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Deadlink

Deadlink is an amazing cyberpunk-style roguelite that provides plenty of reasons to keep coming back.
87%Game Brain Score
gameplay, music
grinding, stability
91% User Score Based on 4,490 reviews
Critic Score 81%Based on 8 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5XboxWindowsPlayStation

About

Deadlink is a single-player cyberpunk shooter with roguelite elements, boasting fabulous mechanics, amazing graphics, and exceptional music. As an elite operative, you'll fight through randomized levels, battling corporations with a deadly arsenal and upgradable skills. Despite the grinding, Deadlink offers a wholesome story and high replayability for fans of the genre.

Deadlink screenshot
Deadlink screenshot
Deadlink screenshot
Deadlink screenshot
Deadlink screenshot
Deadlink screenshot
Deadlink screenshot
Deadlink screenshot
Deadlink screenshot
Deadlink screenshot
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91%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,490 reviews
gameplay500 positive mentions
grinding112 negative mentions

  • Fast-paced, satisfying gunplay reminiscent of Doom Eternal, with a unique roguelite twist.
  • Diverse classes and abilities that encourage different playstyles, enhancing replayability.
  • Visually appealing with a strong cyberpunk aesthetic and an engaging soundtrack.
  • Repetitive gameplay with limited enemy and level variety, leading to a lack of long-term engagement.
  • Boss fights can feel tedious and overly reliant on enemy spawns, detracting from the overall experience.
  • Meta progression can feel grindy, with many upgrades being minor stat boosts rather than impactful changes.
  • gameplay
    1,182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Deadlink is characterized by its fast-paced, frenetic action reminiscent of Doom Eternal, combined with roguelite elements that encourage strategic resource management and skillful movement. Players engage in a dynamic combat loop that rewards quick thinking and adaptability, utilizing unique mechanics like "marking" enemies to replenish health and ammo. While the core mechanics are solid and engaging, some players feel the game lacks variety in content and build diversity, which can lead to repetitive experiences over time.

    • “Deadlink is a super fun game that mixes fast action, strategic gameplay, and an awesome cyberpunk world.”
    • “Deadlink has an incredible gameplay loop and fun progression system that makes it stand out amongst its competitors.”
    • “The gameplay is tight and fast-paced as all hell.”
    • “Now my biggest gripe with the game is how the mechanics work.”
    • “If there was more build variety I think I could put up with constantly replaying those stages, but the gameplay has started to feel very stale because of the lack of variety.”
    • “The point is that this polished, pretty game is buried under a mound of pointless, uninspired roguelike mechanics that actively hamper the product and pad gametime in a frustrating way.”
  • music
    422 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and immersive qualities that enhance the overall gameplay experience. The soundtrack, often described as a "banger," effectively complements the fast-paced combat and cyberpunk aesthetic, drawing comparisons to iconic titles like *Doom Eternal* and *Cyberpunk 2077*. While some critiques mention a lack of distinctiveness in certain tracks, the overall consensus is that the music significantly elevates the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.

    • “I highly recommend this game, it's so much fun, the music is fantastic, ranging from chill to high intensity within seconds, and is a clear passion project for these devs.”
    • “The cyberpunk world, the great sound design, and a banging soundtrack ensure that everything (from the gunplay to the immersion factor) feels convincing and addictive.”
    • “The soundtrack for the game is perfect, exactly what one wants from a FPS roguelike such as this.”
    • “- music doesn't really match the combat.”
    • “The music is immediately forgettable and the characters are not poorly written but wholly uninteresting, you'll be skipping nearly every conversation they attempt to have with you because everything they say will be trite or eye-rolling snarky.”
    • “The ost I think is one of the weaker points and I have to emphasize this, this needs to be improved because sound design is integral to a game, especially if you're trying to fulfill a fantasy or feel like 'you're in the zone'.”
  • graphics
    421 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their vibrant and unique cyberpunk aesthetic, with many reviewers highlighting the impressive art style, detailed environments, and smooth performance. While some noted that the visuals can be somewhat chaotic during intense gameplay, the overall design is considered charming and well-executed, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience. However, a few critiques mention that the graphics may not be groundbreaking compared to AAA titles, yet they effectively capture the essence of the cyberpunk genre.

    • “The cyberpunk atmosphere is astounding; there's attention in every little detail, graphics are amazing.”
    • “The visuals never grow stale, and even after many hours of play, I find myself continuously impressed by the game's graphical fidelity.”
    • “It's genuinely one of the best looking cyberpunk art styles I've come across yet.”
    • “None of the marketplace assets are made for this art style; you can tell everything here was made by hand.”
    • “Now for the bad, (which is more mediocre than bad) the visuals are just cyberpunk.”
    • “[*]❌uninspired cyberpunk art style and the graphics are not good.”
  • story
    264 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in this game is generally considered weak and serves primarily as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a focal point. Many players find the narrative lacking depth, with repetitive dialogue and minimal character development, while others appreciate the lore available in the codex and the world-building elements. Overall, the consensus is that while the story exists, it is not compelling enough to detract from the engaging gameplay experience, making it more of an afterthought for those who prioritize action over narrative.

    • “The concept, execution, and story of this game are all exceedingly well done!”
    • “The story tells a classic but still engaging tale of government conspiracy, corporate hegemony, transhumanism, and misery in a futuristic world.”
    • “There also appears to be quite a bit of thought put into the story, which is not something you always see with this genre.”
    • “The story is non-existent; things just happen for no reason.”
    • “Everything else is so lackluster it's embarrassing; the story is laughable and might as well not even be there.”
    • “The story is confusing and the writing is confusing, and the characters mostly spout nonsense.”
  • replayability
    144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its engaging mechanics and variety of classes that enhance replay value, while others criticize the lack of content and enemy variety, leading to a less satisfying experience over time. Some highlight the potential for infinite replayability through roguelike elements, but others feel it falls short due to repetitive gameplay and limited progression options. Overall, while many find it enjoyable and replayable, there are significant concerns about its long-term appeal.

    • “The gameplay is very fun and satisfying due to the mechanics of the game and offers tons of replayability due to it being a roguelike, as there is an upgrade path each time you die and collect XP.”
    • “Its thrilling gunplay, infinite replayability, and stunning graphics combine to create an experience that is both captivating and addictive.”
    • “What I find the most impressive is the fact they nailed the combat loop of Doom Eternal, and combined with roguelite elements, you get an infinitely replayable game.”
    • “Only way I can recommend the game is with a deep discount, and I'm talking 50-60%. The devs have a lot of talent, but they somehow made one of the least replayable roguelites I've ever played.”
    • “Replayability suffers due to the lack of variety of enemies, arenas, and impactful implants.”
    • “There is little to no replayability potential.”
  • grinding
    122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it excessively tedious and unfulfilling, particularly in higher difficulty settings where enemy health and speed increase significantly. While some appreciate the grind as a means to unlock upgrades and improve their characters, others feel that the rewards are minimal and do not justify the time spent, leading to repetitive gameplay. Overall, the grind is seen as a major hurdle that detracts from the enjoyment of the game, with some players suggesting it could benefit from a more balanced progression system.

    • “The progression of the game feels fun and not too grindy.”
    • “Challenging but not grindy.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A very solidly constructed roguelite that falls into a lot of the pitfalls of roguelites; spongy enemies, repetitive runs, grindy progression, and a string of drops that just isn't that fun to play.”
    • “Then after you spend 30-40 minutes finishing a run because the game requires insane grinding, you'll get a 5% boost in damage reduction and that's it, or unlock a single added thing to start the run.”
    • “All of this just to pad how long it takes for you to beat the game by farming slow, not interesting upgrades like 5% more damage, 5% less damage taken that should just be a game difficulty at this point.”
  • optimization
    94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players praising its smooth performance and fluid gameplay, particularly when using features like DLSS. However, many others report significant stuttering, frame rate drops, and general unoptimization, especially during intense gameplay moments or on lower-end systems. While improvements have been noted since early access, the game still demands high specifications, leading to inconsistent performance experiences across different setups.

    • “Performance-wise, the game runs flawlessly in the sense that there are no stutters or similar issues that hinder gameplay.”
    • “Amazingly fluid, pretty, and optimized.”
    • “Game is also very well optimized and good looking if you're into this kind of graphics style.”
    • “My big issue is the performance.”
    • “Can't even review the video game part of this video game because it's so unoptimized.”
    • “Would have been a fire game, but given the current technical state (especially final level performance), just cannot recommend...”
  • humor
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring both clever and flat moments, with influences from Borderlands and a cartoon-cyberpunk aesthetic. While some players appreciate the subtle and creative world-building humor, others find it hit-or-miss, with certain jokes feeling out of place or overly niche. Overall, the humor adds a layer of charm to the gameplay, though its effectiveness varies among players.

    • “There's plenty of humor, both good and bad tossed in for fun as well.”
    • “In terms of the world and characters, I really like it -- especially the third world boss, which was just super funny and awesome.”
    • “A lot of funny references that don't look out of place in a context of a story and characters are unique in their own way with voice actors doing a good job bringing them to life.”
  • atmosphere
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive cyberpunk aesthetic, enhanced by stunning graphics and a captivating soundtrack that complements the gameplay. Reviewers highlight the attention to detail in level design and the gritty, high-tech environment, which together create a compelling dystopian experience. Overall, the combination of music, sound, and visual style effectively draws players into the action, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The cyberpunk atmosphere is astounding; there's attention in every little detail, and the graphics are amazing.”
    • “Finish with a truly delicious soundtrack and a gorgeous cel-shaded cyberpunk atmosphere, and you have a recipe for success.”
    • “The atmosphere of this game had me feeling like turning off the lights and putting headphones on. Once you get into the action and the bass and music are blasting in your head, you just get into the zone. It's all lightning quick and satisfying, with a short rest between each zone to calm your senses.”
    • “It still manages to maintain a gritty, grimy high-tech/low-life atmosphere without relying on photorealism.”
    • “I was extremely impressed by Deadlink's high quality and immersive atmosphere.”
  • stability
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, with many players reporting smooth performance and no crashes, even under demanding conditions. However, some users have noted minor UI glitches and occasional bugs, particularly with the final boss and certain gameplay elements. Despite these issues, the game is generally well-received for its performance and accessibility.

    • “In times where games are being sold in a half-baked state (at best), it runs great and I never experienced a single crash.”
    • “Other problems: no bugs, no glitches, so that's a bonus.”
    • “Well worth the price, runs great, plays great, simple as.”
    • “I noticed some UI glitches like the cursor disappearing, and the upgrade and reroll costs are often displayed incorrectly.”
    • “The final boss glitches out and gets stuck in place every fight, but it's fine because the fight itself is so trash you're just happy to finish the run.”
    • “My only nitpicks are that the game is buggy and it feels unbalanced past the first difficulty.”
  • emotional
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a mix of intense emotions while navigating challenging gameplay, likening the experience to a trance similar to that of "Doom 2016" and "Hotline Miami." Despite frustrations with difficulty and game mechanics, there is an appreciation for the heartfelt effort put into the game's design, highlighting a connection to the characters and a desire for more creative expressions of that charm. Overall, the emotional response is a blend of exhilaration, frustration, and admiration for the developers' passion.

    • “Only Doom 2016 and Hotline Miami made me feel that kind of trance.”
    • “It made me feel like I wasn't gaining power as the maps continued.”
    • “And even if I don't like these things, they help imbue the whole game with scrappy charm that shows it was made by real people with a heartbreaking amount of passion.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game appears to be lacking, as some users note that characters feel similar, with minimal differentiation beyond design. While the aesthetic and environments are praised, the depth of character progression does not seem to resonate strongly with players. Overall, the focus seems more on visual appeal than on meaningful character growth.

    • “The aesthetic is probably what sold me the most on this game. The environments and the character design are amazing. The soundtrack also just slaps; I love the synthiness of it all. Good stuff! I seem to be having some stuttering errors, but other than that, the game runs smoothly. I can't wait to get 100% and showcase it on my profile!”
    • “And it's not like she is literally any different from the CEO boss fight; the only difference is in the character design.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is characterized by a heavily commercialized environment, featuring pervasive advertising and a variety of purchasable items, reflecting a dystopian society where consumerism is rampant. Despite the overwhelming presence of vending machines and advertisements, players appreciate the absence of intrusive ads, allowing for a more immersive experience in the neon-drenched metropolis.

    • “No ads.”
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9h Median play time
44h Average play time
5-20h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 40 analyzed playthroughs
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