We Who Are About To Die

We Who Are About To Die is a gladiator-themed roguelike combat simulator that has evolved significantly over time, largely thanks to the dedication of its solo developer. Players praise its dynamic, physics-based combat system which requires skillful timing and strategy, offering a satisfying challenge reminiscent of Mount & Blade's arena fights. The game features a meaningful progression system involving character upgrades, patron favor, and gear management, with roguelike elements ensuring replayability through permadeath and legacy mechanics.

Graphically, it presents a mixed bag: while environments and overall aesthetics receive positive remarks, close-up character details and animations sometimes feel janky or outdated. The UI and controls have improved but still face occasional clunkiness. Despite some bugs and balancing issues, frequent updates and active developer communication have steadily enhanced the game, making it a rewarding experience especially for players interested in medieval gladiatorial combat and roguelikes.

Highlights

Players consistently praise the engaging physics-based combat that feels both challenging and rewarding once mastered. The game's deep progression and roguelike mechanics add significant replay value, encouraging multiple runs with evolving strategies. The developer's active support and regular content updates have been widely appreciated, improving gameplay and adding polish. Visually, the arena environments and overall aesthetic receive positive feedback for creating an immersive gladiator atmosphere. Fans of Mount & Blade-style combat find this game a satisfying and unique take in the genre.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the combat's occasional jankiness and animation glitches, which can disrupt immersion and fluidity. The AI behavior is sometimes seen as lacking aggression, making fights less challenging than desired. The favor system and roguelike progression are considered underdeveloped, with some players wanting more impactful and varied upgrades. UI and controller support have been described as clunky or unintuitive at times. Additionally, some players feel the game could benefit from better optimization and graphical polish, especially on character models and close-up details. A few technical issues like save corruption and input drops have also been reported.