Morbid: The Lords of Ire
Morbid: The Lords of Ire
Game
Game2024
Deathbound
Developer Trialforge Studio
Deathbound is a unique Soulslike. Build a party of four characters and instantly morph between them in and out of combat. Combine their abilities to pull off devastating attacks and slay those who stand before you. From the Steam store page
155 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon, Lemmy) · newest Oct 7, 2026 · last updated Oct 8, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
74
Fresh
87 positive · 31 negative
95% range 65–81%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 87 | 31 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 9 | 0 | 19 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 2 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Mostly Positive
93 of 127 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
74% recommend · 90 yes, 31 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 121 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Mostly Positive (248 of 330 positive).
Players praise the unique character-swapping combat mechanic as refreshing and fun. [1][2][3] Some reviewers find the gameplay clunky and the controls unresponsive at times. [4][5][6] The game is seen as a promising but rough indie title with good ideas. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [6]
Despite the many great ideas, it all comes down to the fact that Deathbound's battles are often almost unenjoyable. This is mostly due to the low-level animations, the hitbox sliding back and forth, the sometimes blatantly cheating opponents who turn on us before every hit, as well as the camera that shows the events too closely. This segment (especially after a very polished From Software game) just seems painfully …
- [1]
Well, it's not bad, but it's complicated. the mechanic of changing between characters at all times, even during combos, it's really fun and interesting, especially because there are a good amount of choices and variety of fighting styles, and adding up the affiliation for synergies is great in every way. The exploration is... good I guess, rewards are mostly consumables but there are a lot of paths to take with …
- [3]
I for one love what they've done with the combat in Deathbound. I wish the game was longer. I truly believe a lot of the souls ''community'' is scared of change. As soon as small bits of the formula are changed they're afraid to learn new aspects and combat systems and just frustrated and review bomb. It stops devs from trying new things and stops the genre from progressing. Pro: -Voice acting is great, I really …
- [5]
✅ Unique souls-like game where you can change class system seamlessly on the fly. Quite underrated game ✅ Decent story ✅ Different synergies gives you different buffs ✅ Sprinting does not consume stamina ✅ Morph strikes and lifesteal gameplay was pretty cool ❌ The gameplay does feel clunky ❌ Controls feels unresponsive sometimes ❌ Game has stability issues (crashed twice for me, the game saves immediately when …
- [2]
Don't mind the product refunded tag, I did that because sadly my PC is just too old to properly handle the game. I wanted to leave a review though, because the first 110 minutes I played were genuinely very fun and I'm intrigued by the whole character swapping mechanic. Gonna leave a proper review once I upgraded to a better PC and re-bought the game in the future, but for now this just serves as a placeholder since …
Summarised from 34 of the 165 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 13, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
74% of the 121 Steam reviewers we collected recommend Deathbound. The complaint that keeps coming up: gameplay feels clunky and unresponsive. Deal-breaker or nitpick?
Reactions
60 of 155 · most liked firstDespite the many great ideas, it all comes down to the fact that Deathbound's battles are often almost unenjoyable. This is mostly due to the low-level animations, the hitbox sliding back and forth, the sometimes blatantly cheating opponents who turn on us before every hit, as well as the camera that shows the events too closely. This segment (especially after a very polished From Software game) just seems painfully primitive and carved with an axe, in which knowledge is secondary in many…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Well, it's not bad, but it's complicated. the mechanic of changing between characters at all times, even during combos, it's really fun and interesting, especially because there are a good amount of choices and variety of fighting styles, and adding up the affiliation for synergies is great in every way. The exploration is... good I guess, rewards are mostly consumables but there are a lot of paths to take with shortcuts and points of interest. Equipments and upgrades are really big in options,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Being frozen in place when using any item is not a fun mechanic and makes the combat frustrating and not fun. Another dislike I have is that you are constantly watching 4 health bars and 4 stamina bars since if even one of the four bound characters equipped die it is game over. I would like it better if they died individually until they are all dead then game over or 1 shared Health bar. Why have individual health bars if only 1 dies it's game over? Did not receive the ultimate edition…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →There is something baffling about developers with interesting ideas and the inability to encase those ideas into a clockwork of functioning, enjoyable systems. DEATHBOUND is the latest example I've seen of a team with good intentions, messing up the execution so badly. I am not going to bother you with things like the presentation. It's a budget title and that is depicted clearly, so there is no reason to throw shade here. What did strike me as odd is the lack of artistic merit though - we've…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Hi #PortfolioDay I'm Bruna, an Environment Artist and for the past two years I've worked on the game Deathbound, modeling props and doing Set Dressing. I'm open for work! my links linktr.ee/bubigrin
neutral · AI labelView post →I've played many a soulslike, and enjoyed almost all of them. Tried this one for stream since I got it for free, and I genuinely cannot figure out who this game is for. It has some good and interesting mechanics, but they're held back by what the game does wrong. I like the multiple character premise, but instead of giving each one some unique mechanic, they simply divide up the standard soulslike moveset between them. One has a ranged weapon and can backstab, one casts spells, one is regular…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Don't mind the product refunded tag, I did that because sadly my PC is just too old to properly handle the game. I wanted to leave a review though, because the first 110 minutes I played were genuinely very fun and I'm intrigued by the whole character swapping mechanic. Gonna leave a proper review once I upgraded to a better PC and re-bought the game in the future, but for now this just serves as a placeholder since I want to at least help out the devs with a positive review instead of my…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I for one love what they've done with the combat in Deathbound. I wish the game was longer. I truly believe a lot of the souls ''community'' is scared of change. As soon as small bits of the formula are changed they're afraid to learn new aspects and combat systems and just frustrated and review bomb. It stops devs from trying new things and stops the genre from progressing. Pro: -Voice acting is great, I really enjoyed the conversation and arguments between spirits. -Combat system. The…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Here's a spoiler-less review of the game Good: - Original gameplay - An interesting way of telling the story - Some interesting characters (both in terms of writing and gameplay) - The upgrade system for your character and items is different from what we're used to - The game has a Brazilian touch, which becomes more apparent as you play - The game is in great shape now (or I was lucky), as I didn’t encounter any bugs during either playthrough OK: - Hard on the beginning then easy when you…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Deathbound is a game I've been following for a long time. It's a little less punishing than other games like Dark Souls or Elden Ring, but it doesn't disappoint in terms of fun. In it you can also explore the very well-written story and see many parallels between the story and our reality, referencing some of the cultures we know around the world. Oh and of course, there's a character who is a capoerista and that's pretty cool hahahaha ❤️
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Finished this game at around 7 hours. The only interesting thing really was the mechanic with the 4 character you can swap mid combat. Makes for a unique combat experience atleast. The story and the characters were honestly boring and the dialogue makes one cringe. The bosses rely on artificial difficulty because once you master the combat mechanic you are nigh invincible. (Except the dlc bosses which got tuned up like crazy) I recommend only getting this on a sale as its a rather small indie…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Forgot to post my list of games beaten 2024! Stellar Blade Black Myth Wukong Deathbound Astro Bot Thymesia Dragon Age the Veilguard Warhammer: Space Marines 2 Balatro Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Remnant 2 final DLC Awaken: Astral blade Also beat Elden Ring main game and Dark Souls 2 again 🫡
neutral · AI labelView post →played the demo for this game when it first released and wasn't planning on buying it but here i am after giving it some time for people to drop some feedback and to see what the final product would be like. is it good? meh. is it bad? meh. im on the fence about it but im leaving a positive because it is clear the devs at least put a lot of effort into making the game unique in the soulslike genre with the party system, classes, story and world. the gameplay is clunky but can be fun at times,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A little rough around the edges and needs polish but that didn't stop me from playing. I have a lot of experience with the souls-like genre and I enjoyed it. Very cool idea of using a party in combat, that fits well in a souls-like. It works and added a unique layer of difficulty on an already difficult genre. I recommend it to Souls fans who can forgive the jank. Video review: https://youtu.be/wxYWo6RTa1A
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Potentials. Potentials. Potentials. This game deserves a mixed review. In my Hell Is Us review I've written that indie games can still be good even if they hone in on one vision and perfect it, but what if it doesn't work? Well, Deathbound is a prime example of this idea. This action RPG asks the question, "What if a souls-like but the protagonist has the whole adventure team fused within him?" Well, the answer is an essence-switching mechanic which allows you to morph into different fighters…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I normally really like 'souls like' games having played and completed all the Dark Souls 1, 2 & 3 games, Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Mortal Shell, Hellpoint, and most of Lies of P and I thought I would give this game a 'go'. However, this game has some strange [bizarre and flawed] design decisions: 1) when you use the healing potion it reduces the health of other member(s) in your 'party'; 2) attacking using 'normal attacks' are generally useless except for ordinary enemies - they are…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →✅ Unique souls-like game where you can change class system seamlessly on the fly. Quite underrated game ✅ Decent story ✅ Different synergies gives you different buffs ✅ Sprinting does not consume stamina ✅ Morph strikes and lifesteal gameplay was pretty cool ❌ The gameplay does feel clunky ❌ Controls feels unresponsive sometimes ❌ Game has stability issues (crashed twice for me, the game saves immediately when closing so it wasn't a big deal) ❌ Ugly character design ❌ You can't…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →New pack of Deathbound concept art. 🕯️ The 'Cathedral' is an important area in the game and we needed its interiors to match its impact in the story. ⬇️ Full posts with more art — and spoiler-y screenshots ❗ www.artstation.com/artwork/QKGqGZ anebarone.com #ConceptArt #Deathbound #art #brart
neutral · AI labelView post →Happy to share this 'Life Laboratory/Akratya Hospital' mood shot made for Deathbound, a Brazilian souls-like game released in October. @trialforgestudio.bsky.social ❤️ Full post and more art: ♦ www.artstation.com/artwork/L4mXzA ♦ anebarone.com/portfolio/la... #Art #BRArt #ConceptArt #Deathbound
neutral · AI labelView post →The game's setting, characters, and bosses are amazing! The lore is phenomenal. I loved the message that everyone is connected by death, highlighted by the symbolism of chains... For those who enjoy this genre, its an experience worth trying. Since this was the studio's first project, they still have a lot of room to grow and build. :)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →fun game and for sure will play it for beat it... my weekend its saved now. and I still not buy dlc to elden ring when lazy dev put in arabic text but not new achvimnts....
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As a start for the studio it is a good game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →My full review of this game, read carefully if you are preparing or deciding to buy: ======================================================= Pros: - In addition to having its own unique gameplay, Deathbound also brings very high-quality and detailed sound. Even the collision sounds, attacks from both sides or the sound of the doorbell ringing. All make the player immersed in a tense, heavy world - The areas are designed to follow the context: technological ruins, ruined churches, narrow…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a no from me currently. I like the game but having a auto rotate camera setting disabled and it still rotates not being fixed tells me they are disconnected with their game and fan base. Once you have settings in the game that actually do what they say, i'll change my review after a being able to play it and not have to fight the camera boss.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ive put quite a few hours into the demo. From what ive seen so far between the demo and the first zone of the live game, I'm quite impressed. I want to leave this tentative review to help out the devs because I feel like this game deserves a fair shake. I will come back and update this review once I complete the game, but ive played enough souls likes to get a "feel" for a game within the first hour or so. You can tell how competently the game is put together at its most base level. How the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Game was made by a small studio, really good optimisation, hope some AAA devs will learn about it (they won't) Characters fully voiced, good story so far and the combat system/synergie are a refreshing wind on the souls like games !
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →change characters during the combat is cool and a refreshing mechanic. 100% Recomend!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you wanna get into souls like while also playing something pretty fresh then check this out. I've enjoyed my time with game (even though i'm a noob and have died a lot) This game has a sort of allure that makes me want to keep playing. I played the first demo and wasn't too keen on it but once the second demo released and i got to try some of the new characters i fell in love with it. The party system is a cool concept and refreshing. Swapping through each style is cool and replaces the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Party-based soulslike Deathbound aims to be Steam Deck Verified at release https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2024/07/party-based-soulslike-deathbound-aims-to-be-steam-deck-verified-at-release/ #SteamDeck #Deathbound #Gaming
neutral · AI labelView post →There is a good idea here with the character switching and the relationships they have, but it's all very undercooked and marred by poor level design and mostly horrible voice acting. Combat itself is pretty good and initially was able to carry the game. The problem is that it's all happening in very confined, samey-looking areas. Deathbound is also too keen to use the color green on everything—enemies, environments; the overall color palette is dominated by green, and it just doesn't work. I…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Don't be like me Ignores the checkpoint because I wanted to keep exploring and not have the enemies respawn yet Spend about an hour clearing out basically the whole area Get lost trying to find the checkpoint from earlier Accidentally walk into a boss room with limited healing DIE AND DROP THE MOST EXPERIENCE YOU EVER HAD ON YOU AT ONE TIME Think about life and the choices you made to arrive at this point Cry 10/10 would do it all again (and probably will)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This literally just came out in August... and they just announced a DLC that sounds like content that is missing from the base game. There is no reason why it shouldn'T be in the base game already or just added by a patch. Some indie devs actually release free content! Support those instead! i liked the game until that news came out. For that :slugpoo: decision alone i will downvote this. it is not a bad game and it does have some nice new things not done in other souls-likes, but if you know…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Personally, I would not call this a souls-like. There are core elements of a souls-like, but overall this game is it's own thing entirely. As a vet of souls games, I'm always looking for something similar that has a fresh, new difficulty curve that also feels rewarding and this checks both of those boxes. There are certain game play elements that I feel like need to be refined or changed but overall, this game has been an enjoyable experience. If I had to chose one thing to gripe about, it…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Feels so good switching characters in fights! Gameplay with first two bosses: https://youtu.be/jo8rgI0mb30
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I finished Deathbound and I loved it :D I'm not good at writing reviews, but here’s my take after a 20-hour playthrough: You get to choose 4 characters, and the game really pushes you to adapt to its unique system and use all of them, especially for stamina management and healing. Once you get the hang of it, it’s seriously a blast. The conflicts and synergies between characters can either make the game easier or harder, depending on how you set it up, which is my favorite part. The…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Just finished my first playthrough, i wanted to finish it before posting a review. So to make it short i really like this game despite of its flaws. It´s not perfect, not FromSoft level but hey if everybody could as good as FromSoft then they wouldn´t be that special. I really like how they treated the party based thing and i wasn´t a fan of the idea at all! I played the demo and didn´t like it tbh. Mostly because it was a mess and too much info at once but i also thought that the actual…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →At first glance, this game might seem to have a slow-paced combat system, which could be a turnoff for some players. However, this initial sluggishness is part of a larger design choice. Once you start unlocking more characters, known as Essences, the gameplay evolves into a fast-paced and dynamic experience. It’s important to be mindful of how the game conditions you to play more cautiously in the beginning, but rest assured that the pace will pick up significantly as you progress. One aspect…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →In summary, after playing through the game (about 13 hours) and the first few areas in NG+, I think I've come to the conclusion that it's a solid "Meh". It'll scratch the souls itch but isn't too difficult outside of a few fights. Recommended only if you really need something. - First, the overall gameplay is fine but janky. There's nothing particularly wrong with it IMO but swapping characters does take a bit of getting used to when first starting out. I mostly stuck to the same 2 or 3…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Deathbound: It's Morphin Time Check out the full review on [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdzFEPDUXaE]2 Headed Hero! Deathbound is a fun, but flawed, take on the Soulslike formula. There's a cool techno-magic post apocalypse, weird Monster Energy flavored enemies, and a satisfying morph combo mechanic in the combat. But while the game is marketed as a Souls contender, it aligns much more with the character-action genre - something along the lines of God of War 2018. A few weird…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →So far I'm in! I’m about an hour in, and it’s already delivering that classic soulslike experience - dark world, weird setting, doors that won’t open from this side, backstab, and a reliable parry. No frame rate drops or noticeable bugs so far, so I’m happy I decided to give this a shot.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →First off, Brazil Mentioned :D Edit: Finished the game, I think after a while I got used to the dodge, I just think the range is a tad bit too short, but the invulframes are very generous, overall I would hit this one with a 8/10. Good story, fun combat, outstanding character designs. Edit 2: They buffed dodges and made Olivia quite a bit stronger, so the game is even better now :D Game is great fun, with great banter, a bit stiff at times. Besides that, the designs are cool, bosses are…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very different soulslike that takes the idea of stances from Nioh and makes them whole other people. Love the characters back and forth. Combat is solid, items are helpful, healing is unique to say the least. 10/10 for me
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Added a really unique mechanic into the souls like genre, some things leave to be desired, but its a fresh start for anyone who loves to play souls like.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →10/10 graphics, voice acting, story and gameplay <3
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →An absolutely amazing experience! I really enjoyed the idea of the combat in this game. The way your four characters are statted, the way they fatigue (stamina works), and the way they manage their health all incentivize this fluid transformation gameplay style. Like, imagine if you played Shang Tsung from Mortal Kombat in an action game. That kind of fluid transformation into very different movesets that all work well is what I'm talking about. The mechanics surrounding your party make-up…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A fresh air to the soulslike genre
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A good game for souls fans, I don’t understand the outrage about the visuals when your dark souls look even worse. The only problem is that new mechanics in the genre are given out only after half an hour - an hour of running and the very weak will not have enough patience. I recommend that in the prologue you just give the opportunity to play with 4 characters, and then take everything away. Showcasing a strong character at the beginning of the game is a great way to hook the audience.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →DeathBound have a totally new take on the souls like genre, I dare say that the devs definitely took a next with this game. It runs super smoothly fps wise, very optimized (i7 9700kf/rtx 3070ti/32gb ram) Combat feels fluid enough considering it's a indie game. The party-based system makes total sense. It's very hard, a lot because of it's stamina/health system. And there is a perfect parry system for the Lies of P lovers and the perfect dodge it's very satisfying as well.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Full Gameplay Walkthrough - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byekNQgIuTM An Innovative Souls Like Game that tries lots of cool things but not everything works out well . With extremely entertaining combat, an innovative party system and an interesting, well-told story, Deathbound shines, but stumbles over technical flaws. The game is exquisite in creating a vast world rich in detail, whether it's the mythology created or the seven protagonists who ooze personality. An excellent way of…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Everything from the movement to the attacks feel clunky and slow for no reason. Makes it hard to enjoy the combat. Its a neat idea but not executed well
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A Soulslike and as such, it leans into the genre quite a bit at times, when it should stray away from it. The core mechanic is interesting and changing characters mid combo is still impressive, in my opinion, although I found the environments repetitive and the history a bit convoluted at points. Still an interesting game, albeit it's shortcomings, I ccan advise to try it out at some point. The game runs perfectly well on Steam Deck as you can see by pressing the link below:…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I think this game deserves more credit and a bigger audience to try it. I appreciate what they tried to do here, and while it isn't perfect it isn't bad either. I'm a few hours into the game and the gameplay is actually pretty good, the combat and integrating the morphs with the combat is an interesting spin on standard souls game play. The voice acting is surprisingly good too, with the conversations that pop up throughout the game progressing the story as you play. The level up system I…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Deathbound - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Overall, I really enjoyed the game. It's impressive considering the budget, and I'm being a bit picky with this review because I genuinely want the best for the Brazilian game industry. The Good Graphics: The game looks fantastic. The graphics are not only visually appealing but also functional, enhancing the overall experience. Character/Enemy Design: This is hands down the best part of the game. The enemies are incredibly well-designed, with…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A Promising Indie Game with a Unique Sci-Fi Fantasy Twist In the ever-growing world of indie gaming, Deathbound, the debut game from a new Brazilian development team is surely an awesome new entry. While some reviewers have hastily compared it to the Dark Souls series, this comparison, though understandable due to its Soulslike nature, is somewhat unfair. Unlike the large-scale productions of FromSoftware, Deathbound was crafted by a small team, and despite the lack of years of development…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game stands out for offering combat that is both challenging and rewarding. The feeling of conquering a tough battle, combined with the wide range of combo possibilities between characters, creates a deeply satisfying gameplay experience. The combat mechanics allow for exploration of different combinations and strategies, keeping the game fresh and engaging with every new encounter. But even though the combat is extremely juicy, the character interactions is where the game shines the most.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This games goes from very hard to easy once you get familiar with morphing mechanics, which also grants i-frames. Likes: - alignments of factions, which provide huge passive buffs or debuffs - morphing mechanics - character backstories in form of memories - skill points that alter specific characters, e.g. adding lifesteal to an attack, buffing dmg after dodge etc.. - lore settings aka scifi/fantasy mixup Dislikes: - stamina bar is shared with character hp, meaning if your character has 50%…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Deathbound is an overall interesting and refreshing take on the "Souslike" formula. Building a party of 4 characters (called Essences) and managing their individual life and stamina bars as you weave combos and dodge attacks while keeping up aggression. The story is engaging enough to carry the roughly 8 to 12 hour experience for a single playthrough. It's told a bit more straightforward than most games in the genre - which I appreciate - even if it doesn't tread particularly new ground. The…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →love the combat system. the rest is mediocre. maybe 14 hours +combat system: tagteam with team lifesteal. +good boss fights -crashes a lot with proton. -poor customization, upgrades -story -overpriced for content hours.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Hi! I'm Juliane, an illustrator and concept artist usually working with indie authors and devs, homebrew RPGs & events (KupoCon). In 2023 I joined Trialforge Studio to work as a prop & environment concept artist for Deathbound. anebarone.com store.steampowered.com/app/1277130/...
neutral · AI labelView post →I just love it! Atmospheric, spectacular, sufficiently difficult, sometimes annoying yet captivating! The mixing of the modern and the old world is a bit strange, since I didn't read the story, but I immediately poured almost 3 hours into the game. Anyone who reads the story will surely get the picture. I also like that the tutorial is not the typical press wasd, but actually shows what and how in given situations. I like the introduction of the characters, for each the game tells the story of…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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