Dead Rising 4

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,425 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • humor
Dead Rising 4 Game Cover
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Dead Rising 4 brings back photojournalist Frank West to fight off hordes of zombies in a massive open-world sandbox, with an array of crazy weapons and vehicles, new zombie classes, EXO Suits, and 4-player co-op. The Season Pass offers additional ways to play, including new missions and characters. Survival in this game requires exploration, scavenging, and plenty of creative combat.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,425 reviews
story106 positive mentions
stability69 negative mentions
  • The game offers a fun and chaotic zombie-slaying experience with a variety of weapons and creative combos.
  • The removal of the time limit allows for more exploration and a more relaxed gameplay experience.
  • The graphics are decent, and the Christmas theme adds a unique atmosphere to the game.
  • The story is weak and lacks the depth and character development found in previous entries.
  • Frank West's character feels like a different person, lacking the charm and wit of his previous iterations.
  • The game is riddled with bugs and crashes, making it frustrating to play at times.
  • story594 mentions

    The story in "Dead Rising 4" has received largely negative feedback, with many players finding it uninspired, predictable, and poorly executed compared to earlier entries in the series. Critics note a lack of character development, the absence of engaging side missions, and a general feeling that the narrative is overshadowed by gameplay mechanics. While some appreciate the humor and sandbox elements, the consensus is that the story fails to captivate, making it a weak point in an otherwise fun zombie-slaying experience.

    • “Frank Rising is a nice 1 hour 30 minute DLC which takes place after the main story; it's okay if you want to have a little more story.”
    • “The story is good to me; the combat is stupid and fun, and although it has some problems, I definitely had some fun with this game.”
    • “The plot is clearly riffing from an old American Christmas classic, but the idea of Frank's heart growing three sizes and learning to care for other people again is a good one, and it's a good emotional core to add to a series that has always leaned more toward goofy and weird than grim and dark.”
    • “The story itself is uninspired, with a predictable plot and underdeveloped supporting characters.”
    • “The story this time around is.......bad.”
    • “The overall storyline fails to captivate, making it challenging to stay invested in the unfolding events.”
  • gameplay212 mentions

    The gameplay of Dead Rising 4 has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a departure from the series' core mechanics, such as the removal of the time limit and the absence of traditional boss battles. While some appreciate the fun combat and exploration aspects, others criticize the repetitive nature, numerous bugs, and a lack of engaging content compared to earlier entries in the franchise. Overall, the gameplay is seen as enjoyable but flawed, with a significant number of players feeling it does not live up to the standards set by its predecessors.

    • “Here's the good/mid: the gameplay is generally fun - there is a lot of it along with a new combat style and plenty of fun weapon combos.”
    • “Even with its obvious flaws, the core experience was still enjoyable: running around exploring the map, grabbing collectibles, playing around with the vast arsenal of weapons, completing missions, and overall causing chaos still make for an engaging gameplay loop.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth and it's satisfying to kill thousands of zombies at a time.”
    • “Wondered for years how bad this game could really be when 3 seemed so much worse, but then I actually played it, and whatever gameplay improvements have been made (and nearly all of those are debatable), the character assassination of Frank West cannot be understated, and that's probably why everyone says this is the worst one.”
    • “The gameplay is also just a total flop compared to other games in the series, as most things you can find in the world are no longer weapons, and there's an even bigger reliance on combo weapons compared to Dead Rising 3 - which wouldn't be a problem normally, but 4's gameplay loop doesn't feel satisfying enough to make it worth it.”
    • “With the removal of mechanics such as the time limit and the psychopath boss battles, much of what made the series unique has been dialed down or outright removed.”
  • humor105 mentions

    The humor in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and amusing, while others criticize it as forced and repetitive. Many appreciate the quirky character interactions and inventive zombie-killing methods, but feel that the humor lacks the charm of earlier entries in the series, often leaning towards crass or juvenile jokes. Overall, while some players enjoyed the comedic elements, others felt it detracted from the game's overall experience.

    • “I hadn't laughed this hard in years, and had to stop playing because I found it so hilarious.”
    • “The humor and jokes land pretty well for me, and the few characters that get characterization are quite well written.”
    • “This game is hilarious; the story is there, there's a few bugs with the game, but overall the game is just fantastic.”
    • “Now they're trying to be funny in the most unfunny way.”
    • “Regardless of one's opinion on the changes to the character, I can't believe the devs (or corporate overlords, who knows) decided to make a protagonist so incredibly annoying and unfunny.”
    • “Cringe one-liners every 5 minutes, every 'joke' is painfully unfunny, the story sucks and is all over the place, and worst of all: Frank's voice actor is changed.”
  • graphics83 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising them as good or impressive, especially for a title released on newer hardware. However, some critics feel the visuals do not significantly advance beyond previous entries in the series, leading to a perception of datedness. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered decent and polished, they are accompanied by technical issues and a lackluster story that detracts from the overall experience.

    • “Plays perfectly, has great graphics that still hold up in 2024.”
    • “Dead Rising 4 boasts impressive graphics that bring the zombie-infested town of Willamette to life.”
    • “Graphically, this is my favorite Dead Rising game; the blood splatter effects are a treat to look at, and they alone are incentive enough for me to hack, slash, shoot, explode, electrocute, burn, etc. zombies without a care for any story or franchise integrity.”
    • “The graphics, while decent, do not significantly improve upon its predecessors, making the game feel dated despite its release on newer hardware.”
    • “I had my graphics on very high and the game still looked like shit, but the gameplay is decent and has a cool story.”
    • “The graphics are disappointing, which feel like they were made in 2010 at most.”
  • stability73 mentions

    Dead Rising 4 is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and immersion, with many players reporting issues such as freezing, crashes, and AI problems. While some find the game enjoyable despite these technical shortcomings, others recommend waiting for significant discounts before purchasing due to its unstable performance. Overall, the game's stability is a major concern, with many players experiencing frustrating technical issues that detract from the overall experience.

    • “The survivor rescue is not daunting, the gameplay is easy, the game is mostly solid and bug-free, and the story is great.”
    • “Runs great on my GTX 1070 - i7 6700k - 16GB RAM - SSD.”
    • “Everything runs super smoothly, no glitches, just fun. This game is one of the best zombie games on Steam; buy it now!”
    • “Dead Rising 4 suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, which can disrupt gameplay and break immersion.”
    • “The game is riddled with bugs and glitches, sometimes music randomly stops playing and sometimes the game just starts lagging like crazy, even during cutscenes.”
    • “This game is awfully bug-ridden, like wow, way too many bugs that sometimes do crash the game or plainly prevent you from completing missions, which is incredibly frustrating to be honest.”
  • music50 mentions

    The music in the game is heavily centered around Christmas themes, which has polarized players; some appreciate the festive atmosphere while others find it repetitive and annoying, especially when played continuously. Many reviewers noted the lack of variety compared to previous installments, with some expressing disappointment over the absence of iconic tracks and the inability to turn off the Christmas music. Overall, while the soundtrack adds a unique charm, it can become tiresome for those not fond of holiday tunes.

    • “The game looks great and has a great Christmas-themed soundtrack which is highly entertaining.”
    • “The atmosphere, music, and environments are fantastic, especially with how dynamic the music can be.”
    • “The levels are incredibly good, all the weapons are fun, the dialogues are fun, the music is really, really good and I am having a blast.”
    • “And if you hate Christmas music, well, tough luck because that is the only music that plays.”
    • “The Christmas atmosphere is a bold choice that only half pays off; on the one hand, it provides the game with some much-needed personality, but hearing Christmas songs when playing in July can be jarring, to say the least.”
    • “Overall a good game, but contains one unforgivable sin in my opinion: you can't shut off the background Christmas music that plays on car radios and the mall overhead.”
  • optimization29 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing smooth performance and high frame rates, while others report significant issues such as stuttering, crashes, and poor AI behavior. Many users noted that despite some improvements over previous titles, the game suffers from technical glitches and inconsistent performance, particularly on PC. Overall, while some players found it well-optimized for handling large numbers of zombies, others deemed it unplayable due to frequent performance problems.

    • “☑ beautiful (also really optimized with the target fps option)”
    • “☑ decent (it's a very well optimized game for such a huge amount of zombies on screen)”
    • “Performance has been excellent without any dips in fps and fast loading times even without SSD.”
    • “The game's technical performance also leaves much to be desired.”
    • “Floating zombies, zombies die if you stand on top of a car, camera controls suck and fight against you, sometimes the camera goes through walls when you do a weapon special kill, zombies get stuck on objects, zombies wander around doing nothing even when you are right there in front of them, clunk, clunk, clunk, and finally, disappearing objects right in front of you... oh and performance issues, a ton of them.”
    • “The bad parts are it's so glitchy, crashes sometimes, terrible optimization for PC, cliché story, and instead of playing as Frank West you play as some guy called Hank East who is cosplaying as Frank West.”
  • grinding17 mentions

    Players consistently express frustration with the grinding mechanics in the game, noting that significant time investment is required to unlock better cars, weapons, and talents. Many reviews highlight the grinding as tedious and a major detractor from the overall experience, with some suggesting that it feels like a chore rather than an engaging gameplay element. Despite some humorous nods to previous entries, the grinding aspect remains a common complaint, indicating a lack of balance in the game's progression system.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Long story short, Capcom had absolutely no idea what to do, so... they've added grinding.”
    • “Better cars, better weapons, all that is locked behind hours of grinding.”
    • “The problem is that's about the halfway point to unlock all your talents. Unless you are a hardcore item collector and explore everywhere and finish everything that you could possibly do, plus quite a bit of grinding, you are not going to reach the level cap.”
  • atmosphere11 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is polarizing, with some players appreciating its unique blend of holiday themes and comedic elements, while others criticize it for lacking depth and coherence. The dynamic music and environments are praised, yet the tonal inconsistencies and superficiality detract from the overall experience for many. Ultimately, the game struggles to balance its intended tension with a lighthearted approach, leading to mixed feelings about its atmospheric execution.

    • “The atmosphere in this game just worked for me; the combination of the dreaded tension created by the zombie apocalypse and the nonsensical comedy bits throughout the game meshed together wonderfully to create a fun game that's worth trying out.”
    • “The atmosphere, music, and environments are fantastic, especially with how dynamic the music can be.”
    • “In terms of gameplay, they took a couple steps forward, but in terms of tone, atmosphere, and story, they didn't take three steps back, they pole-vaulted all the way back to the starter line with this one.”
    • “The Christmas atmosphere is a bold choice that only half pays off; on one hand, it provides the game with some much-needed personality, but hearing Christmas songs when playing in July can be jarring, to say the least.”
    • “It’s a hollow, shallow, superficial game with no atmosphere and a horribly confused tone.”
  • replayability11 mentions

    Overall, the replayability of the game is mixed; while some players find significant value in achievements, side content, and modes like mini-golf, others criticize the limited co-op options and lack of alternate endings, leading to a perception of diminished replay value. Some users express a desire to explore remaining content, while others feel that the game lacks depth and features that would encourage repeated playthroughs.

    • “Dead Rising 4 is a blast, with lots of achievements in-game and on Steam, and plenty of replay value. I love the mini-golf mode and have not yet tried multiplayer, so there is much more in the Dead Rising 4 world for me to explore, including more achievements, cases, and hidden items to discover.”
    • “The replayability is strong as ever, especially because according to the in-game stats, I still have about thirty-one percent of the side content left to complete. I plan to dive back in soon because I don't feel ready to be done with Willamette yet.”
    • “Pure mindless fun and a solid amount of content and replay value.”
    • “The co-op mode is limited and lacks the depth and replayability that could have added value to the overall experience.”
    • “This is aside from the loss of features such as a time limit and large amounts of replayability that have slowly been stripped out of the games.”
    • “The game also has very little replay value, since it doesn't have alternate endings.”
  • emotional9 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players feeling that the narrative lacks the depth and character development of earlier installments, particularly criticizing Frank West's transformation into a less relatable character. However, others found moments of genuine emotional resonance, particularly in the themes of redemption and personal growth, suggesting that while the overall story may falter, there are still touching elements that resonate with players. Overall, the emotional impact varies significantly among players, with some feeling disconnected and others finding value in the character's journey.

    • “Normally not enough time to judge, but Steam gives you 2 hours, and even considering trying it for another hour made me cry.”
    • “I didn't like the end... and I cried too...”
    • “The plot is clearly riffing from an old American Christmas classic, 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas', but the idea of Frank's heart growing three sizes and learning to care for other people again is a good one, and it's a good emotional core to add into a series that has always leaned more toward goofy and weird than grim and dark.”
    • “The story is still boring, with weird animations and lacks the adrenaline of the previous two games.”
    • “Weird hitbox checks, glitched NPCs, and a boring storyline make this game frustrating.”
  • monetization7 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a cash grab, with many reviewers feeling that it lacks effort and is overly reliant on DLCs and microtransactions. Players express disappointment over the rushed development and the necessity of purchasing additional content for a complete experience, suggesting that the game is not worth its price unless on sale.

    • “The game does feel rushed, and psycho encounters could have been handled better with more development. However, the monetization aspect is manageable, with only one DLC, 'Frank Rising,' being necessary for story continuation if you want the better ending.”
    • “So I am assuming this was a quick cash grab for the holidays.”
    • “Just a shameful cash grab that had no effort put into it and was extremely rushed.”
    • “It is apparent just a few minutes in that this was simply a cash grab.”
  • character development4 mentions

    The game's character development is widely criticized, with reviewers noting a complete absence of growth or engagement with the characters, including the protagonist Frank, whose new voice actor fails to convey charisma. Additionally, side characters like Vick are highlighted as particularly lacking in depth, contributing to an overall uninspiring narrative experience.

    • “Another significant drawback is the game's narrative and character development.”
    • “There's zero character development, and you won't care for any of the characters, including Frank himself, due to the new voice actor and his lack of charisma.”
    • “However, the game lacks any real character development or engaging story.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
3-9hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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