If you’ve spent any time with an EpiXR Games release, you’ll probably associate the studio with peaceful flights through colourful worlds in the Aery series. Death Run – Round 1 couldn’t be more different.
Available now on Xbox Series X|S, this £4.19 sci-fi platformer swaps tranquil exploration for deadly obstacle courses, throwing players into a brutal televised game show where every mistake means an instant restart. It’s fast, unforgiving and clearly taking inspiration from survival dramas like Squid Game, making it one of the publisher’s most unexpected releases to date.
At A Glance
- Game: Death Run – Round 1
- Developer: EpiXR Games
- Publisher: EpiXR Games
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S
- Price: £4.19
One Hit Means Starting All Over Again
In a future where entertainment has reached disturbing new heights, billions tune in to watch contestants attempt to survive increasingly lethal obstacle courses. You’re the latest participant, and the only way out is to reach the finish line. The catch? There are no checkpoints.
Every course is packed with moving laser traps that rotate, pulse, sweep and intersect in unpredictable patterns. One mistake sends you straight back to the beginning, turning every successful run into something you’ve genuinely earned rather than stumbled across.
Thankfully, you’re not limited to a basic jump. Alongside double jumps, you’ll unlock forward dashes, upward boosts, floating abilities and momentum-based movement that encourages players to keep flowing through each level instead of stopping to think.
Short Levels, Constant Pressure
Rather than sprawling stages, Death Run – Round 1 is built around bite-sized challenges, most lasting only a minute or two.
That keeps the pace high and the frustration surprisingly manageable. Even after failing, it’s easy to jump straight back in for another attempt, slowly learning laser patterns and shaving precious seconds off each run.
Every five completed levels also introduces another slice of the story, gradually revealing more about the sinister television show, its mysterious hosts and the audience cheering every spectacular failure.
A Dark Twist For EpiXR Games
The neon visuals, pounding soundtrack and dystopian setting make this feel like unfamiliar territory for EpiXR Games, particularly after years of producing calmer, more relaxing experiences. Instead of asking players to unwind, Death Run – Round 1 demands precision, patience and persistence. It’s a complete change of pace that shows the studio experimenting with something much more intense.
Whether that gamble pays off is now up to Xbox players to decide. Death Run – Round 1 is available now through the Xbox Store, playable on Xbox Series X|S for £4.19.
