{{Short description|2018 video game}} {{Infobox video game | title = Death's Gambit | image = Death's Gambit.png | alt = | caption = | developer = White Rabbit | publisher = Adult Swim Games{{efn|''Afterlife'' version published by Serenity Forge.}} | designer = Jean Canellas<ref name="pushsquare_interview" /> | programmer = Jean Canellas<ref name="pushsquare_interview" /> | artist = Alex Kubodera<ref name="psblog_date" /> | series = | engine = | platforms = Windows<br/>PlayStation 4<br/>'''''Afterlife'''''<br/>Microsoft Windows<br/>Nintendo Switch<br/>PlayStation 4<br/>Xbox One | released = 14 August 2018<br/>'''''Afterlife'''''<br/>'''Windows, Nintendo Switch'''<br/>30 September 2021<br/>'''PlayStation 4'''<br/>30 November 2021<br/>'''Xbox One'''<br/>26 May 2022 | genre = Action role-playing, Metroidvania | modes = }} '''''Death's Gambit''''' is a side-scrolling action role-playing game developed by White Rabbit and published by Adult Swim Games.<ref name="pcgamer_date" /> It was released for Windows and PlayStation 4 in August 2018. An expanded edition of the game titled ''Death’s Gambit: Afterlife'' released in September 2021 for Windows and Nintendo Switch, in November 2021 for PlayStation 4 and in May 2022 for Xbox One.
==Gameplay==
''Death's Gambit'' is a side-scrolling action role-playing game featuring Soulslike and Metroidvania elements. The game is presented from a 2D perspective with a pixel art aesthetic.<ref name="pcgamer_date" />
==Development and release== ''Death's Gambit'' was developed by independent studio White Rabbit.<ref name="pushsquare_interview" /> The primary inspiration for the gameplay of ''Death's Gambit'' was Metroidvania games.<ref name="pushsquare_interview" /> The development team also wanted to integrate systems from games and series they enjoyed playing such as ''Castlevania'', ''Dark Souls'', and ''Shadow of the Colossus''.<ref name="pushsquare_interview" /> Castlevania games were also an influence for game's art direction, as well as ''Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP''.<ref name="pushsquare_interview" />
The game was published by Adult Swim Games<ref name="pcgamer_review" /> and was released for Windows and PlayStation 4 on 14 August 2018.<ref name="pcgamer_date" /><ref name="psblog_date" />
===''Death's Gambit: Afterlife''=== An expanded and revised edition of the game titled ''Death's Gambit: Afterlife'' was released on 30 September 2021 for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, and on 30 November 2021 for PlayStation 4, with a version for Xbox One currently in development.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-30 |title=Death's Gambit: Afterlife for PS4 now available |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/11/deaths-gambit-afterlife-for-ps4-now-available |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808050945/https://www.gematsu.com/2021/11/deaths-gambit-afterlife-for-ps4-now-available |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-25 |title=Death's Gambit: Afterlife coming to Xbox One this spring, DLC 'Ashes of Vados' announced |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/01/deaths-gambit-afterlife-coming-to-xbox-one-this-spring-dlc-ashes-of-vados-announced |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727180841/https://www.gematsu.com/2022/01/deaths-gambit-afterlife-coming-to-xbox-one-this-spring-dlc-ashes-of-vados-announced |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Afterlife'' featured new content including 10 new levels, over 30 weapons, 5 new bosses, and mechanical overhauls. White Rabbit released the expansion for free to new users upon receiving community feedback.<ref name="pushsquare_interview" />
==Reception== {{Video game reviews | title=''Death's Gambit'' <!-- Reviewers --> | MC = PC: 71/100<ref name="metacritic_pc"/><br />PS4: 72/100<ref name="metacritic_ps4" /> | IGN = 6.7/10<ref name="ign_review" /> | PCGUK = 67/100<ref name="pcgamer_review" /> | GSpot = 6/10<ref name="GSpot">{{Cite web|title=Death's Gambit Review - A Maddening Mission|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/deaths-gambit-review-a-maddening-mission/1900-6416965/|access-date=2021-01-10|website=GameSpot|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-01-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112105843/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/deaths-gambit-review-a-maddening-mission/1900-6416965/|url-status=live}}</ref> }}
{{Video game reviews | title = ''Death's Gambit: Afterlife'' <!-- Reviewers -->| MC = PC: 81/100<ref name="metacritic_pcafterlife"/><br />NS: 78/100<ref name="metacritic_NS" /> | Fextralife = 7.9/10<ref name="Fextralife" /> }}
''Death's Gambit'' received "mixed or average" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Death's Gambit|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/deaths-gambit/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|access-date=2021-01-10|website=Metacritic|language=en|archive-date=2021-03-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310062652/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/deaths-gambit|url-status=live}}</ref>
''GameSpot''<nowiki/>'s James Swinbanks praised the exploration and the story, but criticized the game's combat as being clunky.<ref name="GSpot"/> Writing for ''PC Gamer'', Samuel Horti enjoyed the game's story, but disliked the stamina system.<ref name="pcgamer_review" /> In a mixed review, Mike Epstein at ''IGN'' wrote, "''Death’s Gambit'' is a very blunt attempt to fuse two beloved games, ''Dark Souls'' and ''Castlevania: Symphony of the Night'', into one challenging 2D action-platformer. Developer White Rabbit shows a strong understanding of what made each of them great but glosses over fundamentals that all great games need, such as responsive controls and an understandable game world, and falls short of its promise."<ref name="ign_review" />
''Death's Gambit: Afterlife'' received greater critical acclaim than the original game, with critics citing that the game made a number of quality additions and improvements to the base game while retaining its unique qualities.<ref name="metacritic_pcafterlife"/><ref name="metacritic_nsafterlife"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://toucharcade.com/2021/10/05/switcharcade-round-up-reviews-featuring-super-monkey-ball-and-hot-wheels-plus-the-latest-news-releases-and-sales/|title=SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring 'Super Monkey Ball' and 'Hot Wheels', Plus the Latest News, Releases, and Sales – TouchArcade|date=5 October 2021 |access-date=2021-10-07|archive-date=2021-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125220631/https://toucharcade.com/2021/10/05/switcharcade-round-up-reviews-featuring-super-monkey-ball-and-hot-wheels-plus-the-latest-news-releases-and-sales/|url-status=live}}</ref> {{clear}}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="ign_review">{{cite web | url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2018/08/25/deaths-gambit-review| title=Death's Gambit Review | work=IGN | first=Mike | last=Epstein | date=24 August 2018 | access-date=25 August 2018}}</ref>
<ref name="Fextralife">{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6RmsFmd1Mk | title=Death's Gambit Afterlife Review: Is it Worth It? Should You Play it? Gameplay Impressions | work=Fextralife | date=30 September 2021 | access-date=7 October 2021 | archive-date=7 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007142722/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6RmsFmd1Mk | url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="metacritic_pc">{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/deaths-gambit/critic-reviews/?platform=pc | title=Death's Gambit for PC Reviews | work=Metacritic | access-date=26 April 2020 | archive-date=21 July 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721163103/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/deaths-gambit | url-status=live }}</ref> <ref name="metacritic_pcafterlife">{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/deaths-gambit-afterlife/critic-reviews/?platform=pc | title=Death's Gambit Afterlife for PC Reviews | work=Metacritic | access-date=26 July 2022 | archive-date=27 July 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727182128/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/deaths-gambit-afterlife | url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="metacritic_NS">{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/deaths-gambit-afterlife/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch | title=Death's Gambit: Afterlife for Nintendo Switch Reviews | work=Metacritic | access-date=7 October 2021 | archive-date=7 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007152356/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/deaths-gambit-afterlife | url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="metacritic_nsafterlife">{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/deaths-gambit-afterlife/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch | title=Death's Gambit Afterlife for Switch Reviews | work=Metacritic | access-date=26 July 2022 | archive-date=30 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630003716/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/deaths-gambit-afterlife | url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="metacritic_ps4">{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/deaths-gambit/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 | title=Death's Gambit for PlayStation 4 Reviews | work=Metacritic | access-date=26 April 2020 | archive-date=1 February 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201044030/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/deaths-gambit | url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="pcgamer_date">{{cite web | url=https://www.pcgamer.com/deaths-gambit-is-a-lush-2d-fantasy-rpg-releasing-this-month/ | title=Death's Gambit is a lush 2D fantasy RPG releasing this month | work=PC Gamer | first=Shaun | last=Prescott | date=2 August 2018 | access-date=25 August 2018 | archive-date=25 August 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825212530/https://www.pcgamer.com/deaths-gambit-is-a-lush-2d-fantasy-rpg-releasing-this-month/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="pcgamer_review">{{cite web | url=https://www.pcgamer.com/deaths-gambit-review/ | title=Death's Gambit review | work=PC Gamer | first=Samuel | last=Horti | date=22 August 2018 | access-date=25 August 2018 | archive-date=25 August 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825180120/https://www.pcgamer.com/deaths-gambit-review/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="psblog_date">{{cite web | url=https://blog.us.playstation.com/2018/07/17/breaking-down-death-and-other-features-in-deaths-gambit-out-august-14/ | title=Breaking Down Death and Other Features in Death's Gambit, Out August 14 | work=PlayStation Blog | first=Alex | last=Kubodera | date=17 July 2018 | access-date=25 August 2018 | archive-date=25 August 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825180431/https://blog.us.playstation.com/2018/07/17/breaking-down-death-and-other-features-in-deaths-gambit-out-august-14/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="pushsquare_interview">{{cite web | url=http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2016/07/interview_uncovering_the_soul_and_giant_aspirations_behind_deathrs_gambit_on_ps4 | title=Interview: Uncovering the Soul and Giant Aspirations Behind Death's Gambit on PS4 | work=Push Square | first=Joey | last=Thurmond | date=29 July 2018 | access-date=25 August 2018 | archive-date=27 May 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527211958/http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2016/07/interview_uncovering_the_soul_and_giant_aspirations_behind_deathrs_gambit_on_ps4 | url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.deathsgambit.com/}}
Category:2018 video games Category:Action role-playing video games Category:Adult Swim games Category:Dark fantasy role-playing video games Category:Fiction about matricide Category:Indie games Category:Metroidvania games Category:Side-scrolling role-playing video games Category:PlayStation 4 games Category:Serenity Forge games Category:Windows games