I was asked to cover Deadly Days: Roadtrip public playtest. I understand the game is still in development and will be a bit more lenient with my criticism. That said, these will be my honest impressions.

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What is Deadly Days: Roadtrip?

Deadly Days: Roadtrip is a top down auto-battler roguelike dungeon crawler coming to PC.

The world crumbles under the weight of a zombie outbreak. Those left drive from place to place, searching for survival. Gas is finite, and sometimes you have to get out and find some more. Run across procedurally generated dungeons to collect enough gas to fill the tank and do your best to stay alive. Do you have what it takes to make it to the end of this horrible road trip?

Gameplay

All players start in the main hub where they can buy upgrades and customize their character between runs. Players then get to plan their supply runs where they can collect upgrades, weapons, and gas. Players are offered locations with different lootable supplies, so make sure you plan according. The game also features a day and night cycle that not only creates atmosphere, but adds a bit of challenge. The longer a player spends in a level, the more zombies appear. A run ends when the player runs out of health. What makes Deadly Days unique is its inventory management system. Players will always start with a limited amount of bag space, but can upgrade it either through special drops or by leveling up. When a player levels up, they can choose between a random weapon, item, or bag expansion. While the RNG does feel fair, it also means there are a lot of tough choices.

Impressions

I love this genre, and Deadly Days: Roadtrip has earned its spot in my rotation. It has a cute and playful art style, relaxing yet engaging gameplay, and solid flavor. If you want a cute casual game that doesn’t require a huge commitment, you’d be hard pressed to find better. This game is in such a good place in it’s development, and I am excited to see what a full product looks like.

The game runs well, but I couldn’t get it working on the Steam Deck. I hope it gets Steam Deck support in a later release. Combat is a lot of fun. Maneuvering through the maps is active and fun, and all the weapons feel different. Upgrades create a tangible increase in power, which is always nice to see. The procedural generated levels are well done. All the maps felt unique and they were filled with a diverse cast of zombies hungry for brains. My favorite feature of the game was the day and night cycle that made the levels feel more intense. I also love inventory management, so this game had everything I love.

I can see the game feeling a bit repetitive, especially in the early stages, but that is the charm of the genre. I feel like the maps and monsters give the game enough variety to keep things interesting.

If you’re looking for a new game to play, head to the official Deadly Days: Roadtrip Steam page and sign up for the playtest. Don’t forget to wishlist!