Die by the Blade
Released May 2024
Vanquish your foes with a single strike in 1v1 weapon-based fighter Die by the Blade. Dive into a samuraipunk world and wield a range of traditional Japanese weapons to determine your moveset. Outwit your opponent in intense, tactical battles and master the art of the one-hit kill!
59% positive · 164 reviews
Not yet
Released, but development status unclear
Low confidence
Development Uncertain
Not yet
Released, but development status unclear
Low confidence
Development Uncertain
Where to buy
Green Man Gaming Steam key Lowest $9.01 $19.99 −55% Steam $12.99 $19.99 −35% IndieGala Steam key $19.99
Prices in USD, as listed by each store.
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Evaluation
Die by the Blade launched on May 16, 2024 to a rocky reception. Three days after launch, Grindstone's CEO posted a public apology acknowledging the game was released prematurely and committed the team to fixing it through ongoing updates. True to that promise, the developer shipped a steady stream of patches and feature updates throughout May, June, and July 2024 — overhauling the combo system, rating system, parry mechanics, network performance, and more. A free demo was also released on June 14, 2024 to help new players try before buying.
However, after a brief Steam sale announcement on November 27, 2024, the developer went completely silent. No patches, no devlogs, no announcements of any kind have appeared since that date. The launch announcement had also mentioned console releases planned for October 2024, but there has been no confirmation that those ever shipped. The studio's earlier commitment to regular updates appears to have stalled, and with no communication in over six months, it is unclear whether development is continuing or has wound down entirely.
Evidence
CEO issued a public apology admitting the game launched in poor condition and committed the team to delivering ongoing fixes and improvements
Update 1.0.10 released with gameplay improvements and bug fixes — last patch posted by the developer
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Grindstone
Achievements
13
Platform
Windows
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Not rated
Players
Multiplayer · PvP · Local/Split Screen
About this game
Die by the Blade is a 1v1 weapons-focused fighter where the difference between victory and death lies in a single strike of the blade. Choose your weapon and character combination freely to define your moveset, then do battle in neon-soaked back alleys and ancient forests. Take up arms and crush your friends in local or online multiplayer, or test your skills against unknown warriors in online ranked matches.
Victory in these tense, all-or-nothing matches will depend on your ability to read your opponent, parry and avoid their attacks, and exploit their mistakes at a moment’s notice. There is no room for error.
Your moveset is determined by your weapon rather than your choice of character. Will you sacrifice your speed for the powerful two-handed nodachi? Or will you overwhelm your enemy with a flurry of strikes from the nimble katana?
Choose your favourite from among a range of diverse characters, or mould them into your ideal warrior through in-depth character and weapon customization features. Each character also features minor stat changes to suit certain playstyles.
Fight in the neon-soaked streets of the inner city or among the snowy fields of the Japanese countryside. Don historically inspired armour or kit your character out with a cybernetic mask. Each character and weapon features dozens of components, allowing you to perfectly express your personal style on the battlefield.
Supported using public funding by
One-Hit Kills
Die by the Blade is a game with no health bars — every strike can mean death.Victory in these tense, all-or-nothing matches will depend on your ability to read your opponent, parry and avoid their attacks, and exploit their mistakes at a moment’s notice. There is no room for error.
Choose Your Weapon
A true warrior is defined by their mastery of the blade.Your moveset is determined by your weapon rather than your choice of character. Will you sacrifice your speed for the powerful two-handed nodachi? Or will you overwhelm your enemy with a flurry of strikes from the nimble katana?
Choose your favourite from among a range of diverse characters, or mould them into your ideal warrior through in-depth character and weapon customization features. Each character also features minor stat changes to suit certain playstyles.
Samuraipunk
Die by the Blade is set in a samuraipunk world that fuses traditional Japanese aesthetics with cyberpunk culture.Fight in the neon-soaked streets of the inner city or among the snowy fields of the Japanese countryside. Don historically inspired armour or kit your character out with a cybernetic mask. Each character and weapon features dozens of components, allowing you to perfectly express your personal style on the battlefield.
Feature List
- Master the one-hit-kill, parrying, and dodging mechanics to withstand a flurry of blows and cut down your opponents in seconds;
- Choose from a range of traditional Japanese blades to define your moveset and playstyle;
- Take on your friends or test your strength against players from around the world with our local and online 1v1 multiplayer;
- Hone your skills in Practice Mode, battle your way through Tournament Mode, or see where you stand in online Ranked matches;
- Explore a samuraipunk world through the game’s arenas: battle in the zen-like calm of a traditional Japanese temple or take the fight to the graffitied streets of the city;
- Make your weapon and warrior your own with in-depth customization features.
Supported using public funding by
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 25, 2026
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