Review of Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap

The Orcs Must Die franchise returns with gusto in Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap, a sequel that dances between innovation and familiar themes more than any of its predecessors. Introducing a roguelike twist to its well-loved formula, Deathtrap manages to keep its core elements intact, but these additions can feel both fresh and somewhat superficial. Why mess with a good thing? Yet, those expecting big changes might notice a few loose ends and unpolished areas.

Sticking to its winning formula of real-time combat blended with strategic planning, Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap invites players back to the battlefield. The objective? Fend off waves of Orcs determined to smash through your defenses and ravage the Rift, your base of operations. Using traps and reflexive combat prowess, players engage in a thrilling, fast-paced defense effort. It’s a dream come true for fans of tower defense, but those hoping for a deeper dive may find it a bit sparse.

Stripping away some of the series’ traditional aspects—like narrative and the alternative modes introduced in Orcs Must Die 3—Deathtrap focuses tightly on the series’ core mechanics. What you get is an efficient Orc-slaying machine of a game; maybe not an award magnet, but certainly a source of delight with its over-the-top, comically vicious gameplay.

As the curtain rises, players are met with a straightforward opening, leading swiftly into the game proper. You too get to choose from seven distinct War Mages, each boasting unique abilities. While these characters are mechanically straightforward, they still bring plenty of fun to the table. You won’t perform any jaw-dropping kill streaks here, but the character diversity offers just enough variety to keep things engaging.

The true allure of Deathtrap, akin to its predecessors, lies in its arsenal of traps. Knowing the paths Orcs will take to the Rift is crucial since only a few Orcs can bring disaster. Strategically placing traps along these routes can turn the odds in your favor. From floor spikes to showers of acid raining from the ceiling, the deadly tools you wield grow and improve as you invest resources gained from mission successes back at your Fortress hub.

Crafting the perfect Orc-destroying setup offers immense satisfaction. Watching as your deviously concocted trap-laden corridors decimate the invading horde is nothing short of delightful. The game boasts expansive, intricate maps that become easier as you familiarize yourself with them, ensuring a rewarding experience that comes as much from your strategic smarts as from the actual loot and progress rewards, which, admittedly, could use some work.

Running smoothly throughout, my experience was a visual treat on a PC equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 and an RTX 4060, maintaining a solid 70 FPS even amidst wild battles with swarms of Orcs.

While not the purest roguelike experience, Deathtrap does borrow elements from the genre, allowing players to select upgrades after each wave. But these upgrades, rather than offering wild, transformative powers, provide modest boosts, leaving something to be desired in terms of variety and impact. The progression lacks the layered complexity that makes roguelikes shine, often feeling stagnant with basic improvements instead of imaginative enhancements.

The game also offers a persistent skill tree, but its offerings are similarly mundane—slight increases to health post-revival or marginal boosts to a character’s critical hit chance. These slowly augment your War Mage, but don’t add much depth to the gameplay itself, suggesting that more dynamic changes could have made progression much more captivating.

Even here, traps remain the game’s beating heart. Unveiling new traps that vastly expand your tactical options keeps things fresh even as the combat aspect of playing as a War Mage wears thin. The combat might lack the same dynamism found in trap strategy, but the two elements together carry the game.

Deathtrap’s significant departure lies in its expanded squad size—from two to four players—making the game shine brightest in co-op play. While single-player stands as an option, co-op truly breathes life into the experience. Planning strategies with friends amplifies the fun, uncovering new tactics and better utilizing the varied War Mage roles. Different Mages collaborate beautifully, with their distinct strengths compensating for each other’s weaknesses, elevating the gameplay experience.

Among its peers, Deathtrap is co-op-centric, with gameplay designed for teamwork. The complementarity of characters enhances this design, making its multiplayer experience richer and more nuanced than the single-player offering.

Launching straight onto Game Pass on its release day, Deathtrap will likely see robust multiplayer engagement, a testament to the game’s cooperative charm.

Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is solidly crafted, if a bit unremarkable in its ambitions. While not the flashiest or most groundbreaking multiplayer title, it captures the strategic and real-time essence that has anchored the series. Long-time fans may be divided by the roguelike elements and the increased focus on multiplayer, but there’s no denying that the game manages to polish several of the series’ core strengths.

Mark your calendars: Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap hits PC and Xbox Series X|S on January 28, 2024. For this review, a Steam code was supplied by Game Rant.