Blackout Z

About

Blackout Z is a single player arcade shooter game with a violence theme. It was developed by NukGames and was released on October 20, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

Blackout Z: Slaghterhouse edition is a fast paced top down shooter where you kill the maximum of zombies that you can, while the battery of your flashlight is slowly drowning.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 612 reviews

gameplay19 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Fast-paced and addictive gameplay that keeps players engaged.
Unique mechanics with flashlight battery management and environmental hazards add challenge.
Easy to unlock achievements, making it appealing for completionists.

Repetitive gameplay with limited content, including only one map and one enemy type.
Frustrating mechanics due to the fast-draining flashlight and instant-death traps.
Basic graphics and sound design that feel outdated and lack polish.

gameplay
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
57%
15%
The gameplay of "Blackout Z: Slaughterhouse Edition" is characterized by its fast-paced, top-down twin-stick shooter mechanics, emphasizing a balance between offense and survival in a zombie-infested environment. While the simple controls and addictive nature of the gameplay are praised, some players find the flashlight mechanic frustrating and the overall experience can become repetitive over time. Despite its limitations, the game offers engaging mechanics and replayability, making it suitable for both casual and hardcore gamers looking for quick, action-packed sessions.
- “Blackout Z: Slaughterhouse Edition, developed and published by Nukgames, is an intense top-down twin-stick shooter that delivers fast-paced action and strategic gameplay in a dark, zombie-infested environment.”
- “The gameplay centers on balancing offense and survival, requiring players to think quickly and act decisively, keeping tension high throughout each session.”
- “Pretty fun yet simple top-down zombie shooter with a cool light mechanic that leads to some really tense moments where you need to move through the danger-filled map.”
- “The environments can feel repetitive, and the AI of both zombies and allies tends to be predictable, making gameplay feel somewhat monotonous after a while.”
- “The core mechanic of the limited flashlight beam creates more annoyance than tension.”
- “Recommended if you want to have a game where you can get all achievements super fast, else avoid this game and its repetitive mechanics.”
music
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
57%
8%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players praising its catchy and immersive qualities that enhance the gameplay experience. While some find the soundtrack simple, it effectively fits the game's atmosphere, creating a sense of urgency and excitement. However, a few users noted that the music can become repetitive or annoying over time, and there are concerns about the sound effects overshadowing it during intense moments.
- “The soundtrack features moody, suspenseful music that heightens the sense of danger, while sound effects—such as the growls of zombies, the hum of the flashlight, and the whirring of saw blades—create an immersive auditory experience.”
- “The music is simple and fits the game/ambiance.”
- “And the music is fire.”
- “Only one music (unless you buy DLC for such a simple game).”
- “Like I mentioned, the saws are hard to hear and the music just makes it harder to hear them, leading to more cheap deaths.”
- “Music is obnoxious - and the dev wants to charge extra for the soundtrack?!”
graphics
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
62%
14%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist pixel art style that effectively captures a bleak atmosphere, enhancing the immersive experience despite their simplicity. While the visuals are not groundbreaking and lack customization options, they serve their purpose in maintaining clarity during gameplay. Overall, the graphics are described as functional and fitting for the game's tone, reminiscent of retro aesthetics, but may not appeal to those seeking modern visual fidelity.
- “Visually, the game employs a minimalist pixel art style that effectively conveys the bleak and dangerous atmosphere of the warehouse setting.”
- “The simplicity of the graphics ensures clarity during frantic combat, allowing players to focus on gameplay without visual clutter.”
- “Despite its modest presentation, the art style successfully establishes a tense, immersive environment that complements the gameplay.”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “There's no options to change the resolution for the game or customize the graphics settings.”
- “There's no way for gamers to try to improve the low-quality graphics.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find motivation in improving scores and climbing leaderboards, others feel it lacks depth and long-term engagement after achieving all goals. Suggestions for enhancing replay value include introducing new gear, weapons, or challenges, as many players express a desire for more content to keep them coming back. Despite its addictive gameplay, the game may become repetitive quickly for those seeking more substantial replay incentives.
- “This mechanic not only promotes skillful play but also drives replayability, as players are motivated to improve their performance, beat their personal bests, and climb the global leaderboards.”
- “These features, combined with the game’s core mechanics, provide long-term engagement for players seeking both challenge and replayability.”
- “This one is replayable, challenging (I myself always got addicted to scoring high, until the next gun unlock at least) and fun.”
- “No real replay value besides the achievements.”
- “Before closing out the review, I kind of wish there were more reasons to go back to the game after getting all the achievements, like maybe some gear we could unlock and use, for example, night vision goggles that you can activate for a limited time to see better or other things like that for replay value.”
- “Nice game but really short; you have to add more things to make this game more playable. I mean, I am going to play this game for an hour and it will be boring, so add more things that make this game interesting.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
The game's story aspect is widely criticized for its absence, with many users noting that it lacks any meaningful narrative or context. Reviewers describe it as a short, fun experience reminiscent of old flash games, but express a desire for a more engaging storyline or purpose behind the gameplay. Overall, the consensus is that the game offers little to no story, resulting in low ratings.
- “It's a short and fun experience; it would be nice if it had a melee mod, just a knife with fewer enemies or something, or some meaning to the levels... a mini story to keep your interest up.”
- “This is... the story... that you started, isn't it?”
- “This game reminds me of the old flash web games and there is no story or any context.”
- “There is no real story.”
- “It's a fast-paced, top-down, zombie shooting game with health, ammo, and battery collecting, but it has no story.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players describing it as a funny and enjoyable experience, particularly for short play sessions. While some find it occasionally annoying, the overall consensus is that it offers a lighthearted and entertaining escape, complemented by easy achievements.
- “It is a funny little gem of mindless killing.”
- “Game concept is very good and funny.”
- “It's a great small minigame; all the achievements can be done within less than an hour, it's a funny game and the mechanics are very easy to understand.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of "Blackout Z: Slaughterhouse Edition" is highly praised for its effective use of minimalist pixel art and immersive audio design, creating a bleak and dangerous environment that enhances the game's zombie theme. The combination of darkness, tension, and strategic gameplay contributes to a compelling and engaging atmosphere.
- “In conclusion, Blackout Z: Slaughterhouse Edition is a well-designed indie shooter that combines fast-paced combat, strategic resource management, and a tense, atmospheric presentation.”
- “Visually, the game employs a minimalist pixel art style that effectively conveys the bleak and dangerous atmosphere of the warehouse setting.”
- “The audio design further reinforces the game’s atmosphere.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the progression system promising, but many feel that it can become overly grindy, leading to a diminished sense of motivation to continue advancing.
- “The progression system has potential, but it can feel a bit grindy, with some players possibly feeling a lack of incentive to keep pushing forward.”
- “Grinding for resources takes an excessive amount of time, making the experience feel more like a chore than enjoyable gameplay.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding can lead to burnout, as it often feels like you're just going through the motions without any real sense of achievement.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has been criticized due to issues with enemy interactions, particularly with zombies that exhibit buggy behavior, requiring players to move away before they can effectively engage them. This suggests a lack of fluidity in combat mechanics, impacting overall gameplay experience.
- “The flaws I'm going to mention aren't because of glitches or anything like that.”
- “Buggy zombies; when they hit you, you have to move away from them to be able to kill them.”
- “Buggy zombies; when they hit you, you have to move away from them to be able to kill them.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization aspect of the game enhances skillful play and encourages replayability, as players are motivated to improve their performance, surpass personal bests, and compete on global leaderboards.
- “This mechanic not only promotes skillful play but also drives replayability, as players are motivated to improve their performance, beat their personal bests, and climb the global leaderboards.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of low-effort, retro-style games that are perceived as cash grabs, suggesting a negative view of its monetization practices.
- “Gamemaker Studio is most commonly used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”