Deck of Haunts is a chilling twist on the deckbuilding roguelite genre. Arriving first on PC, with console versions for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S planned later this year, the game invites players to embody the haunted house itself, rather than the hapless souls exploring it.
Deck of Haunts, developed by Mantis and published by DANGEN Entertainment, lets players construct a sprawling, trap-laden mansion, then lure in unsuspecting humans to frighten—or finish—them off using a customizable deck of haunting cards. With each successful scare, players harvest the victims’ essence to expand their lair and unlock more terrifying tools. The full release builds on earlier demos with expanded mechanics, new haunt cards, modular room types, exploitable human traits, and high-stakes boss encounters.
The game blends deckbuilding with base-building elements and a sinister atmosphere, offering a fresh take on the horror genre. DANGEN Entertainment and Mantis Games have officially marked May 7, 2025, as the release date for Deck of Haunts. Below is an overview via Steam, and the release date announcement trailer.
About This Game
Step into the role of a sinister Haunted House, where the walls whisper secrets and terror lurks around every corner. As the master of this cursed domain, your goal is to ensnare daring humans, play on their fears, and drain their very essence to expand your dark influence.
By day, meticulously design the labyrinthine layout of your mansion, transforming it into a death trap that no human can escape. As night falls, lure unwitting explorers into your home, where you’ll use a deck of terrifying cards to summon spirits, shift hallways, and unleash spine-chilling horrors. Build tension and drive your guests toward madness, all while protecting your Heart room—the core of your malevolent power.
Once their sanity crumbles, harvest their essence to strengthen your mansion, increasing your infamy and attracting even more daring foes, from law enforcement to priests. But beware, the Stone Masons are coming, ready to challenge your reign of terror…
Unlock and collect new cards as you progress. Expand your deck to include tools of terror like bone-chilling screams, phantoms, creaking floors, and shifting walls. Use your cards to scare – or kill – your victims, then extract their essence.
Strategically design your haunted house by placing rooms that serve to protect your Heart room, where your power is concentrated. Construct a maze filled with traps, scares, and unique twists, all tailored to frighten and confuse your visitors. Utilize special rooms with unique powers to aid in your hauntings.
As humans navigate your mansion, increase the tension by playing haunt cards directly on them and within different rooms. Slowly drive them to insanity. Once their fear reaches critical levels, use the right haunts to push them to the brink of madness. Will you let them escape?
Once you’ve driven the explorers mad with fear, extract their essence to grow your mansion. Use it to unlock new rooms, expand your haunting powers, and attract more dangerous—and rewarding—targets. Grow your haunted domain into a nightmare that consumes all who enter.
