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Headlander

Headlander is a unexpected but pleasant title that has rekindled my interest in 2D side-scrollers. The title is both familiar and wholly unique, and the main mechanic of Headlanding is both entertaining and intuitive. A sleek and stylistic design matched with an incredible attention to detail more than make up for any frustrations with the game’s combat or puzzles.
Headlander Game Cover
90%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
grinding, replayability
90% User Score Based on 801 reviews
Critic Score 90%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Mac OSPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
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Headlander Game Cover

About

Headlander is a single player platformer game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Double Fine Productions and was released on July 25, 2016. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Headlander is a single-player, science fiction shooter game with a unique mechanic of docking into and controlling robot host bodies. In a retro-futuristic world, you uncover a dense atmosphere and hilarious narrative while seeking clues to your past in a utopia gone wrong. With phenomenal visuals, exceptional music, and some grinding, this game from Double Fine Productions and Adult Swim Games promises to be a mind-bending experience.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Headlander screenshot
Headlander screenshot
Headlander screenshot
Headlander screenshot
Headlander screenshot
Headlander screenshot
Headlander screenshot
Headlander screenshot
Headlander screenshot
Headlander screenshot
Headlander screenshot
+12
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90%
Audience ScoreBased on 801 reviews
gameplay166 positive mentions
grinding23 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and inventive mechanic where players control a disembodied head that can take over robot bodies, adding a fresh twist to the Metroidvania genre.
  • The 70s retro-futuristic aesthetic is beautifully executed, with vibrant colors, a funky soundtrack, and humorous dialogue that enhances the overall experience.
  • The gameplay is engaging and fun, with a good balance of exploration, puzzle-solving, and light combat that keeps players entertained throughout the game.
  • The combat can feel repetitive and lacks depth, often leading players to rely on the same strategies rather than encouraging varied gameplay.
  • The story, while interesting at first, becomes convoluted and leaves many questions unanswered by the end, which may disappoint players looking for a strong narrative.
  • Some players may find the game too short, with a playtime of around 6-8 hours, and limited replay value once the main story is completed.
  • gameplay
    367 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Headlander" is characterized by its unique body-swapping mechanic, which combines metroidvania exploration with puzzle-solving and light combat, offering a quirky and humorous experience. While the core mechanics are inventive and engaging, many players noted that the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth as the game progresses, with some feeling that it doesn't fully utilize its potential. Overall, the game is praised for its fun mechanics and vibrant aesthetic, but it may not provide enough challenge or variety to sustain long-term interest.

    • “The gameplay mixes metroidvania exploration with puzzle-solving and light combat.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is a mix of exploration, combat, and body-swapping, which is really fun.”
    • “The main gameplay mechanic centers around your ability to vacuum off robots' heads and take over their bodies for combat and puzzle solving.”
    • “I really liked the humor and premise of the game, but the gameplay is poor and felt bland and dated.”
    • “The incredibly tedious and annoying gameplay loop basically amounts to 'get this yellow keycard (body) to this yellow door' except there's no puzzles to how to get the yellow keycard, just incredibly lackluster respawning combat.”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay gets old and it drags on from hour 2.”
  • story
    245 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a quirky blend of humor and retro-futuristic sci-fi elements, featuring a unique premise where players control a disembodied head navigating a world of robots. While some players appreciate the wacky narrative and engaging characters, others find the plot simplistic, confusing, or lacking depth, often overshadowed by the game's vibrant aesthetics and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the story is seen as enjoyable but not particularly memorable, with mixed opinions on its execution and coherence.

    • “A crazy and funny robot story tinted in a retro-futuristic style.”
    • “The story is engaging and deliciously kitschy.”
    • “Double Fine has captured the retro-futuristic sci-fi aesthetic of the late 60s/early 70s with scenes and characters that looked ripped from the production stills of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Logan's Run, A Clockwork Orange, Zardoz, etc. while the gameplay does wear out its welcome after a few hours the story is interesting enough to keep you going.”
    • “The story was annoying exposition chitchat that didn't make much sense and wasn't engaging at all.”
    • “I felt the story was kind of pasted together and didn't really feel it made sense or made me feel any way emotionally.”
    • “The story is not the strong part of the game and you may even miss out on it if you don't pay attention to the monologue of your artificial companion's voice.”
  • graphics
    206 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Headlander" are widely praised for their vibrant and unique 1970s sci-fi aesthetic, characterized by colorful visuals, psychedelic effects, and a retro-futuristic design that evokes classic films of the era. Reviewers highlight the game's charming art style and polished presentation, noting that the visuals enhance the overall experience, even if the gameplay can feel repetitive at times. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and atmosphere.

    • “The graphics, music, and sound create a vibrant 70s retro/future aesthetic, polished to a rare lustre.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous, and while they aren't AAA quality polished, they are perfect for this game, as the retro lends itself well to this graphics.”
    • “The 70's sci-fi styling, graphics, and great music combine to make a very enjoyable experience.”
    • “Not worth 20 bucks; the graphics are really bad, and the controls are confusing. Maybe worth 5 dollars.”
    • “Sure, the visuals are not mind-blowing and it lacks a little polish in places, but on the whole, the full package is actually solid.”
    • “The single tiny negative I can give about the visuals is overwhelming chromatic aberration after a certain point in the game where an area is slow motion for a good while.”
  • humor
    154 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Headlander" is a hallmark of Double Fine's style, blending quirky, retro-futuristic elements with a mix of silly, pun-filled dialogue and absurd scenarios that often elicit smiles. While many players appreciate the game's comedic tone and unique premise, some feel that the humor occasionally falls flat or is overused, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game is characterized by its colorful aesthetics and a lighthearted approach that enhances its metroidvania gameplay.

    • “Metroidvania set in a strange robot future world that seems thin at first, but soon thickens out, with some funny dance moves that will put a smile on your face.”
    • “What a pleasant surprise, goofy humor, nice art style and responsive controls all blend perfectly in a metroidvania.”
    • “The concept is absolutely hilarious, and executed extremely well.”
    • “Comedic tone but not funny.”
    • “The tiniest thing that bugged me is that the humor was... not lacking, but given how funny the game can be at times, I feel like they missed a ton of opportunities to add solid humor.”
    • “His jokes are not funny, and he has a cowboy accent for no reason whatsoever.”
  • music
    93 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its vibrant blend of 70s and 80s sci-fi aesthetics, featuring groovy synth tracks that enhance the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to evoke a retro-futuristic vibe, with many noting its effectiveness in complementing the game's visuals and humor. While some find the music occasionally generic, the majority agree that it significantly contributes to the game's charm and immersive quality.

    • “The soundtrack, packed with analog synth grooves, makes every room feel like you’ve stepped into a forgotten pulp magazine cover brought to life.”
    • “The soundtrack is so good, the sweeping synths, deep pads, and awesome sequences really fit in with the whole vibe the game has, and I wish there was more music in-game.”
    • “Game mechanics are fun, story is neat, music is funky as hell (70s style all the way), and the graphics and general design choices feel like they came straight from the 70s/early 80s.”
    • “The soundtrack and sound effects don't stand out, but they're perfect for the game and creating the perfect feel.”
    • “The story is weird, the gameplay is absolutely unique and the soundtrack is a-okay.”
    • “It felt strange to enter a room and suddenly enter combat in slow-mo while groovy music is playing in the background.”
  • atmosphere
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of Headlander is widely praised for its vibrant retro sci-fi aesthetic, characterized by distinct 2.5D graphics, a captivating synth soundtrack, and a light-hearted tone that parodies 70s and 80s tropes. Players appreciate the game's unique art style, engaging visuals, and the way the atmosphere enhances the overall experience, making it both enjoyable and memorable. Despite some wishing for longer gameplay, the combination of humor, design, and sound creates a compelling and immersive environment.

    • “Where Headlander truly shines is in its atmosphere and personality.”
    • “The game paints a fascinating world with just a handful of assets, a distinct art style, and an atmospheric soundtrack.”
    • “Finally, a perfect synth score adds to the unique funky atmosphere as you explore the brightly colored locations.”
    • “The presentation is well done and by the end, I was a fan of the 2.5D graphics (even though I would’ve preferred traditional 2D graphics) and each area felt pretty distinct from another in both atmosphere and level layout.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game really benefits from it, with its retro vibes.”
    • “This game has a good premise, a fun atmosphere, decent puzzles and pretty lackluster combat.”
  • grinding
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding the repetitive backtracking and combat tedious, particularly during boss encounters and fetch quests. While some appreciate the game's length and the absence of excessive grinding for achievements, others feel that the linear gameplay and reliance on similar mechanics can lead to frustration. Overall, the game manages to maintain a balance between enjoyable exploration and moments of tedium, though opinions vary on how much this affects the overall experience.

    • “Short, achievements are not grindy.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The incredibly tedious and annoying gameplay loop basically amounts to 'get this yellow keycard (body) to this yellow door' except there's no puzzles to how to get the yellow keycard, just incredibly lackluster respawning combat. Oh, and by the way, the keycard (your body) can take damage and be destroyed, so be prepared to backtrack from room to room to get a new one a ton.”
    • “When you die, you reappear in the room you died in as if you just entered, but with unskippable cutscenes that mean every boss can become tedious as the game takes control from you several seconds at a time every time you die.”
    • “After the initial coolness of the concept fades, you get to enjoy a tedious and frustrating game where you wander through incredibly similar corridors and face sudden spikes in difficulty that aren't fun.”
  • replayability
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game has been criticized for its low replayability, with many players noting that once completed, there is little incentive to return. While some appreciate the initial playthrough, the short length and lack of challenging content diminish the desire for subsequent runs. A few players mentioned speed runs as a potential exception, but generally, the consensus is that replay value is minimal.

    • “I originally played this game years ago, and it has enough replay value for me to come back to it again.”
    • “Welp, as a metroidvania, I guess the only replayability is finding easter eggs if there are any or completing the game 100% or something like that.”
    • “I can't recommend this game enough, but unfortunately once you have completed it there is no more replay value.”
    • “I got my money's worth, but glad I didn't pay full price, as replay value is low.”
    • “Replayability is probably where the game falls flat.”
  • optimization
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, user feedback on optimization is mixed; while some players report no performance issues even during intense gameplay, others experience inconsistent performance. Recent updates may have improved optimization for some, but significant performance problems persist for others.

    • “I never had any performance issues when a zillion lasers were on screen, so there might have been some optimization done recently.”
    • “No real big performance problems.”
    • “Graphics/performance: (with a 970, 4790k, 16GB of RAM, SSD)”
    • “Performance is absolute shit.”
    • “But the performance was just all over the place.”
    • “[b]Graphics/performance: (with a 970, 4790k, 16GB of RAM, SSD)[/b]”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate a general dissatisfaction with character development, noting a lack of depth and excitement in the story. While the art and character design are praised, many feel that the characters do not evolve meaningfully throughout the game, leading to a flat narrative experience.

    • “I love the art and the character design; it's very Double Fine-esque. However, I feel that an adventure game might have worked better with these overwhelming visuals.”
    • “The character development is impressive, providing depth and complexity that keeps you engaged throughout the story.”
    • “Each character evolves in meaningful ways, making their journeys feel authentic and relatable.”
    • “The story is there, but nothing exciting, no character development and such.”
    • “No character development.”
    • “By that point though, there had been character development and no build-up, so it fell very flat.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that the emotional impact of the game is lacking, with some players feeling the story is disjointed and fails to evoke genuine feelings. The introduction of the master control program, Methusela, is seen as a mechanism that suppresses emotions and memories, contributing to a sense of complacency rather than emotional engagement.

    • “The master control program this time around is called Methusela, and it's made sure that the former humans are nice and content – or perhaps, complacent – due to the addition of control gems in their circuitry that mellows them out when they get excited, calms them down when they get emotional, and does some judicious editing of their memories when they've seen something they shouldn't have.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is generally acceptable, with users reporting minor bugs that do not significantly impact gameplay. While some players experienced crashes during critical moments, most found the game functional, though certain advanced commands can be frustrating. Additionally, the upgrade system feels underwhelming, as players can easily max out abilities without fully engaging with the game.

    • “Slightly buggy, but not a game breaker (despite my epic journey failing due to crashing during the most epic part of the game).”
    • “Everything works for the most part, but it feels a little thin. Combat works and there are different ways to approach it, but I found a few of the upgrades to be not worth using (you get enough points to max everything out even if you don't 100% the game). I didn't have any issues with glitches, but the commands to execute some of the more advanced moves are kind of annoying.”
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90%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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7h Median play time
8h Average play time
7-10h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Headlander is a platformer game with science fiction theme.

Headlander is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, Mac OS and others.

On average players spend around 8 hours playing Headlander.

Headlander was released on July 25, 2016.

Headlander was developed by Double Fine Productions.

Headlander has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Headlander is a single player game.

Similar games include Ghost 1.0, Out There Somewhere, Supraland, Gato Roboto, Axiom Verge and others.