EVERDEATH

EVERDEATH is a 2D platformer game that explores combat with movement, pressure, and progression, forcing the player to fight waves of enemies with the goal of staying alive.

Your chain is more than just a weapon, it’s your lifeline.

There are myths about Everdeath and what lies within. Many have journeyed there but never come back. The path is riddled with vile rotten creatures, waiting to take their next victim. Will you be the one to reveal its secrets?

DESIGN PROCESS
At its core, Everdeath was born from a fascination with pressure, control, and the moment-to-moment choices that players make under duress. Many games offer players a power fantasy, inviting them to master systems until they feel in control. But Everdeath aims to flip that narrative. It doesn’t hand players power; it demands they earn survival. I wanted to explore a space where movement is not a luxury but a necessity, and where the thrill of combat is balanced by the threat of failure at every turn.

This game explores the “why” behind our desire to push forward in spite of danger, and how challenge, when designed intentionally, can drive deeper emotional engagement. In Everdeath, failure isn’t just a reset, it’s a teacher. It urges players to find rhythm in chaos and mastery through motion. The dialogue and deeper story elements also provide a sense of worth, which leaves the player wanting to know more.

SETTING
The game is set in the desolate land of Esdria, a holy empire founded on a blood-soaked history of religious warfare and forced conversions. Its people were once blessed by the Silent God, Liallos, a deity who demanded absolute devotion in exchange for divine protection. Esdria’s prosperity came at the cost of countless lives, offered as sacrifices to maintain the purity of the kingdom. The ruling clergy enforced a brutal doctrine known as the Law of Silence, where speaking against the faith or questioning the divine led to grotesque punishments. However, centuries of silence ended when Liallos withdrew their favor, unsatisfied, and Esdria was left to rot. Plagues, deformities, and horrors emerged, consuming the kingdom. They nickname this land Everdeath.

GAMEPLAY FEATURES
Chain: A weapon used to pull enemies towards you, or pull yourself towards enemies. This is your primary source of combat.

Dash: A movement ability that allows you to swiftly maneuver in one direction. You are also able to damage enemies while dashing.

Waves: Enemies continuously spawn in waves at random, whereas each wave becomes more difficult than the last. Attempt to get past 10 waves!

Dialogue: Every couple of waves, a different color orb will appear. Jump into this orb to activate a dialogue sequence, which elaborates on the tone and style of each character you encounter.

SHOWCASE


THE CRAWLING MAW
A skeletal being with limbs, a basic enemy type that moves along the ground, and has melee attacks. These are the bottom feeders. Before Everdeath was left to rot, they thrived in silence and strayed away from others. Now, they are forced to linger amongst other beings in utter chaos.

THE FEEBLE CRONE
A decayed witch who was part of a religious cult, living amongst a community of like-minded beings. These are flying enemy types that swoop down to attack. They vowed to communicate through whispers and move in complete stealth.

THE MAD SOOTHSAYER
A mutation derived from the countless dead in Everdeath. These soothsayers used to be able to foresee the future, allowing them to make calculated movements. Now, they have lost this ability, though they continuously strive to regain what they once lost. They are a ranged enemy type that shoots balls of flesh, and has swift movement.

LIALLOS
The one who has left Everdeath to rot. They return once more, challenging who has disrupted their self-proclaimed divine creations. You are the first in centuries to do so. Liallos lingers amongst the creatures and chaos that ensues, protecting something within.