Double Dragon Revive

Double Dragon Revive is a classic brought back to life, but that means many of the issues have returned as well.

63%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

gameplay, grinding

65% User Score Based on 86 reviews

Critic Score 60%Based on 14 reviews

Platforms

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About

Double Dragon Revive is a single player and multiplayer hack and slash game. It was developed by YUKE’S and was released on October 22, 2025. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

Double Dragon Revive faithfully reproduces the thrill of old school side-scrolling action games, with updated controls and difficulty settings for the modern era, and utilizing Arc System Works’ fighting game development experience. Jimmy Lee, Billy Lee, Roper, Abobo, and more will appear in stylish 3D.

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65%

Audience ScoreBased on 86 reviews

story7 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The combat system is satisfying, with a variety of environmental interactions and unique character moves that allow for creative gameplay.
The game captures the nostalgic essence of the Double Dragon series while introducing new mechanics, making it enjoyable for both new players and long-time fans.
The graphics and animations, while not groundbreaking, provide a fun and engaging visual experience that complements the gameplay.

The game suffers from clunky controls and inconsistent hit detection, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially during boss fights.
The story is weak and lacks depth, with poorly executed cutscenes that detract from the overall experience.
Many players feel the game is overpriced for its content and quality, with a runtime that doesn't justify the cost.

story
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
69%
13%
The story in this game is generally considered serviceable but suffers from plot holes, lack of character development, and an uninspired narrative that fails to engage players. While some appreciate the nostalgic elements and character designs, many find the overall plot thin and lacking in payoff, with a few noting that it takes itself too seriously for a beat-em-up. Overall, the story does not meet the expectations set by previous entries in the series, leaving it as a weak point for many reviewers.
- “The result is some of the absolute best character designs and aesthetics the Double Dragon franchise has ever seen, mixed with a charmingly dumb but sincere story that is a huge breath of fresh air from WayForward treating this franchise as some ironic meta-joke.”
- “This time, Marian is the successor to the Sosaiken, so the story revolves around a series of disappearances of townspeople.”
- “If the Dragon Vein's power is strongest in the palace where the mysterious fighter awaits, it would be fun to see a story about trying to get there.”
- “There is a story that's serviceable but also has a few plot holes and lacks payoff in a few areas.”
- “It took itself too seriously while having a story that failed to properly establish its stakes.”
- “The story started with a fight in the city, but then suddenly a monster appeared, which was too much of a leap and I just couldn't get into the story.”
gameplay
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its unique mechanics and fun combat once understood, while others criticize the hit detection, inconsistent mechanics, and a lack of depth in core systems like the dragon orb gauge. Many feel that the game prioritizes style over substance, leading to a basic and sometimes frustrating experience, particularly in terms of enemy interactions and AI limitations. Overall, while there are elements of potential and enjoyment, significant improvements are needed to enhance the gameplay experience.
- “The combat is fun once you understand the game's mechanics and quirks.”
- “Fluid, intuitive gameplay that's accessible while still maintaining a definitive skill ceiling to smash through and navigate the leaderboards.”
- “As a beat 'em up, it's not too bad once you figure out the mechanics with the wall bashing and the mess you can get into.”
- “There are a lot of enemy designs, mechanics, attacks, and environmental traps where you can't properly avoid damage or counter.”
- “Victories don't feel earned through clever or skillful gameplay, but rather through cheap exploitation of AI limitations.”
- “The gameplay itself feels rather basic with just one button to combo and two buttons for special moves.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
60%
11%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the sharp cel-shaded visuals and vibrant palettes that enhance the post-apocalyptic setting, while others criticize the overall aesthetic as feeling dated and reminiscent of last-generation titles. Although the character designs and stage layouts are highlighted as strong points, many users express disappointment in the lack of a more engaging art style and immersive visuals, suggesting that the graphics could have benefited from a more colorful or cartoonish approach. Overall, while the visuals have their charm, they are often seen as a missed opportunity to elevate the game's appeal.
- “As far as visuals, the strongest part of the game is the stage designs themselves, in terms of overarching mood and vibe, as well as general layout, progression, and variety.”
- “Possibly the best graphics and music of any beat-em-up yet.”
- “While I'd always prefer sweet pixel art if given the choice for retro style games, the graphics here are pretty nice with a lot of fun environmental effects.”
- “The music is a cheap, uninspired remake with graphics of over 10 years ago.”
- “Outside of a few cute CG cutscenes reminiscent of Double Dragon II on the PC Engine CD, the graphics look last-gen, like something from an Xbox 360 title.”
- “While the graphics are acceptable, they look dated, reminiscent of earlier generations.”
music
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
37%
16%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the remixes of classic Double Dragon tracks as nostalgic and enjoyable, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking originality. Although the soundtrack is considered good and enhances the overall experience, many players express a desire for new, iconic compositions rather than relying on familiar tunes. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, it falls short of innovation and memorability.
- “That game was an enhanced version of the NES game, featuring better visuals, kickass music, and animated cutscenes with voice acting.”
- “The music was also pretty good, featuring the mandatory remixes of classic tracks that every new Double Dragon game needs to have.”
- “Finally it's here and as soon as the music kicks in, I think of my childhood when playing with mates.”
- “The music is a cheap, unspirited remake with graphics of over 10 years ago.”
- “The background music kept playing, and I could run and move around the stage, but it stayed like that with no change, and did not start the ending cutscene.”
- “Remixing the same Double Dragon songs over and over again; the final stage being a remix of the final stage of the arcade game; fighting Machine Gun Willy...again; Raymond just being a remix of the stage 7 boss from Advance, etc. I want to see future Double Dragon games chart a new course in terms of creating new iconic music, having new iconic characters, new iconic stage designs, etc.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the humor in the game is seen as lacking, with some reviewers wishing for more whimsy and charm in the writing and dialogue. Comparisons to other titles highlight that games like Neon and River City Girls 2 offer superior humor and character interactions, suggesting that the current game falls short in delivering a funny or engaging experience. Additionally, suggestions for more dynamic and humorous finishing moves indicate a desire for greater comedic flair in gameplay.
- “Neon is also clearly superior in terms of writing, dialogue, and humor, the soundtrack (Revive's soundtrack is good, but nothing to really write home about) and overall vibe.”
- “You don't need a good story in a DD game, but at least make it funny or charming.”
- “I highly recommend you play DD Gaiden (superb combat) or even River City Girls 2 (good amount of content, fun combos, and they have a Double Dragon DLC that's amazing; the two brothers are super funny, charming, and well voice-acted! Much better than even the main characters).”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and unengaging, particularly criticizing the repetitive nature of tasks like guard break hunting and the lack of meaningful unlockables or achievements. This results in a gameplay experience that feels dull and offers little replay value.
- “I wanted to give it a fair try before writing this review, but somewhere between grinding through the four guardians and realizing I wasn’t having fun anymore, I knew enough.”
- “I find guard break hunting to be tedious.”
- “Overall it brings nothing new to the table and with the lack of unlockables and grindy achievements, I don't see any replay value at all.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is generally acceptable, with performance described as satisfactory. It automatically adjusts the resolution to 1440p from native 4k and utilizes an upscaling feature, which is common in modern titles. Overall, while not perfect, it does not warrant refunds based on performance issues.
- “Performance was okay.”
- “I don't refund games unless they are terrible or have bad performance.”
- “A tip on the graphics/performance: this game does what a lot of modern games do and auto-sets my native 4K resolution one step below at 1440p, and then turns on some sort of upscaler in the options; in this case, it's TSR.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with many users noting that its short runtime of around four hours does not justify the price, and that there is limited incentive to replay it beyond some bonus content.
- “I will say, however, that for the price, the game's runtime is short, and without a lot of replayability.”
- “Cons: replay value seems very low besides the bonus content.”
- “It's far too much for a 4-hour game with barely any replayability.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
Character development in the game is criticized for being weak and lacking depth, despite the effort to create a gritty urban aesthetic and charming story. While the character designs are noted as some of the best in the Double Dragon franchise, the overall narrative and character arcs feel underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more substance.
- “The result is some of the absolute best character designs and aesthetics the Double Dragon franchise has ever seen, mixed with a charmingly dumb but sincere story that is a huge breath of fresh air.”
- “The character development is enhanced by some great CGs and even some totally unnecessary but silly unlockable mini story vignettes about the various bosses.”
- “I wrote this because the story was so thin and the character development was hopeless.”
- “While the actual character designs are a bit on the generic side, I can tell they were trying to go for a more gritty urban feel overall.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by overly dramatic and somewhat cheesy voice acting from the characters, which may detract from the intended emotional impact for some players.
- “The voice acting is incredibly emotional, bringing depth to each character's journey.”
- “The emotional performances of the characters truly resonate, making the story unforgettable.”
- “The voice acting adds a layer of emotion that enhances the overall experience.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game is considered relatively stable and well-polished, though players have noted some glitches, particularly with the aiming system.
- “Despite some glitches like a weird aiming system, this game is somewhat well polished.”