No game has raised my love for a genre back from the dead like Dragon is dead. From the gorgeous art style, simple yet brilliant gameplay, and engaging plot, this one has the makings of a game of the year.
Developed by TeamSuneat and published by PM Studios, Inc., Dragon is Dead is a hack-and-slash, roguelite action platformer with equipment collection and a deeply threaded storyline.
I don’t want to say it as there are still five months + eight days till the end of the year, but Dragon is Dead is my game of the year. No one who dares calls themselves a gamer could pass up the downright brilliance at play in this Hack and Slash roguelite.
Old Dragon to New Dragon!
I could go on forever, describing the gameplay of Dragon is Dead. The sheer brilliance on display by taking advantage of the simple concepts of 2d combat and optimising them to the extreme.
Let’s set the scene:
You start with a single attack and the ability to dash. The attack does fair damage, and the dash leaves you invincible for the quarter-second it takes to finish the animation. As you continue the game, you get Magical artefacts, Skill tokens, and Equipment. Each thing needs to be managed to progress.
There is an overhanging plot that grips you with dialogue boxes and details character models. Once you die, you return to the start of the game, but the story progression remains intact.
Magical Artifacts
The magical artefacts, or Runes as the game calls them, are special upgrades that you receive as you progress through your run. These can increase damage, health, speed, etc. You can only have a limited amount of these, and you lose them when you die.
Orbs
The orbs offer similar upgrades to the Runes but are less powerful. However, you can collect an unlimited number of them throughout each turn. You lose them when you die.
Skill Tokens
There is a skill tree in this game. It is not big, only four levels with branches on both sides. These allow you to give yourself new powers and moves that can be used alongside your normal attack. As you find more and more of these tokens, you add new or improve existing skills.
You can stack up to 5 skills and use them based on your needs. These skills either take mana or have timed uses. These also reset after each death.
Equipment
Finally, there is the equipment. A simple borderland-esque case of gear grinding non-stop search for higher numbers. Dragon is Dead’s simple decision to make the gear the only thing that does not go away after death instantly creates a system where each run is much stronger than the last one.
I played this game with both a Keyboard and a controller and can safely say that both options were perfect. So it came down to preference.
Dragon is Dead: Story
The story of the game follows you, the successor, as you battle through hordes of undead monsters and beasts, clawing your way through the danger. You are an immortal being who is the only chance the world has to defeat this evil.
With the help of a large and ever-growing cast of helpers, you charge enemy after enemy to finally defeat the big boss.
And Yes! This game actually has an ending!
Dragon is Dead is Bloody Awesome!
With a controller in one hand and admiration in the other. Dragon is Dead isn’t just another roguelite; it’s a revival, a love letter, and a showcase of what passion in game design can still achieve.
With each death, you rise stronger. With every run, you’re pulled deeper. Whether it’s the tightly tuned combat, the rewarding progression, or the gripping narrative, this is a game that gets it. If you’ve been waiting for something to reignite your love for action platformers, this is your call to arms. Trust me, this Dragon is Dead is your next obsession.
