Dead Island Retro Revenge

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Dead Island Retro Revenge is a single player arcade hack and slash game with a horror theme. It was developed by Empty Clip Studios and was released on May 31, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and neutral reviews from players.

Time for some 16-bit retro revenge! Hell-bent on saving his cat, Max must carve a bloody path through a zombie-infested California, tearing his way through hordes of the undead, battalions of corrupt soldiers, and a slew of evil-minded ex-cons. Pull off crazy combos, collect power-ups, wield super weapons, and unleash insane magic attacks as you fight to become the amazing 16-bit side-scrolling he…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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56%

Audience ScoreBased on 289 reviews

story9 positive mentions

gameplay13 negative mentions

Enjoyable retro-inspired arcade action with vibrant pixel art and satisfying combo-based combat.
Challenging gameplay that rewards timing, precision, and strategy with a fun score-chasing mechanic.
Humorous story and energetic soundtrack contribute to a lighthearted, nostalgic experience.

Repetitive gameplay with limited depth and variety that can quickly become monotonous.
Auto-runner design restricts player movement, leading to frustration and less traditional beat 'em up feel.
Lack of clear tutorials and vague game mechanics cause confusion, alongside occasional bugs and technical issues.

gameplay
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
66%
19%
The gameplay is a side-scrolling endless runner combined with beat 'em up mechanics that initially feels engaging but quickly becomes repetitive due to limited moves, recycled enemy patterns, and lack of progression. While some appreciate the retro style and rhythm-based combat elements, many find the mechanics shallow, overly simplified, and poorly executed, resulting in a frustrating and forgettable experience. Overall, it’s a decent casual game at a low price but lacks depth and innovation to sustain long-term interest.
- “Gameplay is structured around an endless runner-style combat system combined with lane-based beat ’em up mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is challenging, thoughtful, and insanely satisfying.”
- “The inclusion of leaderboards and score-driven mechanics will have you vying for that top spot and coming back for more, sharpening your skills with each play-through.”
- “While I enjoyed the initial experience, the gameplay loop gets repetitive quickly, especially if you’re a completionist aiming for all the achievements.”
- “However, the repetitiveness of the mechanics and the lack of real progression become apparent after extended play sessions, as the limited move set doesn’t evolve much over time.”
- “Its structure, though engaging at first, quickly becomes repetitive due to its limited mechanics and recycled enemy patterns.”
story
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
75%
9%
The story in this retro-inspired side-scroller is minimal and largely serves as a humorous backdrop for the action, focusing on a simple plot about rescuing a cat during a zombie apocalypse. It is often described as paper-thin, goofy, and predictable, with only brief cutscenes and limited narrative depth, making it more an excuse for gameplay than a compelling plot. Overall, players view the story as short, repetitive, and lacking meaningful content, but occasionally entertaining due to its self-aware absurdity.
- “The story, though paper-thin, is perfectly aware of its absurdity.”
- “Taking on the role of Max, a lone survivor with a bad attitude and an even worse hangover, you'll embark on a frenetic quest to rescue your furry companion and crush the undead horde in the process.”
- “It's a funny little story about our main character trying to rescue his cat, and I want to note that the art in the cutscenes is cool.”
- “The final mission is frustrating, and the story doesn’t really add anything interesting.”
- “The gameplay gets repetitive very fast, it's not really my thing and the story is barely there.”
- “Repetitive story and long and hard levels.”
graphics
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
53%
11%
The graphics receive mixed feedback, with many praising the game's strong retro aesthetic and nostalgic 90s arcade vibe, highlighting its charming pixel art and vibrant visuals that complement the gameplay. However, some find the visuals outdated or mediocre, citing occasional glitches and lack of polish that detract from the experience. Overall, the graphics effectively capture the intended retro style, appealing mainly to fans of classic arcade visuals rather than those seeking modern or cutting-edge graphics.
- “Together, the visuals and music create an atmosphere that’s both ridiculous and oddly charming, proving that the developers understood exactly the kind of game they were making.”
- “The controls are responsive, the visuals are striking, and the absurd premise keeps it entertaining even as repetition sets in.”
- “Developed by Empty Clip Studios, this game masterfully blends nostalgic aesthetics with modern gameplay, resulting in a truly sensational experience that will hook you from the moment you hit that 'play' button.”
- “The graphics are poor and the gameplay is repetitive.”
- “The game offers some mediocre graphics, mixed together with really stereotypical retro vibrant colours that don't work at all with the aesthetic of Dead Island and some horrible ugly glitches and bugs littered here and there which made me not want to continue playing.”
- “Not even the retro aesthetic, nostalgic score features, filters, soundtrack, old school difficulty and SNES feel can save it, and I'm saying this as a huge fan of retro gaming.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
57%
12%
The game's music is generally well-received for fitting the retro, arcade-style atmosphere with catchy, energetic tracks that complement the action and 90s aesthetic. However, some reviewers find the soundtrack limited in variety and not particularly memorable or enjoyable outside the game. Overall, it enhances the experience but lacks standout originality or depth.
- “The soundtrack, a mix of energetic rock and synth-inspired beats, complements the action perfectly, pumping adrenaline into every encounter.”
- “The soundtrack of "Dead Island Retro Revenge" is nothing short of a masterpiece.”
- “Composed by the legendary Arkadiusz Reikowski, the music captures the essence of classic 16-bit soundtracks while infusing them with a modern twist.”
- “Not even the retro aesthetic, nostalgic score features, filters, soundtrack, old school difficulty and SNES feel can save it, and I'm saying this as a huge fan of retro gaming.”
- “There is just only three soundtracks when you play, but not this and also not the simple story is the real problem.”
- “Need more soundtracks.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The game offers strong replayability through its fast-paced, retro-inspired design with multiple modes and competitive elements that appeal to achievement hunters. While some users note limited variety, the overall consensus highlights enjoyable and diverse gameplay experiences that encourage repeated playthroughs.
- “One of the game's most impressive features is its replay value.”
- “Very high replay value and fun to complete for achievement hunters.”
- “There are a few modes and competition for replay value if you're into that, making the game quite charming.”
- “☑️ fair: some replay value, but lacks variety.”
- “❎ good: multiple paths or modes, moderately replayable.”
- “I am not sure how much it cost as I got this in a huge bundle and decided to try it since it was included. Loved it, played until I beat it and there are a few modes and competition for replay value if you're into that, I found this game quite charming and would love a sequel.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game’s humor is a standout feature, blending self-aware parody and b-movie melodrama with retro, pixelated charm. Its lighthearted, simple story and nostalgic nods to classic 16-bit brawlers create an energetic and amusing experience that fans of old-school arcade games will appreciate.
- “Beat down zombies, collect power-ups, and level up in a throwback to classic arcade brawlers — all with a humorous, pixelated twist.”
- “What it lacks in depth, it makes up for with energy, humor, and an old-school arcade flair that captures the spirit of 16-bit brawlers while still paying homage to its zombie lineage.”
- “The game follows a hilariously simple premise: Max, a rugged anti-hero with a knack for violence, has his beloved cat Rick Furry kidnapped in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is mixed, with some users experiencing significant bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, particularly in survival mode. However, others consider it the most polished and least buggy title in the franchise. Overall, stability issues detract from the experience for some players despite improvements over previous entries.
- “This game is great to 100%, if survival mode wasn't a buggy, rage inducing mess.”
- “No 1080 resolution buggy and trash 2/10”
- “The game offers some mediocre graphics, mixed together with really 'stereotypical' retro vibrant colours that don't work at all with the aesthetic of Dead Island and some horrible ugly glitches and bugs littered here and there which made me not want to continue playing.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game offers ample opportunities for score chasing and achievements, but the experience can feel tedious due to long levels, unimpressive attacks, and mediocre music.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “If you’re into chasing scores or grinding out achievements, there’s enough here to keep your hands busy for a while.”
- “The attacks don't look good and aren't satisfying, the levels are long and tedious.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere is characterized by a blend of quirky visuals and music that create a charming yet humorous vibe, reflecting the developers' clear vision. However, some users find the sound and music to be basic and not particularly enhancing the overall atmosphere.
- “Together, the visuals and music create an atmosphere that’s both ridiculous and oddly charming, proving that the developers understood exactly the kind of game they were making.”
- “Fair: basic sound/music, doesn't enhance the atmosphere.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional experience is hindered by frustrating gameplay mechanics, where the point system forces risky close combat. Large enemy hitboxes often cause unintended damage, leading to player irritation rather than engagement.
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is criticized for its lack of intuitive guidance, requiring players to read a manual instead of providing integrated tutorial elements, and character designs do not effectively hint at how to defeat enemies.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is exceptionally well-optimized, running smoothly across various systems without performance issues. Users consistently praise its efficient use of resources and stable frame rates.
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users perceive the monetization of the game as a lazy cash grab, indicating a negative view of how the game handles in-game purchases or monetization strategies.
- “I wanted to like this game, but I feel like it's a lazy cash grab game.”

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67%Critics’ scoreBased on 3 critic reviews

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Frequently Asked Questions

Dead Island Retro Revenge is a arcade hack and slash game with horror theme.

Dead Island Retro Revenge is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

Dead Island Retro Revenge was released on May 31, 2016.

Dead Island Retro Revenge was developed by Empty Clip Studios.

Dead Island Retro Revenge has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked Dead Island Retro Revenge for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Dead Island Retro Revenge is a single player game.

Similar games include Fist of Awesome, Kung Fury: Street Rage, Dead Effect, The Culling of the Cows, Dead Pixels and others.

Dead Island Retro Revenge

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