Item: Death Squared (RORORORO)
Rating: 86
Author: Dinsun

Our Site Score

86/100

Death Squared (RORORORO) is one of the best co-op puzzle games I’ve played on mobile. The local multiplayer is a hoot—trying to coordinate movements with a friend on the same screen usually leads to hilarious accidental explosions. The puzzles are cleverly designed, often requiring both players to act simultaneously or stay perfectly still to avoid traps.

The voice acting by Ricepirate adds a lot of personality to the game, providing snarky commentary that makes failure feel less frustrating. The levels ramp up in difficulty at a good pace, and the 'Vault' levels offer a serious challenge for veterans. It’s a polished, smart, and funny game that works surprisingly well on a touchscreen.

Reviewed on: Sun Jul 21 2024

Dinsun Review

Dinsun here. I’ve seen enough 'co-op' games to know that most of them are just single-player games with a second body on screen. Death Squared actually demands synchronization, which is rare. The puzzles are constructed with a logical rigidity I appreciate—no fluff, just mechanics. However, the mobile controls, even with a controller, can feel a bit detached compared to the console versions. It’s a game of millimeters, and touchscreens aren't built for millimeters. The narration tries a bit too hard to be the next 'GLaDOS,' but the core loop of 'move, die, learn' is solid enough for those who don't mind repeating a level ten times because their partner has the spatial awareness of a goldfish.

It’s a conservative 72. It does what it sets out to do without overstaying its welcome, but it lacks that certain creative spark to move it into the 'must-play' category. It’s a functional, well-oiled machine, much like the robots you’re controlling. If you have a dedicated partner for local play, it's worth the entry fee. If you’re playing solo, the charm wears thin quickly as managing two sticks on a small screen feels more like a chore than a challenge.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Rigorous puzzle design
Genuine cooperative requirements
Clean, distraction-free visuals

Solo play is significantly less engaging
Derivative humor
Touch controls lack precision for late-game puzzles

Technical Report

Performance: Stable 60 FPS on modern iOS devices; minimal loading times.

Accessibility:

Subtitles
Colorblind Mode

Audience Fit

Buy if: You have a friend sitting next to you and you both enjoy methodical problem-solving.

Skip if: You are looking for an action-packed experience or only intend to play alone.

Similar Games:

Portal 2
Human: Fall Flat
Snipperclips

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun, 40-year-old conservative critic
Hardware: iPhone 15 Pro, Backbone One Controller
Playtime: 6 hours
Status: Finished Main Story

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

1023960081

$5.99 4+★4.1 24 reviews

Author : SMG Studio

Pubish Date : Fri Feb 09 2018

Last Update Date : Wed Feb 14 2018

Support Languages : English

Genres :

Version 1.1Wed Feb 14 2018

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.
Fixed the level save bug
Death Squared is a puzzle game for 1 or 2 people about coordination, cooperation, and robot explosions.
SMG Studio’s first console game is now available to play on your phone.
FEATURES:
- 80+ puzzling levels that unfold via a fully voiced story
- Additional 10 Vault levels that are almost too hard for human consumption
- Voice acting by Ricepirate
- Original music score by Brad Gentle
- Customisable hats!
- Robot Explosions!
- Optimized to work with Bluetooth controllers
PRESS QUOTES:
“Death Squared is our favorite... co-op game” - IGN
“This game is awesome” - Kinda Funny
"It's challenging, but in a way that can be understood by anyone from a hardened puzzle fan to kids and grandparents." - Polygon
"If you loved Portal, you'll love Death Squared" - 2old2play
"Death Squared is the apex of addiction. Something deceptively simple looking but you won’t be able to put down once you invest in its challenge." - Comics Beat
Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
A puzzle game you can play with a friend who says "I don't play games"
Death Squared is a puzzle game for 1 or 2 people about coordination, cooperation, and robot explosions.
SMG Studio’s first console game is now available to play on your phone.
FEATURES:
- 80+ puzzling levels that unfold via a fully voiced story
- Additional 10 Vault levels that are almost too hard for human consumption
- Voice acting by Ricepirate
- Original music score by Brad Gentle
- Customisable hats!
- Robot Explosions!
- Optimized to work with Bluetooth controllers
PRESS QUOTES:
“Death Squared is our favorite... co-op game” - IGN
“This game is awesome” - Kinda Funny
"It's challenging, but in a way that can be understood by anyone from a hardened puzzle fan to kids and grandparents." - Polygon
"If you loved Portal, you'll love Death Squared" - 2old2play
"Death Squared is the apex of addiction. Something deceptively simple looking but you won’t be able to put down once you invest in its challenge." - Comics Beat

Ratings & Reviews

4.1 out of 5 with 24 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 4+

Death Squared is a puzzle game focused on coordination and cooperation. Players control robots through increasingly dangerous levels where one wrong move can cause an explosion. The game features over 80 puzzling levels in the main story, plus 10 high-difficulty 'Vault' levels. It includes full voice acting by Ricepirate and an original music score. While it can be played solo, it is designed for two players to solve challenges together on the same device.

Features

80+ story-driven levels

Local multiplayer co-op

Fully voiced narration

Bluetooth controller support

Tips

Slow and Steady

Patience is key. Many tiles are pressure-sensitive or trigger lasers based on a specific robot's position. Move one robot at a time and observe the environment for changes before committing to a path.

Promotion Videos

Death Squared Launch Trailer

News on this game

‘Death Squared (RORORORO)’ Review – Are Two Heads Truly Better Than One?

It provides some fun puzzles to solve and a game design that works perfectly for either playing solo or with a friend on the same device.

TouchArcade - Sat Sep 29 2018

Gameplays

Cooperative Navigation

Players use on-screen joysticks to move their robots to color-coded goals. The catch is that moving one robot often triggers hazards for the other, requiring constant communication and careful planning.