If you’ve ever wished your action RPGs came with more chaos, more loot, and just a bit of arcade bullet-hell energy, you’ll want to mark your calendar. Don’t Die, Collect Loot, the debut from solo developer Dan Makes Video Games (with indie.io), hits Early Access on Steam September 19, 2025.
A retro-inspired roguelite that’s equal parts ARPG grindfest and bullet-hell madness, the game is built around one simple mantra: get ridiculously overpowered and hoard absurd amounts of loot.
A World Frozen in Time, Waiting for Loot
Players step into the boots of a nameless hero caught in a world suspended in time. From the mysterious Nexus, you’ll venture into endless procedurally generated fantasy realms, carving your way through waves of enemies and towering bosses. Along the way, you’ll unravel the mystery of what broke the world—or you’ll forget all about it in your quest for shinier, stronger gear.
At launch, three playable classes are available:
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Adventurer – a melee brawler built for up-close carnage.
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Arcanist – a spell-slinger who rains destruction from afar.
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Beastmaster – summoner of loyal minions to do the dirty work.
Two more heroes are planned for the Early Access period.
Loot. Levels. Lunacy.
Here’s where Don’t Die, Collect Loot sets itself apart: there’s practically no cap on how powerful you can get. Loot drops are random, wild, and often game-breaking, pushing builds into hilariously overpowered territory. What other games might call “endgame gear” is basically just your starter set here.
The more you play, the more insane your loot pool becomes — thanks to a robust generator that cranks out gear with stacked modifiers, rare abilities, and hundreds of skill tree combinations. When you inevitably fall in battle, you’ll respawn at the Nexus, upgrade your hero, and dive right back into the madness stronger than ever.
Built by a Player, For Players
Despite its complexity, the systems are designed to be transparent and approachable. Tutorials ease players into each class, while deeper mechanics reward the number-crunchers chasing that perfect build. Dan sums up the design philosophy best: “Don’t worry about the cruft, get right to the meat of what makes an ARPG fun!”
Early Access will help fine-tune those systems, balance the mayhem, and incorporate community feedback as development continues.
Get In Early
If you’re ready to break ARPG conventions, push your power to absurd levels, and hoard mountains of loot, Don’t Die, Collect Loot hits Steam Early Access on September 19, 2025. A free demo is available now, so go ahead and wishlist it on Steam while you wait.
