Death’s Doorreleased earlier this year on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, and recieved pretty great reviews. PlayStation owners will now have a chance to get their hands on the game as it comes to PS4, PS5, and the Nintendo Switch on November 23. SinceDeath’s Doorhas often been praised as one of the best games of 2021, the game’s wider release is one of the most exciting announcements to come fromSony’s recent State of Play event.
In particular,Death’s Doorgarnered praise for its level design and engaging narrative. Repeatedly the game has been compared toThe Legend of Zeldaseries, and structurally the games are similar. As such,Death’s Doorevokes a feeling of nostalgia that is intricately tied to the gameplay and whimsical atmosphere.Death’s Doorhas also been compared toDark Soulsin its aesthetics, and while this is true,Death’s Doorhas a significantly lighter tone and is more accessible for anyone put off byDark Soul’snotorious difficulty.
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Death’s Door: Gameplay and Aesthetic
Even a cursorary glance atDeath’s Door’saesthetic will reveal that it is a much more fantastical and cartoonish adventure thanDark Souls.The game does have heavy Gothic influence, and even though the aesthetic is whimsical,Death’s Doorhas an engaging narrative that is both sombre and charming.
Part of the success of the game is definitely due to its attention to detail.The world ofDeath’s Doorhas a huge amount to exploreand discover in a well crafted and immersive gameplay experience. However, its old-school simplicity makes it an easy game to play, and with its charming atmosphere, means the game would be well suited to fans on the PS5.
The comparison toZeldagames is most obvious inDeath’s Door’sgameplay. Players should expect some backtracking to explore previously inaccessible areas, while fighting off a variety of monsters and hitting checkpoints along the way. This 3D isometric adventure game has players control a crow who collects souls while using a bow, sword, and a variety of other weapons and magical attacks. While the game can be challenging, much of the game’s charm is in it’s design simplicity.Death’s Door’saesthetic is also influenced by Studio Ghibli films, which add to the charmingly cute but complex and sophisticated gaming experience.
Development of Death’s Door
Death’s Doorwas developed by Acid Nerve, a two-person studio based in Machester, England. Pre-orders of the game for PlayStation will come with Acid Nerve’s first gameTitan Souls.Comparing the two games reveals how Acid Nerve has refined and polished its gameplay mechanics inDeath’s Door.
The game was also partly developedduring the COVID-19 pandemic, which didn’t disrupt development all that much thanks to the small developer team who could work from home. The game’s easygoing and escapist narrative adds appeal as a game released during a pandemic, while its aesthetic and design preventsDeath’s Doorfrom becoming too heavy as a game revolving around death and reaping souls.
Death’s Doormakes a lot of sense as a Switch game, with it’sZelda-like gameplay suiting handheld or console gaming. The game’s success on Xbox further emphasizes its multi-platform appeal, andthe PlayStation version is a welcome releasefor anyone short on PS5 games to play. The game’s versatile nostalgia gives players the chance to choose which platform best engages them personally.
The success of the game on PC and Xbox, and it’s upcoming release on PlayStation and Switch, adds yet another title to a growing list of popular indie games from small developer teams.
Death’s Doorcomes to PS4, PS5, and Switch on July 05, 2025.
