Dice With Death
" Addictive indie dicebuilding roguelike with strategic combos and risk, but limited content "
Dice With Death Review
Dice With Death is an early access roguelike dice game blending poker mechanics with risk management and strategic relic synergies. Players face Death in a series of escalating difficulty "circles," rolling dice to create combos that deal damage or trigger effects. The game features charming retro-style graphics and engaging dialogue with Death, adding a unique thematic touch.
Players praise the addictive core gameplay loop, the satisfying dice mechanics, and the potential for deep strategic builds through relics and dice combinations. However, the current content is limited with only two characters and a modest relic/dice pool, making runs feel short and sometimes repetitive. Balance issues and RNG-heavy moments can lead to frustrating losses, especially in higher difficulties where Death gains powerful abilities. The UI and feedback systems need refinement to improve clarity and pacing. The developer is active and responsive, with ongoing patches and plans for more content and features.
Highlights
Players appreciate the solid and addictive gameplay loop, where dice rolling and relic synergies create rewarding combos. The retro PS1/N64-inspired graphics and well-written dialogues with Death provide a distinct atmosphere. The game’s mechanics balance risk and player skill, allowing for meaningful choices despite RNG. Fans enjoy the thematic concept of "playing dice with Death" and find the incremental difficulty scaling engaging. The developer's responsiveness and frequent updates are also noted positively.
Criticisms
Common criticisms include limited content with only two playable characters and a small pool of relics and dice, leading to reduced replayability. The balance is uneven, with some relics and dice being overpowered while others feel useless, and Death’s late-game abilities sometimes making runs feel unfair. The RNG can be punishing, causing runs to end abruptly despite player skill. UI and feedback issues, such as unclear timing windows for item use and slow animations, detract from the experience. Players desire more depth, clearer mechanics, and longer runs or endless modes.
Pros
- • Addictive core gameplay loop with satisfying dice mechanics and combos.
- • Engaging and thematic dialogue with Death adds unique flavor.
- • Retro-style graphics evoke PS1/N64 nostalgia effectively.
- • Meaningful risk management and strategic relic synergies.
- • Developer is active, responsive, and frequently updates the game.
- • Variety of relics and dice create interesting builds and playstyles.
- • Difficulty scaling provides a challenging progression curve.
Cons
- • Limited content with only two characters and small item pool.
- • Balance issues favor certain relics and dice, limiting variety.
- • High RNG influence can lead to frustrating, unwinnable runs.
- • UI lacks clarity on item usage timing and dice effects.
- • Animations and pacing can feel slow and disrupt flow.
- • Runs may feel too short and repetitive without more content.
- • Death’s late-game abilities sometimes feel unfair or overwhelming.
Rating Criteria
Dice With Death is a Dicebuilding Roguelike – Unfortunately you have already died. Fortunately, Death is up for some friendly competition. Collect new dice and relics, create damage stacking combos, and even cheat Death himself to emerge victorious.