Death Wish
Death Wish is a challenge mode that is added with the Seal the Deal DLC, released on September 13th, 2018. It features 111 hard-as-peck challenges (114 with the Nyakuza Metro (DLC)) and give many different customization rewards. These include new dyes, costumes, hat flairs, and camera filters.
Overview
Snatcher has a list of 111 (114 with the Nyakuza Metro (DLC)) challenges for Hat Kid to take on. At first only one will be available, but more will unlock as you complete more challenges.
To unlock Death Wish you must beat Your Contract has Expired and obtain 27 different Time Pieces.
Each challenge has three objectives, the main one and two bonus goals. For each one you beat you get a Death Wish Token.
Some challenges will have a silhouette in the left corner, indicating that there is a reward for beating it. To get the reward you only have to beat the main challenge, and do not need to complete the bonus challenges. To collect the reward talk to the Snatcher again and select the completed mission on the Death Wish list.
There is no reward for obtaining every single Death Wish stamp (outside of the rewards for the challenges themselves), besides - as Snatcher puts it - "the feeling you achieved something", as well as the satisfaction of humbling him.
During Live Game Events, there can be new limited-time challenges added to Death Wish with exclusive rewards on separate maps. In the Winter Event, 5 more Candle challenges were added, rewarding players stickers upon completing each one. In the Summer Event (2023), 17 new challenges were added, rewarding players with 2 weapons, a sticker, a dye, and 4 community-made hat flairs, along with other items from the specific mods downloaded from doing the challenges.
Peace And Tranquility
Once you die enough times attempting a Death Wish challenge, you will be asked to enable Peace and Tranquility mode. By paying a certain number of Pons, the difficulty of the challenge will be lowered. An example would be that the infamous 10 Seconds Until Self-Destruct would start at 30 seconds instead of the aforementioned 10 and that the clocks that would add 20 seconds to the timer would now add 40 seconds. Viewing the contract in your start menu would change the contract from a "Death Wish" into a "Nice Wish". In Peace and Tranquility mode, you get a stamp of dishonor on the map, but this can be remedied by tearing up the contract and doing the challenges normally. You can use the developer console on Peace and Tranquility mode (and on every candle except Zero Jumps) and you only have to complete the main objective to full clear a challenge (except Community Rifts). Completing the challenges in Peace and Tranquility mode does count toward the achievements. Peace and Tranquility Mode is not available for Live Game Events, although the events' challenges are considerably less difficult than the standard Death Wish challenges in being more celebratory.
Standard Challenges
Stage Remixes
Image | Challenge Name | Objectives | Reward |
---|---|---|---|
Beat the Heat |
*It's much hotter than usual, cool yourself off!
|
Virtual Kid Costume | |
So You're Back From Outer Space |
*Mafia saw spaceship!!
|
None | |
Mafia's Jumps |
|
None | |
Collect-a-thon |
*Your progress drains over time
|
None | |
She Speedran from Outerspace |
|
None | |
Vault Codes in the Wind |
*You have only 30 seconds to collect each Vault Code
|
Raincoat Costume | |
Encore! Encore! |
*He's all charged up!
|
Hat Flair for Brewing Hat | |
Security Breach |
*Security has been upped, significantly
|
None | |
10 Seconds Until Self-Destruct |
*The Owl Express is way behind schedule
|
None | |
The Great Big Hootenanny |
*It looks like you've gained quite a following
|
None | |
Killing Two Birds |
*This next project is a collaboration...
|
Parade Outfit | |
Speedrun Well |
|
None | |
Boss Rush |
*No healing between fights! *You can retry from last checkpoint 3 times
|
Nani?! Camera Filter | |
Quality Time with Snatcher |
*This time, no blue potions!
|
None | |
Breaching the Contract |
*I'm even more handsome than usual!
|
Witch costume | |
Bird Sanctuary |
*Hurting birds is not allowed!
|
None | |
Wound-Up Windmill |
*The Windmill is operating at "peak" performance
|
None | |
The Illness Has Speedrun |
|
Transcendent | |
The Mustache Gauntlet |
*You have 3 chances
|
Hat Flair for Ice Hat | |
No More Bad Guys |
*She stole a bunch of those weird Time Pieces
|
24 Karat Kid costume | |
Cruisin' for a Bruisin' |
*There's no end in sight
|
Hat Flair for Sprint Hat | |
Seal the Deal |
*Good luck! *You have 3 chances
|
Shadow Puppet |
Rift Collapse
Image | Challenge Name | Objectives | Reward |
---|---|---|---|
Rift Collapse: Mafia of Cooks |
*The Time Rift has become unstable!
|
Hat Flair for Sprint Hat | |
Rift Collapse: Dead Bird Studio |
*The Time Rift has become unstable!
|
Metallic | |
Rift Collapse: Sleepy Subcon |
*The Time Rift has become unstable!
|
None | |
Rift Collapse: Alpine Skyline |
*The Time Rift has become unstable!
|
None | |
Rift Collapse: Deep Sea |
*The Time Rift has become unstable!
|
Mirror Badge |
Community Maps
Image | Challenge Name | Objectives | Reward |
---|---|---|---|
Community Map: Rhythm Jump Studio |
*Contributed by Lane "FlameLFH" Haskins
|
None | |
Community Map: Twilight Travels |
*Contributed by Eric "Jak" Ridge
|
None | |
Community Map: The Mountain Rift |
*Contributed by Devan "Mr. Brawls" Miller
|
None |
Candles
Unlike the other challenges, these goals are for completing outside of Death Wish. They still count towards the Death Wish challenge total.
*The Camera Tourist Challenge is not available in the Switch version, bringing down the total amount of stamps to 108 (111 with Nyakuza Metro (DLC)).
Challenge Name | Objectives | Reward | Unlock |
---|---|---|---|
Snatcher's Hit List |
*They've got you all figured out!
|
None | Complete Beat the Heat |
Snatcher Coins in Mafia Town |
|
Cardboard Dye |
Complete So You're Back From Outer Space |
Snatcher Coins in Battle of the Birds |
|
Detective Outfit |
Complete The Great Big Hootenanny |
Zero Jumps |
*You jump, you die!
|
Nostalgia Badge |
Complete Rift Collapse: Dead Bird Studio |
Snatcher Coins in Subcon Forest |
|
The Queen's Dress Costume |
Complete Rift Collapse: Sleepy Subcon |
Snatcher Coins in Alpine Skyline |
|
Hiking Shorts Costume |
Complete Bird Sanctuary |
Camera Tourist* |
|
Movie Poster Camera Filter |
Complete Rift Collapse: Alpine Skyline |
Snatcher Coins in Nyakuza Metro |
Including with Nyakuza Metro (DLC) |
None | Complete Killing Two Birds
Earn 30 Death Wish stamps |
Live Game Events Challenges
These challenges are only available during Live Game Events with limited-time rewards. The stamps here are collected on separate maps, so they do not count towards the total stamp count.
Winter Event Candles
These challenges were only available during the 2022 and 2023 Winter Events.
Challenge Name | Objectives | Reward | Unlock |
---|---|---|---|
Season's Greetings |
|
SnatcherClause Sticker |
None |
Cold As Ice |
|
MuBeard Sticker |
Complete Season's Greetings |
Present Workshop |
|
BowKidCookie Sticker |
Complete Season's Greetings |
A Present For Me? |
|
HatKidPresent Sticker |
Complete Season's Greetings |
Family Reunion |
|
ConductDeer Sticker |
Complete A Present For Me? (2022 & 2023)
Complete Queen Vanessa Boss Fight (2023 only) |
Winter Event (2023) Community Maps
These challenges were only available during the 2023 Winter Event. They are levels downloaded as mods from Steam Workshop.
Image | Challenge Name | Objectives | Reward |
---|---|---|---|
Jingle Pons - A Winter Time Rift |
*Challenge By jevil plushie (real)™ (Cassie)
|
None | |
Blizzard Wanderland |
*Challenge By ChainsmokingPeepo
|
None | |
Queen Vanessa Boss Fight |
*Challenge By Habijob
|
Trumpet |
Summer Event (2023) Community Maps
These challenges were only available during the Summer Event (2023). They are levels downloaded as mods from Steam Workshop.
Image | Challenge Name | Objectives | Reward |
---|---|---|---|
Bow Kid's Beach Bash |
*Challenge By SuperInkLink
|
Summer Drink Sticker | |
Pirate Palm Paradise |
*Challenge By kazeemanuar
|
Summer Fairy | |
Rain Aquarium Hotel Rehydrated |
*Challenge By MrBrawls *Reward By PastaPillows
|
Hat Flair for Brewing Hat | |
Rift Of The Rising Sun |
*Challenge By Super Sandwich Galaxy
|
None | |
Seaswept Scramble |
*Challenge By Rhoyse
|
None | |
Snatcher's NOT Sketchy Carnival |
*Challenge By jlintgod *Reward By Habijob
|
Hat Flair for Sprint Hat | |
Breezy Summer Parasailing |
*Challenge By SabMods *Reward By Dr. Treefrog
|
Hat Flair for Brewing Hat | |
"Phasing" Summer Time |
*Challenge By Habijob
|
None | |
The Painted Sand Castle |
*Challenge By Catwish
|
None | |
Snatcher Candle's Dwelling Course (Summer Jam 2023) |
*Challenge By Biddy
|
None | |
Summer Heat Time Rift |
*Challenge By Teratorn
|
None | |
Hattle Royale |
*Challenge By Jazzrabbit
|
None |
Summer Event (2023) Candles
These challenges were only available during the Summer Event (2023). Some use downloaded mods from Steam Workshop in order to complete the tasks. Uniquely, new weapons can be unlocked here.
Challenge Name | Objectives | Reward | Unlock |
---|---|---|---|
Hot Pursuit |
|
Pool Noodle |
None |
Freedom Planet 2: Lilac's Headpiece |
*Challenge By MekuCube
|
The Catchmaster 9000 |
None |
The Ukulele |
*Challenge By EpicYoshiMaster *Requires Keyboard
|
None | Complete Freedom Planet 2: Lilac's Headpiece |
Quick Draw Game [Game + Costume] |
*Challenge By Don
|
None | Complete Freedom Planet 2: Lilac's Headpiece |
Cave Story Weapons |
*Challenge By Khanromi *Reward By Habijob
|
Hat Flair for Sprint Hat |
Complete Quick Draw Game [Game + Costume] |
Achievements
Below is the list of achievements related to this mode;
Image | Name | Description | Hints |
---|---|---|---|
Prepare to Die | Clear All Objectives In a Single Death Wish! | All three objectives can be completed over multiple attempts. | |
Punished Kid | Obtain 50 Death Wish Stamps! | - | |
I Refuse To Die! | Obtain All Death Wish Stamps! | Obtain all 111 stamps (114 stamps for Nyakuza Metro (DLC)); All levels can be completed in Peace and Tranquility and will still give the achievement. |
Gallery
Trivia
- Compared to the normal titlescreens, the altered versions in Death Wish usually have at least one of three things in common: heavy purple undertones, Snatcher featured in some way, or Hat Kid being visibly distressed.
- The Snatcher has an idle dialogue line where he indirectly speaks about Queen Vanessa, saying she was "like dynamite with a laser beam" back in the day. This is a reference to the Queen song Killer Queen.
- Rift Collapses may be inspired by Wario Land 4.
- If the player dies more than 12 times on a single Death Wish, then their death count starts displaying the number of times died next to a single soul, as opposed to several souls in a line.
- The Peace and Tranquility menu is a reference to a meme created after an error message that appears in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, the message being "No one's around to help.".
- Sometimes, when asking if the player wants to activate Peace and Tranquility, the message instead offers "Piece of Tranquility", "Trees and Pranquility", "Please and Thanksility", "Peck and Trainquility", "Peas in the Trees", "P34C3 and TR4NQU171TY", "Nice Wish", "to see Hat Kid dance", or "EZ modo ???" The final one is a reference to the Touhou Project fan song "Lunatic Udongein OVERDRIVE".
- In one of the Snatcher's idle lines, he says that you can "unlock a Luigi" after beating every Death Wish on the first try. This is a reference to the Super Mario 64 "L is real 2401" rumor, where people would make up many different ways you could possibly unlock Luigi in the game. None of these were actually possible, and Luigi is not in the game at all.
- In the cutscene where Snatcher tells Hat Kid about Death Wish mode, he says "These aren't your average everyday contracts. These are... Advanced Contracts." This is likely a reference to the SpongeBob SquarePants episode "Rock Bottom."