Knock on the Coffin Lid

one of the very few games out there that actually scratch the slay the spire itch

i think i like this even more than slay the spire. the worldbuilding is pretty good too. im looking forward to playing the dlc when it comes out!

It took me almost 40 hours, 24 in the past few months, but I finally FINALLY beat the game with ONE of the 3 available characters ONCE. Wow. This has honestly felt like a journey. Normally when it comes to these kinds of games, the story is very minimal and plays very little to no role whatsoever.

But in this game, you are basically Playing an Eastern Europe/Slavic/Russian Folklore roguelike deckbuilder version of Tom Cruise's "The Day After Tomorrow" or whatever the original title was. The more knowledge you and the character you are playing has, the more it will affect their ending once you are able to obtain it.

There are very few guides for this game and the very long playtime I have to just beat the game once is because I was being very stubborn and didn't look up any information on the puzzles because I wanted to try and figure them out for myself. The in game "notes" system proves somewhat useful because it automatically records information about a lot of encounters on the maps. There are challenge modes that kind of work like Binding of Isaac where if you beat a challenge, you will gain some sort of impactful benefit for your main story runs for that character.

2 more characters to go before I can say I've truly beaten the game I think.

For some negatives, the game has some bugs wh en it comes to the interface sometimes. But otherwise it is very polished compared to 8 months ago or so which was the last time I played it I think... The game still has other bugs and sometimes the game lags late into the game's run or doesn't allow you to skip cutscenes however short.

Other than that, I can't help but feel that other than the details about the nodes on the map that you can change depending on your decisions, I wonder if there are actually alternate endings to achieve for the character I played. I'll find out later. For now, onto the other two characters.

Edit, I would just like to add, Major props to the artists and sound designers that did all the artwork, animations, voices, and music. There is ALOT for an indie effort with art that is several tiers higher than the original slay the spi re and animation that is noticeably better than another great roguelike deckbuilder game called Across the Obelisk.

Immediate refund. For me, the first thing a card game requires is no ambiguity in it's cards. Enemy says "gains strength when you cast a skill". The assumption is 1 strength. The reality is 15 strength. Not what I'm looking for in a card game.

good gaem

I've played for 124 hours, and I'm not stopping. Living for the April 4th DLC

Wow, I've really mixed feelings about this one. From one side, story is great, and the way it's presented is pretty interesting. From another, as a deck builder it is just decent and more annoying than fun. I'd say that if you're looking for time sink rogue-deckbuilder game I'd not recommend it. tho if you just wanna win once or twice, it's fine. I'm putting "recommend" since I enjoyed the game in general, but it's not a typical game for this genre.

Still early, but it currently feels like "Slay the Spire with a story".
I also like the game's Rogue-Lite features.

This game is equal parts Slay the Spire and Hades, with a dash of Dragon Age. It's a solid deckbuilder with roguelike/ run-based elements, and a slowly unfolding, very twisty story.

There's a big, hefty progression system, tons of unlockables, and a ton of variety in character builds. There's solid voice acting and world building, and a narrative that adds cool context to the gameplay.

The trailers only gave me the broadest strokes of what to expect, so I understand why people may have passed this one by, but after a solid ten hours, I'm having a blast. The only knock I have is that sometimes this game doesn't explain it's various systems as well as it could-- but if you've played other deckbuilders you'll figure it out pretty quick.

A solid 8/10.

"f you want to play a deckbuilder for the story, this is it. If you don't care about stories in games at all, this is not the game for you."

Pretty much sums it up. 3/10.

I loved the game when I first bought it, but now it no longer loads when I start it. :(

Beat the first time through, game play feels like a slay the spire clone and story was pretty much unintelligible. Regret the purchase.

Very fun gameplay with plenty of meta progression (the challenge rewards are permanent character upgrades).

Predetermined routes and a storyline. If you want to play a deckbuilder for the story, this is it. If you don't care about stories in games at all, this is not the game for you.

Personally, a story should exist and give my character motivation but beyond that I don't really care about it.

fun mechanics to scratch the rouge-like brain itch and fun story to boot

Excellent card-based roguelike. You might think it's a Slay the Spire clone, but in my opinion this game is much better because it has an actual story. Events on the map do repeat, but they repeat with new variations that stem from your character being revived in the story and testing other options in this situation or coming at it with more information. It would be very hard on a completionist, though, because you can try at most one additional option on every run, and there are a lot of events with a lot of options there -- the game has over 150 achievements! Thankfully, I'm not a completionist so I beat the game with Vanadis and that was that for me. Still, great game, highly recommended.

Just no, don't waste your money.

I love how many events there are and love even more that it saves what you did before and reminds you of the outcome

An indie roguelike deck builder with a strong, narrative focus. This description is catnip for me and there is a ton to enjoy in Knock on the Coffin Lid. Some bugs still persist, but for the price, I was impressed and happy playing through all three campaigns. There is DLC on the way, but vanilla has left me satisfied thus far.

Just ok. Gameplay and mechanics are alright. Story, lore and voice acting are good. But runs take far too long for the amount of story/game that appears to be there. And the final boss battle is comically stupid. while it is not a bad game by any means, it is far from the echelon of top tier roguelike deckbuilders.

After 600+ hours in Slay the Spire, this has been the only other thing to satisfy that itch.
The devs have clearly poured a lot of time and love into this game, and they're constantly posting updates and blogs to explain what's coming next. Multiple characters with different play-styles, and an overarching plot with events that sometimes require multiple stops at the same place on the map over different playthroughs keeps it feeling fresh. And the maps! They pack a lot of varying paths and events into each so you can adjust your strategy. Having a really good time with this one so far. The worldbuilding aspect is a standout for me - if you like deckbuilders, StS, and cool fantasy settings, definitely pick this one up. It needs more love.

It's nice turned based game but it's a bit difficult even on easy. A bit repetitive after a while. But good game over all.

I haven't been so addicted to a game for a long time now, and this one changed everything I just can't stop playing

Still uncovering the mysteries

great mechanics and missions

StS clone but more like a copy paste. I had this on my wishlist for ages and was really looking forward to it but it's no where near as enjoyable as StS and similar. I was expecting some elements of StS but not the same game reskinned. And - in my opinion - this is really overpriced. The combat isn't satisfying either. Very disappointed.

IMO this is better than slay the spire. There is an actual story, equipment, cards, potions, events, bosses etc. Once you beat slay the spire it's just a glorified speed run and difficulty challenge. There are so many unique nodes where things happen and every run feels at least slightly different. I haven't even played the other two characters yet and I'm not bored.

Very solid game. Slay the spire like, but with great atmosphere, creative world building and story telling (especially for the genre)...I enjoyed it.

To be clear, i like this game. I like the element of mystery, i like the story, i like the build aspect, i like A LOT of this game.

The thing i cant excuse is the illusion of choice. Very very irritatingly often youll be presented with a choice of one or the other (sometimes several choices) and youll be gently lead to pick a choice based off what is happening. the *entire premise* of this game is a deathloop. Living and dying so many times that you can gain knowledge of every conceivable outcome and choose accordingly.
But many times ill pick a choice that feels like im playing an RPG with a dungeon master who is trying to write a novel and test their plot ideas on me.
"you come across a small shallow puddle. youre dying of thirst, do you risk drinking the murky water?"
no, i dont
"well you drank anyway"
this literally, not figuratively, literally happened to me in this game all of moments ago.

i can forgive a lot, and i mean a lot, when i like a game. but ffs do not create the illusion of choice. its so disrespectful and crummy.

Its a really fun game. Devs are constantly working on it. Looking forward to the DLC.

As someone with hundreds of hours in StS and thousands in Monster Train, this game is awesome.

The art is beautiful, the enemies are varied and interesting. The emergent narrative and the overarching goal of the game makes me come back to it again and again.

Some inexperience shows here and there, with cards "borrowed" from StS, but the game has SO MUCH besides it, to the point where I see these cards as an homage, rather than plagiarism.

If you like deck building, I can't recommend this game enough

Nope. I didnt care for this game very much i tried to get my moneys worth.. I finished first game about 7 hours in and once the game is "passed" the first time, you unlock a character and have to "pass" the game again with that character to unlock the third character ( possibly an interesting character ?? ) and the second character is not fun to play... the game is gimmicky, it lags ( clunky ) and since it requires the play of a trash character in order to advance the lengthy, full of filler story that I ended up speed clicking through half the time, over all seemed like a waste of time i decided to throw in the towel.
Its has some charm, its has some good art, and over all the main story line is interesting at first... Hopefully devs take from this game and go on to make some more advanced titles, i think the idea is good but the reward to continue is much lower than the pain to continue.

Dialogue towards the end is indicative of more content but that content isn't there. Game is good for what it is, but I was disappointed to hear Mortis talking about the future and then see that the game was basically over for that character.

If you've ever wondered what a roguelike deckbuilder would look like if it was fused with a story-based RPG, this is it. The only deckbuilder I've ever played (out of many) that even comes close to the level of enjoyment I got out of Slay the Spire. KotCL actually SURPASSES StS in some ways for me. Given that there's 3 characters each with 4 subclasses, plus DOZENS of pieces of equipment (which add cards to your deck in addition to buffs and passive abilities), there's a lot more build diversity possible in KotCL compared to StS.

There's also some extremely cool mechanics that I'm absolutely in love with. The equipment mechanic (with the added bonus of actually changing your character's appearance) in particular is one of my favorite parts of the game. But I think the one that takes the cake is Bjorn's entire deal. He's a lycanthrope (werewolf), and in his human form, playing cards costs HP instead of energy. As a werewolf, cards costs energy as normal, but there is an added risk for curses and debuffs. It's such a cool mechanic, and Bjorn is definitely my favorite character to play.

It's like Slay the Spire, if Slay the Spire had an interesting story and also hated the player.

It's interesting and it's probably a fun game for someone, but it's not for me.

There's kind of a neat meta-story behind the repeated runs, they did a nice job on the art and put an impressive amount of work into the encounters.

The RNG component is pretty strong, and unfortunately I think your power is waayyy more about the items you find than about your deckbuilding - if you have good items and a mediocre deck you're probably okay, but if you get mediocre items it's hard to imagine how your deck could save you.

[Edit: Just had a look at the final boss, and despite 58 hours invested so far I don't think I'm interested in ever trying that again. I don't feel even a glimmer of "what an interesting challenge, I look forward to attempting solutions until I crack it".]

Fun game, would recommend playing with a mouse.
I tried playing on steamdeck and the touchpad was a tad annoying.

Very well done deck builder that has gotten a lot of support and updates from the devs. Well polished and has nice extras like plenty of achievements and point shop items. It is also has nice graphics, which you can't say about Slay the Spire or the upcoming Slay the Spire 2. I mean, that stupid looking Whale! C'mon STS. You could try to improve your graphics to match games like this, or Monastery or Vault of the Void.

Great if you like StS and Wildfrost. It's RPG themed with lots of backstory and character development. The map path is again like StS but has a lot of secrets and unlocks. The difficult is highly variable and so are the strategies. It has a lot of content and replayability. It's also being actively developed so there should be more future content and the devs actually address bugs.

Obviously derivative of slay the spire, this game has far more story and flavor, as well as expanded exploration aspects, making it a great game in it's own right. Improved communication about what you get by leveling up a class would be a good addition though.

Perfect Art, Perfect Story, Perfect gameplay, Perfect concept, Perfect vibe, Perfect everything!
Playstyle - from "Slay the Spire"
Story, humor, perks, gambling - from "Griftlands"
Strategy path - from "Monster Train"
Art and vibe - from "Darkest Dungeon"
10/10

Overall, pretty fun, and I enjoy the voices of the characters. The game trades off some randomness (the map is consistent between playthroughs) to add more storylines and interactions between the nodes on the map, which I thought was a fun innovation. As well as the ability to restart battles just by pressing a button in the menu. Though it does make repeated playthroughs even more repetitive than most fully rogue-likes.
I like the armour set options and bonuses, and I LOVE the art and world building.
My only main gripe is how hard the final boss fight is. It feels like a slog. I suspect one reason for that is a bug with the assisting NPC not handing you enough cards for the final stage of the combat. But it really put me off the game, since the map is repetitive and the final battle feels bad man.
Luckily there's two more PCs to play so I will go through them at least before I give up. Definitely worth getting on sale.

If you're a fan of Slay the Spire / Monster Train, or any other variation of those types of games, this game is similar enough to where you might get some enjoyment out of it. Off the rip, the game is extremely fun (at first) as you're exploring different areas and learning the mechanics of the game but the more you play the game you realize it's less of a roguelike and more of a linear progression (meta) type game.

In games like this you'd want to explore different deck synergies, go to different parts of the map, etc to find new ways of winning but at the end of the day there are mechanics in this game that pigeon hold you if you want to beat the final boss. For example, on the run that I'm on with one of the three main characters, I have to defeat this NPC towards the final part of the run FOUR times before he'll reveal to me how I can beat the final boss. ... That's about 4 grinding hours worth of game play just to unlock a mechanic needed to beat the boss... The more that I played this game the more apparent it became that there's not enough theory crafting with items and decks and it's more about linear progression.

Other reviewers summed it up perfectly, this game has an "Illusion of choice" where you think it's diverse with its roguelike mechanics but it's lacking in that department. If you like story-rich RPGs, this game offers an interesting, unique take on the genre where it's blending deck building roguelikes with RPGs. However, if you're a seasoned vet of StS/Monster Train and are looking for something to satisfy that itch until StS2 comes out, this may or may not be the game for you.

This game is enjoyable, however I can't recommend a game that plagiarizes so heavily. The game obviously "borrows" very heavily from Slay the Spire in many different aspects, which is for the most part okay, however when cards are stolen 1:1 from Slay the Spire, like same cost, same effects, even redrawings of the same artwork! That just goes way beyond the acceptable limits and straight into theft. They also straight up steal relic effects from Slay the Spire and attach them to items you can equip.
I contacted MegaCrit, asking if Knock on the Coffin Lid had licensed or otherwise received permission to use their cards, and they did not confirm that to be the case. I believe that there are other cards stolen from other games as well.

So anyways, if you are like me, and would not like to support plagiarism, avoid this game, and instead play Slay the Spire, Monster Train, Dicey Dungeon, Loot Rascals, FTL, or any of the many other games in a similar vein that are in the same genre, or scratch the same itch, without egregious theft from indie developers. Support the devs who originally designed what you'll find in this game!

And conversely, if you are *not* like me, and you have no issues with theft of other's work, well, Steam probably isn't the platform where you should be acquiring your games.

One of the best deckbuilders ever, I would even say better than slay the spire and i absolutely love slay the spire. Huge variety of builds, set items to hunt for and a ridiculously intricate narrative that you dont usually find in roguelikes. 10/10 game.

The most frustrating game I've ever played. SO many good things like the art, the cards, items, etc. and so many small things that completely game breaking that makes it 0 fun to play.

If you like deck building games with unique characters with their own specific decks this game is for you. With the three characters, each has 4 classes with their own decks/items etc. RNG is a big part of this game, but being tactical in making your deck is also important. I fully recommend this game to any who are new to the genre.

Four words sum up my endless frustration with this game: Vanadis's last boss fight.

The most mechanically interesting character is suddenly saddled with a terrible QTE-like fight that comes out of the blue and quickly soured me on the entire game. Such a shame.

The Review Critic: A Coffin Full of Potential – "KNOCK ON THE COFFIN LID" Edition

Ah, Knock on the Coffin Lid. A roguelike deck-builder that drags you into a grim and gritty world of undead adventures, only to leave you wondering if all those paths you discovered actually mattered. Let’s dig into this one—carefully, of course, because coffins don’t knock themselves.

Gameplay:
At first glance, this game is a roguelike dream. Each run gives you a chance to experiment with new paths, uncover hidden secrets, and piece together a story steeped in death and despair. Whether you’re battling monsters, choosing dialogue options, or tweaking your deck for maximum efficiency, every decision feels like it carries weight.

The highlight here is the joy of discovery. Multiple routes through the world invite you to explore different strategies, making each run feel like an entirely new adventure. The mix of combat and narrative choices gives you that sweet sense of agency, as though you’re carving out your own legend one run at a time.

But here’s the catch: by the time you’ve uncovered most of the options, the game’s charm starts to wear thin. The deeper you go, the clearer it becomes that there’s often only one right answer. You might think you’re cleverly blazing your own trail, but eventually, it feels like the game is nudging you down a predetermined path.

Visuals and Atmosphere:
The dark, brooding art style is a perfect fit for the game’s morbid themes. Each setting oozes with atmosphere, from haunted forests to eerie dungeons, making every step feel like part of a grim fairy tale. It’s a great aesthetic that complements the gameplay, even if it doesn’t fully distract from the repetitive endgame grind.

Replayability:
In the early hours, replayability is high. Testing different builds and routes is satisfying as you unravel the game’s secrets. But once you’ve seen most of what the game has to offer, the excitement wanes. It’s a shame because the journey starts out so strong, only to falter when you realize the game is holding your hand toward “the one right way” to succeed.

The Verdict:
Knock on the Coffin Lid is a solid entry in the roguelike deck-building genre, offering a gripping start and plenty of fun in its early stages. The thrill of discovery keeps you coming back for more, but the lack of meaningful endgame variety dulls its shine.

For fans of the genre, it’s still worth a play. Just be prepared for the game to subtly shove you toward the “correct” path as you near the end of your journey.

Rating: 7/10
Fun factor: High at first, but trails off like a bad ghost story.

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The Review Critic, signing off to knock on fewer coffins and find a game with more freedom.

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Phenomenal. There are a lot (a lot) of Slay the Spire-style roguelikes out there now -- and as much as I've enjoyed the format, it's starting to wear on me. This is probably the most interestingly inspired take on the formula that I've seen yet -- though largely in the details. It's probably also the prettiest, most polished take I've seen so far. The visuals are astonishing, the UI is excellent, and the voice acting is top-tier. Wild that it's this developer's first game -- bought the supporter pack for vibes. Very interested to see what they do next.