Three-person Danish developer The Outer Zone and publishing partner 11 Bit Studios (of Frostpunk fame) have revealed Death Howl, a delightfully atmospheric mix of turn-based tactical action, deck-building and “souls-like” exploration, coming to PC later this year Year.
Described as a “poignant story of grief, healing and resilience,” Death Howl follows the journey of huntress Ro as she leaves her tribe and ventures into a disturbingly realized spirit realm in hopes of reuniting with her deceased son to unite.
It's a journey through a land of terror – filled with terrifying creatures and grotesque bosses – that combines grid-based, turn-based battles with a focus on deck-building and open-world exploration through a series of strikingly atmospheric biomes.
As players delve deeper, they discover fragments of Ro's story filled with love and loss and forgotten lore. Additionally, each discoverable realm promises unique cards and deck mechanics that gradually deepen Death Howl's level of strategy, as well as shamanic totems that can further improve a deck.
“The loss of a loved one is universal – an inevitable part of the human experience,” explains The Outer Zone. “We believe our narrative approach will resonate with gamers of all types. We've introduced a new take on the deck-builder genre, combining it with Souls-like exploration and adding compelling backstories to leave a lasting impression on anyone who joins Ro on her journey.”.
Death Howl is scheduled to launch on Steam later this year, but players can get acquainted with the deck-building action and deserted atmosphere – clearly visible in the announcement trailer – when the demo hits Steam next Monday, January 20th.