable is its embrace of dishonesty as a gameplay mechanic. This is not a fair contest, and the game makes that abundantly clear. Death bends the rules whenever possible, and players are expected to respond in kind. Various items and abilities allow players to manipulate outcomes, protect valuable hands, or sabotage their opponent's plans. This focus on cheating transforms each encounter into a psychological battle rather than a straightforward numbers game. It is an unusual design choice, but one that perfectly complements the title and overall theme. The game's additional activities, including roulette-inspired events and other chance-based diversions, help break up the pacing between major encounters. These sequences reinforce the central idea that survival is tied to risk management. Success is rarely determined by luck alone; players who understand when to take chances and when to play conservatively are far more likely to endure. By introducing these side activities, Cheat Death prevents its primary mechanics from becoming repetitive and keeps every run feeling unpredictable. Visually, the game leans heavily into its grim atmosphere. The isolated setting, unsettling presentation, and constant presence of the Grim Reaper contribute to an experience that feels oppressive in the best possible way. Its first-person perspective adds intimacy to each confrontation, making every loss feel personal. While it shares certain thematic similarities with other horror-inspired tabletop games, Cheat Death ultimately distinguishes itself through its focus on dice manipulation and the tension created by wagering one's existence. The soundtrack and visual effects further enhance the mood, creating a sense of dread that persists throughout each session. Replayability is another area where the game performs well. Multiple heroes, unlockable upgrades, and a wide range of build possibilities provide strong incentives to return after each defeat. The progression system gives players a sense of momentum without undermining the challenge, while the randomized nature of individual runs keeps strategies from becoming stale. GG Studio has clearly designed Cheat Death with longevity in mind, ensuring that players continue uncovering new combinations and tactics long after their first successful run. Cheat Death is an excellent example of how combining familiar mechanics with a strong thematic vision can produce something genuinely engaging. It understands the appeal of roguelites while introducing enough original ideas to avoid feeling derivative. Its blend of poker strategy, chance manipulation, horror elements, and replayable progression creates a uniquely tense experience that consistently rewards experimentation. Although players who prefer fully deterministic games may struggle with its reliance on probability, those willing to embrace uncertainty will find a compelling battle against fate itself. Rating: 7/10