Summary
Death’s Doorwas released to rave reviews and appreciation across the board. Players were drawn to its fast-paced, Soulslike combat andZelda-inspired puzzles. The game has the player exploring a world of death as a lowly crow, working for a bureaucratic afterlife authority that must take down less cooperative souls. Each of the game’s elements has been done to some extent over the years, but never in this unique combination.
As such, many games hold some connection toDeath’s Doorin one way or another. Whether it be the action, the atmosphere, or the puzzling, the game shares its DNA across a great many predecessors that those whobeat the game too quicklywould likely also enjoy. These titles are all pretty great in their own right and are in the same vein withDeath’s Door’sunlimited charm and tough-as-nails gameplay.
Updated July 12, 2025 by Ritwik Mitra:Death’s Door is a unique indie gem that players should check out if they love charming visuals, tough combat, and intricate puzzle design. The game continues to hold a soft spot in the hearts of many players who experienced this masterpiece, and it’s easy to see why some people would want to check out a game that is similar in many ways. Despite Death’s Door’s unique feel, there are some notable games that fans can check out that elicit the same vibe.
One of the most underrated and underappreciated video games ever made, fans of classicZeldatitles and unique gameplay loops will love whatOkamibrings to the table. Clover Studio’s closure hurts even more when players realize that they are robbed of creative games like this gem.
Players control the white wolf Amaterasu, who ends up being an endearing protagonist despite not even saying a single word. The game’s use of the Celestial Brush in both puzzles and combat is quite engaging and makes it clear why this cel-shaded masterpiece is still talked about so highly to this day.
The release ofTears of the Kingdomhas been a monumental event forZeldafans, allowing them to explore one of the biggest open worlds around that is positively jam-packed with content. The new abilities that Link can use are complete game-changers that almost makeBreath of the Wildlook like a prototype in comparison.
The unique exploration in this game makes it a blast to explore as players figure out the best course of action they can take to get from Point A to Point B, battle against tough enemies, complete a wealth of puzzles, and everything else along the same lines. The combat of this game can be pretty challenging and will help make players ofDeath’s Doorfeel right at home amid this turbulent action.
Elden Ringis FromSoftware’s open-world title thattook the world by storm when it was launched. The marketing power of George R. R. Martin played a huge role in ensuring that more people got their hands on this title, turning it into one of the most successful video games of all time. Given its status as aSoulsbornegame, it’s easy to see whyDeath’s Doorfans will be right at home with this game.
Of course, the exploration inElden Ringis also one of its strongest suits, with anything and everything in the distance housing some really interesting goodies, unique enemy encounters, and unexpected boss fights too. The game’s marriage of exploration and combat is simply unmatched and goes to show just how much of an achievementElden Ringis for a studio that was struggling before Miyazaki came in to save the day.
Another FromSoftware game that was a blast to play through isSekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Unlike most of the company’s other games that gave players a wide variety of weapons to mess around with, Sekiro forces players to learn the art of parrying and deflection as a samurai who seeks revenge after being wronged by a man who cut his arm off during a duel.
The game’s combat is fast-paced and frenetic, clearly taking a page out ofBloodborne’s book and cranking up the difficulty to the max. Players have to master deflection in this game if they wish to stand a chance in the many tough encounters that they’ll face on their journey.
5Skul: The Hero Slayer
A Roguelike Game In The Same Vein As Death’s Door
Those looking for something similar in style and substance toDeath’s Doorbut with a heavier Roguelike focus should considerSkul: The Hero Slayer. Focusing on the macabre, players take control of the enigmatic Skul, a small skeleton with the ability to change its forms and skills by placing other heads atop its body. It’s a clever idea that helps to turn the traditional Roguelike on its head while also offering up a story-based twist that sees players taking control of a “villain,” to hunt down the humans that have wronged his people.
Skulis a ton of fun, features solid sidescrolling combat, and has quite a few skulls to unlock and upgrade along the way. With items to collect and powerful bosses to defeat, Skul: The Hero Slayer feels like an epic adventure and offers tons of replayability through its randomness.
For players who findDeath’s Door’s macabre imagery and reaper-like aesthetics appealing,Have a Nice Deathoffers a similar style with a story that feels somewhat similar to the Crow’s. Players will take control of a cantankerous and cartoony version of the reaper, but this time as a boss with many underlings to micro-manage. WhileDeath’s Doorhas a hub world that appears somewhat office-like in appearance,Have a Nice Deathdoubles down on the aesthetic and gives players access to an array of levels, enemies, and bosses that all share a corporate motif.
It’s a Roguelike at its core, giving players a hefty amount of replayability as they attempt to make it further into the gauntlet each time, unlocking new abilities and upgrades that make the journey slightly easier each time a player progresses far enough.
Death’s Doorhas a certain comedic charm to it, thanks to its colorful characters and strange storyline. Another title with similar humorous vibes isDead Cells, a Rogue-lite Metroidvania-style Indie game from developer Motion Twin. The strange protagonist inDead Cellsis a fantastic touch to the title’s underlying story, offering up some prime quips and funny moments, despite being “silent” in a voiced sense.
Dead Cellshas a supremely engaging and entertaining gameplay loop that is both challenging and rewarding, with players unlocking more skills and items as they move along.
Metroid Dreadwas released in October 2021 and continues the franchise’s recent trend of returning to its side-scrolling roots. The game’s most notable innovation for the series is theimplementation of stealth; some fans were worried about stealth being added, as many games have tried and failed to make stealth an engaging mechanic in the past. Thankfully,Metroid Dreadhad no such issue and proved that the series is still an innovator inthe Metroidvania genre.
LikeDeath’sDoor,Metroid Dreadreceived a wide range of award nominations and even won the Best Action/Adventure Game accolade at The Game Awards 2021.
Ori and the Will of the Wispswas first released in March 2020 on PC and Xbox One before coming to Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series X/S later in the same year.
Like its predecessor,Ori and the Blind Forest,Moon Studios’Ori and the Will of the Wispsis a 2D Metroidvania that stands out with itsbeautiful art design. The game isn’t just visually impressive, however, as the game hasan enormous mapthat players will slowly but surely explore after unlocking more abilities.Ori and the Will of the Wispswas a huge hit with fans and critics, exemplified by its 93 Critic Score and 8.8 User Score for the Nintendo Switch version on Metacritic.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Ordermay initially seem like an odd game to recommend to someone who enjoyedDeath’s Door, though the games have more similarities than one may expect. Along with both games having simple but excellent sword-like combat, they both incorporate elements of 2D Metroidvanian level design into their 3D worlds.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderfinally fulfilled the wishes ofStar Warsfans who had been asking for a modern, single-player Jedi adventure sinceThe Force Unleashed 2.
