Devil Daggers

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 6,891 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Devil Daggers Game Cover
Devil Daggers is the demon spawn of 90’s dark first person shooter Hexen, reborn as an arena shooter. A simple, intense game that will either turn you away or – drag you in.
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"Devil Daggers" is a single-player horror shooter game with compelling gameplay, awesome visuals, and fantastic music. Armed with versatile magic daggers, players face endless legions of demons and harvest crystals to increase their power in an abyssal arena. The game features fluid movement, advanced techniques, 13 horrifying enemies, leaderboard rankings, and a custom-built engine with 90's-style rendering. The lackluster story and grinding aspects are overshadowed by the fast-paced and hilarious dense atmosphere, making it highly replayable.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 6,891 reviews
gameplay285 positive mentions
story38 negative mentions
  • gameplay814 mentions

    The gameplay of "Devil Daggers" is characterized by its simple yet deeply engaging mechanics, reminiscent of classic 90s first-person shooters. Players face relentless waves of uniquely designed enemies in a minimalist arena, where mastering movement and shooting techniques is crucial for survival and achieving high scores. While the game offers a steep learning curve and can be brutally challenging, it rewards skillful play with an addictive "just one more try" loop, enhanced by excellent sound design and a haunting atmosphere.

    • “The gameplay of Devil Daggers is simple to play, impossible to master. You fight hordes of enemies with unique behaviors, each affecting the gameplay. Every enemy in this game is cleverly crafted to create an enjoyable learning curve as you push for higher scores.”
    • “It's oozing with style, fair yet challenging, and extremely compelling yet simple-to-understand gameplay loop. The controls are intuitive, the mechanics straightforward, yet the gameplay is anything but simple.”
    • “The gameplay loop is singularly unique and addictive, leaving you to chase the same kind of power-high that something like a roguelite may entice you with, but dependent entirely on your skill and understanding of the deeper framework of the game without the element of luck on top.”
    • “The gameplay is ok but the sudden insta-wipes from behind get really old.”
    • “The mechanics are not hard to learn but the skill gap is high.”
    • “If the repetitiveness of the gameplay is not an issue for you and you want to test your skills, I'd recommend buying this game.”
  • graphics700 mentions

    The graphics of "Devil Daggers" are intentionally retro, evoking the low-poly aesthetics of 90s shooters like Quake and Doom, which some players find charming and fitting for the game's dark, gothic atmosphere. While the visuals are often described as simplistic and reminiscent of early 3D games, they effectively contribute to the game's intense and nightmarish ambiance, complemented by exceptional sound design. However, opinions vary, with some players feeling that the outdated graphics detract from the overall experience, while others appreciate the nostalgic appeal and cohesive art style.

    • “The visual aesthetic is a love letter to the early days of 3D gaming, with a dark, gothic atmosphere that heightens the tension.”
    • “Despite its simplicity, the game's visuals create a nightmarish atmosphere that is both unsettling and captivating.”
    • “The graphics are perfect for what it is, and the price tag is fair.”
    • “The graphics in the game remind me of my school art projects: lots of black, a bit of red, and a complete lack of sense.”
    • “You run around a flat open floor, monsters are randomly spawned, there is 1 weapon, the graphics look 30 years old, and everything is brown.”
    • “The graphics are worse than MS-DOS Doom, which leads to severe eye-sore after playing more than 5 minutes, which is probably around the same time it took to make this arena and enemies.”
  • music195 mentions

    The game's music aspect is characterized by a notable absence of in-game music, with only a minimal soundtrack present during the title screen and menu. Many players appreciate the exceptional sound design and audio cues that enhance the atmosphere and gameplay, arguing that the lack of traditional music allows for a more immersive experience. However, some users express a desire for a fitting soundtrack to accompany the intense action, often recommending external music to enhance their play sessions.

    • “Super well-done arena shooter with insane music and audio design.”
    • “The ambient soundtrack sets the mood perfectly, enhancing the feeling of unease as you battle against the relentless hordes of demonic enemies.”
    • “The sound design is phenomenal, but I feel like it needed some kick-ass music, and I recommend using the Quake II soundtrack as a perfect supplement to this game's rough, spartan, and devilish design.”
    • “Oh, it's not just music; it's the soundtrack to my nightmare!”
    • “In fact, there's no real music in the game outside of the title screen, and it really doesn't need it: everything else more than makes up for the lack of background music.”
    • “The only gripes I had with this game were there was not really any noticeable music (I turned the Doom (2016) soundtrack on, works pretty well.) and I wish I could bind the auto fire to another key, as there are moments I go to do a shotgun blast but end up tossing a pellet at an enemy (ended a few runs that way.).”
  • atmosphere139 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Devil Daggers" is widely praised for its dark, gothic aesthetic that evokes nostalgia for early 3D gaming, particularly reminiscent of titles like Quake. Players appreciate the haunting sound design and minimalistic visuals that create a palpable sense of dread and immersion, enhancing the game's challenging gameplay. Overall, the combination of eerie audio and striking visuals contributes to a uniquely intense and addictive experience that keeps players engaged.

    • “Devil's Daggers is a hauntingly beautiful game that captivates the player with its dark atmosphere, eerie music, and terrifying creatures.”
    • “The atmosphere, gameplay, and pacing is great for a nice adrenaline rush and immersive feeling.”
    • “The excellent audio and visual design come together to create a palpable atmosphere of malice towards the player, which fits thematically because the game absolutely will hurt you.”
    • “With Devil Daggers, there are simply no environments, no enemy weight, no gravitas, no tone, and no atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is both minimal and oppressive, having only a single arena, lit only by the magic at your fingertips, and the music that sparsely plays eerily in the background of the menus.”
    • “Outside of the art style and atmosphere, I don't get the appeal.”
  • story118 mentions

    The consensus among reviewers is that "Devil Daggers" lacks a traditional story or narrative, focusing instead on pure gameplay mechanics and survival against waves of enemies. While some players appreciate the absence of a storyline, viewing it as a design choice that emphasizes gameplay, others express disappointment over the lack of character progression or context. Overall, the game is characterized as a minimalist experience with no plot, intended for those seeking a challenging arcade-style shooter rather than a story-driven adventure.

    • “It tells a story of determination, fear, and self-loathing as it resembles life, how failing constantly can make you better over time by approaching things slightly different.”
    • “A game that feels like it has a story without a story.”
    • “This is the story of a day where there were all these daggers.”
    • “The game has no story at all that I know of.”
    • “There is no narrative or story of any kind.”
    • “There's zero story or context, and while that's not necessarily a bad thing, here there isn't even a feeling of progression.”
  • replayability69 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its exceptional replayability, with many players highlighting its addictive nature and the challenge of improving high scores. Despite a lack of content and linearity, the simplicity and engaging mechanics create a compelling experience that encourages repeated play. While some reviewers note that the difficulty can be frustrating, the game's design fosters a "just one more try" mentality, making it a favorite for fans of fast-paced arcade-style gameplay.

    • “It's super engaging and has absurd replay value for its simplicity.”
    • “One of the best arena shooters on the market with infinite replayability and one of the smartest and smoothest difficulty curves on the market, hands down.”
    • “Its replay value is that of clicking a pen over and over, and by that I mean it's fun and never gets old haha.”
    • “The game is okay, but the replayability is low.”
    • “What amazes me the most is the replayability: the game is never different, however, you probably won't even live long enough to see everything it has to offer, which only makes you want to throw more daggers at 'devils' in order to improve your high score and progress!”
  • grinding51 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is a polarizing experience; while some players find it rewarding and satisfying as they strive for high scores and improve their skills, others feel it becomes tedious and frustrating, especially in the early stages. The game encourages a deep understanding of mechanics and enemy behaviors, making the grind feel purposeful for those who enjoy challenging gameplay, but it may deter casual players who prefer a more relaxed experience. Overall, it caters to those who thrive on repetition and mastery, but can be overwhelming for newcomers.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
    • “A lot of grinding.”
    • “Don't buy if you're a casual game enthusiast, as this isn't for people who don't like grinding out a new skill.”
    • “I'm fine with games being hard, but this game (to me at least) has very little reason to encourage replaying and feels way too grindy to be entertaining.”
    • “The game does some work to help this issue by layering new gameplay and enemies as you progress into a run; however, if you aren't focused on improving your score from the beginning, you won't see this as the point where this begins to occur, which requires at least an hour of grinding to reach.”
  • humor42 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its absurdity and dark comedic elements, particularly through the relentless and mocking laughter of the skulls that chase players. Reviewers find the juxtaposition of challenging gameplay with the ridiculousness of the enemies, such as "horny laughing skulls," to be both entertaining and oddly addictive, creating a unique blend of frustration and amusement. Overall, the humor resonates well with players, enhancing the game's appeal despite its difficulty.

    • “It's very hard but it's simple, don't get hit by the endless horde of laughing skulls, do anything to avoid them.”
    • “Try to get off Mr. Bones' wild ride, in this hilarious new adventure.”
    • “10/10 would die to a horned laughing skull again”
  • optimization22 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with many users noting its impressive performance, including extremely high frame rates and smooth gameplay on a variety of systems. While some mention minor issues with controller support and occasional performance inconsistencies, the majority agree that the game runs exceptionally well, showcasing effective optimization techniques that enhance the overall experience.

    • “The game's genius is in this relentless drive it instills, urging you to surpass your previous performance.”
    • “Finding tiny optimizations and new strategies to squeeze a few more seconds past your best time.”
    • “Well optimized, running on a custom engine instead of a hackjob Unity game.”
    • “Thank god for the performance update; if a game doesn't run at 2500fps, is it even running?”
    • “Furthermore, the game's performance is rather iffy at times.”
    • “Crazy how such a mechanically simple game being available for so long can be analyzed by players and optimized with several different strategies.”
  • emotional14 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is intensely impactful, eliciting strong feelings of distress, frustration, and even tears from players. Many describe a profound sense of accomplishment despite the game's challenging nature, highlighting its ability to evoke deep emotional responses through its gameplay mechanics and design. Overall, it balances moments of wholesome enjoyment with the mental and emotional toll it takes on players, making it a uniquely rewarding yet punishing experience.

    • “This game makes me want to cry.”
    • “This game hurts me mentally, physically, and emotionally.”
    • “Seeing even a tiny bit of progress towards the achievement (and past it) is emotionally rewarding.”
  • monetization10 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is praised for its absence of loot boxes, DLC, in-app purchases, and advertisements, creating a straightforward and unencumbered gaming experience. Players appreciate the lack of microtransactions, which contrasts sharply with many mobile games, and some even humorously suggest that the game could benefit from them, highlighting the game's integrity in its pricing model. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing departure from common cash-grab tactics in the industry.

    • “No loot, no DLC, no in-app purchases, no padding.”
    • “It kinda plays like a mobile game, only without the ads, microtransactions, or rigged failures.”
    • “Hoping maybe this guy stops the cash grabs or whatever, it's really f**king shady and not professional. It's just worth not paying this guy or helping him.”
    • “The game's graphics may be something to put many off, and at first I could see why from advertising materials they would look a bit 'shabby', yet these retro graphics give the game the same eerie vibe and malice that one could expect to feel in the original Doom games, and it certainly plays well with the hellish creatures.”
    • “No microtransactions or tomfoolery within sight.”
  • stability8 mentions

    Overall, the stability of the game is generally praised, with many users reporting minimal to no glitches or bugs, and a smooth gameplay experience. However, there are isolated incidents of bugs affecting user interactions, indicating that while the game is mostly stable, some issues may still arise.

    • “Tiny install, runs great, and cheap.”
    • “Little to no glitches or bugs.”
    • “No problems with the game, runs great.”
    • “Game this buggy is not worth your time.”
    • “I asked the cashier to take a few items off, but the system was being buggy and they said they had to run me through again.”
    • “In these times of easy access money grabbing, it's a miracle to have pure gameplay without any interruptions from crashes, falling through floors, and graphical glitches.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is a crucial element for many players, significantly impacting their overall enjoyment of a game. Poor character development can lead to negative perceptions of a game's narrative quality, particularly in the AAA market, where expectations are high. Players often prioritize engaging storylines and well-developed characters as key factors in their gaming experience.

    • “A game can be great or terrible for a number of reasons; recently we've seen examples of games failing in the AAA market due to horrible stories and bad character development.”
    • “I am well aware that I enjoy my games mostly for the storyline and character development.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

74% average critic score

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Play time

17hMedian play time
37hAverage play time
6-40hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 36 analyzed playthroughs

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