Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap

Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap catapults the beloved franchise into new territory with an ambitious four-player cooperative experience that masterfully blends trap-laying strategy with intense third-person combat. And when I say "catapults," I mean it literally – as you can use all sorts of weapons to squash those pesky orcs. It would be cruel if it wasn't so fun!

This latest entry maintains the series' signature chaos and humor while introducing deeper progression systems and rogue-lite elements that add meaningful tactical depth to the orc-slaying mayhem. Whether playing solo or with friends, the game offers a satisfying mix of strategic planning and moment-to-moment action that keeps you coming back for more.

The cathartic action the series is known for has never looked (or played) better, and now that you have traps at your disposal, the possibilities for mayhem are nearly endless. Poor orcs.

Chaos Evolved

While previous Orcs Must Die! titles focused on solo or two-player experiences, Deathtrap expands the chaos to accommodate up to four players without losing the tactical core that made the series special.

Allow me to confess something: this is my first time with an Orcs Must Die! game, and I'm having a blast so far. At first, I thought the game was something like Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare (the visuals looked similar.) What I found, however, was an addictive roguelite I could play with friends for hours on end.

The game cleverly scales its challenges based on party size, ensuring that both solo players and full teams face appropriate challenges. Each character brings distinct weapons, abilities, and trap specialties to the battlefield – just what you need to decimate the hordes more efficiently (and look cool doing so).

This diversity of playstyles creates a more dynamic experience than previous entries in the series, while maintaining the core satisfaction of watching well-placed traps decimate hordes of hapless orcs.

Roguelike Done Right

The roguelike (or is it roguelite?) elements make the game feel more rewarding in repeat playthroughs. Random buffs and debuffs affect heroes, traps, and even the levels themselves, forcing players to adapt their strategies on the fly. It's a bit like Rogue Legacy 2, minus the frustration, of course.

While the orcs and monsters themselves are rarely a real threat (YOU are the monster here,) you'll have to keep a close eye on the weather and other environmental variables. The decision to push forward against increasingly difficult waves or retreat to the hub to upgrade creates meaningful strategic choices.

Combat Evolved

The combat has received a significant overhaul, bringing it closer to the responsiveness of dedicated third-person shooters while maintaining the series' distinctive style. The tighter controls and enhanced physics make direct combat more satisfying than ever, though it never overshadows the trap-laying strategy that defines the series.

The new physics system deserves special mention, as it turns every successful trap combination into a spectacular display of destruction. Orcs ragdoll through the air frequently, creating moments of physical comedy the ones I haven't seen since Bulletstorm.

Pros

• Incredibly fun multiplayer
• Engaging roguelike elements makes every run feel unique
• Improved combat and physics

Cons

• Some traps are definitely more overpowered than others
• Map designs can be a bit disappointing
• RNG can make some runs frustratingly difficult for no reason