Death's Gambit
A 2D action RPG blending Soulslike and Metroidvania elements.
Death's Gambit is a 2D side-scrolling action role-playing game from developer White Rabbit, with publishing handled by Adult Swim Games. It launched on Windows and PlayStation 4 in August 2018. A significantly expanded version, Death's Gambit: Afterlife, followed in September 2021 for Windows and Nintendo Switch, then on PlayStation 4 in November 2021, and finally on Xbox One in May 2022.
The gameplay blends side-scrolling action with Soulslike and Metroidvania mechanics, presented in a pixel art style from a 2D perspective. White Rabbit, an independent studio, drew primary inspiration from Metroidvania titles, while also incorporating systems from games like Castlevania, Dark Souls, and Shadow of the Colossus. Castlevania and Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP influenced the game's art direction.
Death's Gambit: Afterlife added ten new levels, over thirty weapons, five new bosses, and mechanical overhauls. White Rabbit released this content for free to new users, responding to community feedback.
Upon its initial release, Death's Gambit received "mixed or average" reviews according to Metacritic. Critics praised its exploration and story but noted clunky combat and a problematic stamina system. IGN's Mike Epstein described it as a blunt fusion of Dark Souls and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night that understood its inspirations but fell short on fundamentals like responsive controls. Death's Gambit: Afterlife, however, earned greater critical acclaim, with reviewers highlighting its quality additions and improvements while preserving the original game's unique character.
- Developer
- White Rabbit
- Publisher
- Adult Swim Games
- Initial Release
- 14 August 2018
- Platforms
- Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
- Genre
- Side-scrolling action role-playing game with Soulslike and Metroidvania elements
- Notable Edition
- Death's Gambit: Afterlife (2021-2022)
Lore & Background
Death's Gambit was developed by independent studio White Rabbit, with primary inspiration from Metroidvania games. The team integrated systems from Castlevania, Dark Souls, and Shadow of the Colossus, while Castlevania and Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP influenced the art direction. The game was published by Adult Swim Games and released for Windows and PlayStation 4 on 14 August 2018.
An expanded and revised edition, Death's Gambit: Afterlife, was released on 30 September 2021 for Windows and Nintendo Switch, on 30 November 2021 for PlayStation 4, and later for Xbox One in May 2022. Afterlife added 10 new levels, over 30 weapons, 5 new bosses, and mechanical overhauls, and was offered for free to new users following community feedback.
The original game received mixed or average reviews, with critics praising exploration and story but criticizing clunky combat and the stamina system. Afterlife received greater critical acclaim for its quality additions and improvements while retaining the game's unique qualities.
Reader's Guide
Death's Gambit occupies a notable place in the indie action-RPG landscape as a deliberate fusion of Dark Souls and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Its 2D pixel-art presentation and Soulslike mechanics—such as stamina management and challenging combat—attracted a dedicated audience, though the original release was criticized for clunky controls and an unclear game world. The expanded edition, Death's Gambit: Afterlife, addressed many of these issues by adding substantial new content and mechanical overhauls, leading to improved critical reception. The game's significance lies in its attempt to blend two beloved genres and its responsiveness to community feedback, which resulted in a free expansion that revitalized the title. Its legacy is that of a flawed but ambitious indie title that evolved into a more polished experience, demonstrating the value of post-launch support and iterative design in the indie game space.
Did You Know?
- Death's Gambit was developed by independent studio White Rabbit and published by Adult Swim Games.
- The game's art direction was influenced by Castlevania and Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP.
- Death's Gambit: Afterlife added 10 new levels, over 30 weapons, and 5 new bosses.
- The Afterlife expansion was released for free to new users after community feedback.
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