DEAD OR ALIVE 6

69%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,903 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Game Cover
Dead or Alive 6 is a great game that is easy for anyone to pick up and has the depth to last fighting game fans a long time.
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Dead or Alive 6 is a fighting game that offers both single-player and multi-player modes. The game features fast-paced 3D combat with dynamic and interactive stages, adding a new level of strategy to the competitive experience. Players can expect stunning graphics and a diverse roster of characters, each with unique moves and fighting styles.

  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,903 reviews
gameplay309 positive mentions
monetization39 negative mentions
  • gameplay703 mentions

    The gameplay in "Dead or Alive 6" is generally praised for its fluidity, responsiveness, and depth, featuring a mix of classic mechanics and new additions like the break gauge system. While many players appreciate the engaging combat and strategic elements, some criticize the game for feeling simplified compared to its predecessor, "DOA 5," and for the excessive reliance on DLC for content. Overall, the game offers a solid fighting experience, though opinions vary on its balance and the impact of monetization practices on gameplay enjoyment.

    • “What starts out as an excuse to look at cute 3D models of anime girls slowly morphs into a respectable fighting experience with deep, unique mechanics and combat that feels fair and always skill-based.”
    • “From the moment I entered the arena, I was captivated by the fluid and responsive combat mechanics that made every punch, kick, and combo feel satisfying and impactful.”
    • “With its responsive combat mechanics, stunning visuals, diverse character roster, and engaging multiplayer modes, it delivers a high-octane fighting experience that will keep you coming back for more.”
    • “Even when it first released, it was very barebones and even took tech away after the first few months of gameplay. The stamina bar used to have 2 ticks and didn't use one for sidesteps, but the devs decided to make a huge gameplay tweak by adding 2 more ticks and making sidesteps take one.”
    • “Everything in this game is watered down aside from the gameplay, which is just the same gameplay we had since Dead or Alive 5: Last Round, unless you count the 'break' mechanic, which I think shouldn't have even been switched from the special attacks DOA 5 had previously.”
    • “This game is utter trash, seems like a step backwards, the gameplay is really trash. Don't buy this garbage until they stop making stuff like this.”
  • story696 mentions

    The story in "Dead or Alive 6" has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing it as disjointed, poorly executed, and lacking depth compared to previous entries in the series. Critics note that the narrative feels rushed and convoluted, often failing to engage players, while the voice acting and cutscene quality are also criticized. Although the game includes a quest mode that offers some character exploration, the overall consensus is that the story is a weak aspect of the game, primarily serving as a backdrop to the fighting mechanics rather than a compelling narrative experience.

    • “The story mode is fun enough but the narrative structure can feel a bit disjointed as you ping pong between characters, scenes and multiple plot arcs.”
    • “The story is simple, but it's integrated really well - you can't ask for more from a fighting game.”
    • “The story mode was enjoyable for me... really loved how it was done in little vignettes... even if it was kind of jumping around a bit.”
    • “The story is a jumbled mess - but the chapters are just loading screen, cutscene, loading screen, combat, loading screen, cutscene, loading screen.”
    • “The story mode is a weird convoluted mess that actually has no reward for playing through.”
    • “The story mode is the worst in the series to date, the challenge mode is poorly thought through and offers precious little reward, and the online multiplayer still suffers with clunky netcode.”
  • graphics564 mentions

    The graphics of Dead or Alive 6 have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals, detailed character models, and vibrant colors that elevate the game's aesthetic appeal. However, some players have noted issues with optimization, particularly in online modes where graphics can downgrade significantly, and a lack of customizable graphical settings on PC. Overall, while the game showcases impressive graphics compared to its predecessor, some feel it falls short of newer titles in the fighting genre.

    • “The graphics are stunning, and the characters are so lifelike that you might find yourself apologizing to your TV after landing a particularly brutal combo.”
    • “Visually stunning, Dead or Alive 6 sets a new standard for graphics in the fighting game genre.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely stellar and I love the fighting system; the triangle system and the idea that you can literally counter anything if you're skilled enough is amazing to me.”
    • “The graphics have barely improved over DOA5 and the story is half-baked trash that is presented in a cluttered mess.”
    • “The graphics are just straight up better, but the controls are as solid as those of its predecessor and while I'm not the biggest fan of the newly introduced special move gauge and break blow mechanic, the hold system is great as always and keeps the whole game running smooth as clockwork.”
    • “The graphics keep flickering on and off and your screen flashes black repeatedly through the whole match which is a huge health hazard to those prone to seizures and epilepsy.”
  • music147 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack as a standout feature that captures the essence of classic fighting games, while others criticize it as generic or lacking in variety. Many players appreciate the ability to unlock and customize music tracks, including those from previous installments, but some feel that the overall selection is limited and repetitive. Overall, while the music is often described as enjoyable and fitting for the genre, opinions vary significantly on its quality compared to earlier titles in the series.

    • “The music is great, the stages are reactive to the action (breakables, corner break leads sometimes to a second stage, etc).”
    • “The soundtrack is also very good, and you can unlock songs and set which ones play on which stage or when you're up against certain characters.”
    • “Overall, the game itself is very awesome - the music kicks ass, the combat is fast and fun, the netcode is great.”
    • “The soundtrack is garbage, and the arcade mode feels way too easy and grindy.”
    • “The music is boring.”
    • “The music for this game subjectively is terrible.”
  • optimization89 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance on various setups, including older PCs, while others report significant issues such as frame rate drops, crashes, and poor graphical options. Many users express disappointment in the lack of customization for graphics settings and the game's performance at higher resolutions, particularly 4K. Overall, while some find the game well-optimized, others highlight serious shortcomings that hinder the experience, especially on lower-end systems.

    • “To top it all off, this game is well optimized.”
    • “If you can barely run Tekken 7 on minimum settings, you can run this game at max or near max settings; that's how well optimized this is.”
    • “The game seems to be well optimized.”
    • “PC optimization options are still bad; the game crashed as soon as I started it, and then when it finally started working, there were significant FPS drops.”
    • “Shockingly poor performance, especially when compared to other fighting game franchises that look good and run smoothly.”
    • “There's a severe lack of graphics options to optimize game performance, and the keyboard controls are garbage, something made worse given that the game doesn't display keyboard inputs correctly and would rather opt to show you controller inputs even when not in use.”
  • monetization88 mentions

    The monetization model of the game has been widely criticized as predatory and excessively focused on microtransactions, with many players feeling it detracts from the overall experience. While some cosmetic items can be enjoyed without spending additional money, the high costs of DLC and intrusive advertisements have led to perceptions of the game as a cash grab. Overall, the aggressive monetization practices have disappointed fans and overshadowed the game's positive aspects.

    • “The main concern that people have is the monetization model, but there is a good game in there.”
    • “Fun game, the monetization might be a little excessive, but the game is fun at its core.”
    • “Monetization practices aside, the fighting is fun and easy enough to mash buttons at each other, but clearly has a rewarding combat system for those who are looking to go deeper and learn all the mechanics of the game.”
    • “The game's monetization and unlock pacing is frankly predatory and should be avoided and circumvented by any means necessary.”
    • “The monetization scheme is a complete scam, especially with the newest update making you pay per hair color change, even just to reset it back to default.”
    • “Everything about this game feels like a horrible cash grab and its somewhat fun fighting mechanics and pretty characters are grossly overshadowed by this robbery.”
  • grinding70 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received significant criticism, with many players finding the process of unlocking costumes to be excessively tedious and time-consuming. The new quest-based system for obtaining costume parts is seen as frustratingly random and slow, leading to a grind that feels more punishing than enjoyable. While some players appreciate the challenge, the overwhelming consensus is that the grind for costumes detracts from the overall experience, making it a major point of contention among fans.

    • “The learning curve isn't as tedious as something like Tekken 7.”
    • “Getting in-game costumes (not the DLC costumes) was very tedious.”
    • “Unlocking outfits is far more grindy than the previous game.”
    • “The grind for costumes is more than tedious, maybe painful, especially considering I can't focus on collecting parts for one costume, or even one character.”
  • stability29 mentions

    Overall, the stability of the game is mixed, with some players reporting smooth performance and no crashes, particularly on high-end systems, while others experience significant bugs, freezes, and connection issues, especially in online modes. The game runs better than its predecessor on certain platforms, but many users still encounter glitches and performance problems that detract from the experience. Despite improvements in some areas, the presence of bugs and inconsistent online stability remains a concern for many players.

    • “Runs great on Steam Deck at max settings.”
    • “No glitches at all for me.”
    • “Runs great in 1080p even on something like a 960 GTX and an i7 from 2012.”
    • “A buggy mess coupled with an overall lack of content make this one of the worst games in the series; save yourself some headache and just go play 5.”
    • “Of the 20 online match-ups that I've managed at the lowest ranking (F), 18 have ended in opponent disconnects or freezes.”
    • “Doa6 only lets you wait for players in training, yet training mode is unplayable while waiting to connect to an opponent because every time a connection is established, the game freezes!”
  • humor28 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely described as unintentional, with players finding the poorly executed story mode, awkward voice acting, and exaggerated character animations amusing rather than engaging. Many reviews highlight the game's absurdities, such as its disjointed narrative and over-the-top elements, which lead to moments of genuine laughter, albeit often at the game's expense. Overall, while the humor may not be intentional, it provides a source of entertainment for players who appreciate its comedic failures.

    • “There's not many superfluous effects and contains super funny details like the dolphins in the beach stage.”
    • “I don't think a game has ever made me laugh so hard completely unintentionally as this one.”
    • “The writing for the story isn't just bad, it's hilariously abysmal.”
    • “The humor in the game often falls flat, relying too much on funny bugs rather than clever writing.”
    • “I expected a lot more laughs, but the jokes mostly miss the mark and feel forced.”
    • “The attempts at humor are overshadowed by the game's numerous glitches, making it hard to enjoy the comedic moments.”
  • character development25 mentions

    Character development in the game is primarily reflected through its striking character designs, which are often described as eye-catching, beautiful, and well-executed, though some critiques mention a focus on exaggerated proportions. While the gameplay mechanics and tutorials receive praise, the narrative and depth of character development are generally viewed as lacking, with many players expressing indifference towards the story. Overall, the character designs contribute significantly to the game's appeal, despite mixed feelings about their depth and the overall pacing of the game.

    • “I am loving the character designs, the hair movement is on point.”
    • “A really well made fighting game with great mechanics, character designs, and animation.”
    • “On top of that the character designs are on point and the roster is very balanced.”
    • “Very over-the-top and silly in both story and character design.”
    • “The tutorial is pretty good, but character designs and the story are pretty mediocre.”
    • “I wish they would do better character designs; Diego is just very boring to look at.”
  • replayability12 mentions

    Replayability in Dead or Alive 6: Core Fighters is a mixed bag; while mastering characters and unlocking costumes offers significant replay value, many players feel that the reduced content and high DLC costs detract from the experience. The absence of traditional features like tag team modes and online lobbies, along with a shorter story mode, further limits replayability, leading some to recommend waiting for sales or considering previous entries in the series for a more complete experience. Overall, the game remains enjoyable for those who appreciate its mechanics, but it lacks the depth and content expected from the franchise.

    • “Dead or Alive 6 Core Fighters is an excellent entry for those who want to experience the DOA series for free with some decent replayability options.”
    • “Mastering every character, obtaining their costumes, and collecting the soundtrack was a major part of the series' replay value.”
    • “This is still a gorgeous fighting game that is well-balanced, easy to master, infinitely replayable, and the new characters are dope.”
    • “Fortunately, I happen to know that the DOA team got increasingly greedy with reducing the available content and replayability in the base game and making it available as costly DLC when the previous version came out, and it's more of the same here (except it has been so drastically reduced that the free version doesn't even serve as a demo; perhaps they've reached a new low).”
    • “So until this game releases the necessary content to give the game more depth, replayability, and well-needed balancing with unlocking the costumes, I would not recommend this game to anyone new or familiar with the DOA series.”
    • “Overall this is still solid and I appreciate the free play option and being able to unlock everything later, and I do recommend for the gameplay although because of the high price point, I suggest either waiting for a sale to save $20 or get DOA5LR first as it's $20-40 less and currently has 5-6 more playable characters, although both have some different playables.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find the music to be appropriately emotional and engaging, others criticize the story for its lack of coherence and express feelings of frustration and disappointment, particularly regarding perceived sexism from the developers. Overall, the emotional impact varies significantly among players, with some finding it resonant and others feeling disconnected.

    • “The music in this game is sometimes enthusiastic and sometimes emotional; it's all very trendy, steady, and appropriate.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised, characterized by excellent Japanese voice acting that significantly enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the immersive environment and the attention to detail in the game's design, contributing to a captivating atmosphere.

    • “There is so much good stuff about this game... the atmosphere is awesome, the controls, and the tutorials which help you learn all the combos in the deepest of details.”
    • “And then there's the atmosphere....”
    • “Superlative Japanese voice acting enhances the game's atmosphere.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

Buy DEAD OR ALIVE 6

Play time

37hMedian play time
88hAverage play time
10-72hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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