Door Kickers: Action Squad

With the charm of retro gaming, take on the violent job of freeing hostages and eliminating bad guys.

87%Game Brain Score

gameplay, story

grinding, optimization

94% User Score Based on 2,352 reviews

Critic Score 80%Based on 9 reviews

Platforms

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About

Door Kickers: Action Squad is a single player and multiplayer tactical platformer game. It was developed by KillHouse Games and was released on September 10, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Door Kickers: Action Squad" is a side-scroller action game where you play as a SWAT trooper, facing off against bad guys in a retro-style, detailed 2D world. With 6 characters to choose from, each with unique abilities, and over 80 non-linear levels, the game offers a variety of challenges. Utilize weapons, gear, and strategic abilities to complete mission objectives, and enlist a friend for cooperative play when the going gets tough. The game features 60 weapons and gear items, and over 20 enemy types.

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,352 reviews

gameplay120 positive mentions

grinding14 negative mentions

The game is incredibly fun and addictive, especially in co-op mode.
Great pixel art graphics and an amazing soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
Offers a variety of characters and weapons, allowing for different playstyles and strategies.

Lacks a tutorial, making it difficult for new players to understand mechanics.
Can become repetitive after a while, with similar mission objectives and level designs.
Online co-op can be unstable, with frequent disconnects and matchmaking issues.

gameplay
304 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
56%
5%
The gameplay of "Door Kickers: Action Squad" is characterized by its simple yet addictive mechanics, allowing players to engage in tactical action as they breach rooms, eliminate threats, and rescue hostages. While the game offers a variety of characters and cooperative play, many players note that the core gameplay loop can become repetitive over time, with some mechanics feeling shallow or underdeveloped. Overall, the combination of engaging pixel art, a catchy soundtrack, and a straightforward gameplay style makes it enjoyable, particularly in multiplayer settings, despite some criticisms regarding depth and variety.
- “It's tactically deeper than you would expect with what are pretty simple game mechanics.”
- “A brilliant little game - fantastic visuals, great soundtrack, smooth controls, and intuitive gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is fun, and not too stale; the maps vary, and there's several different modes.”
- “The game mechanics are extremely simplistic, missing every movement or action a character of this type should be able to execute.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay gets a bit repetitive after a while.”
- “Fans of the first mobile app, Door Kickers, will be disappointed to find that anything cerebral about Door Kickers was lobotomized away with Action Squad; it's a brainless shooter that's got worse graphics and gameplay than Door Kickers, yet carries a similar price.”
story
295 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
80%
9%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with many players noting that there is no significant narrative or character development. While the missions provide a variety of objectives such as hostage rescues and bomb defusals, they are primarily focused on gameplay mechanics rather than storytelling, leading to a repetitive experience. Overall, players enjoy the action and cooperative gameplay but express a desire for a more engaging story to enhance the experience.
- “The game features a few types of gameplay: the classic mode (which has 5 episodes, each with 12 missions with variable objectives), the infinity tower (a randomly-generated tower where you must move up as many floors as you can without dying), and the zombie invasion mode (basically the classic mode with additional zombie enemies who appear from some sort of green portal).”
- “The game is rich in replay value, featuring over 84 missions, varied character classes, leveling systems, and a three-star completion system that encourages repeated playthroughs for mastery and rank.”
- “Not much story, but it's great for killing a little time or getting straight into action.”
- “There's no story; there are so far 5 full campaigns with 12 levels each, but no cutscenes, no nothing that even strings the levels in a campaign together.”
- “Players engage with various mission types, which provide a semblance of progression but do not connect to a broader storyline.”
music
262 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
42%
2%
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many players praising its catchy 80s synth-rock style that enhances the overall gameplay experience. While some noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, the majority found it to be a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's nostalgic and action-packed atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the best aspects of the game, making it a must-have for fans of retro-inspired music.
- “The soundtrack is amazing and the simple gameplay brings me more pleasure than most AAA games.”
- “The music is fantastic and the pixel art is great.”
- “The energy and pace of the game was consistently thrilling, and that soundtrack, man!”
- “The graphics are about as clear as my mate Johan after ten pints, and the music is so simplistic it makes elevator tunes sound like a bloody symphony.”
- “Only complaints I had were the music got repetitive.”
- “The music is fitting but gets old quick - I often play with music turned off and my own jams playing instead.”
graphics
186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The graphics of "Door Kickers: Action Squad" are characterized by well-executed pixel art that evokes a nostalgic 90s arcade vibe, appealing to fans of retro aesthetics. While many players appreciate the charming visuals and smooth animations, some critique the simplicity and lack of clarity in certain areas, suggesting that the graphics may not resonate with everyone. Overall, the pixelated style complements the game's mechanics and enhances the fun, cooperative gameplay experience.
- “The pixel art graphics are very well executed, as well as the mechanics, allowing you to play stealthily or go all out with a character who blasts away with a shotgun like crazy.”
- “Gorgeous music score, neat and lively pixel art visuals, dynamic and non-trivial gameplay that brings your brain into action!”
- “The graphics look amazing and their pixelated goodness is sure to be your eye candy for the several hours you'll be playing!”
- “The graphics are about as clear as my mate Johan after ten pints, and the music is so simplistic it makes elevator tunes sound like a bloody symphony.”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “Without any other substantial graphics tweaks, it's not possible for gamers to improve the lackluster 2D visuals.”
humor
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
4%
The humor in this game is widely praised for its chaotic and over-the-top nature, often leading to hilarious moments, especially in co-op play. Players appreciate the blend of tactical gameplay with comedic elements, including funny character dialogue and absurd scenarios that keep the experience light-hearted and entertaining. While some find the humor politically incorrect or repetitive, it generally resonates well, making the game enjoyable and engaging, particularly when played with friends.
- “This game is freaking amazing, it's a gory, chaotic, hilarious mess that is grounded by having tactics.”
- “The game has a great sense of humor, so even if you fail miserably at a mission (which you probably will), you can still have a good laugh about it.”
- “It's hilarious, challenging, and just damn fun.”
- “Not funny... maybe?”
- “The humor fell flat and didn't resonate with me.”
- “I expected more laughs, but the jokes just didn't land.”
replayability
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
57%
8%
The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse character classes, each offering unique playstyles and strategies, as well as a leveling system that encourages multiple playthroughs. Players appreciate the variety of game modes and co-op options, which enhance the experience and provide opportunities for experimentation. However, some users note that replayability may diminish over time, particularly if player upgrades make challenges too easy or if content feels limited.
- “The 5 different character options with upgrades that can be leveled up whether you fail or succeed makes for massive replayability and strategic choices literally doubled in co-op mode.”
- “The game is rich in replay value, featuring over 84 missions, varied character classes, leveling systems, and a three-star completion system that encourages repeated playthroughs for mastery and rank.”
- “With 5 campaigns and 60 levels as well as the vastly different characters, there is plenty of replayability that will be even bigger now thanks to the workshop.”
- “Although it is a fun game, there is not much replayability in my opinion.”
- “It's a little overpriced for the content at the moment because of the lack of replayability, so I would wait until a sale before you buy.”
- “There is no replayability.”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
88%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat mixed; while some describe it as a bit tedious and requiring significant time investment, others appreciate the challenge it brings. Many agree that while grinding can feel repetitive, it doesn't detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the game. However, some players express frustration with the grindy unlock systems and suggest that it may not be worth the full price due to these issues.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You see all the game in the first hour and then it's just grinding the same things over and over with no payoff.”
- “Annoying glitches, poor multiplayer connections, terrible grindy unlock star progression system, currently not worth the full price.”
optimization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
Overall, the game's optimization is commendable, with smooth performance on both Windows and Linux platforms and minimal bugs. While some users experienced occasional stuttering and lag, the small download size of approximately 40 MB enhances accessibility without significant optimization issues. The graphic optimization options are also praised, contributing to a generally positive technical experience.
- “The technical performance is commendable, running smoothly without significant bugs or performance issues on both Windows and Linux platforms.”
- “The small file size—with the game being around 40 MB—makes it accessible for a broader audience, and players will not face significant optimization issues.”
- “Very optimized and download size is about 40 MB!”
- “However, we sometimes had stuttering and lag for a short time on multiple levels, again, unsure why.”
- “The small file size—with the game being around 40 mb—makes it accessible for a broader audience, and players will not face significant optimization issues.”
- “Performance looked fine for me, nothing wrong.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The game's atmosphere is heavily influenced by an 80s/90s aesthetic, featuring a catchy synth-rock soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While many players appreciate the cohesive sound design and pixel art, some feel that the atmosphere lacks depth and complexity, suggesting a desire for more intricate details. Overall, the nostalgic vibe creates an enjoyable backdrop for cooperative gameplay, though it may leave some wanting more.
- “The sound design enhances the gameplay atmosphere significantly, featuring catchy 80s synth-rock music that provides a fitting backdrop for the action.”
- “The 80's/90's style creates a nice atmosphere and the soundtrack doesn’t annoy you.”
- “Atmosphere, sound, and graphics all work together extremely well, and while being fairly straightforward, you still have to think quite a bit ahead in order to not get cut down by crackheads or shot by hostage-loving pirates.”
- “It definitely makes fun in co-op with a friend, but in the end I am missing some more atmosphere, depth, complexity, and ingenuity.”
- “- missing atmosphere / details”
- “Atmosphere, sound, graphics all work together extremely well, and while being fairly straightforward, you still have to think quite a bit ahead in order to not get cut down by crackheads or shot by hostage-loving pirates.”
stability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
78%
The game's stability is mixed, with users reporting frequent glitches, particularly in multiplayer connections and save files, leading to crashes and frustrating gameplay experiences. While it runs well on certain platforms like the Steam Deck, issues such as buggy movement and environmental interactions detract from the overall experience. Despite these problems, some players still find enjoyment in the game, especially for couch co-op play.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck for couch co-op while docked!”
- “Great art style and overall runs great!”
- “However, online glitches occur every other time with connection.”
- “So much fun; however, there are glitches with save files and crashes. Other than those few minor issues, it's loads of fun.”
- “Annoying glitches, poor multiplayer connections, and a terrible grindy unlock star progression system make it currently not worth the full price.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization of "Door Kickers: Action Squad" is criticized as a cash grab by mobile developers, with users feeling that the game lacks the quality expected from a PC title and offers little improvement over much older games.
- “Door Kickers: Action Squad is a mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as if it were a real PC game (it's not). It's a cash grab from greedy mobile developers.”
- “The game feels like a cheap imitation of classic arcade shooters, and the monetization tactics are just as outdated and frustrating.”
- “It's disappointing to see a game that could have been enjoyable reduced to a money-making scheme with aggressive monetization.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The character development is highlighted by beautiful designs that effectively communicate essential traits and backgrounds of both allies and adversaries, enhancing the player's understanding of each character.
- “Beautiful character designs that convey all the information someone needs to know about any given character, friend or foe.”
- “The depth of each character's backstory adds layers to the gameplay, making every interaction feel meaningful.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, reflecting their experiences and choices in a way that feels authentic.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally resonant, as it evokes nostalgia for classic titles like Contra from the SNES era, allowing older gamers to reconnect with their childhood memories.
- “It is such a great shooter, and reminds me a lot of Contra games from the SNES (since I grew up playing those games). As an old gamer, this made me feel nostalgic and brought me back to the past.”

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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 9 critic reviews

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8h Median play time

10h Average play time

5-15h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Door Kickers: Action Squad is a tactical platformer game.

Door Kickers: Action Squad is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Phone, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 10 hours playing Door Kickers: Action Squad.

Door Kickers: Action Squad was released on September 10, 2018.

Door Kickers: Action Squad was developed by KillHouse Games.

Door Kickers: Action Squad has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Door Kickers: Action Squad is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Door Kickers, Door Kickers 2, Breach & Clear, Police Stories, Orcs Must Die! 2 and others.

Door Kickers: Action Squad

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