During Gamescom 2025`s Opening Night, acclaimed game designer Ron Gilbert unveiled his latest creation, Death by Scrolling. This new title is a pixel-art, vertically-scrolling roguelike, blending action-RPG mechanics with a distinctly dark humor.
Players in Death by Scrolling find themselves in a place called Purgatory™, depicted as a vibrant, retro pixel-art environment that is perpetually engulfed by an advancing wall of fire. This mechanic drives the core gameplay, as the screen continuously auto-scrolls upwards, compelling players to relentless forward motion—a concept reflected directly in the game`s title.
The unveiled trailer presented five distinct heroes, each boasting unique abilities. Gameplay footage highlighted these characters battling diverse adversaries as the world scrolls upward, simultaneously gathering valuable power-up cards and gold. A persistent threat in the game appears to be a pursuing reaper, inflicting various detrimental stat debuffs on the hero. The ultimate objective involves accumulating enough wealth to pay a ferryman, thereby securing an escape from Purgatory™ – a task that promises to be exceptionally challenging.
As a roguelike, repeated deaths and restarts are an expected part of the experience. However, it remains uncertain what persistent upgrades or bonuses players might retain across multiple playthroughs. The trailer`s mention of quest and shop systems could offer clues regarding progression between runs.
While a definitive release date has not yet been announced, Death by Scrolling is currently available for wishlisting on Steam.