The Deck Builder Roguelike style is very well established nowadays, making it difficult for a title in the genre to captivate most players without drawing comparisons to games like Slay The Spire. Knock on the Coffin Lid presents itself as a title where the strategy revolves around understanding the deck of cards you have in hand, along with the possibility of collecting cards along the way to overcome all enemies encountered, set in a very dark mist that captivates with its equally morbid story. This positions the game as a unique experience in a genre that has become increasingly popular in recent years.
The story unfolds in a medieval world embraced by the shadows of darkness, where humans, elves, dwarves, and demons clash, standing out due to its rich narrative. The player begins their adventure in this world as a hero who has been resurrected, tasked with navigating the consequences of a war while piecing together the story behind their own death and rebirth. Beyond its addictive gameplay, what makes the game even more appealing is its branching narrative, where every choice made impacts the path the hero treads, shaping all encounters for better or worse.
The player will move across a kind of board game, leading to the next encounter, where they may face a variety of situations. This can include small text choices that do not result in battle, narrative events that end in confrontation, and a range of completely random possibilities.
The world-building is undoubtedly one of the game’s strengths, with visuals painted in melancholic, mysterious, and shocking tones. The entire adventure is filled with grim landscapes and terrifying enemies, accompanied by an exquisite soundtrack that together immerse the player into its world. The story cutscenes aren’t just snippets of text describing the encounter; these moments are also reflected in the combat, where the player tries to defeat any type of enemy they face. To illustrate, there’s an encounter with an elf trying to shoot an apple off a captured dwarf’s head with a bow and arrow. When the player interrupts, the elf misses the target and hits the poor prisoner in the forehead with an arrow. This same image is carried into the battle, should negotiations with the elf go awry. These simple but thoughtful details show the game’s attention to depth.
Knock on the Coffin Lid offers traditional roguelike deck-building mechanics but adds its own essence to the formula. The player builds a deck with cards that represent attack moments, abilities, and defenses, choosing a character class that determines their starting build. Each run is unique, marked by the possibility of upgrading or collecting cards, discovering potions with various effects—such as healing potions, bombs to damage enemies’ defenses, among others—and even adding characters to the group. Though the player doesn’t directly control these characters during gameplay, they serve as an interesting addition and a significant aid in the fight against the forces trying to defeat the main character.
The roguelike progression means that defeat is more than likely, but each run contributes to overall progress. Players collect resources, unlock new cards that can improve the performance of future runs. Each character presents a different class, only available after being unlocked. To achieve this, the player must go as far as possible to earn points for this purpose. The difficulty in certain moments can be quite punishing, especially for players unfamiliar with the genre. However, the learning curve is highly rewarding as players begin to grasp the complexity of each card deck.
Knock on the Coffin Lid is a solid addition to the genre, offering an engaging story, interesting characters, and deep strategic elements. Its dark fantasy setting and narrative choices provide a distinct flavor, setting it apart from others, making it a perfect choice for anyone looking for an exciting deck builder with lots of personality.
