Death or Treat Review – An Apple in the Candy Bag

Multiple Blue Rings

I have played approximately 5000 roguelike/roguelite games in the last few months. There’s a constant flow of new entries into the genre since games like Hades came along and reignited the audience for them.

As Scary, you must venture out to reach the headquarters of FaceBoo! through the Darkchat Storyum factory.

Blue Rings
Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings

During each venture out, Scary also has to collect materials from fallen enemies and what are just Jack Skellington heads that act as the world’s currency.

Blue Rings
Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings

IT’S NOT ALL SMOOTH SAILING This is where I initially ran into some issues with Death or Treat. I played for two hours doing multiple charges into the factory to fight Frankenstein’s monsters, bats, brains in jars, and Jack O’Lantern ghosts to try and gather enough materials.

Blue Rings
Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings

Then, a release day patch addressed some issues and re-balanced the gameplay, so I hopped back in to try again. Instantly, the difference was noticeable. Material drops were more frequent and more variable.

Multiple Blue Rings
Blue Rings
Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings

Unfortunately, even with these changes, Death or Treat is kind of flat. It isn’t bad. It isn’t incredible. It occupies the space between the two extremes. Again, this isn’t terrible; it isn’t likely to make any waves in an already crowded genre.

Multiple Blue Rings
Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings
Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings

The gameplay is solid, and the combat is simple, hack and slash the bad guys and unleash your chosen super ability when things get dicey. The accuracy is a little wonky, but it’s otherwise a solid combat system.

Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings
Blue Rings
Multiple Blue Rings

When it comes to the art style of the game, it is heavily inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas, which, even if you weren’t aware of that before going into it, would be instantly apparent. It’s an easily recognizable style and a popular one. Perhaps even approaching overdone.

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