Desecrators

About

Desecrators is a single player and multiplayer shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Woodhound and was released on February 28, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Desecrators" is a Science Fiction Shooter game set in 4096, where players embark on a daring journey to plunder technology and riches across colonized star systems. Experience 6DOF piloting while combating rival desecrators and relentless enemy attacks using an arsenal of 25+ weapons. This thrilling single-player or multiplayer/co-op adventure boasts a captivating soundtrack to enhance your gameplay experience.

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 295 reviews

gameplay11 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

The game features smooth and responsive controls, making piloting feel intuitive and enjoyable.
The retro sci-fi art style and vibrant colors create an appealing atmosphere, complemented by an immersive sound design.
The gameplay loop is addictive, with procedurally generated levels that offer a fresh experience each run, and the co-op multiplayer adds to the fun.

The lack of a tutorial can be disorienting for new players, making it difficult to understand mechanics and find secrets.
Some players find the procedural level design can lead to confusion, as important paths or secrets may be hard to identify.
The game features permadeath, which can be frustrating for players who prefer a more forgiving save system.

gameplay
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
66%
7%
The gameplay is highly praised for its addictive loop, engaging mechanics, and retro charm, reminiscent of classic 6DOF shooters. Players appreciate the variety of weapons, enemy types, and the challenge presented, though some note that it can feel repetitive in single-player mode. The game successfully combines modern roguelike elements with fast-paced action, making it enjoyable and replayable, especially with friends.
- “Fantastic core mechanics that I can very easily see being expanded and added to in future updates.”
- “Satisfying, engaging gameplay and everything looks and feels cool.”
- “6dof, responsive controls that every fan of Descent or Forsaken will immediately feel familiar with, frantic fights, many upgradeable weapons and a randomly generated, very addicting gameplay loop, that is fun and engaging and shows that the developer knows what he's doing.”
- “Desecrators is pretty good so far, but my only real issues with this game are how repetitive it feels sometimes. It's better played with friends or in short sessions because in singleplayer, this game gets repetitive pretty fast.”
- “You don't end up making proper 'builds' in this game, despite its roguelike gameplay loop; items aren't made to synergize with each other so much as to supplement each other in different combat scenarios.”
- “The game focuses much more on moment-to-moment gameplay skill, which I appreciate, but it doesn't explain much of its mechanics, making it a bit challenging for newcomers.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
41%
9%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming retro aesthetic that evokes nostalgia for late 90s and early 2000s titles, blending low-poly designs with modern lighting effects. While some players appreciate the simplicity and unique style reminiscent of classics like Forsaken and Descent, others suggest enhancements such as improved shaders and textures. Overall, the visuals are well-received for their immersive quality and ability to complement the engaging gameplay, despite not being cutting-edge by today's standards.
- “The art style of this game is so appealing to me; I couldn't even fully describe what I love about it so much.”
- “Interesting weapons, brilliantly retro graphics, and meaty sounds accompany the solid gameplay.”
- “The visuals are probably going to be more appealing to players who grew up with games from the late 90s to early 2000s; environments and textures are still primitive and retro-style but still considerably higher fidelity than something from the original Descent trilogy.”
- “The only things I can really say is just add graphics, shaders, RTX, maybe revamp some sounds, and of course skybox and story with more description on weapon upgrades, easter eggs, literally just knick-knacks, because the core of the game is adamantium solid.”
- “Visually, I'd say the game reminds me of Forsaken most of all, complete with the late 90s blown-up, interpolated, muddy texture and low poly environment aesthetic; lighting and shading, however, feels modern.”
- “Gave immediate Descent vibes; environment graphics might disappoint, but gameplay and weapon effects make up for it.”
story
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
80%
10%
The game's story is largely absent, with players noting that it lacks depth and narrative progression, focusing instead on gameplay mechanics and mission objectives. While the procedurally generated missions provide variety and excitement, they do not contribute to a cohesive storyline, leaving players to engage primarily with the action rather than any lore or character development. Overall, the experience is described as immersive and fun, but those seeking a rich narrative will be disappointed.
- “No unnecessary backstory, no being led by the hand tutorial, just pure immersion and action.”
- “How they work and what they do, what awaits you on mission 9/9, and what happens after, is up to you to find out.”
- “Each mission can be completed in just 10-20 minutes, perfect for quick sessions, and it saves after every level so you can immediately continue right where you left off.”
- “This game has zero story; the store page has more story than the game.”
- “There is no story or progression outside of the 9-level run, no unlocks, etc., to incentivize replaying or NG+ where weapons carry over from the previous run as far as I know.”
- “There’s nothing in terms of story, strategic depth, or anything too demanding; get in your cockpit, shoot the baddies, accomplish your mission objective - done.”
music
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
32%
12%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its dynamic and immersive qualities that enhance gameplay, particularly during exploration and combat. While some players find the soundtrack hauntingly good and fitting, others feel it can be somewhat lacking or repetitive over time. Overall, the sound design, including the music and sound effects, is generally regarded as a strong aspect of the game, contributing to its unique atmosphere and engaging experience.
- “If you're a fan of ominous, brooding, alien atmospheres, bleak but also bangin' sci-fi soundtracks and showering your enemies in beautiful lasers and projectiles while you explore procedurally generated space stations and mines, you should check this out.”
- “Composer Ben Micallef has done a fantastic job creating a hauntingly good soundscape for this glorious six-dimensions-of-freedom (6DOF) retro shooter from Woodhound Studio, and the way it changes from exploration music to battle music is most of the time seamless and almost unnoticeable, making it as fluid as the gameplay itself.”
- “Filled with enemy encounters, exploration, secrets, and glorious six-dimensions-of-freedom movement, all accompanied by a fitting soundtrack and overall an amazing soundscape.”
- “The sound effects are weighty and respond to environmental changes, but the music is mildly lacking.”
- “That said, the music is just okay and the atmosphere feels a little arcadey compared to Descent, which had a more menacing tone.”
- “Could do with some less atmospheric music.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
29%
21%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive soundscapes and art, creating a unique blend of ominous yet serene environments that engage players deeply. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke a nostalgic 90s feel while maintaining a welcoming vibe, despite some critiques of the music being less impactful. Overall, the combination of fluid controls, visually striking elements, and a captivating atmosphere makes for an engaging experience, particularly for fans of sci-fi and space exploration.
- “The atmosphere created by the soundscape and art in tandem is nothing short of immaculate.”
- “Has the capacity to provide one of the most ominous (and serene at the same time) atmospheres that a game can produce.”
- “If you're a fan of ominous, brooding, alien atmospheres, bleak but also banging sci-fi soundtracks and showering your enemies in beautiful lasers and projectiles while you explore procedurally generated space stations and mines, you should check this out.”
- “That said, the music is just okay and the atmosphere feels a little arcadey compared to Descent, which had a menacing tone to it.”
- “The loneliness, the atmosphere, everything.”
- “The controls are very fluid, and the visuals really lend themselves to the atmosphere of a 'Star Wars-style space battle' that I think the game is aiming for.”
replayability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
85%
15%
The game is praised for its exceptional replayability, with many users highlighting features like procedurally generated levels, diverse objectives, and engaging gameplay mechanics that encourage exploration and experimentation. Players appreciate the smooth controls and variety in combat, which contribute to an experience that feels fresh and enjoyable even after multiple playthroughs. Overall, it is regarded as a standout title in the 6dof genre, offering nearly infinite replay value.
- “Great game with infinite replay value - the level generation never runs out of variety somehow, and it's perfectly complemented by the art style which really scratches that early-accelerated-3D itch.”
- “This has all the things you'd come to expect from a classic 6dof shooter, with the addition of procedurally generated levels with different objectives and modifiers which allow for pretty much infinite replayability.”
- “Among the not-so-many 6dof shooters floating around, Desecrators certainly managed to stand out, ticking many boxes of a good 6dof: super high replayability, great variety, a fitting soundtrack, and graphics that are just about right.”
- “Basically, it's the descent spiritual successor (done right) with lots of quality of life improvements. I'm not too fond of the whole 'rogue-like' gameplay, but at least it gives the game some replay value!”
- “As a game still in early access, the replayability, even at the current state, is already quite impressive, especially considering its price and regular updates!”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a playful juxtaposition of its serious themes and absurd elements, such as the ironic labeling of a mismatched space environment as a "freighter." Players appreciate the comedic aspects of enemy encounters and the quirky design choices, which contribute to an engaging and immersive experience, even for those who typically shy away from first-person shooters. Overall, the humor enhances the enjoyment of the gameplay while maintaining a sense of tension.
- “Kinda funny seeing this massive mismatch of rooms and shapes being called a 'freighter'.”
- “While also constantly making you feel immersed in a claustrophobic space station inside of a funny little pod (funny YouTube man's words, not mine) and attentive to the threats around the corner that will body you if you don't use your resources properly, while also making me enjoy a free flight shooter that plays around with FPS combat in a way that can tickle even me, and I don't like playing FPSs!”
- “I could go on a bit about the enemies, the rival desecrator fights (tl;dr sometimes levels are raided by squads of ships like yours with loadouts ranging from decent to hilariously absurd), or the co-op, but all those depend on good level generation to really be fun, and boy, does the game ever deliver on that front.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates strong stability, particularly on Linux systems when using Proton, with users reporting smooth performance and minimal issues.
- “Runs great on Linux (using Proton)”
- “The game maintains a steady frame rate, providing a smooth experience.”
- “I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs, which makes for a stable gameplay experience.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players view grinding as a central element of the game, emphasizing the importance of accumulating scores for ranking and managing lives, as running out of them results in a permanent game over.
- “Here it is the core of the experience; you are grinding for score because that's your ranking, and lives are important because if you run out, you're done for good.”