Game Overview
Undeath becomes a surprisingly broad fantasy sandbox in this choice-driven interactive novel about ruling from beneath the world. You begin as a newly awakened lich, armed with dangerous magical potential and faced with the practical problem of building a functioning realm full of corpses, cultists, and supernatural rivals. Its tone can be cruelly power-hungry, quietly melancholic, or even oddly domestic depending on the ruler you choose to become. Rather than pushing a single heroic quest, Life as a Lich asks what immortality does to someone with centuries of time, an army of skeletons, and no obligation to stay human.
Progress unfolds through text choices, resource decisions, conversations, and branching story events across an enormous 200,000-word narrative. You recruit and assign undead workers, develop subterranean holdings, expand an economy, and decide whether to prioritize infrastructure or simply pursue the next major narrative thread. More than 50 spells support different approaches, while armies can range from conventional zombies and ghouls to necrodragons, constructed servants, and a gleefully absurd force of rats. Conflict is handled through choices rather than action controls, with difficulty options allowing players to begin as an established powerhouse or fight for every scrap of influence on the harshest setting.
The strongest appeal lies in the freedom to define what kind of necromancer you are: tyrant, reluctant monster, protector of believers, planar scholar, aspiring god, or an immortal seeking another chance at mortal life. Domains are not merely menu-based bases; they anchor exploration, logistical choices, cult management, and encounters with demons, demigods, and other ancient beings. Returning players can import heroes from Tokyo Wizard or Raiders of the Icepeak Mountains, although a new character and either a modern Japanese or fantasy-world origin make it approachable on its own. Fans of Choice of Games-style interactive fiction, management-heavy fantasy stories, and morally flexible RPG role-playing will find the most to enjoy here, especially if they prefer imagination and branching consequences over graphics or combat spectacle.
Screenshots
Installation
- Click the green button below to be redirected to UploadHaven.
- Wait 15 seconds, then hit “Free Download.” (Free downloads may be slower — upgrade to UploadHaven Pro for faster speeds.)
- Once downloaded, right-click the .zip file and choose “Extract to Life as a Lich.” (You’ll need 7-Zip for this.)
- Open the extracted folder and run the game as administrator.
- Enjoy! 🎮 If you see missing DLL errors, check the _Redist folder inside and install what’s needed.
Setup Guide & Troubleshooting
How do I fix missing DLL errors for Life as a Lich (v2024.07.08)?
After extracting Life as a Lich (v2024.07.08), navigate to the _Redist or _CommonRedist folder inside the game directory and install DirectX, Vcredist, and any other dependencies included.
What should I do if the downloaded file is corrupted?
The full archive is 144.72 MB — make sure your download completed fully before extracting. Use 7-Zip to extract the files. If you still see a "file corrupted" error, re-download and try again.
Why should I run the game as administrator?
Right-click the game executable and select "Run as Administrator" to avoid save file issues and permission errors. This is especially important on the first launch.
How do I update my GPU drivers for this game?
The game won't launch — what should I try?
Try running in compatibility mode, install the latest DirectX runtime, or install the All-in-One VC Redist Package.
My antivirus is blocking the game — is it safe?
Antivirus false positives are common with pre-installed games. Temporarily pause your antivirus during extraction to prevent it from quarantining game files. You can re-enable it after the extraction completes.