Death's Gambit

Death's Gambit is a side-scrolling action role-playing game featuring Soulslike and Metroidvania elements. The game is presented from a 2D perspective with a pixel art aesthetic.

Death's Gambit was developed by independent studio White Rabbit. The primary inspiration for the gameplay of Death's Gambit was Metroidvania games. The development team also wanted to integrate systems from games and series they enjoyed playing such as Castlevania, Dark Souls, and Shadow of the Colossus. Castlevania games were also an influence for game's art direction, as well as Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP.

The game was published by Adult Swim Games and was released for Windows and PlayStation 4 on 14 August 2018.

An expanded and revised edition of the game titled Death's Gambit: Afterlife was released on 30 September 2021 for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, and on 30 November 2021 for PlayStation 4, with a version for Xbox One currently in development.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-30 |title=Death's Gambit: Afterlife for PS4 now available |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/11/deaths-gambit-afterlife-for-ps4-now-available |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808050945/https://www.gematsu.com/2021/11/deaths-gambit-afterlife-for-ps4-now-available |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2022-01-25 |title=Death's Gambit: Afterlife coming to Xbox One this spring, DLC 'Ashes of Vados' announced |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/01/deaths-gambit-afterlife-coming-to-xbox-one-this-spring-dlc-ashes-of-vados-announced |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727180841/https://www.gematsu.com/2022/01/deaths-gambit-afterlife-coming-to-xbox-one-this-spring-dlc-ashes-of-vados-announced |url-status=live }} Afterlife featured new content including 10 new levels, over 30 weapons, 5 new bosses, and mechanical overhauls. White Rabbit released the expansion for free to new users upon receiving community feedback.

{{Video game reviews

| title=Death's Gambit

| MC = PC: 71/100
PS4: 72/100

| IGN = 6.7/10

| PCGUK = 67/100

| GSpot = 6/10{{Cite web|title=Death's Gambit Review - A Maddening Mission|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/deaths-gambit-review-a-maddening-mission/1900-6416965/|access-date=2021-01-10|website=GameSpot|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-01-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112105843/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/deaths-gambit-review-a-maddening-mission/1900-6416965/|url-status=live}}

}}

{{Video game reviews

| title = Death's Gambit: Afterlife

| MC = PC: 81/100
NS: 78/100

| Noisypixel = 9/10

| Fextralife = 7.9/10

}}

Death's Gambit received "mixed or average" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.{{Cite web|title=Death's Gambit|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/deaths-gambit/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|access-date=2021-01-10|website=Metacritic|language=en|archive-date=2021-03-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310062652/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/deaths-gambit|url-status=live}}

GameSpot's James Swinbanks praised the exploration and the story, but criticized the game's combat as being clunky. Writing for PC Gamer, Samuel Horti enjoyed the game's story, but disliked the stamina system. In a mixed review, Mike Epstein at IGN wrote, "Death’s Gambit is a very blunt attempt to fuse two beloved games, Dark Souls and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, into one challenging 2D action-platformer. Developer White Rabbit shows a strong understanding of what made each of them great but glosses over fundamentals that all great games need, such as responsive controls and an understandable game world, and falls short of its promise."

Death's Gambit: Afterlife received greater critical acclaim than the original game, with critics citing that the game made a number of quality additions and improvements to the base game while retaining its unique qualities.{{Cite web|url=https://toucharcade.com/2021/10/05/switcharcade-round-up-reviews-featuring-super-monkey-ball-and-hot-wheels-plus-the-latest-news-releases-and-sales/|title=SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring 'Super Monkey Ball' and 'Hot Wheels', Plus the Latest News, Releases, and Sales – TouchArcade|date=5 October 2021 |access-date=2021-10-07|archive-date=2021-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125220631/https://toucharcade.com/2021/10/05/switcharcade-round-up-reviews-featuring-super-monkey-ball-and-hot-wheels-plus-the-latest-news-releases-and-sales/|url-status=live}} Noisy Pixel reviewed the game positively, stating, "Death’s Gambit: Afterlife is the product of a dedicated team that wants to provide the best action experience possible. This revamped version offers plenty of new systems for returning fans and puts its best foot forward for new players. There’s great attention to balance in this soulslike Metroidvania that supplies enough challenging encounters and deep customization for all players to enjoy. It looks like the Afterlife ain’t so bad after all."{{Cite web|url = https://noisypixel.net/deaths-gambit-afterlife-review-pc-switch/|title = Death's Gambit: Afterlife Review - Noisy Pixel|date = 30 September 2021|access-date = 7 October 2021|archive-date = 7 October 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211007174333/https://noisypixel.net/deaths-gambit-afterlife-review-pc-switch/|url-status = live}}

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{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web | url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2018/08/25/deaths-gambit-review| title=Death's Gambit Review | work=IGN | first=Mike | last=Epstein | date=24 August 2018 | access-date=25 August 2018}}

{{cite web | url=https://noisypixel.net/deaths-gambit-afterlife-review-pc-switch/ | title=Death's Gambit: Afterlife Review – Relics of Undying Passion | work=Noisy Pixel | first=Henry | last=Yu | date=30 September 2021 | access-date=30 September 2021 | archive-date=30 September 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930164213/https://noisypixel.net/deaths-gambit-afterlife-review-pc-switch/ | url-status=live }}

{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6RmsFmd1Mk | title=Death's Gambit Afterlife Review: Is it Worth It? Should You Play it? Gameplay Impressions | work=Fextralife | date=30 September 2021 | access-date=7 October 2021 | archive-date=7 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007142722/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6RmsFmd1Mk | url-status=live }}

{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/deaths-gambit/critic-reviews/?platform=pc | title=Death's Gambit for PC Reviews | work=Metacritic | access-date=26 April 2020 | archive-date=21 July 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721163103/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/deaths-gambit | url-status=live }}

{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/deaths-gambit-afterlife/critic-reviews/?platform=pc | title=Death's Gambit Afterlife for PC Reviews | work=Metacritic | access-date=26 July 2022 | archive-date=27 July 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727182128/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/deaths-gambit-afterlife | url-status=live }}

{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/deaths-gambit-afterlife/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch | title=Death's Gambit: Afterlife for Nintendo Switch Reviews | work=Metacritic | access-date=7 October 2021 | archive-date=7 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007152356/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/deaths-gambit-afterlife | url-status=live }}

{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/deaths-gambit-afterlife/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch | title=Death's Gambit Afterlife for Switch Reviews | work=Metacritic | access-date=26 July 2022 | archive-date=30 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630003716/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/deaths-gambit-afterlife | url-status=live }}

{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/deaths-gambit/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 | title=Death's Gambit for PlayStation 4 Reviews | work=Metacritic | access-date=26 April 2020 | archive-date=1 February 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201044030/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/deaths-gambit | url-status=live }}

{{cite web | url=https://www.pcgamer.com/deaths-gambit-is-a-lush-2d-fantasy-rpg-releasing-this-month/ | title=Death's Gambit is a lush 2D fantasy RPG releasing this month | work=PC Gamer | first=Shaun | last=Prescott | date=2 August 2018 | access-date=25 August 2018 | archive-date=25 August 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825212530/https://www.pcgamer.com/deaths-gambit-is-a-lush-2d-fantasy-rpg-releasing-this-month/ | url-status=live }}

{{cite web | url=https://www.pcgamer.com/deaths-gambit-review/ | title=Death's Gambit review | work=PC Gamer | first=Samuel | last=Horti | date=22 August 2018 | access-date=25 August 2018 | archive-date=25 August 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825180120/https://www.pcgamer.com/deaths-gambit-review/ | url-status=live }}

{{cite web | url=https://blog.us.playstation.com/2018/07/17/breaking-down-death-and-other-features-in-deaths-gambit-out-august-14/ | title=Breaking Down Death and Other Features in Death's Gambit, Out August 14 | work=PlayStation Blog | first=Alex | last=Kubodera | date=17 July 2018 | access-date=25 August 2018 | archive-date=25 August 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825180431/https://blog.us.playstation.com/2018/07/17/breaking-down-death-and-other-features-in-deaths-gambit-out-august-14/ | url-status=live }}

{{cite web | url=http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2016/07/interview_uncovering_the_soul_and_giant_aspirations_behind_deathrs_gambit_on_ps4 | title=Interview: Uncovering the Soul and Giant Aspirations Behind Death's Gambit on PS4 | work=Push Square | first=Joey | last=Thurmond | date=29 July 2018 | access-date=25 August 2018 | archive-date=27 May 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527211958/http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2016/07/interview_uncovering_the_soul_and_giant_aspirations_behind_deathrs_gambit_on_ps4 | url-status=live }}

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• {{Official website|http://www.deathsgambit.com/}}

Category:2018 video games

Category:Adult Swim games

Category:Dark fantasy role-playing video games

Category:Fiction about matricide

Category:Indie games

Category:Metroidvania games

Category:Side-scrolling role-playing video games

Category:PlayStation 4 games

Category:Serenity Forge games

Category:Windows games