CRUEL

About

CRUEL is a single player action game. It was developed by James Dornan and was released on January 9, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

CRUEL is a single-player action game that plunges you into a twisted hotel filled with relentless enemies and shifting environments. Utilize fantastic game mechanics to run, fight, and adapt while collecting cans for health and powerful upgrades. Featuring beautiful visuals, a fabulous electronic soundtrack, and a hilarious yet intense atmosphere, it delivers a pulse-pounding survival challenge.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,014 reviews

gameplay58 positive mentions

atmosphere2 negative mentions

Fast-paced gameplay that keeps players engaged and on their toes.
Stylish visuals and an excellent soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
Satisfying gunplay and mechanics, with a fun mix of roguelike elements.

Can be frustratingly difficult, especially for new players, with some enemies feeling unfair.
Limited content and replayability, with only a few modes and upgrades available.
Some mechanics, like the kick and melee attacks, can feel inconsistent and unresponsive.

gameplay
133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
54%
2%
The gameplay is characterized by its fast-paced, engaging mechanics that blend classic run-and-gun elements with modern features, resulting in a satisfying and addictive experience. Players appreciate the smooth controls, appealing visuals, and a variety of combat mechanics, although some express concerns about repetitiveness and the balance of certain gameplay elements. Overall, the game offers a solid foundation with enjoyable mechanics, though some players feel it could benefit from additional content and refinement.
- “The gameplay is fast-paced, kind of hard but very balanced. It takes some skill, but if you get the hang of all the weapons and abilities, you will enjoy the game very much.”
- “Extremely satisfying gameplay loop with a gorgeous art style and a serviceable soundtrack.”
- “The mechanics of this game are a lot of fun; the shooting in particular is really satisfying, especially when you get a headshot.”
- “I wanted to like this game, but it's simply boring after less than 4 hours of gameplay.”
- “This is a poorly made, shoddy shooter with horrendous controls, bad graphics, and worse gameplay.”
- “I really like the style of this game and the mechanics, but I feel like a majority of my deaths aren't my fault; either my melee just doesn't collide properly, I somehow accidentally destroy my healing, or one of the enemies will get up after taking a couple of shots and then kill me from behind after it seemed like I killed them.”
music
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its energetic and immersive quality that enhances the overall gameplay experience. Reviewers frequently describe the soundtrack as "banging" and "fantastic," noting its ability to keep players engaged and pumped during fast-paced action. While some mention a lack of variety in the music, the consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
- “I cannot believe this game is only 10 bucks; the soundtrack, aesthetic, and gameplay are immaculate! 10/10.”
- “The art style is gorgeous, and the soundtrack adds so much to the experience!”
- “The movement is clean, the art style is fantastic, and the soundtrack is very immersive.”
- “The sound track is good, but what's better is throwing on your own music.”
- “Game just sits on a black screen and plays the title music, I've reinstalled multiple times.”
- “Music is a bit lacking in comparison to the banger of that game, but at least it has variety.”
graphics
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
47%
4%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their unique art style, which blends retro aesthetics reminiscent of 90s titles with modern gameplay elements. Many players appreciate the low-poly visuals and the immersive atmosphere they create, often comparing them to classic games like "Doom" and "Hotline Miami." Overall, the visuals are described as stylish, engaging, and well-executed, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite some critiques regarding clarity and content.
- “The art style is gorgeous, and the soundtrack adds so much to the experience!”
- “The graphics are extremely authentic to the early 2000's style and everything animates great.”
- “The movement is clean, the art style is fantastic, and the soundtrack is very immersive.”
- “This is a poorly made, shoddy shooter with horrendous controls, bad graphics, and worse gameplay.”
- “Glomming on to blood aesthetics for extra 'boomer shooter' cred once again also just feels like we're getting some dishonest marketing when this thing really is kind of more like a mobile game autoscroller of some sort.”
- “The graphics have that classic PS1 look to it all with a somewhat dark cartoonish horror.”
humor
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
8%
The humor in the game is described as dark and delightfully absurd, enhancing the overall experience with a mix of hilarity and cruelty. Players appreciate the funny presentation and addictive gameplay loop, often finding joy in the game's outrageous scenarios and witty elements. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's charm, making it a standout feature for many reviewers.
- “Stayed for a well-made addictive loop gameplay and its original and funny presentation.”
- “The soundtrack is perfect and the presentation has a good sense of humor.”
- “There are still a few things that will hopefully get improved and ironed out but overall it's a very fun and ultra fast-paced 'keep moving or you die' game with a wicked sense of humor.”
- “Although I do think more weapons in the future would be nice, I also think it's funny that you can type anything you want to kill. Overall, 9 out of 10 game.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with players enjoying its simple mechanics and engaging gameplay that encourages repeated playthroughs. However, some reviewers express a desire for additional content and features to enhance the replay value further, suggesting that while the foundation is solid, there is room for improvement. The game's charm and personality contribute to its appeal, making it a worthwhile experience for many players.
- “The sheer amount of replay value in this will have me coming back time and time again.”
- “It has a lot of personality and replayability.”
- “This has the formula... it's short, sweet, with excellent replayability.”
- “But it also comes at the expense of mechanics that could have heavily improved on the core aspects of the game and give it more replay value.”
- “Solid foundation but needs some more content/replayability.”
- “But both also leave you wishing that the devs added just a few more features to increase replayability.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The reviews highlight a mixed reception regarding the story aspect of the games discussed. While some players express a desire for deeper lore and character development, particularly in the context of a horror game, others criticize the narrative quality, citing contradictions and a lack of depth. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the gameplay may be enjoyable, the story often feels underdeveloped or secondary to the action.
- “Feels like Ultrakill if you dropped V1 in a horror game; I'm genuinely interested in what the lore could be. We need a wiki on this; I want to know Erik's story.”
- “Conclusion: for $10, this game is a gem, and I can't wait to see if we get further updates like more maps, more guns, more modes, and maybe more story if there's even a need for it.”
- “Hopefully, a story-driven FPS as crazy as this one, maybe even crazier.”
- “Dustborn: has ugly and hateful characters, a story that contradicts its own message 'against' bullying, stale combat with a mechanic that uses the 'power of words' and music that murders your brain cells.”
- “If you're looking for a long in-depth roguelike game with a story or extensive character building, this game isn't for you.”
- “But overall, for how short this is I very much enjoyed Cruel, it's got a great art style, fun gameplay, the soundtrack kicks ass, but not really much going on with the story, but that doesn't really matter.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback; while some users praise its overall performance and efficiency, others report significant issues such as constant crashes and poor performance at times. Overall, there is a consensus that while the game has potential, optimization problems need to be addressed for a better experience.
- “It's also insanely well optimized.”
- “Pretty good in almost every aspect; game design, aesthetics, pace, gameplay, and optimization.”
- “Although I do love this game's gameplay and soundtrack, I cannot recommend it due to its constant crashing and poor performance at times. I definitely will be buying this game and changing my rating once these issues are fixed.”
- “Chainsaw aside, I didn't see any variance in the performance of any given one, though there's plenty of room for me to be wrong there.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its effective blend of simple gameplay, engaging music, and well-crafted level design, creating a retro occult vibe that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the fun and immersive qualities of the atmosphere, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The atmosphere, simple gameplay, and music blend very well together, creating a solid foundation.”
- “The atmosphere, music, and level design all scream: 'run!'”
- “It nails a retro occult atmosphere.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect enjoyable, with one user noting that it took six hours to complete the game while still having a great time. The initial adjustment to the game's flow and controls is mentioned, but once acclimated, players are eager to continue grinding for more.
- “Took me six hours of grinding to beat it once, but I was having a blast the entire time.”
- “It took me a little bit to get used to its flow and controls, but once I was in, I was in, and spent a solid couple of hours grinding it whenever I got the chance.”
- “But I'll keep grinding it out.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game's stability is inconsistent, with some users experiencing significant freezes and stutters upon replay, while others report smooth performance. Overall, the experience varies widely among players.
- “Runs great.”
- “Runs great and feels great.”
- “Running the game a second time has introduced some of the most atrocious freezes and stutters.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”