Headbangers in Holiday Hell

69%
Game Brain Score Based on 23 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Headbangers in Holiday Hell Game Cover
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In "Headbangers in Holiday Hell" , you must defend humanity's right to reject Christmas celebrations as Santa's craziest minions attack. This twin-stick roguelite action game features a colorful arsenal of heavy metal-themed weapons and procedurally generated levels, combining the styles of "Zombies Ate My Neighbors" and "Beavis & Butthead" comedy. Your crime of non-conformity has landed you on Santa's naughty list, and it's up to you to fight back with the power of heavy metal.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 23 reviews
graphics3 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • The game features a fun and engaging pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for classic games like Zombies Ate My Neighbors.
  • Gameplay is fast-paced and offers a variety of weapons and traps, making it enjoyable for fans of twin-stick shooters.
  • The humor and heavy metal theme add a unique charm, creating a light-hearted and absurd experience that many players find entertaining.
  • The voice acting is repetitive and lacks variety, which can become annoying over time.
  • Levels feel empty and lack the engaging design and unique enemy mechanics found in similar games, leading to a sense of tedium.
  • The game suffers from crashes and technical issues, which detracts from the overall experience.
  • music8 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it generic and annoying, others praise it as catchy and enjoyable, particularly highlighting a humorous Christmas-themed track. Overall, it seems to resonate well with those who appreciate its comedic and metal elements, making it a memorable aspect for certain audiences.

    • “The music is killer.”
    • “If you love comedy, twin stick shooters, and your new favorite song is 'All I Want for Christmas is Killing You,' this is your game.”
    • “Awesome music, can't get it out of my head.”
    • “There is very little to like about this game, really only grabbing your attention if you enjoy shooting up elves, with very generic, low-effort metal music playing in the background.”
    • “I can usually tune it out, especially with the music up louder, but it's still a little annoying.”
    • “Needs some metal Christmas song covers.”
  • gameplay6 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by solid controls and enjoyable mechanics, particularly the unique feature where shooting enemies temporarily halts their attacks, providing a sense of safety amidst the fast-paced action. While the shooting mechanics are deemed satisfactory, the overall experience is enhanced by challenging gameplay and appealing graphics, despite some criticism regarding the voice acting.

    • “It is fast paced and for me it is challenging, but I strangely like shooting elves. What I love about the mechanics is the fact that when I am shooting them, they stop shooting me - this creates this illusion of safety (until another elf comes by) and it eases my anxiety of the need to be moving fast and dodging all the time.”
    • “Some great mechanics and tough as nails gameplay.”
    • “Solid mechanics and controls.”
    • “While in the game this was inspired by, Zombies Ate My Neighbors, you used unique AI and mechanics to create themes for levels; none of that is present here.”
    • “It is fast-paced and for me it is challenging, but I strangely like shooting elves. What I love about the mechanics is the fact that when I am shooting them, they stop shooting me - this creates this illusion of safety (until another elf comes by) and it eases my anxiety of the need to be moving fast and dodging all the time.”
    • “Getting to actually play the game, it controls fine, the shooting mechanics are... alright... but one thing that immediately stood out to me was the underperformance of the voice actor for the main character.”
  • graphics4 mentions

    The game features an appealing pixel art style that has garnered positive feedback, with many praising its quality and charm. While the graphics are highlighted as a strong point, some reviews suggest that this is the main standout aspect of the game. Overall, the pixel art contributes to the game's retro aesthetic and enhances the overall experience.

    • “Awesome Christmas-themed retro shooter with solid quality pixel art style.”
    • “It is definitely a nicely done game and I love the pixel art graphics.”
    • “From the cool graphics to the mechanics!”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game is noted for its short length but offers high replayability, encouraging players to return for multiple playthroughs.

    • “Short but highly replayable.”
    • “The game offers a variety of choices that make each playthrough feel unique.”
    • “With multiple endings and different character paths, I find myself coming back for more.”
    • “The game lacks significant replay value, as once you've completed the main storyline, there's little incentive to dive back in.”
    • “After finishing the game, I found that the choices I made had minimal impact on the overall experience, making it feel repetitive on subsequent playthroughs.”
    • “While the initial experience was enjoyable, the lack of varied content and meaningful choices means I won't be returning for a second run.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a nostalgic nod to 90s comedy, blending heavy metal elements with absurd scenarios involving crazed, violent elves. Players appreciate the playful yet dark tone, highlighting a mix of charm and chaos that keeps the experience entertaining.

    • “A throwback to 'Zombie Ate My Neighbors' that innovates on the formula, adds a lot of awesome heavy metal, 90s humor, and crazed violent elves.”
    • “"It's the Christmas magic!" - the only magic I see is the one of those nasty little f***ers laughing behind my back.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization is generally acceptable, with controls and shooting mechanics functioning adequately; however, the main character's voice acting is noted as a significant underperformance, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
    • “Despite the interesting premise, the optimization is so poor that it makes the game nearly unplayable on mid-range systems.”
    • “I was really excited to dive into this game, but the optimization is a mess, causing long loading times and crashes.”
  • story1 mentions

    The story aspect is highlighted as engaging and narrative-driven, inviting players to immerse themselves in a compelling tale.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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