Barbearian

About

Barbearian is a single player arcade hack and slash game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Kimmo Lahtinen and was released on August 14, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Barbearian is a hack-and-slash game set in a vibrant, hand-drawn world where you must fight for survival after being kidnapped. With over 100 levels, you can collect loot, purchase upgrades, and build your own army, while encountering colossal boss monsters and facing plenty of challenges. Rescue prisoners, experiment with various weapons, and discover the secrets of the Arbitrators to find your way back home.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 72 reviews

music10 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The combat is well-balanced and intense, providing a satisfying hack-and-slash experience.
The game features solid art design and a colorful, engaging aesthetic that enhances the gameplay.
It offers a fun and addictive gameplay loop, with a variety of enemies and challenges that keep players engaged.

The controls can feel clunky and frustrating, especially when rebinding keys on PC.
The game can become repetitive and grindy, particularly during the final stages and when trying to achieve 100%.
There are significant design flaws, such as the annoying portal mechanic that can disrupt gameplay and force players to replay sections.

music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the high-energy soundtrack and find it enhances the gameplay experience, others find the menu and map music repetitive and annoying. Overall, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a standout feature, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere, despite some players opting to lower the volume to focus on sound effects.
- “The controls are tight, the artwork is beautiful, the dialogue is quirky and funny, and my favourite is the soundtrack.”
- “Beautiful game, amazing soundtrack.”
- “Even the music is perfect, super high energy and drives me to keep playing.”
- “The music is annoying at times and the character could be faster.”
- “Pretty annoying menu and map music (high pitched and repetitive)”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
The gameplay is characterized by its easy accessibility and addictive nature, featuring solid mechanics and enjoyable level design. While it may initially feel repetitive, the inclusion of minions adds depth, especially in the later stages. Overall, the core hack'n'slash experience is satisfying and complemented by decent music and appealing art design.
- “Gameplay is really solid and highly addictive.”
- “The core hack'n'slash gameplay is solid and satisfying.”
- “May seem a little repetitive at first, but the mechanics and level design are top notch.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The game's story is characterized by a linear progression, featuring a humorous and engaging narrative alongside interesting boss encounters. Players navigate through a series of campaign mission sets, typically consisting of three interconnected maps, which enhances the experience but is not essential for mission completion. Overall, the story has garnered positive anticipation for future developments.
- “I can't wait to play more and see where the story goes!”
- “Funny, nice story, cool bosses.”
- “Very linear character and story progression.”
- “The way most of the campaign works is you work through a series of 5 campaign mission sets (my term) -- each set is usually 3 separate maps strung together.”
- “Both in regular missions and boss fights.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics are described as cartoony and beautiful, with a perfect blend of vibrant artwork that complements the game's visceral action. Reviewers appreciate the artistic style, highlighting its appeal alongside the engaging gameplay.
- “The artwork is beautiful.”
- “Perfect blend of cartoony aesthetic and barbarian raging.”
- “The art work is amazing.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky and funny dialogue, complemented by a nice story and entertaining boss encounters. Players find the experience gratifying and enjoyable, with a blend of humor that enhances the overall gameplay.
- “The controls are tight, the artwork is beautiful, the dialogue is quirky and funny, and my favorite is the soundtrack.”
- “Very gratifying, fun and funny, and not a cakewalk either.”
- “Funny nice story, cool bosses.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate that the game avoids excessive grinding and lengthy levels, making for a more streamlined experience. However, some note that upgrading can become repetitive and grindy. Overall, the game strikes a balance between efficiency and the need for some grinding.
- “Gets repetitive and grindy for upgrades.”
- “It's also pleasantly short; it doesn't waste your time with grinding or maze-like levels.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game offers vast replayability, as campaign maps are randomized in layout and enemy compositions, ensuring a unique experience with each playthrough. Players can enjoy multiple attempts at failed campaigns or replay for additional rewards, enhancing the overall fun and engagement.
- “Vast replayability due to the way that campaign maps are different each time you play, whether it's on subsequent attempts of a failed campaign map set or when you replay it for more money or just for fun.”
- “The layout and enemy monster mixes are randomized, making each playthrough feel fresh and very replayable.”
- “The campaign maps offer a unique experience every time, enhancing the overall replayability of the game.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly without any slowdowns, even during intense moments with numerous enemies and effects on screen.
- “The game runs smoothly, and I didn't experience any slowdowns even when the whole screen is full of enemies and effects.”
- “The game runs smoothly, and I didn't experience any slowdowns even when the whole screen is full of enemies and effects.”