Feature Details
Release Date February 19, 2026 (Console)
Platforms Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, PC
Developer The Outer Zone
Publisher 11 bit studios
Price £16.74 (Standard) / £19.74 (Deluxe)
Game Pass Yes (Console & PC)

Tactical Grief: Death Howl Makes the Jump to Console

After winning over the PC crowd late last year, Death Howl has officially landed on consoles. We’ve been tracking this one since its PC debut in December, and its arrival on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation, and Switch—complete with a Day One Game Pass launch for console—is a massive win for tactical RPG fans. Published by 11 bit studios, this isn't your run-of-the-mill deck-builder. It’s an atmospheric heavy-hitter that tackles the heavy theme of loss. You play as Ro, a hunter who isn't just looking for a trophy; she’s crossing into a fractured spirit world to drag her son back from the dead. It’s grim, it’s focused, and it doesn’t pull punches.

The Soulslike Deck-Building Loop

What sets Death Howl apart is how it blends card-based strategy with "soulslike" tension. The combat plays out on a grid, demanding high-level positional awareness alongside smart deck management. With over 160 cards to collect, the build variety is deep. We’re seeing archetypes ranging from poison and blocking to high-risk sacrifice and retaliation kits. The soulslike DNA shows up in the "rest" mechanic. Just like a bonfire in Dark Souls, resting restores your strength but respawns the enemies you just cleared. It forces a constant cost-benefit analysis: do you push forward with a depleted hand, or reset the board and fight your way back? Our take? It’s a brilliant way to keep the stakes high in a genre that sometimes feels too safe.

A Steal on Game Pass

If you aren't playing via Game Pass, the entry fee is a very reasonable £16.74. For the collectors, the £19.74 Deluxe Edition throws in the soundtrack, an artbook, and some in-game relics—a solid value for an indie title that already earned "overwhelmingly positive" marks on Steam. The game is divided into multiple regions, each packed with environmental hazards and strange entities that tie back into Ro’s personal story. The minimalist art style and folklore-heavy tone give it a distinct identity that we believe helps it stand out in a crowded February release window.

Why You Should Care

We’ve seen plenty of tactical RPGs try to be "hard for the sake of being hard," but Death Howl uses its difficulty to mirror the protagonist's struggle. It’s about mastery through repetition and the sheer determination of a mother who refuses to say goodbye. For those of us who live for tight synergies and punishing-but-fair encounters, this is the first "must-play" indie of 2026.