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Death Howl

Death Howl

PCPlayStationXboxNintendo
Released

Release Date: December 9, 2025

RPG, Turn-based, Isometric View, 2D, Card Games, Indie Games, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Singleplayer, PC Game Pass

A card game with an isometric view. In Death Howl we play as a huntress travelling through the nordic Stone Age kingdom and hoping to resurrect her dead son. The game allows us to craft our own cards and compose our own deck. We can then participate in turn-based battles with both standard enemies & bosses.

8.3

OpenCritic

9.2

Steam

Rate It!
Ratings
[2:03] - Launch Trailer Videos: 5
Screenshot Images: 12
Screenshot
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Screenshot

Death Howl is a card game where a tale of sorrow is combined with tactical battles. The development of this game was done by the independent Danish team The Outer Zone (creators of Mind Scanners), while its release was handled by the Polish company 11 bit studios.

Story

The action of Death Howl takes place in a Nordic kingdom inspired by the Stone Age. The main character of the story told here is Ro, a huntress from a small tribe. The protagonist embarks on a journey to the land of spirits to find a way to resurrect her deceased son.

The story focuses on such themes as love, loss, sadness, and acceptance. As we progress, we not only learn more parts of the story, but also find out more about the land of spirits.

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Platforms:

PC Windows

PC Windows December 9, 2025

Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch February 19, 2026

PlayStation 5

PlayStation 5 February 19, 2026

Xbox Series X/S

Xbox Series X/S February 19, 2026

Developer: The Outer Zone

Publisher: 11 bit studios

Age restrictions: 16+

Features

Originals

December 2, 2025

Games of December 2025. We end the year with two Japanese gems and an old-school platformer

2025 can be considered a rather successful year, although December is not particularly exciting. It's calm and cozy, but without fireworks. It's the perfect time to catch up on your backlog!

Games of December 2025. We end the year with two Japanese gems and an old-school platformer
Games of December 2025. We end the year with two Japanese gems and an old-school platformer

News

3 games on Xbox Game Pass. Among the biggest 2025's surprise is a new release from 11 bit studios and a mining action game

3 games on Xbox Game Pass. Among the biggest 2025's surprise is a new release from 11 bit studios and a mining action game

Today, Xbox and PC Game Pass subscribers can check out three new titles. After all, A Game About Digging a Hole and Dome Keeper are launching on consoles, while Death Howl, published by 11 bit studios, is releasing on PC.

video games

Christian Pieniazek

December 9, 2025

3 games on Xbox Game Pass. Among the biggest 2025's surprise is a new release from 11 bit studios and a mining action game

System Requirements

System Requirements for Death Howl Video Game:

PC Windows

PC / Windows

Minimum System Requirements:
Quad Core 3.2 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 960 / Radeon RX 570, 2 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Recommended System Requirements:
Quad Core 3.2 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 6 GB GeForce GTX 1060 / 4 GB Radeon RX 6500 XT, 2 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Ratings

Game Ratings for Death Howl Video Game.

8.3

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 91% of Critics. There are 20 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

Thumb Culture: 4 / 5

Death Howls stands out from today’s crowded space of indie soulslikes with its unique mix of deck-based, turn-based, grid-locked combat. Its oppressive darkness, pixelated Nordic tribal aesthetic, and an incredibly well-accomplished audio all blend together in perfect harmony to create an atmosphere that pulls you into its weird, mysterious, and creepy spirit world. It does fall into a repetitive loop as you farm lesser spirits for upgrades, rather early on in the game. But overall, the game had a level of difficulty and a layer of complexity, both in story and gameplay, that really lured me in. For lovers of the pixel-heavy soulslike / soulslite genre, I definitely recommend this game. It is as challenging as it is rewarding. With that I award Death Howl with the Thumb Culture Gold Award.

Full Review

Try Hard Guides: 9 / 10 by Erik Hodges

Though I felt the game’s progression system was somewhat flawed, Death Howl still managed to impress me thoroughly with its incredible storytelling, art, and unique blend of genres, creating something utterly unique and highly memorable.

Full Review

PCMag: 4.5 / 5

Quote not yet available

Full Review
92%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (667)

STEAM
User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

  • Art and Atmosphere: The pixel art is consistently praised for its beauty and atmospheric quality, creating a unique and immersive experience. The visuals are complemented by a haunting and engaging soundtrack.
  • Gameplay Mechanics: The combination of deck-building and tactical grid-based combat is well-received. Players appreciate the strategic depth and the opportunity to experiment with different card combinations and playstyles.
  • Engaging Story: The narrative centered around grief and loss resonates with many players, adding emotional weight to the gameplay. The story is considered compelling and meaningful.
  • Challenge and Difficulty: The game is noted for its challenging gameplay that requires players to adapt and refine their strategies, which many find rewarding.
  • Variety and Replayability: The game features multiple regions, each with unique cards and mechanics, encouraging players to build different decks and strategies as they progress.

The main cons of the game

  • Difficulty and Learning Curve: While many enjoy the challenge, some players find the difficulty spikes frustrating, particularly in the early stages. The lack of a tutorial can lead to confusion for new players.
  • Backtracking and Grinding: Players express frustration with the need to backtrack frequently to heal and farm resources, which can disrupt the flow of the game.
  • Deck Management Issues: Some users wish for better deck management tools, such as automatic linking of totems to decks and easier navigation through menus.
  • Lack of Clarity: Certain mechanics and enemy behaviors are not well-explained, leading to moments of confusion during battles.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

  • Improved Tutorial and Onboarding: Many players feel that a more comprehensive tutorial or clearer explanations of mechanics would enhance the experience, especially for newcomers.
  • Quality of Life Improvements: Suggestions include features like saving totem configurations with decks, clearer enemy attack indicators, and options to reset specific encounters for experimentation.
  • More Lore and Narrative Depth: Some players expressed a desire for additional lore related to the game's mythology and deeper storytelling elements to enrich the narrative experience.
  • Balance Adjustments: A few users suggested that the late-game difficulty could be increased or that an easy mode could be introduced for players who want to enjoy the story without the challenge.

Summary

  • Overall, "Death Howl" is well-received for its artistic presentation, engaging gameplay, and emotional storytelling, despite some concerns about difficulty, deck management, and clarity of mechanics.

Summary generated on: