Four years since its last entry, the Orcs Must Die! Series is back with the release of Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap. The game introduces a four-player co-op, roguelite mechanics, and six new War Mages to the saga, while maintaining classic OMD! Features like third-person view and fantasy elements. Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap also brings back the fan-favorite Mage Max as a playable character and Gabriella as an NPC in the lobby.
Earlier in September, developer Robot Entertainment confirmed that Gabriella would eventually join the OMD! Deathtrap playable roster sometime after the game's release. Like previous OMD! Titles, Deathtrap is expected to receive periodic updates after launch. In a recent interview with The Best War Games, game director Kyle Snyder shared details about what's next in store for Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap throughout its first year.
Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap Review
Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap has a few screws that could be tightened, but is overall a strong continuation of the series' action-strategy gameplay.
What Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap Fans Can Look Forward to After Launch
OMD! Deathtrap's Closest Post-Launch Content
Snyder revealed that Gabriella will become playable sooner rather than later, and she will not be debuting alone. A new map, called Resort Canal, will be added in upcoming updates. According to Snyder, the development team is already "hard at work on a lot of exciting additions" and more traps, characters, and enemies are coming to OMD! Deathtrap's first and later years.
"Gabriella and a new map, Resort Canal, will be coming not too long after launch, in addition to a few other little surprises. And then, throughout the year and beyond, we’ll be adding more traps, War Mages, enemies, modes, and maps."
Snyder did not elaborate much on the availability of these additions, but he stated that "all maps will be free for all players" so fans can rest assured that some free content is in the works. He added that the team is still also looking into integrating player feedback in future features. Player input was a big part of the development of Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap, with Robot Entertainment holding multiple playtests ahead of launch to refine aspects like barricades and multiplayer balance. Snyder intends to carry the practice of involving players in decisions forward, especially as more players try out OMD! Deathtrap.
Gabriella's Kit and More New Mages
Along with Max, Gabriella is one of the popular characters from the Orcs Must Die! Series. She debuted in OMD! 2 and consistently remained part of the roster in the following titles. Unlike Max, she wasn't available in Deathtrap on day one, but Snyder revealed that Gabriella's kit will introduce "a new and improved arcane magic and status effect," features that are deliberately absent from the base game. This likely follows Deathtrap's goal of giving each Mage their own unique abilities. Finally, Snyder shared that Gabriella is getting a new battle outfit and the game director is confident that her design will appeal to fans.
But Gabriella won't be the last War Mage in the works for OMD! Deathtrap. The base game presents Kalos and Sophie, two anthropomorphic Mages with bear and cat-like features, respectively. The last entry in the Orcs Must Die! Series with animal characters was OMD! Unchained, so Snyder was excited to reintroduce this type of War Mages in Deathtrap. He revealed that Sophie was his favorite character in the game so far, and she proved to be popular among fans during playtests as well. Snyder admitted that there are plenty of fantasy races to choose from for character design, and added that more anthropomorphic Mages are very likely to join the OMD! Deathtrap roster.
"I don’t expect us to stop at bears and cats, so definitely expect even more variety in the future."
Snyder mentioned that "other little surprises" are coming soon, so hopefully fans won't wait too long to see what developers have prepared for them.
Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap
- Released
- January 28, 2025
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Robot Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Robot Entertainment
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Prequel(s)
- Orcs Must Die! 3
- Franchise
- Orcs Must Die!
- Number of Players
- 1-4
WHERE TO PLAY
Find your role among new War Mages, each with unique weapons, abilities, traps, and personality. Each hero is tailored to different play styles and can operate independently or work together with complementing heroes, ensuring versatile and mighty orc-smashing.
Enjoy the game solo or in co-op teams of up to four players – each option provides unique challenges and rewards. The game is designed to adjust to the number of players, ensuring a balanced and exciting contest in any combination.
Face intensifying waves of orcs and other hideous beasts with randomized buffs and debuffs that impact your hero, traps, weapons, stats, and the levels themselves. Environmental factors like weather and time of day further influence enemies and your defensive options. As these buffs and debuffs stack, choose to push forward against the growing hordes or return to your castle hub to power up your hero, weapons, and traps before facing a formidable Orc General in a brutal boss fight.
Experience enhanced combat where the combination of heroic prowess and ingenious traps leads to unparalleled orc destruction. Engage in tighter, more responsive third-person shooter and melee combat. Enjoy crazier physics-based interactions and more ridiculous ragdoll effects. Watch with joy as your traps hurl, crush, slice, and incinerate orcs in spectacular fashion.
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox Series X/S
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Tower Defense, Action, Roguelite, Strategy, Indie Games
