Sometimes You Die in IOS

Adventure

Walkthrough, Guilds, Tips on this special game

Our Expert Score

88/100

Sometimes You Die is a brilliant, meta-commentary on the nature of video games disguised as a puzzle platformer. Its central hook is ingenious: death is not a failure state, but a tool. To cross a bed of spikes, you must throw yourself onto them so that your previous corpse becomes a bridge for your next life. It’s morbid, clever, and constantly forces you to rethink your approach to level design.

The minimalist, monochrome aesthetic combined with a haunting, philosophical narrator creates an atmosphere that is both eerie and thought-provoking. The game isn't just about jumping; it’s about the value of failure. It’s a short experience, but it sticks with you long after the credits roll, especially given the clever twists it introduces in its final act. It’s a must-play for anyone who appreciates 'art-house' indie games that challenge the conventions of the genre.

Dinsun reviewed on: Fri Feb 27 2026

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

Version 1.32Thu May 17 2018

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

+ iPhone X


In a game, you die.

And imply that it has no effect on you.

You feel invincible in the realm behind the screen.

This one is different.

In this game, you have to die.

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ G A M E ∙ ∙ ∙

What is your motivation?

What do you expect from this game?

Do you want to beat it?

How do you know it can be beaten?

This game plays with expectation, illusion, and reality.

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ P U Z Z L E S ∙ ∙ ∙

Think before you act.

Who knows what it means to die behind the screen?

Is it only a number that goes up?

Pixels that change their intensity?

Solve disturbing, surprising, and malicious puzzles.

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ D E A T H ∙ ∙ ∙

Is it possible to go through the game

without dying even once?

Will you aim for it?

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ D I F F I C U L T Y ∙ ∙ ∙

Some think the game is easy.

I think,

those haven't discovered the hidden levels yet.

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙

slidetoplay.com > "interactive art"

appspy.com > "manipulates expectations"

148apps.com > "borderline brilliant"

ilounge.com > "messes with the players' heads"

toucharcade.com > "incredibly unique"

tabtimes.com > "extremely clever"

cultofmac.com > "must play"

pocketgamer.co.uk > "deliciously unputdownable"

tuaw.com > "play it, and love it"

80+ levels.

Hidden content.

Wow factor.

Epilepsy warning: One level includes fast flashing lights.


Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

In a game, you die.

And imply that it has no effect on you.

You feel invincible in the realm behind the screen.

This one is different.

In this game, you have to die.

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ G A M E ∙ ∙ ∙

What is your motivation?

What do you expect from this game?

Do you want to beat it?

How do you know it can be beaten?

This game plays with expectation, illusion, and reality.

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ P U Z Z L E S ∙ ∙ ∙

Think before you act.

Who knows what it means to die behind the screen?

Is it only a number that goes up?

Pixels that change their intensity?

Solve disturbing, surprising, and malicious puzzles.

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ D E A T H ∙ ∙ ∙

Is it possible to go through the game

without dying even once?

Will you aim for it?

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ D I F F I C U L T Y ∙ ∙ ∙

Some think the game is easy.

I think,

those haven't discovered the hidden levels yet.

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙

slidetoplay.com > "interactive art"

appspy.com > "manipulates expectations"

148apps.com > "borderline brilliant"

ilounge.com > "messes with the players' heads"

toucharcade.com > "incredibly unique"

tabtimes.com > "extremely clever"

cultofmac.com > "must play"

pocketgamer.co.uk > "deliciously unputdownable"

tuaw.com > "play it, and love it"

80+ levels.

Hidden content.

Wow factor.

Epilepsy warning: One level includes fast flashing lights.


Ratings & Reviews

4.3 out of 5 with 155 Counts
Age Rating 13+

Screenshots

Sometimes You Die screenshot 1Sometimes You Die screenshot 2Sometimes You Die screenshot 3Sometimes You Die screenshot 4Sometimes You Die screenshot 5Sometimes You Die screenshot 6

Sometimes You Die is a thought-provoking puzzle platformer that subverts the traditional concept of 'Game Over.' Players control a simple square through a series of dangerous levels where hazards like spikes and saw blades are unavoidable. The twist is that your character's 'corpses' remain in the level, allowing you to use them as platforms or shields to reach the exit. Accompanied by a cryptic narrator, the game explores themes of life, death, and the structure of video games themselves.

Features

1

Unique 'death-as-progress' mechanic

2

Minimalist monochrome graphics

3

Philosophical narration

4

Hidden secrets and twists

5

Atmospheric sound design

Tips

Promotion Videos

Official Sometimes You Die Launch Trailer - YouTube

Related Videos

News on this game

Philipp Stollenmayer is the greatest indie game auteur you've never heard of

Philipp Stollenmayer makes games about bacon, death, cows, physics, pancakes, words and...games themselves. He's one of the finest minds...

Eurogamer.net - Sun Feb 02 2025

'See/Saw' is the Clever New Platformer from the Maker of 'Sometimes You Die' and 'Bacon – The Game' – TouchArcade

Philipp Stollenmayer has become one of my favorite mobile game developers, and his most recent release Bacon - The Game has pretty much...

TouchArcade - Sun Feb 02 2020

Sometimes You Die Is The Latest 'Brilliant, Minimalist Platformer You Must Play' [Review]

What are you doing? Sometimes You Die by Philipp Stollenmayer Category: iOS Games Works With: iPhone, iPad Price: $1.99You would tell...

Cult of Mac - Sun Aug 02 2015

Sometimes You Die Will Make You Rethink Your Expectations And Reality

Sometimes You Die ($1.99) by Philipp Stollenmayer is a platformer game where you need to die to beat the game. Yes, that's right — dying is...

AppAdvice - Wed Sep 02 2015

The best bacon-tossing game you'll play this year gets a sizzling update

To put it mildly, 2020 hasn't been the best year on record. It's been a year that, at various times, makes you mad enough to throw things...

Cult of Mac - Wed Mar 02 2022

Forget anagrams, Sticky Terms is a word puzzle game with a twist

Want a text-based puzzle game that will stretch your brain and maybe even teach you some new words, too? Sticky Terms has covered.

Cult of Mac - Fri Jul 02 2021

Gameplays

Q&A

The game features around 80 levels, including several secret stages that challenge your understanding of the game's rules.

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