Only $3 instead of $30 in Steam sale: This roguelike RPG lets you play the bad guy
Iratus: Lord of the Dead is a turn-based tactical roguelike RPG set in a dark fantasy world. Players take on the role of Iratus, a powerful necromancer who escapes after centuries of imprisonment. With an army of undead including skeletons, zombies, banshees and other monstrous creations, you fight through winding dungeons in a quest to reach the surface and bring death to the living.
The game offers a deep combat system where every move requires careful strategy. Players can craft and upgrade their undead using the body parts of fallen enemies, enabling a wide range of tactics and play styles. Its dark tone, mixed with a touch of humor, draws comparisons to Darkest Dungeon and Dungeon Keeper. A key roguelike feature is permadeath for units – once an undead minion falls, it’s gone for good. This adds another layer of challenge, pushing players to think ahead. With procedurally generated dungeons and shifting resources, no two playthroughs are ever the same.
Reviews: Strategic combat shines, but story and replay value fall short
The German magazin GameStar praised Iratus: Lord of the Dead for its detailed unit designs, atmospheric soundtrack and challenging turn-based combat. The customizable necromancer, along with his minions and the intricate skill trees, added a high level of strategic depth. The editors also found the shift in perspective – playing as the villain – a refreshing change from genre norms. They highlighted the game’s impressive scope, which includes five distinct zones, a wide variety of unlockable units and numerous equipment options.
Despite its strengths, Iratus: Lord of the Dead received only a 75 out of 100 from GameStar. The technical quality of the animations and sound effects was seen as underwhelming, and the necromancer’s narrator lacked charisma and charm. The story was also criticized for being shallow, ending on an unconvincing note. While the game includes roguelike elements, GameStar noted a lack of true replay value. There are no alternate campaign paths, multiple endings or meaningful decision-making to encourage repeat playthroughs. On Metacritic, critics awarded the game a Metascore of 78, while players gave it a User Score of 7.5. Over on Steam, Iratus has received around 6,700 reviews, with 85% of them being positive.
90% discount on Steam
Developed by Unfrozen and published by Daedalic Entertainment, Iratus: Lord of the Dead launched in April 2020. The roguelike RPG is normally priced at around $30 on Steam, but it's currently available for just $3 thanks to a 90% discount running until April 25. According to SteamDB, this deal isn’t a one-time offer – the game is frequently discounted to this price, most recently during the Spring Sale in early March. So if you miss out now, chances are you'll get another shot soon.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
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