Dumb Ways to Die icon
Dumb Ways to Die Remains a Quirky Mobile Gaming Staple, Despite Ad-Heavy Model

by Metro Trains Melbourne Pty Ltd

4.2
IOSAction Games
This app delivers a collection of rapid-fire minigames wrapped in darkly humorous safety messaging. Perfect for quick gaming sessions, its simple mechanics and increasing difficulty provide surprising depth. However, the free version's frequent ad interruptions remain a significant point of contention among long-time players.

Detailed Review

Originally launched as part of a public safety campaign by Metro Trains Melbourne, Dumb Ways to Die has evolved into a enduring mobile gaming phenomenon. The app presents players with a series of brief, increasingly challenging minigames where the objective is preventing cartoon characters from meeting absurdly unfortunate ends. From dodging trains to carefully removing forks from toasters, each micro-game tests reflexes and pattern recognition within seconds-long intervals. The title maintains its distinctive visual style and memorable soundtrack that originally fueled its viral popularity. The core gameplay loop involves surviving through successive minigames while unlocking new characters and environments. Players encounter over twenty distinct challenge types, each requiring different interaction methods like swiping, tapping, or tilting the device. These games progressively introduce complexity, with later stages combining multiple mechanics that demand both quick reactions and memorization. Between rounds, players manage a collection of unlockable beans—characters representing different 'dumb ways to die'—which provides long-term engagement beyond the immediate gameplay. In practice, the app functions well as a casual time-filler during short breaks or commutes. The initial learning curve remains accessible, though mastery requires repeated attempts to understand each minigame's specific timing and mechanics. Some challenges initially feel unintuitive—like determining the exact shaking rhythm needed to rescue a character from bees—but become manageable through repetition. The persistent progression system, despite its gradual unlock pace, gives dedicated players reasons to return beyond simply beating high scores. User feedback consistently highlights two contrasting experiences. Many players praise the game's addictive quality and expanded content compared to earlier versions, with one reviewer noting 'the games are simple but fun, and while they increase in difficulty, you begin to learn the ropes.' However, the ad implementation draws significant criticism across nearly all reviews. Multiple users report advertisement frequency disrupting gameplay flow, with one stating the app is 'filled with ads every 2 mini games' while another notes it's 'ruining my game progress.' The option to remove ads through purchase exists, but several users express preference for upfront pricing rather than the free-to-play model with aggressive monetization. Overall, Dumb Ways to Die succeeds as an entertaining casual game with surprising longevity, though the experience differs significantly between ad-supported and paid versions. The charming presentation and varied minigames create an engaging package that justifies its enduring popularity. However, potential players should anticipate either frequent interruptions or additional spending to access the smoothest gameplay experience, a tradeoff that remains common in the mobile gaming landscape.

Key Features

  • Rapid-fire minigames testing reflexes across 20+ unique scenarios, from dodging trains to defusing bombs within seconds
  • Character collection system featuring unlockable beans representing different cartoon deaths, providing long-term goals
  • Progressive difficulty curve that introduces complex multi-step challenges as players advance through levels
  • Distinctive visual style and memorable soundtrack maintaining the original viral campaign's darkly humorous tone
  • Simple touch and tilt controls optimized for quick sessions, requiring only basic mobile gaming proficiency
  • Global leaderboard integration allowing competitive score comparison with friends and worldwide players

Why Users Love It

Addictive quick-play mechanics
Charming dark humor presentation

Perfect for: Casual gamers seeking quick, humorous challenges during short breaks

Screenshots

Dumb Ways to Die screenshot 1Dumb Ways to Die screenshot 2Dumb Ways to Die screenshot 3Dumb Ways to Die screenshot 4Dumb Ways to Die screenshot 5Dumb Ways to Die screenshot 6

Ranking History

Track Dumb Ways to Die's performance in Action Games over the last 30 days

Top 5
Top 10
Top 15
Below 15

Current Rank

#48

Best Rank

#48

All-time high

Average Rank

#48

30-day average

User Reviews

Nothing and no body
Sep 29, 2025

I LOVE Dumb ways to die, but the song is even better I mean, I can't stop thinking about it, like right now I have an ear worm, the game has like too many adds, like why do we have to pay money? Anyways, i've been playing for I think a month or two and I still haven't unlocked one bean except for the grizzly bear one but I think that's the last one that I ever got make it easier dumb ways to die developers. dumb ways to die, so many dumb ways to die! The song... I LOVE Dumb ways to die, but the song is even better I mean, I can't stop thinking about it, like right now I have an ear worm, the game has like too many adds, like why do we have to pay money? Anyways, i've been playing for I think a month or two and I still haven't unlocked one bean except for the grizzly bear one but I think that's the last one that I ever got make it easier dumb ways to die developers. dumb ways to die, so many dumb ways to die!

Alex White, the Great
Sep 16, 2025

Played this game and the second one soooo much years ago. Rewatched the original video recently and remembered how good the games were too. And yeah, it’s honestly better than I remember. There’s more content than there used to be and it’s awesome to see the first game in such good condition compared to when I first experienced it. My one and only critique isn’t even entirely the ads, it’s more so that the game is free to download but in reality to play without silly interruption is to pay for no ads. It’s cheap and honestly worth doing, but I’d rather pay 3.99 upfront to download the game rather than have to pay for no ads after trying to get past my first run on the minigames. I don’t hold it against the game too much because it’s super common in mobile games like this anyway. Yeah, Dumb Ways to Die is a mini-masterpiece. Its games are simple but fun, and while they increase in difficulty, you begin to learn the ropes of each game and how to consistently beat them. Some of these games I thought were broken at first, but I actually was able to learn those standout minigames and continuously out-do myself more with each run. Easily a favorite mobile game of mine, and the song still slaps. When I’m mostly done with this game, I guess I’ll move onto the sequel. 🚬🪨 It’s a mini-masterpiece Played this game and the second one soooo much years ago. Rewatched the original video recently and remembered how good the games were too. And yeah, it’s honestly better than I remember. There’s more content than there used to be and it’s awesome to see the first game in such good condition compared to when I first experienced it. My one and only critique isn’t even entirely the ads, it’s more so that the game is free to download but in reality to play without silly interruption is to pay for no ads. It’s cheap and honestly worth doing, but I’d rather pay 3.99 upfront to download the game rather than have to pay for no ads after trying to get past my first run on the minigames. I don’t hold it against the game too much because it’s super common in mobile games like this anyway. Yeah, Dumb Ways to Die is a mini-masterpiece. Its games are simple but fun, and while they increase in difficulty, you begin to learn the ropes of each game and how to consistently beat them. Some of these games I thought were broken at first, but I actually was able to learn those standout minigames and continuously out-do myself more with each run. Easily a favorite mobile game of mine, and the song still slaps. When I’m mostly done with this game, I guess I’ll move onto the sequel. 🚬🪨

AppleBananaKiwiOrange
Sep 1, 2025

Only rating it 5 stars so you can see this. It’s filled with ads every 2 mini games. DON’T try reliving your childhood. It’s not the same. Horrible Only rating it 5 stars so you can see this. It’s filled with ads every 2 mini games. DON’T try reliving your childhood. It’s not the same.

Sigma power 8
Aug 7, 2025

Is ruining my game progress because of ads Ok too many ads Is ruining my game progress because of ads

bo for gojack
Aug 9, 2025

the flight one is broken. I die in the first second whether i press something or not broken game the flight one is broken. I die in the first second whether i press something or not

App Details

Developer

Metro Trains Melbourne Pty Ltd

Platform

ios

Rating

4.2

Last Updated

10/23/2025