Originally released in July 2021, Death’s Door is an isometric action-adventure game that proudly wears its Legend of Zelda influences. You play as a voiceless little man, actually a crow, on an adventure wielding a sword and bow to save the land from an evil threat. But Death’s Door combines the atmosphere of Soulsborne with challenging combat, dark humor, an appealing art style and complementary music to make it a complex and engaging experience. After four full years, Xbox Game Pass will be shutting down at the end of January. That means you only have a few days to play the 10-hour adventure (for completionists). It’s a must, considering it’s one of the best games of 2021.
As the soul-collecting Grim Reaper of the Reaping Committee headquarters, you are sent into the world to collect the souls of giant monsters that refuse to die. But then a mysterious giant crow steals souls and drops cryptic hints about a conspiracy involving RCH and its leader, the eerily strange Lord of Doors. So begins an adventure that brings together three giant souls to open Death’s Door and uncover the secrets of this universe. Despite sounding like a high-stakes adventure, Death’s Door is completely stupid from beginning to end. The Reaping Committee is a stiff and formal bureaucracy, despite the eccentric characters working within it.
The characters you meet during your adventure are even stupider. One of the early NPCs is a goofy knight with a soup pot for a head. (“Judge not by the shape of its head, but by the deliciousness of the soup inside!”) The main boss, the Swamp King, has a ridiculously long name with ridiculous titles that keep getting added to as the music pitches higher and higher. The other major boss is a friendly old woman who stops what she’s doing and says “You son of a bitch” when you find out she’s actually a powerful witch. My favorite is the late-game food truck owner named Jefferson, who calls you his “bipedal companion.” I’m not suspicious at all!
Structurally, the game is very similar to classic Zelda games, with players exploring three different biomes and dungeons to defeat bosses and earn the prizes needed to unlock the final goal. Although the tone of the story is serious and serious at times, the cute art and goofy characters create some hilarious moments in the sonic cacophony.
Yes, this is the introductory screen for the game’s actual boss. Image: Devolver Digital
The gameplay loop and combat are very reminiscent of the Souls games, with the HQ acting as the central hub and various doors in the environment serving as checkpoints, but the learning curve is much gentler. Along the way, you will acquire new weapons and abilities that will help you in difficult battles. All enemies are fast and aggressive, so you have to rely on dodging and managing your stamina on the battlefield. Over time, you can mix and match different weapons and abilities and upgrades to suit your specific playstyle.
Ultimately, Death’s Door is a cheerful indictment of capitalism while meditating on the nature of mortality, but it doesn’t necessarily confront such poignant themes. Which is braver and more admirable: conquering death or embracing the natural cycle of life and decay? If you don’t care, enjoy thrilling combat as a naked bird and a sword against all manner of beasts. But remember: You’ll have to do it soon, because Death’s Door is leaving Xbox Game Pass on January 31st.
