Duke Nukem Forever

65%
Game Brain Score Based on 6,569 reviews
  • humor
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Duke Nukem Forever Game Cover
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In "Duke Nukem Forever," Duke is back to save the world from an alien invasion with his arsenal of over-the-top weapons and signature style. After a long hiatus, Duke must once again put an end to the extraterrestrial threat, battling pig cops, giant bosses, and using a variety of interactive environments. The game features hours of single-player action and multiplayer modes, providing unadulterated fun and non-stop action.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

65%
Audience ScoreBased on 6,569 reviews
humor1,026 positive mentions
grinding74 negative mentions
  • humor1,085 mentions

    The humor in "Duke Nukem Forever" is a polarizing aspect, often described as crude, juvenile, and heavily reliant on outdated references and toilet humor. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and find Duke's one-liners and outrageous scenarios genuinely funny, many criticize the humor as forced, repetitive, and lacking the cleverness of earlier titles in the series. Overall, the game's comedic elements cater to a specific audience that enjoys lowbrow humor, but they may not resonate well with modern gamers seeking more sophisticated or nuanced comedy.

    • “What sets the game apart is its unapologetic humor and outrageous scenarios.”
    • “Duke’s one-liners are often hilarious, embodying his over-the-top persona.”
    • “The humor can be divisive—some will find it hilarious, while others may see it as dated.”
    • “He is basically a blockheaded 'himbo' who giggles at others' expense, acts like a complete jerk, and can switch his feelings on a dime just to fit the story, or be a complete moron just because the writers wanted to make an extremely unfunny joke.”
    • “The dialogue is bland and generally unfunny one-liners, or just... profanity, with no actual joke behind it.”
    • “What really gets under my skin is that the humor in this game is forced, painfully unfunny, and oftentimes just plain awful.”
  • gameplay960 mentions

    The gameplay of "Duke Nukem Forever" has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing its clunky mechanics, linear level design, and outdated features such as a two-weapon limit and regenerating health. While some appreciate the variety of gameplay elements, including puzzles and mini-games, others find them tedious and poorly executed. Overall, the game is seen as a disappointing blend of old-school charm and modern FPS tropes, failing to capture the essence of its predecessor, "Duke Nukem 3D."

    • “It has mechanics that make you want to explore and interact with the world, from making popcorn in the microwave to playing pinball and working out; few games are so interactive.”
    • “The gameplay is a blend of combat, exploration, and puzzles.”
    • “The gameplay is enjoyable and pretty varied for the most part.”
    • “The gameplay is a blend of combat, exploration, and puzzles, but it feels outdated and lacks the excitement of modern shooters.”
    • “Gameplay is repetitive and boring, guns hold no weight, voice acting is meh, and animation is lackluster.”
    • “The gameplay is dull and tedious, with linear levels and a lack of engaging mechanics.”
  • graphics744 mentions

    The graphics of "Duke Nukem Forever" have been widely criticized for being outdated, even at the time of its 2011 release, with many reviewers noting that they resemble titles from several years prior. While some players found certain environments visually appealing, the overall consensus is that the graphics are muddy, inconsistent, and lack the polish expected from a game that spent over a decade in development. Despite some decent textures and effects, many felt the visuals did not meet the standards set by contemporary games, leading to a generally negative reception regarding the game's graphical quality.

    • “While it features some vibrant environments and creative designs, it doesn’t quite match the graphical fidelity of contemporary titles.”
    • “I do like the advanced graphics for 2011 standards, the new enemies, revamped enemies, weapons, etc. There was one part where Duke ventured under the earth, and it was very creepy.”
    • “The graphics are good for its time of release, soundtrack matches the game's atmosphere and different situations.”
    • “For a game that took 15 years to develop, the graphics look like they’ve been marinating in a Windows XP screensaver.”
    • “The graphics are bad (yes, even on the PC), the shooting is horrible, the enemy AI is horrible and the only good thing about it is Duke Nukem himself.”
    • “The graphics look unfinished, the frame rate drops a lot, and the story feels so rushed that it's not even funny.”
  • story678 mentions

    The story of "Duke Nukem Forever" is largely criticized for being simplistic and poorly executed, often described as a generic alien invasion plot that serves primarily as a backdrop for the game's humor and action. While some players appreciate the nostalgic, over-the-top nature of Duke's character and the comedic elements, many find the narrative lacking depth and coherence, with a reliance on outdated jokes and clichés. Overall, the story is seen as a weak point in an otherwise entertaining but flawed game, appealing mainly to fans of the franchise who are not seeking a serious narrative.

    • “The plot is simple, but it serves as a vehicle for the game’s humor and outrageous moments.”
    • “The story is cool and still has the dumb funny/toilet humor of the past games, so fans of the classics will enjoy this from start to finish!”
    • “The story is a simple and clichéd affair but it's fine the first time round and does well enough to support the gameplay.”
    • “The story is a disjointed mess, lacking depth and coherence, leaving me wondering why I should even care about Duke's quest.”
    • “The plot is simple and clichéd, but it feels more like a token FPS expansion plot rather than a compelling narrative.”
    • “The story is terrible, but if you look to Duke Nukem for a good plot, then you really need help.”
  • music141 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the nostalgic electric guitar riffs and orchestral elements, while others criticize it as bland and forgettable. Many players note a lack of consistent musical presence during gameplay, leading to moments of silence that detract from the overall experience. Overall, while there are highlights in the soundtrack, it often fails to capture the excitement and memorability associated with the original Duke Nukem games.

    • “The soundtrack varies between epic orchestral music and classic metal.”
    • “The background music adds to the action and chaos that the game creates, forming a beautiful atmosphere.”
    • “The music is good, a lot of it very heavily based around the old Duke Nukem games and the graphics are fine for its time as well.”
    • “The music is absolute crap.”
    • “The soundtrack, sadly, is not all electric guitar riffs and solos.”
    • “What you end up with is a game with no proper music (most of the time there is no music even playing), you hardly encounter that many aliens on your way through the levels, the combat is cheap and undiverse and the only fights that are interesting at all are the bosses.”
  • grinding79 mentions

    The reviews overwhelmingly describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and frustrating, with many players noting that repetitive tasks, poorly designed vehicle sequences, and uninspired boss fights detract from the overall experience. Players frequently mention that the game feels like a slog, with a lack of engaging content leading to boredom and irritation. Despite some interesting ideas, the execution often results in a frustratingly grindy gameplay experience.

    • “Controls are terrible, missions are a grindy slog.”
    • “The game features lots of gimmick sections and generally uses them to slow down progression; this can get really tedious at times and is generally just frustrating time wasting.”
    • “Most weapons feel useless, the controls are clunky, the driving segments are tedious, and there are far too many platforming sections.”
  • stability67 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as freezing, NPCs becoming unresponsive, and graphical errors. While some players experienced minimal issues and found the game enjoyable, the overall consensus highlights significant technical problems that detract from the experience, especially given the lengthy development time.

    • “Quick load times, good gameplay, no glitches, good frame rate.”
    • “No glitches, crashes, bugs, or anything like that.”
    • “This game was not buggy at all, so it's got that going for it.”
    • “Tons of game-breaking glitches.”
    • “A lot of glitches and bugs will get you stuck (especially in the expansion) which will force you to reload a save point or go back to the menu and reload the level in order to continue because some NPCs just stopped moving.”
    • “15 years in development and it's buggy as hell and shit.”
  • optimization47 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users citing significant performance issues, glitches, and long load times, particularly at launch. While some players report that modern hardware can run the game smoothly and appreciate the graphics options available for PC, others criticize it for being poorly optimized overall, leading to a frustrating experience. Despite some improvements over time, the consensus leans towards the game being unpolished and in need of better optimization.

    • “While some games are optimized for consoles and do not provide better graphics options for PC, this game actually goes out of its way to provide better graphics options for PC, which makes it look better than the vast majority of games that came out around this time.”
    • “The game is well optimized.”
    • “It's also well optimized, somehow, considering it looks so good.”
    • “First of all, this game is so unoptimized and glitchy.”
    • “It's somehow really poorly optimized, managing to simultaneously look like absolute shit and give my fairly new gaming laptop a hard time.”
    • “The game is very poorly optimized, and there's very few things to do.”
  • replayability35 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is widely criticized, with many reviewers noting its linear progression, repetitive gameplay, and lack of meaningful content that diminishes the incentive to replay. While some players suggest that achievement hunting or mods can enhance the experience, the consensus is that the game offers little replay value, making it more suitable for a single playthrough. Many recommend waiting for a sale before purchasing, as the enjoyment may not justify the full price.

    • “The replay value is definitely there!”
    • “Good replay value.”
    • “It took me around 10 hours to finish a single playthrough; the game isn't short enough that it feels unsatisfying but doesn't go on for long enough to make it feel too dull and tiring.”
    • “While this provides a clear path for players, it limits replayability and exploration.”
    • “I wouldn't waste your time purchasing it since the replayability is atrocious.”
    • “There is zero replay value; progress through the levels is extremely linear and limited, gameplay is repetitive and sometimes outright infuriating.”
  • atmosphere26 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its classic Duke Nukem charm, immersive soundscapes, and well-crafted environments that enhance the experience. However, others feel that humor can overshadow the atmosphere, and certain gameplay elements detract from the overall immersion. While the graphics and music contribute positively, the game's ability to maintain a cohesive atmosphere varies, with some levels standing out as particularly atmospheric.

    • “Unique atmosphere, game mechanics, and soundtrack.”
    • “The background music adds to the action and chaos that the game creates, forming a beautiful atmosphere.”
    • “The very good voice acting and the interaction with many objects makes the atmosphere quite enjoyable.”
    • “The humor in this game is often too on the nose and overshadows the atmosphere completely.”
    • “It is Alien vs. Predator 2 with better graphics but worse overall atmosphere and exploration aspect.”
    • “The atmosphere is classic Duke, but the gameplay suffers horribly.”
  • emotional18 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized for its lack of depth and development, with many players feeling that the humor and tongue-in-cheek approach overshadow any potential for meaningful storytelling. While some moments evoke nostalgia or amusement, others elicit discomfort due to misogynistic themes, leading to mixed feelings among players. Overall, the game fails to deliver a compelling emotional experience, leaving many feeling disappointed or even regretful about their purchase.

    • “A lot of the time I found myself wincing with emotional pain listening to it; I think we've probably just all outgrown the Duke humor now.”
    • “Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
    • “Absolutely heart-breaking and a big smack in your face if you are a Duke fan.”
    • “Boring story that squanders its initial potential.”
    • “Level design, humor, boring story; just nothing to keep me from even finishing the game.”
  • monetization8 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a poorly executed cash grab that heavily relies on nostalgia, with many players feeling misled by advertising that overhyped its quality. While some acknowledge the game's potential, they argue that it falls short due to excessive reliance on microtransactions and a lack of innovation, leading to disappointment among fans. Overall, the sentiment suggests that the game's monetization approach detracts from the overall experience.

    • “It felt like a rushed, poorly thought-out cash grab that relied on nostalgia to sell copies.”
    • “This is a cash grab.”
    • “Well this game isn't bad, it is just overdone in a few aspects, and the advertisement made this game seem like the best game available, which is far from the truth.”
  • character development4 mentions

    The game features thoughtful character design and impressive character development, particularly highlighting the duke's maturation as he navigates emotionally complex themes such as love and loss. Players can expect a compelling narrative that showcases both growth and decline throughout the story.

    • “His character design is undoubtedly thoughtful.”
    • “Without spoiling too much, I will say that you're going to see some incredible character development - the duke really matures as a person over the course of the game, and it deals with emotionally complex issues, like love and loss.”
    • “This game showcases strong character development with a compelling rise and fall.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

10hMedian play time
11hAverage play time
9hMain story
21hCompletionist
6-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 28 analyzed playthroughs

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