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Death by Scrolling

Death by Scrolling

PC
Released

Release Date: October 28, 2025

RPG, Fantasy, Roguelike, 2D, Top-down, Indie Games, Action RPG, Singleplayer

An action RPG with roguelike elements, developed under the supervision of Ron Gilbert. Death by Scrolling is about escaping from the constantly moving game screen, while avoiding the Death himself at the same time. Our ultimate goal is to gather enough gold for our character to leave Purgatory.

8.0

Steam

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Ratings
[0:56] - Launch Trailer Videos: 2
Screenshot Images: 12
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Ron Gilbert is a legendary video game creator who has inscribed himself in golden letters in the history of this industry thanks to the Monkey Island series. A studio named Terrible Toybox was founded by him and started its activity by creating two adventure games. For its third project, Gilbert chose a fast-paced action RPG with elements of roguelike under the title Death By Scrolling.

Gameplay

In Death By Scrolling we watch the action in a top-down view. We take on the role of a character who ended up in Purgatory after death. The protagonist must collect 10,000 pieces of gold to pay the Ferryman for transport to the proper afterlife. Gathering such a number of valuable precious metals involves the necessity of traversing Purgatory and facing numerous dangers.

Dynamic journey through Purgatory

Danger awaits us here at every step, and its main source are the game's unique mechanics. The game screen constantly scrolls vertically, and if our character touches its base, it automatically ends the game and forces us to start a new attempt. As if that wasn't enough, Death itself is chasing us. Due to the fact that the Grim Reaper cannot be killed, we must show cunning and outwit him in various ways.

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Platforms:

PC Windows

PC Windows

Developer: Terrible Toybox

Publisher: MicroProse

Age restrictions: 12+

Features

News

Industry legend scrapped his dream project. Open-world RPG lost to publishers' „terrible offers”

Industry legend scrapped his dream project. Open-world RPG lost to publishers' „terrible offers”

Ron Gilbert quit working on an RPG due to a lack of funding and criticized modern publishers who follow rigid formulas to decide which projects are worth investing in.

video games

Martin Bukowski

December 2, 2025

Industry legend scrapped his dream project. Open-world RPG lost to publishers' „terrible offers”
“PLEASE, do your market research first,” Polish developer Adrian Chmielarz tells industry legend Ron Gilbert after the underwhelming release of Death by Scrolling

“PLEASE, do your market research first,” Polish developer Adrian Chmielarz tells industry legend Ron Gilbert after the underwhelming release of Death by Scrolling

A legendary developer, a promising idea, and a disappointing launch. Adrian Chmielarz has his own “lesson” for Ron Gilbert.

video games

Olga Racinowska

November 17, 2025

“PLEASE, do your market research first,” Polish developer Adrian Chmielarz tells industry legend Ron Gilbert after the underwhelming release of Death by Scrolling

System Requirements

System Requirements for Death by Scrolling Video Game:

PC Windows

PC / Windows

Minimum System Requirements:
Dual Core 1.6 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 1 GB HDD, Windows 10.

Ratings

Game Ratings for Death by Scrolling Video Game.

80%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (148)

STEAM
User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

  • Humor and Writing: Many players appreciate the quirky humor and writing style, characteristic of Ron Gilbert's games.
  • Addictive Gameplay: The gameplay loop is described as addictive, with players often wanting to play "just one more run."
  • Visual and Audio Design: The pixel art style is well-received, and while some find the music repetitive, others enjoy its fitting nature.
  • Short, Casual Play Sessions: The game is ideal for quick gaming sessions, making it suitable for players looking for a casual experience.
  • Meta Progression: Players enjoy the ability to unlock new characters and upgrades, adding a layer of progression to the game.

The main cons of the game

  • Repetitive Gameplay: Many users find the gameplay becomes boring and repetitive after a few runs, lacking depth and variety.
  • Unsatisfying Combat: Combat is often described as unengaging and poorly executed, failing to deliver the excitement players expected.
  • Limited Power-ups and Upgrades: The power-up system is criticized for being lackluster, with many upgrades feeling minor and uninspiring.
  • Movement Issues: Players report that character movement can be frustrating, with instances of getting stuck on the environment and slow character speed.
  • Audio Issues: The sound design has been flagged, with some players finding certain sound effects overly loud and distracting.

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

  • Variety in Characters and Weapons: Players desire a broader range of playable characters and more diverse weapon options to enhance gameplay.
  • Improved Power-up System: Many users feel the power-up cards should offer more meaningful choices and effects, rather than being similar and short-lived.
  • Better Tutorial Integration: The extensive tutorial is seen as overwhelming, with some players suggesting a more integrated learning approach during gameplay.
  • Quality of Life Improvements: Suggestions include better audio controls, smoother movement mechanics, and clearer visual indicators for pickups and upgrades.
  • More Engaging Quest System: The quest system is viewed as simplistic and uninspired, with requests that lack variety or depth.

Summary

  • Overall, while "Death by Scrolling" has elements that appeal to players, particularly its humor and casual gameplay, it struggles with repetitiveness, combat execution, and a lack of engaging progression, leading to mixed reviews.

Summary generated on: