Don’t Die, Collect Loot - Two Simple Rules | PAX East 2025

There are two rules in Don’t Die, Collect Loot. One of them? I nailed it. The other... let’s just say I broke that rule. A lot.

Don’t Die, Collect Loot is a roguelike, bullet hell constant runner that draws inspiration from games like Vampire Survivors. The first step was picking my hero—out of five options, I chose the Beastmaster. What makes this character stand out is their unique ability: any monster I defeat joins my side and fights alongside me.

The gameplay immediately reminded me of classic shooters like 1945 or Ikaruga—my hero is in constant motion, always running upward while hordes of monsters try to block the way. Thankfully, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve: a melee slash attack, the ability to summon bats to fight alongside me, and a healing potion that recharges on a timer. I can aim attacks using the analog sticks, though the bats only attack straight ahead. In addition to enemies, I had to dodge obstacles and cross narrow bridges, all while keeping up the momentum. I did find it tough at times to keep track of my character amid all the chaos—a minor gripe—but even with the screen packed with action, the game’s performance held steady.

Much like Vampire Survivors, I can level up specific skills after collecting enough XP—but once I die, those stat boosts disappear. However, between runs, I can spend resources on a skill tree that provides permanent upgrades, giving each attempt a sense of progression

There’s clearly a lot of depth to Don’t Die, Collect Loot, but with only limited time in the preview, I feel like I just scratched the surface. This definitely one of the games I’m excited to dive into when it releases.