Death Skid Marks

"Death Skid Marks" is an ultra-violent top-down car combat game where you battle an array of enemies while traveling along Route 666 to reach a kickass music concert. Upgrade your car and crew, buy weapons, and engage in melee combat, gunfights, and high-speed chases. Unlock various cars and bumper stickers in this punk/metal-inspired game with low-fidelity graphics and a unique soundtrack.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 440 reviews

gameplay31 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Engaging and addictive gameplay with a unique blend of rogue-like elements and car combat.
Hilarious dark humor and a vibrant art style that enhances the overall experience.
Fast-paced action with a variety of unlockable vehicles and characters, providing a fresh experience with each run.

The game can be brutally difficult, with some bosses feeling unfairly overpowered and reliant on luck.
Randomized elements can lead to frustrating experiences, as players may not always have the necessary upgrades or items to succeed.
The tutorial and initial learning curve may be overwhelming for new players, making it hard to grasp the mechanics quickly.

gameplay
110 mentions
28 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a fast-paced, chaotic experience that blends racing and roguelike elements, offering a mix of simplicity and depth. While some players find it addictive and engaging, others criticize it for being overly reliant on RNG and frustratingly difficult at times. Overall, the mechanics are generally well-executed, with a variety of vehicles and upgrades that enhance replayability, though opinions on its balance and enjoyment vary significantly.
- “As for gameplay, it's a mix of racing and roguelike elements, which is an interesting combo.”
- “The game offers fast-paced and frenetic gameplay.”
- “Great car combat top-down arcade gameplay mixed with RPG mechanics, that has you coming back for more.”
- “Despite the awesome art and general content, gameplay is disgusting, absolute RNG garbage.”
- “To add on to the frustration, the only persistent mechanic in place is spending your kills, usually in amounts that take an hour or longer to accrue, on a trivial one-run stat boost.”
- “If the runs took 10-15 minutes to reach the deaths that almost always feel rigged against you, then it wouldn't be so bad, but the dragging nature and the frustrating mechanics just make it a bad experience overall.”
music
89 mentions
40 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The game's music, primarily featuring a metal and rock soundtrack, is widely praised for enhancing the gameplay experience, with many players noting its ability to energize and immerse them in the action. While some reviews mention limitations in variety and repetitiveness, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout feature that complements the game's chaotic and humorous atmosphere. Players who enjoy heavy music are particularly enthusiastic, describing the soundtrack as "kick-ass" and integral to the game's appeal.
- “The art, style, and music are a delight, and the game itself is really fun once you've understood a few things.”
- “The topping to this superb sundae of a game is a soundtrack that really gets the blood pumping, and art style/humor that borders on funny yet possibly inappropriate.”
- “Death Skid Marks features a unique punk/metal soundtrack, unique art style, cutting-edge low-fidelity graphics, random unpredictable runs, unique gameplay, and two scoops of stupidity.”
- “The game's sound and music options may be limited in terms of variety and may not fully meet players' preferences.”
- “The music is kinda.. meh, and very repetitive.. on that note, I still like it.”
- “The music package isn't worth spending the extra for, however.”
graphics
87 mentions
40 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique retro pixel art style that effectively complements its post-apocalyptic theme and dark humor. While some players may find the visuals simplistic or reminiscent of older arcade games, many appreciate the charming, grungy aesthetic and vibrant artwork that enhances the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are well-received for their creativity and fitting tone, despite occasional technical limitations.
- “The art style is a great blend of cartoony and gritty, which totally suits the mood of the game. As a fellow artist, I couldn't help but admire it and feel inspired.”
- “Death Skid Marks features a unique punk/metal soundtrack, unique art style, cutting-edge low-fidelity cathodic screen graphics, random unpredictable runs, unique gameplay, and two scoops of stupidity.”
- “The game's charm is great and, with the cartoony graphics, throws you back to the retro gaming years - in a good way!”
- “The graphical style may be unusual for some players and may not be satisfying for those who expect more advanced graphics.”
- “However, the limited play areas, graphical style, and replayability issues may be a drawback for some players.”
- “The graphics are not the strongest point of the game, and sometimes you encounter bugs or glitches, but the game is still worth the money in my opinion.”
humor
84 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its irreverent, dark, and often crude style, appealing to players who enjoy trashy and edgy comedy. While many find the humor to be a highlight, with funny character designs and witty dialogue, some reviews note that it can be hit-or-miss, with repetitive jokes and a shallow narrative. Overall, the game is praised for its entertaining and outrageous humor, making it a fun experience for those who appreciate its unique comedic approach.
- “Honestly speaking, we don't have enough humorous games out there with wicked cool styles like this and how it makes fun of things and people; it's just so damn nice.”
- “The game has a kind of humor that manages to be immature while still being funny instead of obnoxious.”
- “The humor and artwork are just amazing; 9/10.”
- “An overpriced, lazily programmed, painfully unfunny, and boring disappointment.”
replayability
21 mentions
52 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a mix of high replayability and some limitations. While many players appreciate the variety of vehicles and frequent updates that enhance replay value, others note that certain aspects, like limited play areas and the time required to unlock fun vehicles, may hinder the experience. However, the consensus leans towards the game being highly replayable, especially for fans of fast-paced rogue-likes.
- “Endless replay value.”
- “Tons of replayability and a nice learning curve.”
- “Incredible replayability, very amusing and well-done graphics, rewarding and at times sweat-inducing gameplay - all around a blast, and a steal at the price.”
- “Replayability may be limited for some players.”
- “However, the limited play areas, graphical style, and replayability issues may be a drawback for some players.”
- “The game is updated regularly as well, and constantly adding new mechanics, so the replay value goes beyond just the shock of your computer cussing at you violently.”
story
13 mentions
31 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The game's story is a lighthearted and humorous backdrop to its action, centering on a quest to reach a concert while battling enemies. While some players find the narrative shallow and secondary to gameplay, others appreciate the fun premise and engaging flavor text that enhances the experience. Overall, the story serves more as a vehicle for the game's chaotic action rather than a focal point.
- “This game combines a fun story, great soundtrack and very enjoyable action.”
- “Death Skid Marks is an ultra-violent top-down car combat game where you will kill countless numbers of foes in the most noble quest of all: getting to a kickass music concert.”
- “The game is basically a roguelike-style pixel road warrior; the storyline doesn't matter (drive to concert, kill enemies trying to stop that noble goal), but they made sure that for people who want more flavor text, they've got you covered.”
- “The game is basically a roguelike-style pixel road warrior; the storyline doesn't matter (drive to concert, kill assholes trying to stop that noble goal), but they made sure that for people that want more flavor text, they got you covered.”
- “The game isn't about the story, though.”
- “To-the-point story (get to concert).”
grinding
7 mentions
0 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
86 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is heavily emphasized, particularly for completionists aiming to unlock every car and achieve milestones like defeating 25,000 enemies. While some players enjoy the grind as a casual, heavy-metal experience, others find it tedious and repetitive, especially in the context of car combat.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The most grindy aspect of the game is if you're a completionist and want to unlock every car.”
- “The second most grindy task is killing 25,000 total enemies for an unlock.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its fantastic art and music, with some tracks enhancing the experience while others are less memorable. Many users highlight its ability to effectively capture an apocalyptic vibe, positioning it as a standout indie title reminiscent of classics like Hotline Miami.
- “The art, music, and overall atmosphere surrounding it are all fantastic.”
- “This is truly the best indie game since Hotline Miami, and it captures the apocalyptic atmosphere perfectly!”
- “Some tracks are catchy and enhance the atmosphere, while others fade into the background.”
- “I feel it is essential for the developers to know that this is truly the best indie game since Hotline Miami, and it captures the apocalyptic atmosphere well!”
- “The overall atmosphere feels flat and lacks the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
character development
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its humorous designs, though some players feel that these designs become repetitive over time. However, others appreciate the depth of character development, comparing it favorably to classic titles like Spyhunter, highlighting a more engaging narrative experience.
- “Love this game; it harkens back to Spyhunter but features more violent and better character development.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I was disappointed with how the characters evolved; their arcs were predictable and uninspired.”
- “While the game has great character design, the development of those characters is lacking and doesn't do them justice.”
stability
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Overall, users have mixed feelings about stability; while some report a smooth experience on devices like the Surface Pro, others express concerns about potential bugs in the game.
- “Runs great on my Surface Pro, so I can play it anywhere.”
- “The game maintains a steady frame rate, even during intense action scenes.”
- “I've experienced no crashes or bugs, making for a smooth gaming experience.”
- “I don't even want to know how buggy the actual game is.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's monetization strategy relies on addictive gameplay rather than extensive advertising, which may lead to buyer's remorse due to a mismatch between promotional content and the game's actual aesthetic. While it embraces a bold and edgy style, the lack of clear representation in marketing could leave some players feeling misled.
- “The game has a 'rock and roll means you offend everyone' aesthetic, which kind of works, although the game page and advertising don't really reflect this as much as the game does, which could lead to some buyer's remorse.”
- “There are no millions spent on ads, but the addictive gameplay makes you feel pressured to spend money.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the emotional aspect of the game as a heartwarming experience that fosters friendship and bonding, particularly through shared adventures like a road trip with friends.
- “Do you want to share a car with three good friends and experience a heartwarming bonding journey on a fun road trip?”
optimization
1 mentions
200 % positive mentions
-400 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game's optimization requires players to upgrade various elements, including car condition, performance, character health, stats, and weapon choices, suggesting a comprehensive system that may demand significant player investment in resource management and strategy.
- “The optimization system allows for a deep level of customization, making every upgrade feel meaningful and impactful.”
- “I love how the game encourages players to optimize their builds, ensuring that every choice can lead to different strategies and outcomes.”
- “Everything has to be upgraded, from the car's condition and performance to the characters' health, stats, and choice of weapons.”
- “The optimization feels overwhelming, as there are too many elements to manage and upgrade.”
- “Balancing the upgrades for cars and characters is tedious and detracts from the overall gameplay experience.”