Death by Scrolling

Released Oct 2025

Welcome to Purgatory, inc. now under new management! Death by Scrolling is an action game where you kill enemies, collect gold, and avoid the Reaper long enough to pay the Ferrymanʼs exorbitant river-crossing fee to the afterlife.

77% positive · 192 reviews

Not yet

Released, but still in active development

Medium confidence

Active Development

Not yet

Released, but still in active development

Medium confidence

Active Development

Where to buy

Steam Updated 12 Oct 2026 $7.99

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Evaluation

Death by Scrolling launched on October 28, 2025. Since launch, the developer has been consistently active: two feature patches arrived within the first two weeks (October 30 and November 4, 2025), followed by another performance and quality-of-life patch on November 11, 2025. The most significant post-launch development came on April 16, 2026, when the developer shipped what they described as the largest update since launch — adding a brand-new playable character (Demon Debbie, with unique flying mechanics and fireball attacks), an entirely new Lava World biome, and new power-ups. A hotfix followed two days later on April 18, 2026. The developer has not announced any specific future content or roadmap, but the pattern of sustained, meaningful updates — culminating in a significant content expansion roughly six months after launch — indicates the game is actively receiving new content. No developer statement signals that development has concluded.

Evidence

Largest post-launch update adds new playable character Demon Debbie, a new Lava World biome with fire-themed hazards, and new power-ups.

news post · Apr 16, 2026 source content shipped

high

Performance and quality-of-life patch: Steam Deck stuttering fix, Linux improvements, Chance Card removal system, quick restart option.

news post · Nov 11, 2025 source development ongoing

medium

Media

Details

Developer

Terrible Toybox NZ

Publisher

MicroProse Software

Achievements

Platform

Windows, macOS, Linux

Controller

full support

Steam Deck

Verified

Players

Single-player

Action Pixel Graphics Cute Dark Comedy 2D Top-Down Controller Choices Matter Cozy Dark Humor Roguelite Horror Fantasy Comedy Funny

About this game

Welcome to Death By Scrolling, an action game set in the chaotic depths of Purgatory, inc. now under new management! Choose your character—each with unique perks and abilities, and race upward through endless levels. Battle bizarre monsters, dodge death itself, and collect gems to pay the Ferryman’s exorbitant fee! With each screen inching upward, time is never on your side. Outsmart the Reaper, grab power-ups, complete quirky side quests, and shop from vendors mid-run. Stay alive, pay your dues, and maybe, just maybe, you'll cross that river.

🔥 Key Features

Varied Cast of Characters: Select from multiple playable characters, each offering distinct abilities and perks to suit your playstyle.
Vertically Scrolling Mayhem: Constant upward movement means no time to rest—let the fiery bottom of the screen catch you, and it’s game over.
Relentless Pursuit: The Reaper is always close by—stun, dodge, and outmaneuver, but never kill him!
Loot & Progression: Collect gold and precious gems to unlock upgrades, power-ups, and abilities from quirky vendors.
Bonus Runs & Side Quests: Discover extra challenges and side quests at the top of each level for extra rewards.
Monster Mash: Battle quirky underworld creatures, from hellish pests to demonic bosses, all in a wild vertical sprint.
Quirky Lore & Humor: A tongue-in-cheek take on afterlife bureaucracy, with cheeky dialogues and playful narration.
Leaderboards: See how your purgatorial performance stacks up against other trapped souls.