Castle Crashers

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 37,986 reviews
  • humor
  • gameplay
  • story
Castle Crashers Game Cover
Castle Crashers proves to be one of the best titles to have ever hit the Playstation Network, with the addition of new content, Behomoth's co-op action game is a must buy for any gamer.
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"Castle Crashers" is a frantic 2D arcade-style game, now with uncapped framerate and ultra texture mode. Up to four players can battle through hordes of enemies in single-player or multiplayer, with over 25 characters, 40 weapons, and adorable animal orbs to unlock. Arena mode and Insane Mode provide additional challenges and replayability.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 37,986 reviews
humor2,495 positive mentions
grinding255 negative mentions
  • humor2,499 mentions

    The humor in "Castle Crashers" is a standout feature, characterized by its quirky, often crude jokes and playful animations that evoke nostalgia for early internet culture. Players appreciate the game's lighthearted, goofy atmosphere, which is amplified in multiplayer sessions, leading to countless hilarious moments and memorable interactions. While some may find the humor juvenile or repetitive, it generally resonates well with fans of slapstick and absurdity, making it a fun experience for both solo and cooperative play.

    • “Castle Crashers is a timeless gem that delivers fun and humor, making it a must-play for both newcomers and returning fans.”
    • “The game's colorful graphics, whimsical character designs, and humorous animations bring the world to life in delightful detail, while the witty dialogue and absurd situations add plenty of laughs along the way.”
    • “Castle Crashers is a hilarious and addictive beat-em-up that shines brightest with friends.”
    • “This game is a little janky, and the forest level has some really unfunny jokes, but I would say it's overall a pretty fun experience.”
    • “The only thing that was off-putting, at least for me, were some unfunny jokes, but the rest is wonderful.”
    • “Unfunny and cringe, lmao.”
  • gameplay1,631 mentions

    The gameplay of "Castle Crashers" is widely praised for its engaging and addictive hack-and-slash mechanics, vibrant art style, and humorous elements, making it a fun experience, especially in multiplayer mode. However, many players note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, with some feeling that the combat lacks depth and variety. Overall, it offers a solid mix of simple controls, character progression, and entertaining co-op gameplay, appealing to both casual and hardcore gamers.

    • “This action-adventure beat 'em up combines quirky humor, colorful graphics, and addictive gameplay.”
    • “Its combination of engaging gameplay, charming visuals, and replay value makes it a must-play for anyone who loves action-packed adventures with a dash of humor.”
    • “The gameplay is fast and smooth, the music slaps, and the hand-drawn art is very adorable.”
    • “In my opinion, this game hasn't aged all that well, and the gameplay can be extremely repetitive.”
    • “The gameplay quickly becomes repetitive, and the combat system lacks depth, making battles feel like a grind rather than a thrilling adventure.”
    • “The gameplay is overly repetitive; you enter a room, take three steps, fight some enemies for a time period of 20 seconds to 2+ minutes while doing the same combo over and over.”
  • story1,583 mentions

    The story of "Castle Crashers" is a light-hearted and comedic take on the classic "save the princess" trope, featuring four knights on a quest to rescue kidnapped princesses and retrieve a stolen crystal from an evil wizard. While the narrative is straightforward and often silly, it is enhanced by humorous animations and quirky characters, making it enjoyable, especially in multiplayer mode. However, many players note that the story is relatively short and can feel repetitive after multiple playthroughs, with a desire for more depth or additional content.

    • “The story is conveyed through dialogue-free cutscenes with expressive animations.”
    • “The story is simple: save the princesses!”
    • “The storyline is almost non-existent, offering little motivation to push through the game.”
    • “The game's story, while straightforward, is peppered with comedic moments and quirky characters.”
    • “Castle Crashers is not a story-driven game; it has a story, but it's told through the visual medium and is mostly focused purely on gameplay instead of anything else.”
  • graphics1,404 mentions

    The graphics of "Castle Crashers" are widely praised for their charming, hand-drawn art style that evokes nostalgia and humor reminiscent of early internet flash games. Reviewers highlight the vibrant colors and whimsical character designs, which enhance the game's fun and engaging atmosphere, making it visually appealing even years after its release. While some note that the graphics may not meet modern standards, they effectively complement the game's lighthearted gameplay and comedic elements, contributing to its enduring popularity.

    • “The hand-drawn graphics are superb as it gives the game plenty of character and humor.”
    • “The vibrant colors and detailed animations bring the game's world to life, creating a unique and memorable aesthetic.”
    • “Castle Crashers combines beat 'em up and RPG elements with colorful and fun visuals and gameplay, creating an amazing experience throughout its duration.”
    • “The graphics are dated, the gameplay is repetitive, and the overall experience is just not that great.”
    • “The game looks like a 2004 flash animation with charmingly simple cartoony graphics and it plays about as complex as one too.”
    • “Boring repetitive combat + ugly art style + confusing map = bad game.”
  • music913 mentions

    The music in "Castle Crashers" is widely praised for its catchy, energetic, and diverse soundtrack, which enhances the game's whimsical atmosphere and complements its humorous gameplay. Many players highlight the nostalgic value of the music, often created by Newgrounds artists, and consider it one of the standout features of the game. Overall, the soundtrack is described as memorable and fitting, contributing significantly to the enjoyment of the game.

    • “The soundtrack is a lively and eclectic mix of tunes that perfectly complements the game’s energetic pace and whimsical atmosphere.”
    • “The music is fantastic, full of energy and emotion! You’ll often find yourself in the middle of a boss fight feeling every single note as the soundtrack urges you to give it your all!”
    • “The music, visuals, and gameplay come together to create an unforgettable experience that everybody needs to enjoy.”
    • “However, if you start paying too much attention to the music, you might realize it's fairly repetitive, and you might get annoyed, so I can't praise it too highly.”
    • “The music in this game fits the tone, but sometimes I felt as if the music is not memorable in some areas.”
    • “The sound effects and the soundtrack is just meh.”
  • replayability636 mentions

    The game "Castle Crashers" is widely praised for its high replayability, attributed to its diverse roster of unlockable characters, various gameplay modes, and engaging multiplayer options. Players enjoy the ability to experiment with different characters and strategies, making each playthrough feel unique, especially in co-op settings. While some reviews mention a relatively short campaign, the abundance of unlockables and challenges keeps players returning for more fun.

    • “Featuring multiple characters, weapons, and mini-games, it offers great replay value.”
    • “Its combination of engaging gameplay, charming visuals, and replay value makes it a must-play for anyone who loves action-packed adventures with a dash of humor.”
    • “The multiplayer mode also enhances the game's replayability, as each playthrough can be a unique experience depending on the combination of players and their chosen characters.”
    • “Nostalgic, lacks replay value.”
    • “The game can be completed in a few hours, and while the game is designed for replayability, some players may find the game's content to be lacking.”
    • “Kinda short with zero meaningful replayability.”
  • grinding309 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and repetitive, often requiring players to replay levels to level up characters or collect items. While some players find enjoyment in the grind, especially in co-op play, many express that it can become monotonous and detracts from the overall experience, particularly when playing solo. Overall, the game is noted for its fun mechanics and humor, but the grinding can feel excessive and may require significant time investment.

    • “It's really a shame because this game has a lovely art style, good sense of humor, and the game is fun when you aren't grinding.”
    • “It's got that grindy feel but isn't too grindy.”
    • “Completing the game in co-op and single player was a good experience, though I wish leveling after completion wasn't as grindy.”
    • “This game was quite fun the first playthrough, mainly since I had my bro to play with, but after that it kinda becomes boring, repetitive, and tedious.”
    • “The only thing I found tedious was there was a portion of the game that spikes in enemy health which incentivizes the players to grind for more levels.”
    • “The game can feel grindy in some aspects, but if you haven't played it yet after all these years, then it's totally worth it!”
  • stability78 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting frequent glitches, crashes, and issues with the saving system that can disrupt gameplay. While some players find the bugs amusing or manageable, others express frustration over the game's instability, particularly in multiplayer modes. Overall, the experience can vary significantly, with some players enjoying smooth gameplay while others encounter persistent technical problems.

    • “This game isn't buggy at all and is totally still worth getting.”
    • “Runs great on Linux via Steam Play/Proton.”
    • “This game runs great on any computer (I mean it -- any), and is good with a keyboard and mouse.”
    • “Frequent glitches and occasional crashes disrupt the flow of the game, making it frustrating to play.”
    • “The launcher is terrible and completely freezes my computer or glitches out like crazy; when it finally loads, it then half the time gets stuck on a black loading screen.”
    • “The game constantly stutters, freezes up, and has many latency issues that have yet to be fixed.”
  • optimization53 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on a variety of hardware and is accessible for low-end PCs, many players report significant performance issues, particularly in multiplayer modes, including stuttering and lag. Some users praise the game's optimization for single-player and local co-op experiences, but the online multiplayer experience suffers from severe technical problems. Despite these issues, recent patches have improved performance for some players, making it a more enjoyable experience overall.

    • “Castle Crashers runs smoothly on a wide range of hardware configurations, ensuring that the game is accessible to players with various system requirements.”
    • “Optimized really well and extremely fun with friends!”
    • “The optimization is great, you can play it on most computers.”
    • “The game is a poorly-optimized PC port the likes of which would make even Arkham Knight blush.”
    • “Once you start multiplayer, the game becomes horribly choppy and stuttering; your button presses are sometimes ignored, it slows down and speeds up at irregular intervals, and sometimes it completely desyncs from other players.”
    • “It does not matter whether you host the game or someone else, regardless of good internet connection or high FPS, the game is hardly playable in multiplayer due to horrible and constant stuttering.”
  • emotional45 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of feelings, from nostalgia and joy to sadness and frustration. Many players report experiencing deep emotional connections, often crying during pivotal moments or reflecting on their childhood memories associated with the game. Overall, it is described as a wholesome experience that can evoke strong emotional responses, making it both a heartwarming and sometimes heart-wrenching journey.

    • “The ending itself made me cry.”
    • “Palace Wreckers is an emotional heartthrob of a game; I cried multiple times while playing this game, sometimes to the point of complete sobbing.”
    • “I am not exaggerating when I say that Life is Strange is not only by far my all-time favorite game but also it is an experience that really took over me and gave me an emotional roller-coaster like no other game ever did.”
  • atmosphere26 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a whimsical and light-hearted tone, enhanced by charming hand-drawn art, smooth animations, and a lively soundtrack that complements its energetic gameplay. Users appreciate the quirky humor and vibrant visuals, which create a casual and enjoyable environment perfect for extended play sessions, particularly in couch co-op settings. Overall, the game's unique blend of comedic elements and medieval themes contributes to a memorable and entertaining experience.

    • “With its charming hand-drawn art style and catchy soundtrack, Castle Crashers creates a whimsical atmosphere that enhances the fun.”
    • “The game's quirky and vibrant art style creates a whimsical atmosphere that’s instantly appealing.”
    • “The soundtrack is a lively and eclectic mix of tunes that perfectly complements the game’s energetic pace and whimsical atmosphere.”
    • “The story isn't a strong focus, as there is no dialogue, but it makes up for this by creating a strong, comedic atmosphere using immature fart and poop jokes that makes the game friendly for the family (if you turn off the blood, of course).”
    • “Most levels end with a big boss battle, where your techniques, might, and agility are put to the test, again with all a touch of humor and creative cartoonish atmospheres.”
    • “The combat in the game is really simplistic, but it doesn't need to be complex due to the nature of the game, and I love the late 2000s cartoon atmosphere of the game.”
  • character development23 mentions

    Character development in the game is characterized by its whimsical and humorous character designs, which enhance the overall experience with vibrant graphics and witty dialogue. While some players appreciate the simple RPG mechanics that allow for different play styles, others feel that the lack of depth in character development may deter those seeking a more strategic experience. Overall, the game's charm lies in its quirky characters and engaging art style, making it enjoyable for casual play.

    • “The RPG character development is simple but works, with options to focus on magic/range vs. melee.”
    • “Overall the game was super fun; the character development was awesome and the gameplay took some skill.”
    • “The game is very good; it has a great story, beautiful character design, and multiple weapons and characters to choose.”
    • “Castle Crashers attempts to mesh both, and what I've discovered is one audience is turned off by a punishing difficulty level, hidden amongst pretty colors, while another audience is likely not prepared to put in the effort for a game which requires such attentiveness, without really providing the character development structure to make the investment worthwhile.”
    • “With no strategy and absolutely zero character development, this game will win the hearts of all your friends - at least the ones that love to spam the attack key.”
    • “The character design is uninspired.”
  • monetization10 mentions

    The game's monetization is minimal, featuring only two optional DLC characters that do not impact the core experience, which many players appreciate. However, some users criticize the presence of ads and in-game purchases, labeling it as a cash grab, while others enjoy the nostalgic gameplay despite the monetization aspects. Overall, the game is seen as a balance between maintaining player engagement and introducing monetization elements.

    • “So imagine this, right, a 12-year-old game that hasn't received any content updates, yet it is still playable because the devs actually care about their game and don't sell out to microtransactions.”
    • “The game has no other monetization except the two DLC characters, which are in no way needed for the experience.”
    • “Feels like a port and a lazy cash grab to me.”
    • “The in-game purchases for extra content are a little much, but I find myself going back to this classic time and time again to get that perfect score on each of the characters.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

Buy Castle Crashers

Play time

17hMedian play time
81hAverage play time
7hMain story
37hCompletionist
6-70hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 79 analyzed playthroughs

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