Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 83 | 78 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 93% | 87 | 737 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 94% | 88 | 247 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (May 4, 2026) · 247 reviews sampled · 230 total reviews in window · weighted 200.8 up / 13.1 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (39)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 90
“Death Howl provides healing to one of life’s most challenging experiences: the death of a close loved one. As Ro physically fights through this world, defeating monsters to save her son, many of her most important battles are emotional, as she wrestles with grief. While Death Howl leans heavily into its Soulslike difficulty, its chess-like tactics allow for countless possibilities. I logged about 56 hours completing quests and exploring the world, and I’m just short of that platinum trophy. You better believe I’ll be back to finish it and revel in the spirited strangeness of another world.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Death Howl stands out for its strategic depth and dark atmosphere, which are captivating, but the frustration that builds up during gameplay risks overshadowing much of its potential: despite the high-quality atmosphere and pixel art, the overall experience is often compromised by excessive difficulty and a lack of strategic variety, which turn the challenge into a test of endurance rather than a fun experience.”
read full review ↗ - 71
“An attractive and challenging deckbuilder featuring interesting strategic challenges, but that also feel very grindy and overly brutal”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Death Howl offers an innovative blend of card-building strategy and grid-based combat with a soulslike system in a dark, polished pixel art world. The game focuses on resource management and developing your deck using enemy souls, in a perilous journey that demands careful planning to survive and advance. An exceptional experience that breaks repetition and delivers a real challenge for strategy game fans.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Overall, Death Howl is a game whose world I truly enjoyed exploring, following its delicate and distinctive story told through a uniquely styled pixel-art aesthetic. In terms of gameplay, although I had some issues with the design of certain enemies and the somewhat slow progression, the turn-based battles, experimenting with different card combinations, and the sweet taste of victory after a genuinely tough fight create a refreshingly unique experience among card-based games. So, if you’re a fan of this genre and aren’t afraid of a good challenge, Death Howl is absolutely a worthwhile title for you.”
read full review ↗ - 90
- 90
“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.”
read full review ↗ - 84
“Death Howl is not holding your hand. It gives you a deck, drops you in a scary forest, and tells you to stay alive. And when you finally beat a tough fight by positioning yourself well and planning ahead, the feeling of joy is real.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Death Howl is an excellent and original soulslike deckbuilder, that's only mired by its pacing. Progression is sluggish, and the combat is so unforgiving that these challenges may dissuade some players. However, if players want that challenge and love turn-based card battlers, then it doesn't get better than this.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Death Howl is an original, creative game about grief, sorrow, and depression. You’ll feel it both in the story and in the combat, sometimes entirely through no fault of your own. Despite its challenges and occasional technical issues, the game leaves a strong impression and is worth experiencing for anyone looking for something different.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Death Howl is a challenging and rewarding adventure with a solid deckbuilding experience for players brave enough to stick it out. Ro’s gripping story of grief shines despite being part of an oversaturated genre, and the game’s deep strategy and unforgiving Soulslike elements make it feel truly brand-new.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Death Howl is a tough, atmospheric, and surprisingly emotional experience. Its blend of deckbuilding and tactical combat is clever and demanding, its visuals are hauntingly beautiful, and its story hits harder than you might expect from a game built around cards and grids. It’s not for everyone, the difficulty alone will put some players off, but if you enjoy games that challenge both your strategy and your resilience, it’s absolutely worth your time.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- REBIRTH and Custom Mode are Available Now!May 4, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Quick UpdateFeb 4, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.0.0.5Jan 26, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.0.0.3Dec 19, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- [Hotfix] - 1.0.0.2Dec 12, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Last Update Before Launch!Dec 5, 2025
- Development Update #2 - In-Depth Gameplay ShowcaseNov 5, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Development Update #1 - "Creek of Spectral Falls"Jun 3, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Death Howl Demo updateJan 23, 2025significant · resets scoring window