Have a Nice Death

 Switch
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Nintenderos
    Apr 24, 2023
    70
    Have a Nice Death is a very fun and dynamic game, although with some performance problems on Switch. As a roguelike, it doesn't stand out from other games in the genre like Hades or Hollow Knight. However, if you're looking for a challenging action platformer title with a lighthearted tone, it's a good choice.
  2. ZTGD
    Apr 13, 2023
    70
    Despite having some of the best combat I have seen in a 2D game and loving the dark and dreary art style I just couldn’t vibe with Have a Nice Death the same way I have with other games in the genre like Hades. While there are a few weapons to try and some combos to create with curses, It just never reached the same heights as the latter did for me. I will say that the writing here is top notch, and the commentary on display whether on purpose or not was genuinely funny. While I may not have loved this game personally, I do think there is a lot here for others to love not the least of which is the jingle that plays when Death spawns back in his office after having to RIP (Rest In Paperwork).
  3. Games.cz
    Apr 17, 2023
    60
    Have a Nice Death is a pleasant experience for roguelike fans who don’t fear challenges or corporate-infused humor. It’s also truly frustrating, however, and it gets less fun by the hour.
  5. Impulsegamer
    Apr 3, 2023
    60
    Have A Nice Death takes the best bits of other roguelikes to create a slick adventure spoiled by an unrewarding difficulty curve.

Awards & Rankings

67
#67 Best Switch Game of 2023
28
#28 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2023

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 13
  3. Negative: 2 out of 13
  1. ferolajr
    Jun 21, 2023
    4
    A really fun concept and awesome art style, but the constant frame drops on switch and some poor gameplay and balancing decisions make thisA really fun concept and awesome art style, but the constant frame drops on switch and some poor gameplay and balancing decisions make this game a not so pleasing experience. Still, it can be really fun sometimes.… Full Review »
  2. Renne321
    Apr 2, 2023
    6
    For a rogue game that’s supposed to be fast paced and requires quick reflexes it’s disappointing to see how much the frame rate drops over theFor a rogue game that’s supposed to be fast paced and requires quick reflexes it’s disappointing to see how much the frame rate drops over the simplest things like entering a new area. I can ignore all the other small annoyances such as the rewards system being garbage or the boss fights being unbalanced to the point that they only last 10 seconds. But the fact that I cannot complete the game because of the horrific lag is why I am giving this game such a low score. Shame on the company that released this game without fixing this obvious issue.… Full Review »
  3. JoaoRodarte
    Apr 22, 2023
    7
    TLDR: Excellent and exciting game that becomes really frustrating and confusing due to bugs, poor design choices.

    Upsides: This game could    TLDR: Excellent and exciting game that becomes really frustrating and confusing due to bugs, poor design choices.

    Upsides: This game could easily be a 10/10. Artwork is amaizng, gameplay is fluid, dynamic, easy to learn and hard to master. Altough not 100% original, Hades-based concept works. Replayability is awesome, because in each run your set of spells and habilities change drastically so you always have this "fresh" gameplay comming your way. Also, each run takes about 45 - 60 min, so you can play in small windows of time throughout your day - which is great for people trying to get some fun out of a busy day. Fun, dynamic, beautiful game.

    Downsides: game crashes quite a lot, and still have a lot of bugs. Some bugs (like the eternal arena bug) force you to give up on your run when you are very close to beating the game (which is extremelly frustrating). Also, interface is not good, and overall communication is also pretty bad. You always have to search online to understand how most buffs work. Sometimes text is vague (i.e, "increases damage" without specifying how much), wich is terrible for a game that forces players to constantly make trade-off choices (how can I choose if I cannot understand what each buff does?). Some buffs (i.e. Inflation) are so vague that nobody in the entire community understand what it does or how it works. Also, some buffs do not work as they are supposed to. This mix of bugs (game crashing, eternal arenas, invisble attacks, and so one) with bad UI and UX-writing turns a great game in a 7/10. Also, there are other pretty questionable design decisions that influence experience in a bad way (i.e., when you have to take e time-penalty on your run to read the dialogs, sometimes giving up buffs that wear out with time).    … Full Review »
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