Dead Weight fields four unique playable characters — each with a dedicated skill tree, narrative role, and tactical identity. The demo and Steam playtest introduce Arn the Barbarian and Berry the rogue; the full launch on July 16, 2026 unlocks the complete crew aboard your flying pirate ship. Klukva Games and publisher Spaghetti Cat built the roster as a tactical ensemble rather than four interchangeable fighters.
Arn anchors the front line with pushes and raw durability. Berry flanks with mobility and precision strikes. The remaining two launch characters — details still emerging ahead of release — are expected to cover support roles and specialists who interact with madness, fuel, or ship systems in ways the demo only hints at.
Roguelite structure encourages replaying with different captains. No single character solves every island layout, Ancient God encounter, or fuel crisis. Over 120,000 Steam wishlists suggest players are eager to experiment across the full quartet once action point combat and rebalanced fuel systems land at launch.
Character choice also colors how you experience story events. Arn's rescue mission framing makes every Aluza encounter personal; Berry's playtest perspective reframes the same lore through the eyes of someone who was captured and escaped. The two unrevealed launch characters will likely add entirely new emotional angles to Insid bargains and Region 2 pirate politics when their skill kits and narrative hooks are finally public.
Available in Demo and Playtest
Arn — the Barbarian
Arn is the prologue protagonist and marketing face of Dead Weight. He hits hard, holds chokepoints, and shoves enemies into the Abyss with skills like Shield Bash and Abyss Push. New players should start here: forgiving HP, straightforward tactics, and direct ties to the Berry rescue plot. Read the full Arn guide →
Berry — the Rogue
Berry is Arn's kidnapped companion and a playable rogue in the Steam playtest. Shadow Step, Backstab, Smoke Bomb, and Poison Blade reward positioning over brute force. She demonstrates how differently Dead Weight plays when you abandon the front line. Read the full Berry guide →
Story Figures and the Full Roster
Mad Oracle Aluza drives the demo narrative by taking Berry, weaving madness and prophecy into the opening hours. Insid represents the seductive pull of the Ancient Gods — a deity tied to the Abyss and high-risk blessings. Neither is a demo playable character, but both shape how Arn and Berry relate to the wider pantheon on the Ancient Gods page.
Two additional playable characters will join at launch. Klukva Games confirmed four total skill trees; expect roles that complement Arn's tanking and Berry's mobility — perhaps dedicated support, ranged control, or madness-focused kits that reward alternate routes on the world map.
Choosing Your Captain
First run: play Arn in the free demo to learn push mechanics, fuel loops, and the Berry storyline. Second run: apply for the playtest to experience Berry in Region 2. At launch, rotate characters to see how skill trees interact with tier loot and Insid bargains.
Theorycraft ahead of time with the build planner, browse meta recommendations on the builds page, and read the skill tree guide before committing skill points in a fresh roguelite run.
Aluza and Insid anchor the narrative side of the roster even when they are not playable. Aluza's madness-driven prophecies explain why Berry matters beyond friendship; Insid's whispers hint at why the Abyss below the islands is more than a convenient kill zone. When the two unrevealed launch characters arrive, expect their stories to intersect with those gods in ways Arn and Berry only preview during the demo and playtest slices.