Death Howl is an adventure game developed by The Outer Zone and published by 11 bit studios for PC, in which players set out on a high-stakes journey in a mystical expanse filled with woeful spirits that you must defeat using a deck of cards and powerful totems. 

Death Howl delivers a reflective yet combat-oriented experience with an atmospheric setting and various gameplay mechanics, including deck-building, roguelike, and turn-based movement. Depicted in pixel graphics, this Souls-like title explores themes of dark fantasy, grief, and dreamlike unreality, weaving a haunting atmosphere through its challenging gameplay and evocative world design. 

Traverse the spirit realm 

The narrative of Death Howl follows Ro, a grieving mother from a small tribe, who embarks on a desperate yet purposeful journey through the spirit realm. Guided by voices from beyond and driven by the loss of a loved one, she seeks to defy the natural laws of life and death, risking everything to bring her son back from the dead. 

In this game, you can craft over 150 cards, which you can find the ingredients for across regions, to form a deck that serves as your weapon against relentless hordes of spirits. Utilize these cards while learning enemy factions’ moves and come up with tactics and strategies in turn-based battles to claim victory and become ready for challenging boss fights.   

The best part of this non-linear exploration game, inspired by Scandinavian folklore, is its depth. Thanks to endless waves of enemies and a vast array of cards to craft, mastering your deck and the path to victory feels limitless. However, it has a few drawbacks: No controller or keyboard support, no enemy ability descriptions, and missing upgrade previews on crafted cards. 

A journey of grief 

Death Howl offers a compelling mix of strategic deck-building, atmospheric exploration, and high-stakes combat, all set against a backdrop of Scandinavian folklore. The game’s deep mechanics, rich world, and emotional narrative provide an immersive experience, but it’s not without its flaws, like a lack of controller support and incomplete tooltips. Despite these drawbacks, Death Howl remains a gripping journey into the spirit realm, perfect for fans of reflective adventure games.