Have a Nice Death is a fast-paced, hand-drawn action roguelike that blends sharp satire with fluid combat, offering a beautifully macabre vision of the afterlife that’s equal parts whimsical and punishing. Developed by Magic Design Studios, the game places players in the role of Death himself—burnt out, bureaucratically overworked, and disrespected by his unruly underlings. The narrative premise is as humorous as it is dark: in an effort to automate the soul-harvesting process, Death’s employees (the Sorrows) have run amok, tipping the balance of the afterlife and forcing their reluctant CEO to take up the scythe once more.
At the heart of Have a Nice Death is its combat, which is fast, flashy, and built on precise movement. The game is structured like a traditional roguelike, with procedurally generated runs, randomized power-ups, and increasingly difficult enemies as you climb the corporate tower of Death Inc. The combat is surprisingly deep and satisfying, feeling more akin to Dead Cells or Hollow Knight than many of its roguelike peers. Death is armed with his signature scythe, but the arsenal expands dramatically over the course of each run—secondary weapons, magical curses, and unique artifacts modify your loadout in meaningful ways. Learning how to chain attacks, dash through danger, and combo your skills together becomes essential as the game throws increasingly complex enemy types and brutal boss fights your way.
The real star of the game is its visual design. Every frame is lovingly animated with an eerie, gothic cartoon style that brings to mind Tim Burton’s aesthetic but filtered through a sleek, modern lens. Environments are diverse and delightfully themed—each department of Death Inc. represents a different facet of modern mortal misery, from pollution to overconsumption. These departments are not only visually distinct but filled with imaginative enemies and hazards that reflect their themes in clever ways. There’s a sense of personality infused in every character and backdrop, and the game’s humor—dry, sardonic, and self-aware—gives it an identity that feels unique among its contemporaries.
Narrative elements are presented through occasional cutscenes, in-game dialogue, and clever background storytelling. While the plot doesn’t take center stage, it provides enough flavor and progression to give context to the chaos. Death’s interactions with his employees—especially in the office hub between runs—add a layer of charm and worldbuilding. Whether you're chatting with the grimly enthusiastic HR manager or bartering with the witch-like shopkeeper for better gear, these moments help flesh out a world that could’ve easily relied on aesthetics alone. The corporate satire—complete with reports, performance reviews, and memos—is biting but never overbearing, and it supports the gameplay rather than distracting from it.
As a roguelike, Have a Nice Death leans into its genre’s strengths and frustrations. The variety in builds and loadouts offers strong replayability, and there's genuine excitement in discovering synergies between curses, weapons, and upgrades. However, as with many roguelikes, the randomness can lead to wildly inconsistent runs. Some builds feel overpowered, while others feel underwhelming or poorly suited to certain bosses. This inconsistency, paired with the game’s relatively steep difficulty curve, may be off-putting for players looking for a more forgiving or balanced experience. Dying and restarting is part of the loop, but some players may find the lack of persistent progression early on discouraging.
Progression systems are present, but they unfold slowly. You can unlock new weapons, spells, and upgrades by collecting currency during runs, and the hub world allows for some light customization. Still, it takes time before you feel that your efforts are significantly improving your chances. That said, mastery of the mechanics tends to reward skill far more than passive upgrades, and those who invest time in learning enemy patterns and movement will find themselves improving organically, even without powerful tools.
One of the most polished elements of the game is its soundtrack, which pairs beautifully with the tone and pacing. Each area features its own atmospheric tracks, ranging from hauntingly ambient melodies to more intense battle scores that elevate boss fights. The music never overpowers the action but always complements it, reinforcing the dark yet playful mood that defines the game’s identity.
Have a Nice Death ultimately succeeds by offering a tightly designed, aesthetically rich roguelike experience with razor-sharp gameplay and a distinctive voice. It’s not the easiest game to dive into—the learning curve is steep, the early progression slow, and the roguelike randomness occasionally frustrating—but for those willing to persevere, it offers one of the most stylish and satisfying entries in the genre in recent years. Its mix of dark humor, stunning animation, and demanding combat creates a rhythm that, once it clicks, becomes difficult to put down. For fans of action roguelikes who appreciate elegance, challenge, and a touch of the absurd, it’s a hell of a good time.
Rating: 8/10
