Permadeath
Ongoing coverage on Permadeath.
Latest coverage
You only get one, permakillable Jedi Padawan in Star Wars Zero Company, but that's fine because I'm going to roll an R2-D2 deathsquad anyway
Star Wars Zero Company, a tactics RPG from Bit Reactor and Electronic Arts, features a permakillable Jedi Padawan named Tel-Rea, but allows players to field entire squads of R2-D2 units. The game will be a 30-40 hour linear experience with 12 classes, no plot branching, and no modding support. Players can choose to disable permadeath, and the game launches on August 27th.
"Once Darth Vader came for you, you were just going to die": We could have had an MMO about Jedi refugees hiding from the Empire, if Star Wars Galaxies had gone differently
Former Star Wars Galaxies director Raph Koster discusses the challenges of implementing Jedi characters in the MMORPG, including a proposed permadeath system where players would hide from the Empire and face Darth Vader. The game ultimately opted for a complex skill-based unlock system that proved difficult to implement and led to player dissatisfaction by forcing them to abandon preferred playstyles.
Playable Steam demo announced for 'Age of Legacy', an unforgiving 1v1 turn-based roguelike RPG
Chaotic Order Games has announced a playable Steam demo for Age of Legacy, an unforgiving 1v1 turn-based roguelike RPG. The demo will be available on July 10th, allowing players to experience the game's permadeath mechanic and intense tactical combat. The full game is being developed by a solo developer and will be self-published.
Beginner Build & Top Setups 2026 – Expert Game Reviews
This guide provides a robust beginner build for the game Stoneshard, focusing on a one-handed weapon, shield, and crossbow combination for survivability and effectiveness. It details essential skills, attribute allocation, and combat strategies, while also offering insights into more advanced setups and character choices for players looking to progress beyond the early game.
CORDURA ‘Gameplay Reveal’ trailer
Garage51 has released the gameplay reveal trailer for their upcoming cooperative psychological horror game, CORDURA. The trailer showcases the game's focus on paranoia and deception among up to four players within a procedurally generated Victorian mansion. CORDURA is set to release on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam, with a release date yet to be announced.
The follow-up to one of my favorite RPGs of the 2020s finally has a demo, and it does not disappoint: Bat people, a mushroom hellscape, and funky JRPG combat from bizarro world 2005
Entropy, a JRPG from Lovely Hellplace, has released a playable demo on Steam with an early access launch date of August 18. The game features a party system with up to 14 members, permadeath mechanics reminiscent of Fire Emblem, and a unique combat system with row-based positioning. Its art style and unsettling atmosphere evoke mid-2000s JRPGs with a distinct, freakish spirit.
Star Wars Zero Company release date leaks ahead of Summer Game Fest, and its XCOM-ish star warring isn't too far, far away
Star Wars Zero Company, a turn-based strategy game from Bit Reactor and Respawn Entertainment, is reportedly set to release on August 27, 2026, according to a leak. The game will feature permadeath for units and is expected to cost $49.99 for the standard edition and $59.99 for the deluxe edition on PC.
The sequel to one of my favorite survival games doesn't just respawn you back at home when you die: that'd be…
Outward 2, the sequel to the challenging survival RPG, features a unique death mechanic where players don't simply respawn at home but wake up in an unknown location with potential injuries. The preview highlights the game's unforgiving nature, lack of quest markers, and the importance of careful preparation and strategic combat, contrasting it with typical survival game mechanics.
Don't Touch the Snail is an anti-cozy game that takes permadeath to the next level
Don't Touch the Snail is an 'anti-cozy' game that implements permadeath, meaning players cannot play again after dying. This extreme difficulty setting challenges traditional cozy game design.
Don't Touch the Snail to Announce Release Date
Don't Touch the Snail, a desktop overlay game with permadeath mechanics, will release on May 29, 2026, for PC via Steam. A new trailer announcing the release date drops on May 14th. The game, developed by Plastic Bag Hand Man and published by Both Good, has gained significant traction online due to its unique concept of a snail chasing the player's cursor.
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The roguelike deck-builder Slay the Spire features a permadeath mechanic where players must restart from the beginning upon defeat. This design choice, while punishing, is central to the game's strategic depth and replayability, forcing players to make every decision count.
True permadeath: You can never play this game again if you let its immortal snail assassin touch your mouse pointer
Don't Touch The Snail is a new PC game where players must avoid letting an immortal snail touch their mouse pointer, resulting in permanent death. The game's premise is inspired by a 2014 Rooster Teeth podcast discussion about a similar hypothetical scenario. The game is set to launch on Steam later this month.
Myth of Empires Throne – Trapped with Crocodiles and Lost Everything!
The author recounts a frustrating yet humorous experience in Myth of Empires where a new character attempt led to being trapped with crocodiles and losing all progress. After a difficult fight with one crocodile, the player became stuck in the enclosure with another, forcing a self-termination and the loss of all gathered resources.
How to find Oil Samples and unlock School Room in Road to Vostok
This guide explains how to find three Oil Samples on the Terminal map in the permadeath survival game Road to Vostok. Collecting these samples is necessary to unlock the School Room shelter, which is valuable for farming medicine. Players must navigate dangerous areas like Minefield and the Terminal, which are patrolled by AI enemies and contain mines.
Road to Vostok Makes Its Early Access Debut On Steam
Road to Vostok has launched its Early Access period on Steam, featuring a permadeath approach and realistic simulation elements. The developer plans for the game to remain in early access for two to four years, with plans to double the current content.
Road to Vostok Could Be the Next S.T.A.L.K.E.R.-Like Obsession
Road to Vostok is a single-player hardcore survival first-person shooter emphasizing realism and immersion, drawing comparisons to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series. Developed primarily by a solo developer named Antti, the game features a persistent world, scarce resources, lethal enemies, and a strong focus on permadeath to create a tense and consequential player experience. Its transparent development and commitment to emergent narratives aim to offer a deeply authentic survival simulation.
Road to Vostok release countdown: Exact date and time
The hyper-realistic survival shooter Road to Vostok is set to launch on PC via Steam on April 7. The game will feature permadeath and a dynamic world with changing times, weather, and seasons. A free demo is currently available on Steam.
Project Aincrad VRChat: The Closest Weve Come to Living in Sword Art Online
Project Aincrad is a fan-made role-playing game within VRChat that aims to replicate the experience of Sword Art Online, featuring combat, leveling, and permadeath mechanics. The author details their 20-hour experience with the ambitious fan project.
This New Climbing Game Forces You To Choose Which Of Your Party Dies
Ascenders: Beyond the Peak is a new exploration roguelite that blends turn-based climbing mechanics with Lovecraftian horror and resource management. The game features permanent consequences, including the potential loss of party members, and a unique rope physics system. It is set to launch in Steam Early Access in Q3 2026.
Active Matter expands with Gigastructure
The hardcore online shooter Active Matter has received a major update titled "Gigastructure," introducing massive new locations like Gigastructure and Park, and a new Hired Ops PvP mode. The update also adds new monsters, expanded weapon customization, and implements permadeath mechanics where players lose game progress upon death, with even harsher penalties planned for future game editions.