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Stupid Never Dies is one of the more unusual action RPGs due to arrive this autumn. The game is being developed by GPTRACK50, a studio led by former Capcom producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi. The creators have chosen to move away from several mechanics associated with modern action games, including a dedicated dodge and a lock-on system. Instead, combat is based on constant movement, proper character positioning and parrying. The title will debut on 21 October on PC and PlayStation 5.
A zombie who wants to resurrect his beloved
The story of Stupid Never Dies centres on a zombie named Davy, who falls in love with Julia, a student found frozen in a shopping centre freezer. The woman died during the war that led to the destruction of human civilisation. Davy, however, is determined to do whatever it takes to bring Julia back to life. The problem is that he finds himself at the very bottom of the hierarchy of monsters that arose after the war. To achieve his goal he needs the help of a human scientist, Dr Frank. Together they must make their way through a dungeon filled with a mysterious miasma. Interestingly, the entrance to it is reached after the hero is flushed down a toilet. The dungeon's individual biomes are meant to represent different real-world locations and historical periods. Each run is procedurally generated, so the layout changes with each attempt. At the same time the developers have prepared a defined progression curve, meaning Davy needs less and less experience to level up on subsequent attempts. The game also includes many passive abilities that can be combined. This means even a failed run can yield progress and prepare the hero for the next attempt. An important gameplay element is the Style Eat mechanic. It allows Davy to devour selected enemies and take on their form. During the presentation you could, among others, become a fast werewolf, a powerful golem and a harpy specialised in aerial combat. Forms can be changed mid-combat, letting Davy adapt his fighting style to the situation.
No dodge button or lock-on, combat is intended to be more chaotic
Stupid Never Dies stands out primarily for its unusual approach to the combat system. The developers have entirely done away with a dedicated dodge button and the classic guard. Instead, Davy can perform a quick step forward that also functions as a parry. The timing window for this action is fairly generous, and a successful parry allows a strong counterattack. This is significant because enemies almost constantly press the protagonist. Another unusual decision is the complete lack of a lock-on system. At first this may feel awkward, especially to players used to automatically tracking a chosen enemy. Director Eiichiro Sasaki explained, however, that the whole combat system was designed specifically with no target locking in mind. According to the team, adding a lock-on would remove some of the intensity from encounters. Often many enemies appear on screen at once, so the player must manually control Davy's position and watch the entire battlefield. The camera is intended to provide a wide enough view to avoid most attacks while remaining on the offensive. During the Gamescom 2026 presentation, the person presenting the footage did need a little time to get used to this solution. Once the mechanics were mastered, though, the lack of lock-on stopped being a hindrance and began to suit the game's character. The combination of intense clashes, form changes and roguelike mechanics makes Stupid Never Dies look set to be one of the more original action games this autumn.
Stupid Never Dies from GPTRACK50 tries to stand out not only with its absurd atmosphere but also with an unusual combat system. The game does not feature a traditional dodge, guard or lock-on mechanic; instead it uses, among other things, a step that allows the player to parry attacks and perform counterattacks. Gameplay is complemented by procedurally generated dungeons, roguelike mechanics and the ability to assume the forms of defeated enemies. The PC and PlayStation 5 release is scheduled for 21 October 2026.
source: wccftech
