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
- Select the Download button at the top of this page to open UploadHaven.
- On UploadHaven, wait for any countdown, then select Free Download. Optional: UploadHaven Pro for faster downloads.
- When complete, extract the archive to a Life as a Lich folder using 7-Zip.
- Open the extracted folder and start the game normally.
- For errors, check Setup Guide & Troubleshooting below. Keep your security software enabled.
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.
Do I need to run the game as administrator?
Usually, no. Start the game normally from the extracted folder. If you see a permissions or save error, check that the folder is writable and follow the game's documented fix. Only grant administrator access when a trusted game's specific setup requires it.
How do I update my GPU drivers for this game?
The game won't launch — what should I try?
Check that extraction completed and your PC meets the system requirements. Note any error message before choosing a fix. If it identifies a missing runtime, install the required DirectX components or Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable from Microsoft.
My antivirus is blocking the game — is it safe?
A warning needs to be investigated; the download source alone cannot confirm that a file is safe. Keep your security software enabled and review the detection details. Do not run or restore a flagged file unless you have verified that it is a false positive. If you are unsure, leave it quarantined.