Iratus: Lord of the Dead

 PC
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 68 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 68
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 68
  3. Negative: 8 out of 68

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  1. iseeall
    Dec 31, 2020
    7
    A pretty good TBS somewhat similar to Darkest Dungeon but lacking its taste and style.

    Good: - many unit types, with many abilities - as others mentioned, there is no grind. You can't replay completed battles, but also you're free to create new minions at will (no need to wait for recruits) So-so: - art - it's functional and is highly detailed, but overall the game just lacks    A pretty good TBS somewhat similar to Darkest Dungeon but lacking its taste and style.

    Good:
    - many unit types, with many abilities
    - as others mentioned, there is no grind. You can't replay completed battles, but also you're free to create new minions at will (no need to wait for recruits)

    So-so:
    - art - it's functional and is highly detailed, but overall the game just lacks personality. It even feels somewhat like a mobile port (hidden object game?) due its almost casual palette. It's especially noticeable when one compares it to Darkest Dungeon: there art was a significant part of the game's appeal and character. But here it's generic an adds to the feel of it being a mediocre clone of Darkest Dungeon (which it's not)
    - the Dungeon Keeper-style narrative of expanding the kingdom of an evil master, killing humans and converting their corpses into undead armies. I guess the idea is just not fresh anymore. Also, Dungeon Keeper had a lot of dark humor, and the evil master was intentionally over the top. But this game stays serious all the time. And one quickly notices that this narrative just doesn't offer enough motivation to proceed.
    - music is rather generic as well

    Bad:
    - I found English localization pretty shaky, with misuse of words in some places - which makes understanding the game's rules harder at times

    The game's complex battle mechanics deserved more dark humor and more character in the aesthetics. But it's a passable game if you've already completed Darkest Dungeon and wanted more of the same but with a bit different units and abilities.    … Expand
  2. Kila-Selai
    Aug 1, 2020
    7
    Прошёл игру на одном дыхании. Правда на самом легком уровне сложности, но тем не менее игра заставила меня подумать.
    В бою действуют до 4 юнитов с твоей стороны и со стороны противника, у каждого юнита по 6 способностей, плюс заклинания самого некроманта, что делает каждую схватку тактической задачей. Darkest Dungeon тоже играл, игры очень похожи и в то же время впечатления от них    Прошёл игру на одном дыхании. Правда на самом легком уровне сложности, но тем не менее игра заставила меня подумать.
    В бою действуют до 4 юнитов с твоей стороны и со стороны противника, у каждого юнита по 6 способностей, плюс заклинания самого некроманта, что делает каждую схватку тактической задачей. Darkest Dungeon тоже играл, игры очень похожи и в то же время впечатления от них совершенно разные.    … Expand
  3. Oshiri_Maeda
    Nov 8, 2020
    6
    Darkest Dungeon-like game. Many ways to customize and adjust your minions and strategy. However, I found it to be too tedious with all of its many buttons, stats and upgrades. It SEEMS very diverse, but ends up quite repetitive, not engaging. Might be a gem if you like DD, otherwise - pass.
  4. CptJustice
    Sep 1, 2020
    7
    First of all, no it's not as good as darkest dungeon, but I dont understand the bad reviews saying it's too complicated or not finished... I think they just don't know how to use the characters properly. I did my first playthrough in 25 hours and i loved it. Yes, sometimes it is challenging, but changing your strategy and your party composition will often solve the problem. It is meantFirst of all, no it's not as good as darkest dungeon, but I dont understand the bad reviews saying it's too complicated or not finished... I think they just don't know how to use the characters properly. I did my first playthrough in 25 hours and i loved it. Yes, sometimes it is challenging, but changing your strategy and your party composition will often solve the problem. It is meant to be hard.. I gave a 7 because they could add more items and maybe balance some skills, but overall, very good game. Refreshing to bad the bad guy for once… Expand
  5. TheTownDrunk
    Jan 22, 2021
    7
    IRATUS: LORD OF THE DEAD is basically DARKEST DUNGEON but playing the bad guys. As such it lacks originality and also the superb art style of the "original". Red Hook Studios really created a masterpiece with DARKEST DUNGEON and I would suggest picking that one up first. A more recent clone is WARSAW which ditches fantasy altogether and is set in Poland's capital during World War IIIRATUS: LORD OF THE DEAD is basically DARKEST DUNGEON but playing the bad guys. As such it lacks originality and also the superb art style of the "original". Red Hook Studios really created a masterpiece with DARKEST DUNGEON and I would suggest picking that one up first. A more recent clone is WARSAW which ditches fantasy altogether and is set in Poland's capital during World War II fighting the Third Reich invaders as partisans.
    IRATUS: LORD OF THE DEAD is unique as you play Iratus, the necromancer who has been banished in the catacombs, but is now gathering an army of undead to fight his way out and - of course - take over the world. DARKEST DUNGEON drew its atmosphere from the superb narration by Wayne June (there are no other voice actors in the entire game and none are needed). IRATUS: LORD OF THE DEAD takes a similar approach (one could also say rip-off) and features none other than Stephan Weyte who voiced (another undead) Caleb in the 1990s BLOOD games. Needless to say Weyte delivers.
    What IRATUS does different is the superb way to build your army: you do not just "recruit" your minions from some tavern, no, you literally create them from components that you find in the dungeon or from fallen enemies (blood, brains, etc.). These components can also be used to upgrade these minions.
    Your minions are of course not the typical hero classes like knights or mages, but their undead counterparts like death knights, liches, ghouls, banshees, etc.
    Instead of the hamlet Iratus has a graveyard with buildings like a mortuary, a dead lake, an Iratus Statue (!) or a library.
    Iratus also can be leveled up and can partake in combat with various spells that buff minions, debuff enemies or do damage.
    It takes elements from DARKEST DUNGEON such as the automatic save system (your minions die, they're gone for good, no reloading) and the 2D graphics.
    Speaking of graphics, I did not care for the art style here too much. DARKEST DUNGEON had a unique art style, IRATUS only looks cheap.
    DARKEST DUNGEON was better balanced and the sanity system applied to your characters (instead of dealing sanity damage to your enemies) is more engaging.
    What IRATUS does better is the progression system: it's a true dungeon crawler, featuring several levels to traverse. You can see the events that lie ahead and choose your path accordingly. There is no backtracking however, but at branching paths you can take the direct path to the level exit or a longer route to experience more combat and get more loot.
    Personally I prefer DARKEST DUNGEON. IRATUS: LORD OF THE DEAD is more forgiving and overall easier as it lacks the sanity meter. It's GOOD ( 7 out of 10 ).    … Expand
  6. myval2012
    Aug 27, 2023
    6
    Gameplay: I never played Darkest Dungeon or other similar games so i cann't compare. It's a very cool idea with solid execution. Problems started after around 15 hours when i was close to finishing it for the first time. It's extremely repetetive. Do you need to change your strategy? No, almost all enemies do the same thing. Sure theres like few very uniqe, but it's like one per floor. WowGameplay: I never played Darkest Dungeon or other similar games so i cann't compare. It's a very cool idea with solid execution. Problems started after around 15 hours when i was close to finishing it for the first time. It's extremely repetetive. Do you need to change your strategy? No, almost all enemies do the same thing. Sure theres like few very uniqe, but it's like one per floor. Wow thats a lot of soldiers and abilities... so tedious (they are all very similar), is this a game or a job? Funnies part is that clearing final boss requires completely different set of character than for normal clearing. Be ready do clear everything and then get destroyed by the final boss. 4/7,5

    Visuals: Could be more colorful. Yes it is a dark "horror" theme but that doesn't mean that you shrink your color pallet to grey, brown and red. The buildings and dungeons are ok, it's the chracters that could use some polish. 1,5/2,5

    Story: There isn't really a story here. A guy wants to conquer the world.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jul 23, 2020
    80
    A very pleasant surprise. The game maintains great gameplay and at the same time brings nice innovations. A Darkest Dungeon, where you play as the evil ones. Give it a chance! [Issue#303]
  2. Games.cz
    May 20, 2020
    60
    Iratus could have been a worthy successor to Darkest Dungeon, but is cast down into the swamps of mediocrity by its monotonous, boring battles.
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  3. Riot Pixels
    May 18, 2020
    82
    While Darkest Dungeon has more layers of complexity, turn-based combat in Iratus is just as compelling. You have to pay attention to negative effects, preempt potential threats, exploit loopholes in the game’s sophisticated rulebook and build effective combos.
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