Key art for Soulslike deckbuilder Death Howl, which depicts its main character cradling the spirit of a deer

11 bit Announces "Soulslike Deckbuilder" Death Howl, Demo Coming Monday

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Published: January 17, 2025 11:16 AM

Frostpunk 2 publisher 11 bit studios has announced Death Howl, a "Soulslike deckbuilder" which marries a gloomy atmosphere with run-based gameplay and card crafting.

Per a press release, Death Howl promises "grid-based, turn-driven battles" that will demand "tactical precision" from you. In addition, you'll be battling "formidable enemies and fearsome bosses" which you'll need to build tactically sound decks to surmount.

The game will offer the chance to explore a grim open world in which you'll find biomes like the "Meadows of Delusion" or the "Forest of Howling Shadows". It's safe to say this isn't the kind of game you should play if you're looking for a cozy atmosphere.

The player engaging in combat with canine enemies in Soulslike deckbuilder Death Howl
Death Howl marries Soulslike atmosphere with deckbuilding gameplay.

As you explore each of Death Howl's regions, you'll unlock new cards to craft, and you'll also be able to piece together elements of protagonist Ro's backstory, which the devs say is "steeped in themes of love and loss".

Each realm you visit will present you with different challenges, necessitating the construction of various different deck types in order to overcome those challenges. You'll also be given the chance to use "shamanic totems" to deepen Death Howl's "strategic layer" in order to expand your options.

Death Howl comes to us from Mind Scanners developer The Outer Zone, a three-person-strong studio based in Copenhagen. Director Malte Burup describes the game as a "fresh take" on deckbuilders, something I think will probably be needed given the crowded market into which Death Howl is hurling itself.

You can check out the debut trailer for Death Howl, which gives a sense of the kind of hopeless atmosphere and turn-based deckbuilding gameplay the game is going for, right here.

I'm honestly not sure Death Howl is doing itself any favors by describing itself as a Soulslike; we are, after all, a million miles away from the kind of reflex-based stamina management-reliant combat for which the Souls games and their offshoots are known.

Still, you'll get the chance to find out whether I'm right or not on Monday, when a demo for the game will be made available via Steam. The game will also be coming to GOG. Stay tuned for more.

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Joe has been writing for TechRaptor for several years, and in those years has learned a lot about the gaming industry and its foibles. He’s originally an… More about Joseph