Crawl

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,716 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Crawl Game Cover
Teach Your Friends To Kill Each Other
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"Crawl" is a local multiplayer horror hack and slash game that supports up to 4 players, either in co-op or PvP mode. The constantly changing dungeons are filled with deadly traps and monsters controlled by your friends, making for a unique and replayable experience. Level up, unlock weapons and items, and face off against your friends as the final boss in this turbocharged role-playing game.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,716 reviews
gameplay249 positive mentions
grinding19 negative mentions
  • Incredibly fun and chaotic gameplay, especially with friends.
  • Unique mechanics where players control both the hero and the monsters, creating a dynamic and competitive experience.
  • Great pixel art and sound design that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • Lacks online multiplayer, limiting play to local co-op only.
  • Can become repetitive after a few rounds, especially with only three bosses available.
  • Some players may find it difficult to keep track of their character amidst the chaos on screen.
  • gameplay538 mentions

    The gameplay of Crawl is characterized by its unique 3v1 mechanic, where one player controls the hero while others play as monsters trying to defeat them, creating a competitive and chaotic atmosphere. Players appreciate the fast-paced, intuitive mechanics and the balance that allows for comebacks, making it enjoyable both solo and with friends. However, some critiques mention a lack of depth and variety in gameplay, particularly when playing alone or against AI, suggesting that the experience shines brightest in local multiplayer settings.

    • “The gameplay, upgrades, music, pace, characters, animations, narration, art style, violence, and humor are second only to the originality, love, and care put into this title.”
    • “The gameplay is loads of fun with all the different loadouts for humans and the different evolution choices for monsters always keeping the game feeling new.”
    • “The gameplay is fast, fluid, and easy to jump into with friends.”
    • “Firstly, the game lacks depth and variety in gameplay.”
    • “The combat mechanics are overly simplistic and repetitive, making each playthrough feel like a chore.”
    • “The gameplay becomes monotonous.”
  • graphics266 mentions

    The graphics of the game are predominantly praised for their charming pixel art style, which evokes nostalgia and complements the gameplay's fast-paced action. While many players appreciate the retro aesthetic and vibrant visuals, some criticize the pixelation for making it difficult to track gameplay elements and identify hitboxes. Overall, the graphics are seen as a strong aspect of the game, contributing to its unique atmosphere, though opinions vary on their execution and clarity.

    • “The graphics are sick, the bit-crunch audio is hectic.”
    • “The pixel art style and atmospheric soundtrack contribute to the game's overall charm.”
    • “Crawl's graphics are above and beyond any quality of art I've ever seen done for a pixel-based game, right up there with the great blockbusters.”
    • “Furthermore, the game's graphics and sound design are subpar.”
    • “The pixelated graphics look outdated and unappealing, and the sound effects and soundtrack are forgettable and unremarkable.”
    • “The only possible issue are the graphics.”
  • music177 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its enchanting chiptune soundtrack that evokes nostalgia and enhances the overall atmosphere. While some noted that the limited number of tracks can lead to repetitiveness, the majority found the music to be energetic, fitting, and integral to the gameplay experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.

    • “The music is among the best I've heard; I get goosebumps every time.”
    • “An amazing game to play with friends, with one of the best soundtracks I've ever had the pleasure of listening to!”
    • “The music, graphics, gameplay, and local multiplayer aspect work hand in hand together to craft this masterpiece.”
    • “The pixelated graphics look outdated and unappealing, and the sound effects and soundtrack are forgettable and unremarkable.”
    • “Same goes for the dungeon environment which lacks almost any variety in its aesthetic, and the music which begins to feel repetitive after a few playthroughs.”
    • “Also, at this point, the music is very limited and gets pretty repetitive.”
  • replayability103 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, particularly in multiplayer settings, with many players highlighting the fun of playing with friends and the variety of unlockable content. While some users note limitations in solo play and a desire for more diverse content, the procedural generation of levels and numerous gameplay mechanics contribute to an engaging experience that encourages repeated play. Overall, it is considered a highly replayable title, especially for those who enjoy cooperative or competitive gameplay.

    • “Delightfully fun game with infinite replayability.”
    • “The multiplayer aspect in particular is what really makes the game, and adds a significant amount of replayability.”
    • “The customization of gameplay on each run makes this game almost infinitely replayable and a blast each time, but the key feature of this game is having it played with people.”
    • “It's a fun game, but it has an oddly low amount of replayability for a rogue-like.”
    • “The biggest criticisms, of course, are the current monster balancing and few unique path choices on their growth. This is what makes a game meaningful and replayable; it's not quite there yet, but this is where it's going to grow, I imagine.”
    • “Although the lack of online multiplayer and only one boss makes this game spoil replayability.”
  • humor59 mentions

    The humor in the game is consistently praised, with players highlighting its chaotic and hilarious multiplayer experience, particularly when playing with friends. Many reviews mention the amusing interactions, such as ganging up on the human player and using quirky game mechanics to create funny moments, leading to laughter and competitive fun. Overall, the game's blend of dark humor, engaging gameplay, and entertaining animations makes it a standout choice for group play.

    • “Hilarious and satisfying multiplayer experience.”
    • “Spawning in slimes to annoy the human player is friggin' funny as sin, and my group even coined it as 'slime time' for whenever we had a lot of slimes and monsters at the ready.”
    • “Crawl is fantastic, just simply an amazingly vicious and unforgiving co-op party experience that will leave you and your friends screaming at each other, laughing, and sometimes crying.”
    • “The humor in this game falls flat and feels forced, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
    • “I expected a lot more laughs, but the jokes are stale and often miss the mark.”
    • “The attempts at humor are cringeworthy and detract from the overall gameplay.”
  • story53 mentions

    The game's story is a simple yet engaging narrative where players take on the role of heroes who, upon death, become ghosts seeking revenge on the living. While some players appreciate the light touch of the narrative that enhances the gameplay, others express a desire for a more developed story mode. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop to the fun and creative gameplay, with a Lovecraftian theme that resonates with many players.

    • “In the depths of darkness, where shadows dance and malevolent spirits whisper, this game unfolds like a spooky campfire story, where heroes rise and fall, and monsters seize their chance for revenge.”
    • “Crawl's light touch on narrative and story set the mood without impeding gameplay or leaving you to wonder why your character is there.”
    • “Upon death, you become one of three ghosts seeking to end the life of a man in order to claim his humanity; during your quest, you may choose to work together as you possess monsters and traps, but ultimately you all strive to be the one to deliver the final blow in order to claim a chance at sweet deliverance.”
    • “After all your friends are dead, they turn into ghosts (antagonists), whose mission it is to kill the current protagonist so that they can take over their life and become the new protagonist.”
    • “This game features a very short, simple story, and is promoted with a short, simple advertisement that compliments the game's most attractive qualities very well.”
    • “It's not open world and it's not story driven.”
  • atmosphere33 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating blend of pixel art, haunting soundtracks, and a nostalgic retro aesthetic that immerses players in a treacherous dungeon environment. Reviewers highlight the intense and chaotic gameplay, enhanced by a sense of competition and betrayal among players, which contributes to a thrilling and engaging experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as both unique and evocative, successfully evoking feelings of trepidation and excitement throughout each playthrough.

    • “Its captivating concept, haunting atmosphere, and thrilling gameplay make it a standout title in the indie gaming world.”
    • “The atmosphere is on point in terms of making you feel as if you're exploring a dank dark dungeon that's haunted by an ancient evil presence, the spirits that haunt you, follow you and possess traps and summon monsters only add to this feeling.”
    • “The atmosphere was thick with trepidation, as my fellow adventurers and I navigated the treacherous dungeon, unaware of the betrayal that awaited us.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is just creepy enough to send the willies up newcomers, not to mention the new intro cutscenes narrated by the magnificent old shrimpeyes.”
    • “While the look could understandably be considered 'played-out' to some extent, in the current indie environment, the atmosphere cast over the room by the up-tempo horror-midi soundtrack is both appropriate and exceptional.”
  • grinding26 mentions

    The reviews indicate a mixed experience with grinding in the game. While some players appreciate the lack of grinding and the immediate access to the full experience, others find the grind for unlockables and items to be tedious, especially when playing solo or without friends. Overall, the grinding aspect can be enjoyable in a multiplayer setting but may become repetitive and frustrating when played alone.

    • “There's no grinding; it's a classic arcade cabinet style where you just jump in and get the full experience right away. While some people enjoy progression, this can be seen as either a pro or a con.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “No grinding needed.”
    • “It’s here that the game can become tedious, however.”
    • “Unless you have friends to constantly play this, it just is a tedious grind.”
    • “Going through the rooms is fine by me, but when the game is drawn out because of someone grinding for items, it doesn't feel as fun.”
  • stability17 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing frequent freezes and controller issues, particularly during remote play. However, others have noted that the game runs smoothly with minimal bugs, especially for an early access title, and commended the developers for their responsiveness to reported issues. Overall, while there are significant stability concerns for some users, others find the game to be surprisingly polished and enjoyable.

    • “Nothing ever felt cheesy or broken; no glitches.”
    • “Crawl is a great game in many regards: a fun art style, polished gameplay, surprisingly bug-free for an early access game, and constantly changing how you play.”
    • “Firstly, as an early access game, I was astonished when I picked this up because I found little to no glitches or bugs, and it was bursting with content right from the start.”
    • “Game freezes every thirty seconds.”
    • “It's a buggy mess though... constant problems with the controllers, and don't get me started on trying to remote play.”
    • “Important things to note: the game can be a little buggy regarding controllers.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the balance and polished performance, some have experienced issues with smooth gameplay on certain systems. There is a wealth of options for players looking to optimize their strategies, but technical performance can vary, impacting the overall experience.

    • “Some deities aren't as powerful as others, but there's enough room for cleverness and play optimization that all the options feel interesting.”
    • “Very balanced and polished performance.”
    • “I really wish it was a thing of the past; that way they could have optimized the idea!”
    • “But on the tryhard side, there's a host of options and optimization to sink your teeth into, as well as plenty of things you can pick up to make things more interesting.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong feelings, with players expressing moments of deep connection and nostalgia, often leading to tears. The gameplay experience is described as a heartfelt tribute to classic gaming, where the challenges faced by the hero create a sense of triumph and heartbreak, enhancing the overall emotional journey.

    • “I cried.”
    • “So good, it makes me want to cry...”
    • “Overall a heartfelt love letter to gaming days of yore, a must buy for anyone who remembers a video game arcade.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for misleading advertising, particularly regarding its multiplayer capabilities, which has left some players feeling deceived. While the game's promotional materials highlight its appealing features, the actual content is perceived as short and simplistic, leading to disappointment among buyers.

    • “Misleading advertising, be warned!”
    • “The deceptive advertising regarding multiplayer capability also ticks me off.”
    • “This game features a very short, simple story, and is promoted with a short, simple advertisement that compliments the game's most attractive qualities very well.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

69% average critic score

Buy Crawl

Play time

11hMedian play time
26hAverage play time
9-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 18 analyzed playthroughs

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