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Cruelty Squad

Cruelty Squad celebrates feeling bad in surprising ways, all of them fun.
Cruelty Squad Game Cover
96%Game Brain Score
graphics, gameplay
optimization, grinding
97% User Score Based on 8,722 reviews
Critic Score 93%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
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Cruelty Squad Game Cover

About

Cruelty Squad is a single player simulation game. It was developed by Consumer Softproducts and was released on June 15, 2021. It received very positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Cruelty Squad is a tactical first person shooter set in the hardcore gig economy of corporate liquidations. You're an emotionally dead combat-substance fueled grunt of Cruelty Squad, a depraved subsidiary company tasked with performing wetworks for its host conglomerate. Will you make the Corporate Arch Demoness proud or succumb to bitter tears of failure? Features Highly kinematic tactical gamepl…

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Cruelty Squad screenshot
Cruelty Squad screenshot
Cruelty Squad screenshot
Cruelty Squad screenshot
Cruelty Squad screenshot
Cruelty Squad screenshot
Cruelty Squad screenshot
Cruelty Squad screenshot
Cruelty Squad screenshot
Cruelty Squad screenshot
Cruelty Squad screenshot
+15
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97%
Audience ScoreBased on 8,722 reviews
graphics211 positive mentions
optimization9 negative mentions
  • graphics
    914 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Cruelty Squad" are a polarizing aspect, often described as intentionally grotesque and jarring, resembling a chaotic blend of retro aesthetics and surreal visuals that can be overwhelming at first. While many players find the visuals to be an acquired taste that ultimately enhances the game's unique atmosphere and themes, others struggle with the eye-straining design and harsh soundscapes. Despite the divisive opinions on its graphics, the gameplay is frequently praised for its depth and enjoyment, suggesting that the visuals serve a purpose in conveying the game's satirical commentary on capitalism and dystopia.

    • “The graphics are an amazing tribute to the absurdity of the universe in and of itself, and I believe its overall message, which there is almost no possibility of understanding without some significant googling, is something that most of the population doesn't know and absolutely should.”
    • “Beautifully hideous textures and graphics, killer sound design, tons of weapons.”
    • “The art style is intentional and the world it creates is vivid and incredibly interesting.”
    • “The graphics are hideous and at times downright nauseating.”
    • “The visuals are attacking all of my senses, impressive but it hurts.”
    • “The graphics are intentionally off-putting, the sound is discordant and deeply uncomfortable, and at first glance it appears to be a game which was made to troll the audience.”
  • gameplay
    841 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Cruelty Squad" is a unique blend of immersive sim mechanics and fast-paced tactical shooting, reminiscent of titles like "Deus Ex" and "Hitman." Players appreciate the depth and variety in gameplay styles, with multiple approaches to missions, a range of weapons and upgrades, and engaging mechanics like a stock market and fishing system. However, the unconventional controls and abrasive visuals can be off-putting, leading to a steep learning curve that some players find frustrating, though many ultimately find the gameplay rewarding and addictive once they acclimate.

    • “The gunplay feels crisp and reliable, the reload mechanic draws you further into the universe, and the level design is absolutely impeccable.”
    • “Come for the wild aesthetics and story, stay for the extremely tight and surprisingly deep room-breaching tactical shooter gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is surprisingly tight, fast, and deadly, with a wide variety of weapons and biomods that have some pretty novel effects.”
    • “The gameplay itself also becomes a grind, late game levels introducing things like increasingly difficult to avoid toxic damage that cannot be reduced by defense and enemies hidden in increasingly obscure spots, all culminating in a final level that made me want to tear my hair out when it asked for mechanical skills that went woefully underused for the rest of the game.”
    • “What I don't get is how you can make the game as difficult (and repetitive) as it is, yet have the actual gameplay be so boring.”
    • “The gameplay is absolutely terrible and I have no idea why anyone would play this.”
  • story
    717 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Cruelty Squad" is described as a bizarre and often confusing narrative set in a dystopian world that critiques hyper-capitalism and consumerism. Players take on the role of a corporate assassin, navigating through absurd missions that blend dark humor with existential themes, while the plot unfolds through cryptic dialogue and mission briefings. While some find the story engaging and layered, others view it as incoherent, emphasizing that the gameplay and exploration often take precedence over a traditional narrative structure.

    • “The story exists as a background to John Cruelty's murder tangent, while also being closely tied to it.”
    • “The world is an ultrafuturistic fictional era, it has parodies of consumerism and corporatism, these topics are used for the plot and the lore of the game explaining the events of the world.”
    • “The story and message is brilliant, glancing at screenshots you would never guess that, but everything is designed brilliantly and put together with so much intent and purpose, I haven’t played a game like this in recent memory.”
    • “The story makes no sense.”
    • “This game is so confusing in the plot I gave up trying to understand it and instead focused on the amazing gameplay.”
    • “The story is almost non-existent; you get a level and your handler will somewhat give you the background of the level.”
  • music
    366 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Cruelty Squad" is a polarizing aspect, often described as intentionally abrasive and chaotic, with many players finding it both headache-inducing and oddly fitting for the game's surreal aesthetic. While some tracks are appreciated for their uniqueness and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, others are criticized for being grating and unpleasant. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a crucial element that contributes to the game's distinctive, disorienting experience, appealing to those who enjoy experimental and avant-garde music styles.

    • “The soundtrack is very fitting in every scenario of the game.”
    • “The music is enjoyably surreal.”
    • “The music, textures, and forced-meme humor would probably have delighted me as a teenager but now I cringe a little.”
    • “The music is so bad and the textures are horrible and it makes no sense 10/10”
    • “The soundtrack is horrid.”
    • “The music is like someone pissing on a soundboard at an electronic music festival.”
  • humor
    203 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Cruelty Squad" is characterized by its dark, absurd, and satirical take on capitalism and consumerism, often blending grotesque visuals with clever writing and bizarre NPC dialogue. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke laughter through its chaotic gameplay and surreal scenarios, though some find the humor's cynicism overwhelming. Overall, the humor resonates well with those who enjoy a unique blend of irony and social commentary, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The writing is funny, even more so if you're brain poisoned by internet message boards.”
    • “A beautifully disgusting clusterfuck of fantastic level design, genius gunplay and multi-faceted character progression, as well as a surreal plotline and surprisingly hilarious dialogue.”
    • “Cruelty Squad is a game about funny people doing funny things; this is one of the games of the decade.”
  • replayability
    111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts an impressive level of replayability, with numerous unlockable upgrades, hidden secrets, and multiple approaches to completing missions. Players can enjoy experimenting with different strategies, difficulty levels, and playstyles, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging. Despite some criticisms regarding its presentation, many reviewers highlight the game's depth and variety, ensuring it remains captivating for extended periods.

    • “The game has multiple levels with hidden secrets and mechanics along with unlockable upgrades and weaponry allowing for a good bit of replayability.”
    • “Extreme replay value, whether you're the type of player who likes collecting everything, getting the best ranks on time trials, trying different strategies, or just chilling and fishing; this game has something for everyone.”
    • “The myriad of tools and weapons at your disposal ensure a high level of replayability.”
    • “I like the messy, nostalgic, surreal and uncomfortable art style, the general concept is a good one, but due to constant, unfixable performance issues, juvenile political message, little to zero replayability, and the fact the game would be easy to expand upon but hasn't been whatsoever, I'm giving it a thumbs down.”
    • “The gunplay sucks (every playstyle feels the same), enemy AI is braindead, there's no replay value, the maps are empty aside from the hidden items.”
    • “While some may not be able to get past the surreal style of Cruelty Squad, those who learn to love the nightmarish aesthetic will be treated to a wonderful little immersive sim that encourages experimentation & replayability.”
  • atmosphere
    53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of "Cruelty Squad" is a striking blend of dark humor, nihilism, and surrealism, creating a uniquely immersive experience that evokes feelings of discomfort and intrigue. Its grotesque art style, discordant soundtrack, and satirical writing contribute to a nightmarish yet captivating world that reflects a bleak commentary on modern society. Players often describe the atmosphere as both engaging and repulsive, making it a standout feature of the game that enhances its gameplay and thematic depth.

    • “The revulsion that permeates the experience of enduring the onslaught of disingenuous, saccharine advertising while working a dead-end job with no prospects and no hope for a better future is crystallized and practically personified into an intoxicating miasma of cathartic atmosphere and world-building.”
    • “The atmosphere is a huge pull, and the world of this game is not intricate nor deep, but it has a tonal/stylistic self-consistency that is incredible.”
    • “Furthermore, the atmosphere of this game feels like depression...like it just feels like depression.”
    • “The drab, uncomfortable atmosphere of Cruelty Squad truly makes you feel as though you are in the end times of humanity, a society that has far surpassed the brink of capitalist extinction.”
    • “The graphics are hellish, the sounds are disgusting, the music sounds either broken or highly abrasive, but all of these elements combined just work really well to create this foreboding and nightmarish atmosphere.”
  • emotional
    45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as a complex blend of unsettling feelings, ranging from humor to horror, often leaving players feeling disturbed yet engaged. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke genuine emotional responses, whether through its heartwarming narratives or its grotesque portrayal of a dystopian world, ultimately challenging players to confront their own emotional numbness. Overall, the game is seen as a profound experience that elicits a wide spectrum of emotions, making it both impactful and memorable.

    • “And even more than that, playing this game had a profound emotional impact on me.”
    • “I have never played a video game before or since that made me cry.”
    • “This game made me feel something genuine not through narrative (even if all dialogue and flavor text is amazingly written) but through gameplay, and that is something I believe every developer should strive for.”
  • optimization
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and long load times, despite having hardware that exceeds the recommended specifications. While some users find enjoyment in the gameplay and art style, the frequent performance problems detract from the experience, leading to requests for refunds and calls for optimization patches. However, there are indications that ongoing updates may improve performance over time, leaving some players hopeful for future enhancements.

    • “Performance is good 95% of the time, gameplay is fun and emphasizes speed and/or stealth, and the plot covers interesting themes.”
    • “About the only bad thing I can say is that I wish it ran better, but it's constantly being optimized, so there's that.”
    • “So far the game hasn't seemed especially buggy or unpolished aside from performance issues on the larger levels, though it is admittedly difficult to differentiate between things that are unpolished and things that are intentionally rough due to the nature of the game.”
    • “The performance is atrocious; my PC is well beyond the specs, and despite trying everything to remedy this, it lags constantly, particularly with frame drops right when you shoot, which for a shooter is shameful.”
    • “Game is extremely poorly optimized.”
    • “It's a bit unoptimized; a lot of times if you're looking at a large, active section of the map, you'll lose a lot of frames. I have plenty of power to run the game, but still find myself lagging.”
  • grinding
    27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews of the game's grinding mechanics are mixed, with some players finding the grinding for resources and upgrades tedious and frustrating, particularly in relation to fishing and stock market minigames. Others note that while there is some necessary grinding, it is not overwhelmingly burdensome, and the game offers alternative methods to earn money. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a double-edged sword, contributing to both the game's challenge and its potential for player fatigue.

    • “Of course in the early game you won't have enough money to afford most of the expensive implants, but the game isn't that grindy either.”
    • “Rings especially true when you are tasked with grinding for cash for the later stage of the game.”
    • “This is a game where the most interesting mechanics are gated behind grinding for money on tedious fishing and stock market minigames, where levels could be made a third of the size and lose none of their interesting elements, and where extensive parts of the game are spent roaming around mostly empty maps looking for targets or combing for secrets while banal music loops endlessly.”
    • “There's a method to the madness, but unfortunately it's tied to a tedious game that I lost patience for.”
  • stability
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with frequent frame drops, stutters, and occasional freezes that disrupt gameplay, particularly during intense moments. While some players appreciate the intentional roughness as part of the aesthetic, many report significant performance issues, especially on larger levels. Overall, the game exhibits a range of bugs typical of early access titles, leading to a varied experience depending on individual tolerance for instability.

    • “And to wrap it all up – the game suffers from some pretty bad frame drops at times, along with stutters and freezes.”
    • “I was consistently surprised by strange, random freezes that interrupted my ability to attack or defend myself.”
    • “I booted it up, loaded into a mission, then moments later, it froze up before flickering a black screen at a seizure-inducing rate.”
  • monetization
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with players feeling that the pricing does not reflect the game's value and expressing frustration over perceived cash-grabbing tactics by the developers. The game's anti-capitalist themes are seen as ironic given its pricing and lack of meaningful content updates, while the absence of microtransactions is noted as a missed opportunity in a market increasingly leaning towards games as a service. Overall, the monetization strategy is viewed as disingenuous and detrimental to the gaming experience.

    • “The emerging Asian markets and mobile games on smartphones, in particular, are altering player demographics towards casual gaming and increasing monetization by incorporating games as a service.”
    • “The anti-capitalist political message of this game is stale, childish, and ironic considering how it's $20 but feels like it should be $10 at most, as well as how good the game could be if the devs didn't completely abandon it after cash grabbing.”
    • “Now the thought of trying to find comfort in the system of consumerism and oligarchic rule is so nauseatingly unavoidable that life at times seems to be a terrible joke, of which I feel the butt of, except nobody but the people in the advertisements are laughing.”
    • “Surely we need thousands of microtransactions and DLC!”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development is characterized by a unique and consistent aesthetic that embraces grotesque, polygonal designs for NPCs, reflecting a society that commodifies human life. The witty dialogue and nonsensical environments contribute to a rebellious charm, challenging traditional expectations of character design and graphics. Overall, the approach is raw and cohesive, enhancing the game's thematic depth.

    • “I find the tongue-in-cheek NPC dialogue witty, and the nonsensical environment and character designs really charming.”
    • “Character design for NPCs looks like gross, polygonal monstrosities because it reflects the only state in which their society allows them to exist: monsters who are willing to sell their friends and loved ones' organs on the stock market.”
    • “It’s raw, rebellious, and doesn’t respect your predispositions of good graphics, and I respect that, since it’s consistent all throughout, from the character designs to the UI.”
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93%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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15h Median play time
66h Average play time
5-30h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 18 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Cruelty Squad is a simulation game.

Cruelty Squad is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 66 hours playing Cruelty Squad.

Cruelty Squad was released on June 15, 2021.

Cruelty Squad was developed by Consumer Softproducts.

Cruelty Squad has received very positive reviews from players and very positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its optimization.

Cruelty Squad is a single player game.

Similar games include MERCY CO., Deadeye Deepfake Simulacrum, Psycho Patrol R, E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy, Hotline Miami and others.