Renowned game creator Ron Gilbert unveiled his latest project, Death by Scrolling, during the Gamescom 2025 Opening Night. This pixel-art roguelike features vertical auto-scrolling, action-RPG mechanics, and a dark, humorous tone.
Players are transported to Purgatory™, a vivid, retro-pixelated realm that is continuously devoured by an advancing wall of fire. This environmental hazard necessitates the constant upward auto-scrolling gameplay, compelling players to relentlessly move forward, which directly inspires the game`s title.
The reveal trailer highlights five distinct heroes, each possessing unique abilities. Gameplay footage demonstrates these heroes battling diverse enemies as the environment scrolls upwards, all while gathering power-ups (presented as cards) and gold. A persistent reaper character eventually chases the hero, inflicting various harmful stat debuffs. The primary objective is to accumulate enough currency to pay the ferryman and escape Purgatory™—a task that promises to be quite challenging.
As a roguelike, repeated deaths and restarts are anticipated. However, the specifics of what progress or upgrades might persist across multiple runs remain unknown. The trailer alludes to quest and shop systems, potentially hinting at mechanisms for meta-progression.
While an official release date has not yet been announced, Death by Scrolling is currently available for wishlisting on Steam.
