Painkiller

Impulse GamerGareth Newnham

Anshar Studios' Painkiller reboot nails the one thing it needed to do. It feels satisfying to pin demons to the wall with a stake gun.

GameSpewRichard Seagrave

7/10

With it being a co-op shooter, series fans aren't likely to get on with this new Painkiller unless they approach it with an open mind. And indeed, while it's nothing special, slaughtering demons with friends while amassing an arsenal of upgraded and customised weapons can be good fun.

GameBlastVincenzo Augusto Zandoná

6.5/10

A reboot that nails the frenetic combat, but stumbles in terms of content variety.

SectorSKPossol

6.5/10

The new Painkiller is here, and while you'll enjoy the good feeling of shooting alongside other players, it's not the kind of game players wanted and is a far cry from the original concept.

Worth PlayingCody Medellin

6.5/10

The classic Painkiller series is back! Battle through Purgatory in fast-paced co-op action, wielding infernal weapons against relentless demonic hordes.

The Nerd StashJulio La Pine

6/10

Painkiller undeservedly wears the name of the beloved shooter and nothing else. Even if its gunplay is excellent, everything else from missions to progression is uninspiring, making it an underwhelming addition to the niche franchise.

Playstation UniverseJames Davie

6/10

If you're craving the wholesale slaughtering of otherworldly beings, Painkiller has you covered despite a myriad of superior alternatives. You'll enjoy buddying up with co-operative pals and relish in the carnage of the game's meaty weaponry. However, if you're a veteran of the arena shooter or a learned observer, you'll find Painkiller is far too similar to the genre's juggernauts than can be comfortably accepted.

Final WeaponLuis Enrique

Painkiller reimagines the cult classic as a three-player co-op raid shooter, blending its breakneck gunplay with modern progression and a fresh take on heaven and hell’s eternal war. It doesn’t quite reach its full potential due to a short length, awkward mechanics, and limited content, but when the action hits, the promise of a great game is here.

TheSixthAxisGareth Chadwick

5/10

Painkiller is a series I’ve certainly heard of, but I couldn’t tell you either way whether or not I’ve played it. I must have at some point, I’m sure, because I played every single thing I could get my hands on, but I can’t actually remember doing so. What I do remember that it’s similar to Doom, including all the hellish monsters and environments. You enter a room, kill a legion of monsters, then move onto the next room, where another legion awaits your bullets. This co-op reboot of this two decade old series gets this right, at least, but it’s a bit uninspired because of this.

IGNWill Borger

5/10

Painkiller is a game about nothing for no one, a mediocre resurrection of a classic trying to put a new cover on an old book and hoping it still has some relevance 21 years later.

PPEPaweł Musiolik

5/10

Painkiller is a milestone for Polish FPSs. It's a shame that the series fell flat after the release of the first installment and, despite the passage of time, still hasn't recovered.

GamePressurePaul Wozniak

4/10

The new Painkiller tries to revive a classic with modern co-op action but ends up missing the mark. Despite solid shooting mechanics, its short campaign, weak AI, and uninspired design leave the experience feeling flat.