Don't Die Game will launch its first playtest on October 16, giving early testers a first look at this upcoming solo blockchain roguelike. The game has been in the making and was built with the help of a grant from Avalanche. Players can join the playtest by signing up at dontdie.gg using their email.

The developers describe the project as an experiment in free to play, skill-based crypto gaming that avoids pay-to-win mechanics. While details about what's included in the playtest are still unknown, the team has teased that players will face off against the first boss, Ganondwarf, in a run that will test both their luck and their choices.

A Roguelike Where You Build Your Own Dice

Don't Die plays like a turn-based roguelike where every decision shapes your chances of survival. At its core, the game blends chance with strategy by giving players dice that can be customized over time.

You begin each run with 4 dice, each having 4 sides. Every time you win a fight, you'll be able to add a new Side to one of your dice, giving it more power but also adding unpredictability. Over time, your dice evolve into 5-sided, 6-sided, and beyond, but stronger dice come with higher risk.

The twist lies in how players build their own luck. Each new Side can introduce attacks, shields, or passive effects that shape the flow of a run. You'll need to balance raw power with consistency if you want to make it far.

Not Just Dice: This Is a Game of Risk and Reward

Don't Die is designed around risk-based decision making, and the game board reflects that. As you move through each run, you'll follow The Path, a board made up of various types of tiles. You roll to move, then face what lands in your way.

Some spaces offer battles against regular or big enemies (baddies). Others include boss fights, like Ganondwarf. Between those, you'll find healing campfires, special mystery events, and shops run by strange characters. One sells black market goods, while another lets you spend blood when you run out of gold.

There are also Obelisks, which are back-to-back fights that offer great rewards at high cost, and powerful Loot Dice that grant game-changing effects.

Throughout a run, you'll travel across themed Biomes, such as the lava-filled La Volcano, the icy Ice Cave, or the poisonous Toxic Swamp. Each biome brings unique baddies and new types of dice sides.

Playing for Points, Not Just Survival

Each time you battle, take down an enemy, or push through an encounter, you earn points. Points are what count when the 2-week season ends.

If your character survives until the end of the season, and you've collected enough points, you'll qualify for one of several prize pools. These include:

  • Leaderboard Pool for the top 200 highest-scoring runs
  • Sticker Pools, where higher point totals improve your odds of winning
  • Guaranteed Pools, for those who meet set conditions
  • Deadpool, for players whose characters died
  • Ultimate Prize, a single award for one player who defeats the 3rd boss

Only one prize can be won from each pool category per NFT. If you win the Ultimate Prize, your run becomes ineligible for the Sticker Pool.

Stickers Boost Your Rewards

Stickers are more than cosmetics. Each sticker adds Loot Points, which build up to multiply your reward. For example, getting 5 loot points increases your multiple to 1x, and more points mean a bigger multiplier. If you can earn enough stickers, you could receive up to 10x more loot from a single NFT run.

Stickers are earned through gameplay and by bringing friends into the game via the referral system. Players get free stickers for every referral and are also entered into sweepstakes for NFTs and more high-value stickers.

Every sticker is tied to your run and cannot be purchased outright, making them a key part of Don't Die's skill-based reward structure.

How NFTs Fit Into the Game

Don't Die includes 5 NFT tiers, from free up to $1000. These NFTs are tied to your runs and track your progress. At the end of the season, if your run meets the requirements, your NFT will be eligible for rewards.

The important part is that all tiers earn points at the same rate. This means the $1 and $1000 NFTs have the same chance of winning, depending only on how skillfully you play.

The difference between tiers is in scaling. Higher tiers increase the value of lootboxes you can win. For example, a $100 NFT run can earn lootboxes worth at least $100 each, and up to 10 of them if you hit a 10x multiplier.

You can have multiple NFT runs active at once. But only one free run can be live at a time. Players who want to trade their runs can do so, but only if they've reached a checkpoint.

Don't Die, or You Lose Everything

The name of the game is clear: don't die. If your health hits zero during a run, that NFT is "dead" and no longer qualifies for most prize pools. Only the Deadpool remains, which holds just 1% of the prize money.

To prevent a total loss, players can pause at checkpoints. These appear once in the middle of a chapter and once after beating a boss. If you reach a checkpoint and decide to stop there, your run is eligible for prizes as long as you don't continue and die.

Checkpoints also allow your NFT to be traded on secondary markets. The stats from that run are visible, so buyers can see how close a run is to major rewards.

Change Your Fate with Time Crystals

Some spaces on the board hold a unique item called Time Crystals. If you land somewhere bad, you can spend 2 crystals to re-roll your movement. If you regret an entire chapter, 8 crystals let you rewind time to your last checkpoint.

This gives skilled players a way to reset bad luck. But using Time Crystals wisely is just one more layer of decision-making in a game already filled with tough calls.

What You'll Find in a Run

As you push through Don't Die, you'll collect different types of rewards. Some help you survive longer, while others boost your odds of winning a bigger prize at season's end. These include:

  • New Sides to upgrade your dice
  • Points to increase your standing
  • Stickers to multiply rewards
  • Gold to spend at shops
  • Boosts to give you an edge in battles
  • Trinkets, passive effects that shift your strategy
  • Flares, rare and powerful items
  • Time Crystals to shift your luck

The deeper you go, the more you stand to gain, but it only counts if you make it out alive.

Battle System Is Turn-Based, Dice-Fueled

Fights in Don't Die are turn-based, and every move comes from your dice. When a fight begins, you roll your four dice. Each one triggers its effects in order, whether that's attack, shield, or buffs.

If the enemy survives, it hits you back. Fights continue until someone dies. You can rearrange your dice order before battle and use Boosts to swing things in your favor.

After each battle, you earn a new Side to add to your dice, more points, and sometimes other rewards. This loop repeats until you die, win, or choose to stop at a checkpoint.

First Playtest Arrives Oct 16

The dev team has yet to confirm what will be included in the first playtest, but it's expected to introduce the early combat system, dice building, and the first boss: Ganondwarf.

Interested players can sign up at dontdie.gg. Early access only requires an email, and those who join can refer friends for extra in-game rewards. The test begins this week on October 16.