Death’s Door: Polygon says the 2021 crow Reaper is one of the best Zelda-like games

Polygon's Jan. 27, 2026 review says Death’s Door, originally released in July 2021, remains one of the best Zelda-influenced isometric action-adventure games, blending Soulsborne-style combat with a charming art style and music. You play as a voiceless crow Reaper sent by the Reaping Commission Headquarters to collect the soul of a large monster.

A mysterious giant crow steals that soul and drops cryptic hints about a conspiracy tied to the RCH and its leader, the ominous Lord of Doors, launching an adventure to gather three Giant Souls and open Death’s Door. Despite the grave stakes, Polygon highlights the game’s consistent silliness: the Reaping Commission’s bureaucratic tone, a soup-pot-headed knight who quips “Judge me not by the shape of my head, but by the deliciousness of the soup inside!,” an escalatingly ridiculous King of the Swamp intro, a witchy grannie who drops the act with “You little shit,” and a late-game food truck owner named Jefferson who calls the player a “fellow biped.” Structurally the game feels Zelda-like, with three distinct biomes and dungeons and a central HQ hub.

Combat and gameplay loops carry Souls-like elements — fast, aggressive enemies, dodge-focused encounters and stamina management — but Polygon notes a much kinder learning curve. Players collect new weapons, abilities and upgrades to shape their playstyle.

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