A roguelite where you play Death amid an office crisis, in gorgeous hand-drawn animation from Motion Twin. The scythe combat is a joy, even if the difficulty climbs fast. Stylish and gleefully grim throughout.
Your verdict
Category
Roguelike1 player12+
Description
Death, the overworked boss of a reaping corporation, descends through his own offices to quell a revolt. Published by Gearbox, released worldwide in 2023. Dungeons rebuilt each run, combat scythes and a deadly arsenal, reorderable floors, a hand-drawn gothic aesthetic.
Have a Nice Death review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Nervy black inking lifted by touches of colour, for a Death's office full of macabre humour: angular silhouettes, expressive animation and elegant gothic sets. This hand-drawn line, instantly identifiable, gives the roguelike the cachet of a biting comic strip.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Chaining remarkably fluid fights while playing Death himself in an existential crisis is as stylish as it is sharp. Macabre humour seeps into every room, weapon and foe without ever weighing the action down. Short, punchy runs, a gorgeous art direction and lasting upgrades keep begging for one more attempt.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Playing Death taking his disorganized company back in hand, floor after floor, gives this action roguelite a funny, motivating throughline. The scythe-weapons with varied handling, the upgrades chosen along the way and the departments to reclaim sustain a loop where every attempt brings a discovery. Dying sends you back to the office, but you set off again better equipped right away, which makes "one more" feel natural. The hand-drawn style and dark humour keep it endearing today. A point to watch: the rising difficulty can stretch sessions when you fixate on a single floor.
A rogue-lite casting you as Death itself, this title turns your scythe against Sorrows bent on breaking your reaping streak. Each foe imposes a sequence of phases and patterns to learn run after run, in a ballet of dodges and well-placed blows. An elegant gothic look and dark humor dress demanding duels where mastery rules.
Is Have a Nice Death still worth playing in 2026?
Have a Nice Death leans fully into style, and its hand-drawn gothic art direction, all nervous black and white, is its finest achievement. Playing Death as an overworked boss descending to quell a revolt in his own offices gives a tasty frame. As a game, it is a competent action roguelike with a biting scythe and varied weapons, but it struggles to stand out in a crowded genre. The difficulty is sometimes harsh, the progression a touch repetitive. Lovely to look at and smooth in hand, it wins more on panache than on pure innovation.
