Don’t Die Game: First Blockchain Roguelike Playtest Oct 16

Key Takeaways

• Don’t Die, a solo blockchain roguelike, will hold its first playtest on October 16.
• Players will build their own dice, face bosses like Ganondwarf, and earn points and NFTs based on skill.
• The game avoids pay-to-win systems, offering equal earning chances for all NFT tiers.

A New Kind of Blockchain Roguelike

Don’t Die is a solo, turn-based blockchain roguelike where every choice shapes your fate. It’s been built with the help of a grant from Avalanche and is now ready for its first public playtest. Anyone can join by signing up at dontdie.gg using their email. The developers describe it as an experiment in free-to-play, skill-based crypto gaming that removes pay-to-win mechanics.

At its core, Don’t Die is about building and customizing dice. You begin each run with four dice, each having four sides. Every victory lets you add a new Side, creating stronger dice with more unpredictable outcomes. Over time, your dice can evolve to five, six, or more sides. Each new Side can add attacks, shields, or special effects. The more powerful your dice become, the higher the risk of chaos. Winning depends on how you balance luck and strategy.Source: X

The Path of Risk and Reward

Each run takes you through The Path, a board filled with different types of tiles. You roll to move and face whatever lands before you. Some tiles trigger battles, while others lead to healing fires, mystery events, or strange shopkeepers. You might even face an Obelisk, a back-to-back battle that promises big rewards at great risk. Along the way, you’ll explore themed Biomes like the fiery La Volcano, frozen Ice Cave, or toxic Swamp. Each brings new enemies and dice upgrades.

Every battle and encounter earns you points. When the two-week season ends, your points decide your placement in the prize pools. There are several prize categories, including a Leaderboard Pool for top scores, Sticker Pools, Guaranteed Pools, and the Deadpool for fallen characters. The Ultimate Prize goes to one player who defeats the third boss. Only one prize can be claimed per NFT, and winning the Ultimate Prize removes your run from other pools.

Stickers Multiply Your Rewards

Stickers play a big role in how much you earn. They’re not just for looks—each sticker adds Loot Points that boost your prize multiplier. For example, earning five Loot Points gives a 1x multiplier, while collecting more can increase your rewards up to 10x. Stickers are earned through gameplay and by inviting friends. Each referral earns free stickers and entries into NFT sweepstakes. Since stickers can’t be bought, they highlight skill and engagement, not spending.

Don’t Die features five NFT tiers, from free to $1000. All tiers earn points at the same rate. This keeps the game fair for both casual and high-tier players. The difference lies in potential reward scaling. For instance, a $100 NFT run can yield lootboxes worth $100 each and up to ten boxes if you reach the 10x multiplier. You can have multiple runs active, but only one free run at a time. NFTs can also be traded after reaching checkpoints, allowing others to buy into high-performing runs.

As the name suggests, survival is everything. If your health drops to zero, your NFT dies and becomes ineligible for most rewards—except for the Deadpool, which holds just 1% of the prize money. You can secure progress by stopping at checkpoints, which appear mid-chapter and after bosses. Stopping there locks in your run for prizes and allows it to be traded.

Reset Bad Luck with Time Crystals

Time Crystals are special items that let players change fate. Spend two crystals to re-roll movement or eight crystals to rewind to your last checkpoint. It’s a tool for correcting mistakes or escaping bad rolls. Using them wisely adds another layer of skill and risk management.

During your run, you’ll collect various items that enhance gameplay or increase rewards. These include new dice sides, stickers, trinkets, boosts, gold, time crystals, and flares. The deeper you progress, the greater the rewards—but only if you survive.

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Fights are turn-based and depend on your dice rolls. Each roll triggers effects like attacks or shields in sequence. If the enemy survives, it fights back. Between battles, you can change dice order or use boosts for an advantage. After winning, you gain new dice sides, points, and rewards. The loop continues until you die or stop safely at a checkpoint.

First Playtest Starts October 16

The first playtest begins on October 16, giving early testers their first chance to face Ganondwarf, the first boss. The test will include early combat mechanics, dice building, and the first chapter of gameplay. Anyone can join for free by signing up with their email on dontdie.gg. Players can also invite friends to earn bonus rewards and stickers before the full release.

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