Everyone always says that the devil is in the details, and I’m sure you have heard it before as well. So, what if the devil was actually the level that you were playing? Level Devil has you covered on that front, as a game that I can only describe as hating you. Others say that it’s designed to troll you, but the developer Unept Games says otherwise.
In fact, after taking a brief look at Unept’s Steam page, it was clear that they had frequently developed these types of games. In fact, the original release of Level Devil was in 2024 and saw a huge wave of copycats that followed. There is something here, but is it just a joke to play on others, or is the devil in the details this time?
A Devilishly Good Time
First of all, let me set you up for success because Level Devil has no story to speak of. This is common for retro-inspired endurance run games: think the original Mario Bros. There is an ending to the game, although the real trick will be to get your death count low. That is what I would call the main experience of the game: trying not to die.
Your actions are limited to only running and jumping, but don’t worry, that is more than enough for you to succeed. Each level will only require you to do either of these actions, although that doesn’t mean they won’t mess with you. The basic setup is that each level is split up into five parts. Each part ramps up in difficulty, with the very first part used to introduce a concept to you.
For instance, the first concept is spikes, and the level itself looks brain-dead easy. Even as I mindlessly walked forward, I had a single thought in my head. What’s the catch? That’s when the ground opened up below me, swallowing me up. That’s the main gimmick: the level will present you with a full look of the stage and then change around you.
This makes the gameplay a mixture of knowledge and reflexes because there is enough time to react to each change. However, the knowledge of the change makes the level easier to deal with, and in a lot of ways, it was relaxing to die multiple times. In fact, I would laugh at how the level would change, whether it was changing gravity or being chased by spikes.
Even now, I am debating about relaxing and playing through a few levels. This concept is immensely satisfying in its simplicity, and I am impressed by how easily I was drawn to it. Each level is short and is perfect for whenever you are standing in line or waiting on something. In fact, I would say this is a perfect match for the Steam Deck or any handheld in general.
However, playing on a handheld would make the two-player mode difficult. This mode will pit you and your friend in a race to finish each level first in remixed areas. This has to be done via local co-op, so sadly, that means any of your online friends will be unable to play with you. So, there is no “campaign,” and it is instead about who can figure out the level faster.
This was a little disappointing at first, but it makes sense, considering that each level works in the single-player version. The level would be inaccessible depending on what the gimmick was, and forcing both players to restart wouldn’t work. Still, I would have loved to be able to go through the entire 300+ levels with a friend.
Exorcise Your Demons
Level Devil is an interesting concept that I can’t seem to put down. Yes, the game can feel a bit of a nuisance at times, but it’s all in good fun. There is something relaxing about trying a level over and over until you get it. However, each death gains more knowledge, making the level more manageable. I never felt the game asked you to do something you couldn’t do. The only real disappointment is that you can’t go through the main game with a friend and instead must do a quick match mode.
I would recommend this title to anyone who wants a new game to pass the time. While the concept sounds frustrating, there was never a point that I wanted to quit. Instead, I would keep going, and that marks a game that is addicting in all the right ways.
Disclaimer: Unept provided Final Weapon with a PC (Steam) copy of Level Devil for review purposes.
