In a brand new story for Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical, Orpheus’ story is arguably finished, until Hermes brings him back to the world of the living. With their help, you’ll guide Orpheus through the depths of mortal decision making: who to date, what to hope for, what instrument to rock out on.
Developed by: Summerfall Studios
Played on: Steam
Length: 2 hours
Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical was one of my favourite games of 2023, so it was a no-brainer to pick up its DLC when it released a year later. Taking place after the events of the main game, Stray Gods: Orpheus follows the Bard of Legend’s second chance at mortality after Hermes brings him back to the world of the living.
Right off the bat, the DLC promises a great time. Its premise gives us an excuse to spend more time with two of our favourite side characters, Orpheus and Hermes. Played by Anthony Rapp (RENT, Star Trek: Discovery) and Erika Ishii (Dimension 20, Ghost of Yotei) respectively, this pairing is about as unlikely as they are charming, and it makes us fall in love with the world of Stray Gods even more.
Considering Orpheus’ criminal lack of screen time in the base game, it was a delight to dive deeper into his characterisation in the expansion. There’s plenty of the ego-stroking and flamboyance we’ve come to expect from the legendary bard, but there’s also a vulnerability to his character that the DLC explores as much as it can under 2 hours.

Marketed as “a comedic feature-length experience”, Stray Gods: Orpheus technically fulfills that end of the bargain with its 1-2 hour playtime. And still, it feels way too short. Stray Gods’ choice-based mechanic, which was revolutionary in the base game, is a lot less forgiving in a condensed format. Naturally, there’s no way to compare a 6-hour to a 1-hour experience, but it’s clearly difficult to achieve the same level of nuance and pacing when given such a short runtime.
Even so, the DLC peppers enough comedy and emotion into its story that you can mostly forgive its disjointed structure. Add on a few unexpected cameos, and some minor updates about the world after the events of the main game, and you’ve got a fairly decent story that will please the majority of fans.
Surprisingly, the DLC doesn’t boast a strong soundtrack despite its emphasis on music. Characters generally feel like they’re doing a lot more talking than singing compared to the base game, and most of the new songs fall a little flat in terms of quality. That being said, Back From The Dead is easily the strongest track and the most memorable scene in the entire DLC. Anthony Rapp brings back the rock star Orpheus we know and love, and needless to say, I’ll be putting this song on repeat for the next week.

All in all, Stray Gods: Orpheus is a fun romp as long as you don’t place your expectations too high. It was never going to fill the same void as the base game, but it contains enough humour and heart to placate most players. Personally, I’m just happy to get more of Orpheus and Hermes being goofballs together. Here’s to more from Summerfall Studios!
Verdict: Orpheus Has No Rizz, But We Love Him
It’s ironic that Stray Gods: Orpheus mentions how sequels are rarely better than the original, then falls for the same trap. Still, I find it difficult to dislike a game made with such passion. The DLC still contained all of the heart, soul, and sometimes-awkward singing that made the base game so loveable — even though it might have been racing to the finish line the entire way.
Buy Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical on Steam, and top up your Steam Wallet using Codashop to earn bonus rewards.