Ready to laugh your way through the afterlife?
Ron Gilbert’s Death by Scrolling is here to turn purgatory into a wild, fast-paced ride. Following its Steam release on October 28, 2025, this bullet hell roguelike RPG throws you into a nonstop vertical sprint where every inch matters. Plus, every moment is packed with retro humor!
Death has never been this fast… or this funny!
Development
Death by Scrolling is the result of a bold collaboration between Terrible Toybox NZ and MicroProse Software. The teams are known for their unique storytelling and retro-inspired design.
You can see prototype of Death by Scrolling here!
They aimed to create a game that feels fast, funny, and full of surprises. Their creative direction mixes classic arcade energy with modern roguelike structure, building a world where humour and horror go hand in hand. The art style is sharp and expressive, while the sound design adds tension and personality to every run.
Gameplay
The core mechanic is a vertical scrolling sprint through purgatory, where players must keep climbing or risk being caught by the Reaper. Each run is different thanks to roguelike elements like:
- random upgrades
- shifting layouts
- unpredictable enemy patterns
- meta-upgrades
The Reaper chase adds constant pressure, as it requires quick decisions and fast reflexes. As you climb higher, the chaos grows, making survival a thrilling challenge every time!
Community Reception
Players have shared mostly positive feedback about Death by Scrolling, praising its humour and exciting gameplay. The community is growing, helped by developer livestreams and Ron Gilbert’s well-known reputation, who is the creator of Return to Monkey Island and Thimbleweed Park.
Fans enjoy the mix of strange characters and funny dialogue, which adds charm to the dark setting. The developers also connect with players through LiveNow Broadcasting, where they stream the game and answer questions. These live events make fans feel more involved and help build a strong community. Many players say the game is fun and different, especially because it jokes about social media and modern life in a clever way.
Market Impact
Death by Scrolling brings something new to the roguelike and bullet-hell genres. It adds a fresh twist to the world of indie games with its upward-scrolling gameplay.
Unlike Vampire Survivors or Dead Cells, which focus on survival, exploration, and combat across open maps, Death by Scrolling challenges players with a constant upward climb. The screen scrolls vertically without pause, forcing quick movement and fast decision-making. If they fall behind, the Grim Reaper catches them. This creates constant pressure!
The game still includes roguelike features like random upgrades and permadeath, but its vertical movement makes it stand out. With simple controls and short sessions, it’s easy to learn and fun for both new and experienced players.
Conclusion
Death by Scrolling is fast, funny, and full of surprises. It mixes classic arcade action with modern roguelike ideas, creating a game that feels fresh and exciting. The vertical climb, the pressure of the Reaper, and the clever humor make it stand out in the indie scene.
If you’re looking for something different that’s easy to pick up but hard to put down, this game is worth a try!
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