You wake up in a basement. You don't know who you are. All you see is a bird with a broken wing and a man with a scythe who really wants to kill you. That’s how the Angels of Death game—or Satsuriku no Tenshi—kicks things off, and honestly, it’s one of the weirdest, most haunting experiences you can find in the RPG Maker subgenre.
It’s not just a game. It’s a vibe.
Created by Hoshikuzu KRNKRN (Makoto Sanada) and originally released in serialized installments on Denfaminicogamer, this title didn't just fade away after its 2016 debut. It stuck. Why? Because it understands something most AAA horror games forget: the scariest thing isn't a jump scare. It's the messy, codependent bond between two broken people who have absolutely no business being together.
The plot of the Angels of Death game is darker than you remember
Rachel Gardner is thirteen. She’s tiny, blue-eyed, and completely devoid of the will to live. Isaac Foster, or "Zack," is a serial killer covered in bandages who carries a scythe like he’s the literal grim reaper. They make a pact. If Rachel helps Zack escape the high-security building they’re trapped in, Zack will kill her.
It’s morbid. It's unsettling. It’s exactly why the game blew up on platforms like Steam and eventually moved to the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation.
Each floor of the building acts like a level in a twisted video game, which, well, it is. Every floor belongs to a different "master," a killer with their own specific brand of insanity. You’ve got Danny, the doctor with a literal eye fetish; Eddie, the boy who builds graves; and Cathy, the "condemner" who loves elaborate traps and punishment.
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The gameplay isn't complex. You solve puzzles. You run from things. You read a lot of dialogue. But the tension comes from the shifting power dynamic. Zack isn't a hero. He’s a high-functioning psychopath who can’t read or solve a basic logic puzzle to save his life. Rachel, meanwhile, is a genius who has basically checked out of reality. They need each other in a way that feels dirty and wrong, yet strangely compelling.
Why the mechanics work despite being "simple"
Most people see "RPG Maker" and think it's going to be a Pokémon clone or a cheap jump-scare fest. The Angels of Death game proves that theory wrong. It uses the limited perspective of the engine to create a sense of claustrophobia. You can’t see what’s around the corner. The sound design does the heavy lifting. The metallic shink of Zack's scythe hitting a wall or the echo of Cathy’s laughter in a hallway—that stuff gets under your skin.
The puzzles aren't there just to slow you down. They're character beats. When Zack has to smash things because he can't think his way through a door, it tells you everything you need to know about his impulsivity. When Rachel meticulously solves a riddle involving a pipe organ or a chemical mixture, you see the cold, calculating mind that makes her even scarier than the guy with the weapon.
The controversy of the ending (Spoilers ahead, obviously)
People still argue about the ending of the Angels of Death game. Seriously. Check any forum from 2018 or 2024; the debate is alive and well.
After escaping the building, Zack is arrested. Rachel is put in a psychiatric facility. One night, Zack breaks out, smashes through her window, and they vanish into the night. Did they jump? Did they run away? Did he actually kill her like he promised?
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Makoto Sanada left it ambiguous for a reason. The game isn't a fairy tale. It’s a character study on trauma. Some fans think the blood on the windowsill implies a tragic end, while others point to the shattered glass as a metaphor for breaking free from society's constraints. Honestly, the lack of a "happy" or "clear" ending is what gives the game its staying power. It forces you to sit with the discomfort.
Comparing the game to the anime and manga
If you’ve only seen the J.C. Staff anime adaptation, you’re missing out. The anime is fine. It’s stylish. It has a great soundtrack by Noisycroak. But the Angels of Death game has a pacing that the show just can't replicate.
In the game, you are Rachel. You feel the slow crawl of the elevator between floors. You feel the frustration of a puzzle you can't solve while a killer breathes down your neck. The manga, illustrated by Kudan Nazuka, adds a lot of backstory that the game hints at but doesn't explicitly show, especially regarding the other floor masters.
If you want the full experience:
- Play the game first. Get the atmosphere in your bones.
- Read the Episode 0 manga to understand how the building was even created.
- Watch the anime if you just want to see the action scenes animated with high-quality voice acting (Nobuhiko Okamoto as Zack is perfect casting).
What the "Angels of Death game" says about psychological horror
Horror usually relies on the "monster." In this game, the characters are the monsters. Rachel’s parents, the building’s architect, the religious undertones of "Father" Gray—it all points to a world that failed these kids long before they ever stepped into that basement.
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The game leans heavily into the "Beauty and the Beast" trope but twists it until it breaks. There is no redemption arc where Zack becomes a "good guy." He remains a killer. Rachel doesn't "find her smile." She finds a reason to move forward, even if that reason is her own death. It’s nihilistic, sure. But it’s also incredibly honest about how trauma can bond people in ways that look insane to anyone on the outside.
How to play it in 2026
You can find the Angels of Death game almost anywhere. It’s on Steam, it’s on the Nintendo eShop, and it’s even had mobile ports. If you’re playing on PC, I highly recommend using a controller; the movement feels more natural, especially during the "chase" sequences that require quick reflexes.
There’s also the fan-translated content and the various spin-offs. Sanada-san hasn't abandoned this universe. The creator’s newer projects, like The Forest of Drizzling Rain, show the same knack for atmosphere, but Angels of Death remains the magnum opus.
Actionable insights for your first playthrough
- Don't rush the dialogue. The horror is in the subtext. Pay attention to how Rachel's portrait changes (or doesn't change) throughout the game.
- Interact with everything. The flavor text for random objects in the building builds the lore of the floor masters.
- Check the sound settings. This game relies on audio cues. Play with headphones or you’ll miss the subtle environmental storytelling.
- Look for the Episode 0 content afterward. It contextualizes why Danny is so obsessed with eyes and why Cathy is the way she is.
The Angels of Death game isn't for everyone. It’s slow, it’s weirdly philosophical, and it deals with heavy themes like suicide and mass murder. But if you’re tired of the same old jump-scare simulators and want a story that will actually make you feel something—even if that something is a bit of dread—this is the one. Grab it on a sale, turn off the lights, and try to make it out of the basement.