About this episode
In this episode, Bryan and Josh explore the game Death Howl, discussing its mechanics, aesthetics, and emotional themes.
In this episode of Pixelated Playgrounds, Bryan and Josh journey through the afterlife in Death Howl! Developed by The Outer Zone and published by 11 Bit Studios, Death Howl is a deckbuilder that merges deliberate exploration, demanding combat, and stark, minimalist storytelling. Set in Mesolithic Scandinavia, the game features a mother named Ro who ventures into the spirit world to reclaim her lost son. Death Howl sets its self apart aesthetically with a rough, impressionistic pixel art and vibey sound design to its layered mechanics and themes. Interestingly its often billed as a “souls-like deckbuilder” a label that originated with the community rather than the developers. As ambiguous as the ‘souls-like’ term can be the game captures the spirit of the genre in meaningful ways: its bonfire-like sacred groves, its tense death mechanics that are both punishing and forgiving, and its constant encouragement to explore every corner for secrets and advantages, among other things. With tense combat focused on positioning, deckbuilding strategies, and the satisfaction of repeatedly crafting powerful synergies rather than settling into just one, Death Howl also succeeds on a mechanical…
People in this episode
Hosts: Bryan, Josh
Topics covered
- deckbuilding
- exploration
- combat
- storytelling
- emotional impact
Keywords
- Death Howl
- deckbuilder
- souls-like
- combat
- exploration
- pixel art
- story
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Outer Zone, 11 Bit Studios
Books & works: Death Howl
Places: Mesolithic Scandinavia
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