Kane and Lynch: Dead Men™

About

In "Kane and Lynch: Dead Men," players step into the violent shoes of two condemned criminals, Kane and Lynch, in a gritty and intense third-person shooter. The pair's desperate escape from justice takes them around the world, with graphic gunplay and chaotic action sequences at every turn. As they fight to survive against countless enemies and overwhelming odds, players will delve into the dark backstory of Kane and Lynch, and confront a variety of morally ambiguous choices.

Genres & Tags

Action

Play Modes

56%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,349 reviews

story257 positive mentions

gameplay110 negative mentions

Engaging story with dark themes and complex characters.
Unique dynamic between the protagonists, Kane and Lynch, adds depth to the narrative.
Varied levels and scenarios keep the gameplay interesting despite some flaws.

Poor shooting mechanics with inaccurate weapons and a frustrating cover system.
AI companions are often unhelpful and can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
The game is short, with a campaign lasting around 4-6 hours, and lacks replay value.

story
816 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
61%
8%
The story of "Kane & Lynch: Dead Men" is a mixed bag, with many reviewers noting its potential but ultimately criticizing its execution. While the narrative features gritty themes and complex characters, it often feels disjointed and rushed, leading to a lack of coherence and emotional depth. Despite its flaws, some players appreciate the dark atmosphere and character dynamics, suggesting that the story, while flawed, is still engaging enough to warrant a playthrough for those interested in crime dramas.
- “Dead Men has a strong atmosphere (gritty, clearly inspired by crime movies), a pretty dark storyline with a cinematic flair, focusing mostly on Kane and Lynch's troubled relationship, good dialogue/banter, and some decent action set-pieces.”
- “The story is well crafted and the characters, while not people you would invite to Christmas dinner, are intense, gritty, and multidimensional.”
- “The game delivers a compelling crime thriller experience with its gritty atmosphere and engaging storytelling, despite its technical shortcomings and lack of polish.”
- “The story is paper thin and feels like you're skipping through random episodes of a show.”
- “The last act of the story is dogshit through and through though, it gets stupidly difficult and you can tell it's hard just so you don't finish the game in 3.5 hours.”
- “The story is bland, the characters feel flat (both visually and story-wise), it's basically just a set of locations with a short briefing before it.”
gameplay
444 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
57%
25%
The gameplay of "Kane & Lynch: Dead Men" is widely criticized for its clunky mechanics, poor shooting accuracy, and unreliable cover system, which detracts from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the game's story and character dynamics, many find the gameplay to be repetitive, linear, and frustrating, with numerous bugs and AI issues. Overall, it is seen as a mediocre third-person shooter that may appeal to those willing to overlook its flaws for the narrative.
- “After years of experience with cover mechanics, I now see this game was ahead of its time.”
- “Once you get a knack for the shooting mechanics, the game is simply a joy to experience from the level design to the story laid out in Kane's perspective.”
- “This game is so underrated and amazing; it's from the same devs of the Hitman series, and the executions and third-person shooting gameplay are a lot more fun, reminiscent of the early John Wick.”
- “The gameplay is kind of terrible and doesn't feel good, but the story and characters are certainly interesting.”
- “The cover mechanic is completely broken; most of the time it does not work, and even if you are in cover, you will still get shot.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive and the weapons are largely ineffective.”
graphics
196 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
52%
21%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they are dated and lack a distinct visual style, particularly when compared to contemporaries. While some appreciate the character models and certain environments, others criticize the overall blandness and technical issues, such as glitches and poor animations. Overall, the graphics are considered acceptable for a game from 2007, but they do not stand out in today's gaming landscape.
- “The graphics are also very good and the different set pieces are spectacular even for 2025 standards.”
- “The graphics were pretty good for the time with detailed character models which changed outfits throughout the different levels, even going as far as removing Kane's bandage on his nose after it healed.”
- “The graphics are impressive for a dated title, with solid controls.”
- “The graphics are dated even for their time; gameplay mechanics are clunky but playable.”
- “The graphics, aside from some of the character models, are painfully bland.”
- “The graphics are poor, but the game is 13 years old now, so that is acceptable to me and should not be taken as a flaw.”
music
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
53%
5%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack composed by Jesper Kyd for its intensity and ability to enhance the atmosphere, while others find it forgettable or lacking in impact. Many players highlight standout moments where the music elevates gameplay, particularly during key missions, but there are also complaints about inconsistent audio presence and glitches. Overall, while the soundtrack has its fans, opinions vary widely on its effectiveness and memorability.
- “The music and ambiance is intense and fantastic.”
- “Jesper Kyd has created a unique soundtrack that lends itself perfectly to this game.”
- “The soundtrack is worth checking out, and suits perfectly with the tension of the campaign.”
- “The soundscape is beyond barren and the few times the game does deign to grace your ears with music, it doesn't hit any particular mark of any kind.”
- “Even the soundtrack is bland, despite the fact that Jesper Kyd worked on it (the composer for Assassin's Creed 2).”
- “Music is forgettable and shitty, does nothing to help the mood or soften the blow of a shitty game.”
stability
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
2%
91%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of glitches, visual bugs, and gameplay issues that significantly detract from the experience. Players have encountered frequent crashes, microstuttering, and problematic AI, leading to frustration and the need for extensive troubleshooting. While some users find enjoyment in the game despite its flaws, the overall consensus is that it suffers from a lack of polish and stability, making it difficult to recommend.
- “(My specs are weak, but it still runs great.)”
- “The second Kane and Lynch runs great, but not this one.”
- “It's a broken, messy, buggy game that throws out its own rules when it feels like it and gives you a distinct disadvantage when pairing you with terrible AI.”
- “So horribly buggy, glitchy, and full of fail that I was forced to uninstall it after just a few minutes.”
- “The game is full of horrible glitches, enemies that bounce around and bug out, shooting through walls and cover.”
humor
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding the over-the-top dialogue and character interactions between Kane and Lynch to be genuinely funny, often filled with expletives and absurd situations. While some moments, like NPCs reacting comically to gunfire or the chaotic AI, provide unintentional laughs, the humor can feel repetitive and shallow over time. Overall, the game's comedic elements are appreciated, especially in co-op play, but they are often overshadowed by frustrating gameplay mechanics and a lack of depth in the story.
- “The duo's dynamic also feels unique and hilarious at times.”
- “The funny dialogue and cut scenes are epic.”
- “There's a few hilarious moments (especially the Japanese nightclub where people are still dancing when there's a shootout) but the shooting mechanics are more or less accurate.”
atmosphere
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
53%
9%
The atmosphere in "Kane & Lynch" is widely praised for its gritty, cinematic quality, drawing inspiration from crime films and effectively enhancing the narrative and character dynamics. Reviewers highlight the engaging sound design, music, and unique level settings that contribute to a dark and intense experience, despite noting that technical shortcomings and gameplay issues detract from the overall enjoyment. The game's ability to create a compelling and immersive environment, particularly through its dialogue and character interactions, stands out as a significant strength.
- “The game's story is engaging and well-written, with an intense and gritty atmosphere that adds to the overall experience.”
- “The gritty criminal underworld atmosphere, the diverse characters with layers and flaws, and the pursuit of vengeance make for a great tale.”
- “This game is amazing; the atmosphere, realistic gameplay, soundtrack composed by Jesper Kyd, and the gritty storyline makes this game all worthwhile.”
- “It's a shame because it has a great story, characters, voice actors, sound, atmosphere, etc., but unfortunately falls flat on its actual gameplay.”
- “There is no really good audio or sound effects, taking away most of the atmosphere.”
- “It just felt like some areas were too clean, as if they just added as few textures as they could and didn't add some creative touches of atmosphere around the environment.”
optimization
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
42%
48%
The optimization of the game is widely criticized, with many users reporting severe stuttering and performance issues, particularly on modern systems. While some players managed to achieve stable frame rates through various workarounds, such as disabling certain devices and removing Game for Windows Live, the overall experience remains inconsistent and frustrating. Many reviewers suggest that the game has not aged well and is plagued by bugs that hinder smooth gameplay, making it feel like an unoptimized port.
- “Controls seem to be optimized for gamepad.”
- “When it comes to performance, this game can run well on pretty much any PC, which is nice especially if you have an older PC like me and can't run games too well.”
- “I didn't encounter any performance issues, got steady 130-160fps throughout the whole game with my crappy i3-gtx650ti-equipped computer.”
- “You'll have to get rid of GFWL for it to start, then mess with some Windows settings to stop it from stuttering like crazy.”
- “To run properly, the game needs a patch to disable GFWL, then also needs all HID devices of your PC to be disabled to fix stuttering, while also requiring a memory patch to avoid many crashes and manual anti-aliasing to improve the otherwise terribly jagged edges.”
- “The optimization is non-existent and the FPS will drop even on a modern mid-range rig.”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
29%
50%
Overall, the game has been criticized for its low replayability, with many reviewers noting a lack of secrets, exploration, and engaging mechanics. While some mention the potential for cooperative play and different difficulty levels, the short campaign length and anticlimactic endings contribute to a general consensus that there is little incentive to replay the game. Most players feel that once completed, there is little reason to return, making it a one-time experience rather than a game with lasting appeal.
- “While it's okay for a single player game, I think they had a bigger focus on multiplayer for its replayability.”
- “Aside from optional modes for any player's comfort, and undoubtedly the immersible sections near the final chapters of the story, the remainder of the game, however, lacks enough content to entitle it to more replay value if such is desired.”
- “Hope you got it for a cheap price because there really isn’t that much replay value.”
- “There's no secrets to find, no environments meant to be explored, no interesting combat mechanics, no interesting dialogue or deep characters, no replay value and no reason to play this aside from if you just want to spray bullets at enemies for a few hours.”
- “Two despicable, yet compelling characters, plenty of action and a setting out of the ordinary: all these attributes can't make up for its inherently flawed gameplay or its extremely short length of 4 hours (on the hardest difficulty!) and zero replay value.”
- “It only took me about 5 hours to beat, and the replay value is almost nonexistent, which sucks.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
23%
69%
Reviews consistently highlight the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest significant effort to progress. Many users express frustration with cumbersome mechanics and repetitive gameplay, describing it as a slog filled with monotonous shooting galleries. While some find enjoyment in overcoming these challenges, the overall sentiment leans towards the grinding experience being a major drawback.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Cumbersome mechanics, horrible shooting, plain graphics and more make it rather tedious.”
- “The gameplay is an absolute slog of tedious shooting galleries.”
- “This almost manages to be a fun experience with some decent shooting and above-average dialogue, but levels quickly descend into tedious corridor shootouts and the story never really develops beyond its simple premise.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
8%
The emotional aspect of "Kane & Lynch: Dead Men" is polarizing; while some players appreciate the psychological drama and the flawed yet compelling personalities of the protagonists, many criticize the game's lack of effective storytelling and character development, which undermines its emotional impact. The clunky controls and poor gameplay mechanics detract from the intended emotional engagement, leaving players feeling disconnected from the characters' struggles. Ultimately, the game attempts to evoke strong feelings but often falls short, resulting in a mixed emotional experience.
- “The story follows a psychological drama emotional vibe, with strong elements that put the player under stress as it destroys the characters' lives. While it may not fully engage with character development, it does satisfy with the individual personalities of each character, creating a credible duo that doesn't glamorize their lifestyle.”
- “The personalities are so well fleshed out that you get a great sense of how emotionally stable either one of the characters would be given the situation.”
- “Kane and Lynch are possibly the most abhorrent, frustrating, aggressive, and irresponsible protagonists in a game, yet I wanted them to succeed. I pushed for them to be better people, and that's what emotionally affects you.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Character development in the game is widely criticized, with reviewers noting a lack of depth and emotional engagement. While some characters possess distinct personalities, the overall portrayal fails to resonate, leaving players unsatisfied with their growth and motivations. The narrative struggles to elevate the characters beyond stereotypes, resulting in a disjointed experience that detracts from the game's potential.
- “The story follows a psychological drama with an emotional vibe, featuring strong elements that put the player under stress as it explores the characters' lives. While it may not fully engage with character development, it does satisfy with the individual personalities of each character, creating a credible duo that are neither role models nor glamorized protagonists, which is a refreshing change from many games and movies.”
- “The character development is nuanced, allowing players to connect with the characters on a deeper level. Each character has their own unique personality and struggles, making their journeys feel authentic and relatable.”
- “The game excels in character development, presenting complex characters whose growth and evolution throughout the story are both compelling and impactful, enhancing the overall narrative experience.”
- “So - lousy plotting, poor story and character development, the game misses its limited emotional targets, average gameplay.”
- “Terrible third person shooter mechanics, all weapons kind of feel the same, the story is kind of decent but there's no character development to anyone; Kane is an ex-merc and Lynch a psycho.”
- “Trash character development, trash graphics, trash dialogue, trash gameplay, and trash all over the maps.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism due to perceived misleading advertising, particularly regarding the portrayal of protagonists, which some users feel was deceptive. Additionally, the controversy surrounding a negative review leading to a staff member's dismissal highlights potential conflicts of interest between advertising revenue and editorial integrity.
- “This game caused a bit of controversy when it was released; a guy at GameSpot was fired after giving it a negative review, even though the entire website was plastered with Kane and Lynch ads.”
- “So much for that advertising, huh GameSpot?”
- “The protagonists were mis-sold in advertising, the controls were sub-par, and the story made no sense at all.”

Buy Kane and Lynch: Dead Men™

Kane and Lynch: Dead Men™
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6h Median play time

9h Average play time

5-8h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

This game contains adult content

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Kane and Lynch: Dead Men™

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