Some games use death as a key feature of their games, such as roguelikes where it's expected and needed to start a new run. Other games can make the topic less scary and more digestible for people, such as A Mortician's Tale. Then there are games that have dark, morbid humor about the topic.
Dark humor takes serious matters and makes light of them, especially when it comes to topics that are considered taboo or painful to talk about. Games with dark humor don't have to be about death, but the ones that do stick out. Whether it be a player taking things into their own hands or dealing with the actions of others, games that don't take death too seriously are a great way to pass the time.
7 Graveyard Keeper
Graveyard Keeper is a medieval management simulator where players restore and run a graveyard and a church. The game is like a spooky version of Stardew Valley set in a fantasy world. Players can farm, craft, and sell items. They can also give sermons, dissect bodies, resurrect zombies, create potions, and more.
NPCs give players quests as seen in many other farming simulators, but these can range from normal tasks like gathering materials and items to more unique tasks like stopping cultists and witch burnings. DLCs are available for added content such as new plots, quests, and even the ability to open a tavern.
6 Little Misfortune
Little Misfortune is an indie point-and-click adventure game that's both sweet and dark. Players control Misfortune, an imaginative young girl looking for Eternal Happiness to give her mom. She's led by Mr. Voice, an unknown new friend, and encounters a fox that appears over and over again. Players lead Misfortune through the woods to uncover mysteries and unravel secrets.
The game is focused on the characters, exploration, and plot. The story is interactive, and every choice has an impact and consequence. Players can pet a variety of animals, encounter monsters, view haunting deaths, and find missing children. There's a pet cemetery to visit and players can even commit petty crimes.
5 Have A Nice Death
Have a Nice Death is a 2D action-packed platforming roguelike. Players follow Death, a reaper, as they restore order to Death Incorporated through controlling employees and souls. The game offers many departments to explore that are procedurally generated. Combat is fast-paced. Gamers can choose from thirty unique weapons and spells to fight minions and bosses with. These can be upgraded to make them more devastating.
The game features advantages such as getting curse upgrades and disadvantages such as accidentally summoning the Labor Inspector. There are business and afterlife elements, such as sharing gossip around the office, interacting with Death's pumpkin-headed assistant, and getting performance reviews on runs to unlock upgrades. Because the game is a roguelike, players cannot die, something fitting for the character being an embodiment of Death itself.
4 Agatha Knife
Agatha Knife is an indie point-and-click adventure game. Agatha is a butcher's daughter who has animal friends but also loves eating meat. Players control her journey as she creates a new religion, Carnivorism, to convince the animals that death isn't to be feared because being slaughtered will bring them happiness. There are a variety of characters and stories to discover along the way.
The game tackles controversial issues by putting them through the lens of a young child with dark humor and wit. It features geeky references, challenging puzzles, and satirical dialog that all invite players to see the darker side of everyday life.
3 Peace, Death!
Peace, Death! is an indie arcade simulator. Players control a grim reaper sorting souls for Death while also completing tasks for the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Depending on an NPC's dialog, traits, and hidden features, players can send characters to Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory. The choices made determine this game's ending.
Catastrophes happen weekly and force a time constraint on players. These can include events such as characters with safes full of smuggled goods or a breakout of bear influenza. The last day of each week is themed, featuring special music and spirits. The pixel-art game has humorous dialog, memes, and more.
2 Death And Taxes
Death and Taxes is a 2D indie strategy game with a focus on narrative. Players control a grim reaper working in an office who sorts papers. These papers decide which NPCs live or die. Every choice affects the world and the game's ending is determined by those decisions. Players can do what Death says to get promoted or stop the end of the world. Since all actions have consequences, there are many secret endings and the game has a lot of replayability.
There are plenty of fun office elements besides sorting paperwork. Players can talk to their boss, decorate their desk, customize the reaper's appearance, pet the cat, and more. With quirky elevator music, this game adds a lightheartedness to death and world-destroying events.
1 Death Coming
Death Coming is a casual strategy and puzzle game featuring pixel graphics and gore. Players control a reaper who is tasked with harvesting human souls by interacting with items around the world rather than controlling the people directly. There are plenty of accidental deaths to cause, and havoc to wreak. The environments have varying weather conditions and can be anything from missile factories to the suburbs.
Puzzles in levels can be solved in any order, but players should plan carefully because this non-linear game includes reactive character routines that can impact future deaths. Agents of Light will also try to save the humans and stop any accidents.