CYBRLICH and the Death Cult of Labor is a game that mixes cyberpunk, dark fantasy, and workplace frustration into something loud, strange, and very intentional. The setup puts you in a city ruled by the CYBRLICH, a hyper-rich undead CEO sitting at the top of LICHCORP Tower. From there, he controls everything, building a system where workers are stuck grinding while skeletons take over the jobs that used to belong to people.
You play as someone who refuses to accept that. A chaotic neutral barbarian with a GED, climbing the tower one floor at a time to take the whole system down.
Climbing Instead of Crawling in CYBRLICH and the Death Cult of Labor
Most games in this space send you down into dungeons. CYBRLICH and the Death Cult of Labor flips that idea. Instead of descending, you’re moving upward through a skyscraper, fighting through departments, managers, and waves of enemies on the way to the top. The developers described it as a reversal of the usual structure, replacing dungeon crawling with corporate tower climbing. That shift works well with the theme. Each level feels like another part of a broken system you’re trying to tear apart.
A Barbarian in a World That Moved On
The main character stands out because he doesn’t fit the world around him. Technology has moved forward, systems have changed, and he’s been left behind. That contrast drives both the tone and the humor. He’s a heavy-hitting, straightforward fighter dropped into a world full of corporate systems, undead workers, and bureaucratic enemies.
Combat That Matches the Energy
The gameplay centers on fast, aggressive combat. You’re not carefully picking your way through fights. You’re pushing forward, using whatever weapons and tools you have to clear out enemies quickly. The developers summed it up in simple terms during the interview. You’ve got two hands, and that’s enough. One holds your weapon, the other handles everything else, from healing to whatever items you pick up along the way.
There’s also an Arena Mode that adds replay value. You face endless waves of enemies, unlocking additional content that feeds back into the main story. The two modes connect, giving you reasons to switch between them instead of treating them as separate pieces.
Animation That Leads the Design
One of the most noticeable parts of CYBRLICH and the Death Cult of Labor is its animation. The team comes from an animation background, and that shows in how the game moves. Instead of building around heavy visual effects, they focus on line work and motion, keeping the color palette more controlled so the animation stands out.
Everything feels exaggerated on purpose. Movements stretch, snap, and react in ways that keep the action readable while still feeling chaotic.
CYBRLICH and the Death Cult of Labor is Built by a Small Team
The project started as a small collaboration and grew over time. The developers talked about building the team from people they already knew, pulling in friends for programming, sound, and design. Even now, much of the work is still being done part-time, which makes the response at events like PAX stand out more. Seeing players line up and react to the demo gave the team a sense that the concept is connecting with people.
Tone That Doesn’t Hold Back
The game doesn’t try to smooth out its edges. It leans into rough humor, loud visuals, and direct themes about labor, burnout, and systems that don’t work for the people inside them. At the same time, it keeps things playful. You’re fighting skeletons, eating burgers, and dealing with over-the-top enemies while pushing toward the top of the tower.
What’s Next for CYBRLICH and the Death Cult of Labor
Right now, the focus is on building toward a wider release. A public demo is planned, along with a Kickstarter campaign, and the team is encouraging players to Wishlist the game on Steam to support development.
We’ll keep an eye on how CYBRLICH and the Death Cult of Labor develops as it moves closer to launch, along with more coverage from events where the team continues to show it off.
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