Killing Floor
- May 13, 2009
- Tripwire Interactive
- 120h median play time
Killing Floor is a fantastic co-op shooter that no PC gamer should miss.
"Killing Floor" is a cooperative survival horror game set in wave-based scenarios. Players fight off hordes of enemies, known as Zeds, using a variety of weapons. The game features a class system, where players can specialize in different roles to better survive the onslaught. As players progress, they can earn money to buy better weapons and equipment for the next wave. The ultimate goal is to survive all waves and defeat the boss Zed.
Reviews
- gameplay1,224 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Killing Floor" is characterized by its addictive, wave-based cooperative mechanics, where players face increasingly difficult hordes of zombie-like enemies. While the core shooting and looting mechanics are solid and enjoyable, many players note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time due to the lack of a narrative and limited objectives. However, the game excels in its emphasis on teamwork, diverse classes, and a variety of maps, making it a fun experience, especially when played with friends.
“One of the greatest round-based survival games with awesome mechanics and maps.”
“I am delighted to say that the gameplay is really enjoyable, difficulty levels are spot on, a variety of guns and maps are plentiful, the game really draws you in.”
“Killing floor is an exhilarating cooperative first-person shooter that brilliantly combines intense gameplay with a dark, atmospheric setting.”
“There is practically no plot, and the gameplay gets boring quickly.”
“Gameplay revolves around repetitive waves of enemies, where the objective remains largely unchanged: survive and eliminate threats.”
“The gameplay is repetitive and boring, but the most annoying thing in this game is the slow walking.”
- graphics871 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Killing Floor" are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its 2009 release, with many players noting that they show their age compared to modern titles. However, the game's gritty aesthetic and atmospheric design effectively contribute to its horror elements, and the visuals are often described as fitting well with the gameplay experience. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and find the graphics acceptable for older hardware, others feel that the lack of polish detracts from immersion, especially when compared to its sequel, "Killing Floor 2."
“Oddly enough, I love the graphics; it's just wow, it fits perfectly. There’s nothing like it—the gore and dark atmosphere are just gorgeous, especially when chopping or shooting the heads off monsters.”
“The graphics look great and detailed, and they have a grim and dark atmosphere, fitting the game well.”
“The game's graphics, while not groundbreaking by today's standards, are still impressive and well-executed, with a gritty and atmospheric aesthetic that perfectly sets the tone for the game's horror elements.”
“The game is very old and the graphics show it.”
“However, the graphics may feel dated compared to more recent titles in the genre, which can detract from the immersion.”
“The graphics are definitely showing their age, and the progression system can be very grindy, but on the flip side it usually performs well, and the gameplay is very intense.”
- music447 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in "Killing Floor" is predominantly heavy metal, which many players find enhances the intense and gritty atmosphere of the game, making it feel exhilarating during gameplay. While some praise the soundtrack as a standout feature that perfectly complements the action, others feel it can become repetitive or unremarkable over time. Overall, the heavy metal and industrial tracks are generally well-received, contributing to the game's adrenaline-pumping experience, though preferences may vary based on individual taste in music.
“The good things of this game is the atmosphere of how dark and gritty some maps can be, the soundtrack is also pretty good if you're into metal, and the gore is satisfying whenever you land headshots on the zeds.”
“From the incredible metal-inspired soundtrack to how awesome zed time is, this is a jam-packed co-op FPS survival game that took that L4D formula and blew it out of the water.”
“The soundtrack is one of the best I've ever heard, just pure raw metal blasting through your headphones to sounds of slow motion duel hand cannons tearing through the faces of the specimens in a highly explosive manner... glorious.”
“However, the soundtrack and voice acting are unremarkable, failing to elevate the overall experience.”
“My major gripe is with the music; a lot of it's heavy metal stuff, but over time the music just becomes grating and uninteresting.”
“The music, the dialogue, the color scheme, the gore-- all so tacky and awful.”
- story378 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is largely criticized for its minimal presence, with many players noting that it lacks a coherent narrative or campaign mode. While there are hints of a backstory involving failed experiments and mutated creatures, the gameplay primarily focuses on survival and action rather than storytelling, leaving players wanting more depth and engagement in the narrative. Overall, the game is seen as a fun, fast-paced shooter that prioritizes gameplay over story, appealing to those who prefer action without the distraction of a complex plot.
“Killing Floor has a simple story, set in London, about a scientist who created the Zeds, but then the experiment backfired, and the Zeds mutated into their grotesque forms and broke out of the facility.”
“The background story is basically '28 Days Later' with the British accents included.”
“Killing Floor has a mysterious semi-hidden storyline that reveals itself through hints found in maps and the objective modes.”
“The difference is that it’s merely a 'survival mode' gameplay; there is no storyline or even point A to point B progression.”
“There is very little story content and no 'campaign' or story mode, but I feel like that's a point in Killing Floor's favor.”
“If you're looking for a story/narrative with your game, you won't find it here.”
- humor332 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Killing Floor" is characterized by its over-the-top British accents, witty banter, and dark, absurd comedy that contrasts with the game's gory action. Players appreciate the hilarious voice acting and memorable one-liners, which enhance the chaotic experience of battling zombies, making it a fun and entertaining co-op game. The blend of self-aware irony and comedic elements, especially during intense moments, contributes to its charm and replayability, particularly when played with friends.
“Overall, Killing Floor thrives on its over-the-top action and hilarious moments that players experience together.”
“It's a hilarious race to see if I can decapitate zeds faster than they can chew on my brains.”
“The characters and their dialogue are hilarious and memorable.”
- replayability250 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by a diverse selection of maps, weapons, and a robust perk system that encourages players to experiment with different classes. The thriving Steam Workshop community further enhances this aspect by providing a wealth of custom content, ensuring that each playthrough can feel unique. While some players note a degree of repetitiveness, the overall consensus is that the game's mechanics and cooperative gameplay keep it engaging for countless hours.
“The replayability factor is significant, as each game session can feel unique due to the random elements in enemy spawns and map layouts.”
“Killing Floor has amazing replay value and there are moments in the game where you wish you could high-five whoever was with you when you got that amazing kill.”
“The dynamic array of guns, maps, and characters provides for hours of replayability and countless hours of fun.”
“Mildly fun game, not much replayability and $150 worth of DLC.”
“Killing Floor is one of those games with replayability; not many games do that these days.”
“Put your money elsewhere, Killing Floor has no replay value and actually has no value whatsoever.”
- atmosphere184 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Killing Floor" is widely praised for its dark, gritty, and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sense of dread and urgency throughout gameplay. Players appreciate the detailed environments, chilling sound design, and a soundtrack that enhances the horror experience, making it feel more intense and engaging than its sequel, "Killing Floor 2." Overall, the game's unique blend of horror elements, cooperative gameplay, and atmospheric design solidifies its status as a standout title in the zombie survival genre.
“Killing Floor's atmosphere is haunting and immersive, thanks to its detailed environments and chilling sound design.”
“The atmosphere is either dark, tense and brooding or light-hearted and silly.”
“The gameplay feels slightly choppy like everything else Tripwire has to offer, but the atmosphere and variety of weapons/scenarios makes up for it.”
“Sound design in Killing Floor contributes to its atmosphere of dread and urgency, with menacing enemy growls and weapon sounds that enhance the intensity of firefights.”
“The grotesque dark and bloody atmosphere is what makes this game much more serious than its successor, Killing Floor 2.”
“Killing Floor 2 might be a more polished offering, but as far as atmosphere is concerned, Killing Floor 1 still rules.”
- grinding121 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, particularly when leveling up perks, which can require significant commitment and effort. While some players find enjoyment in the grind, especially when playing with friends, many express frustration over the repetitive nature of the gameplay and the lengthy progression system. Overall, the grinding mechanic is seen as a double-edged sword, offering rewards for persistence but often leading to a sense of monotony.
“A bit grindy... sometimes.”
“One long, tedious grind.”
“The grinding mechanic encourages anti-social behavior as people try to maximize kills instead of serving the team, so playing with randoms can be annoying.”
“Leveling up can be a bit tedious for some classes.”
“The leveling of perks can get quite tedious, meaning when you hit level 2 and higher with a class, the level gap to level up a class can take a very long time to do and as a result can become quite a grinding experience.”
- stability82 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 84 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting various bugs and glitches that can detract from the experience, though some find them amusing. While it generally runs well on both low-end and high-end hardware, issues like game freezes, unresponsive servers, and AI glitches are common. Despite these problems, many players still enjoy the game for its fun gameplay and community support, often considering the bugs to be minor inconveniences rather than game-breaking issues.
“Game runs great on both PC and Mac.”
“This game is one of the most solid ones, no glitches or bugs, great atmosphere, solid gameplay, excellent voice acting, really cool characters and DLC, and overall it's a mission accomplished for the developers.”
“It runs great on almost any PC and is lots of fun with friends.”
“From the glitches to the non-voice communication between characters, it just ruins the experience for the player.”
“It is unresponsive, buggy, and laggy.”
“Fun game but the glitches, bugs, and crashes ruin it for me.”
- optimization54 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with many users noting that it runs smoothly on a wide range of hardware, including older machines. While some players report minor performance issues, such as lag spikes during loading, these are generally considered minor inconveniences. However, there are mentions of specific performance concerns on certain platforms, particularly Linux, and some players have experienced performance degradation over time.
“The core2quad and GT740 run the game at 60fps low at 4k resolution without breaking a sweat, and I love this game for its optimization.”
“There are plenty of live servers, and the game will run on just about any hardware or laptop as it's very well optimized.”
“The game runs smoothly even on a crappy laptop like mine and is a lot of fun; nine times out of ten, you're going to have a great team to play with.”
“Like I stated at the start, time has not treated this game that well, with certain issues coming into the limelight such as hitbox issues, technical problems, and performance issues. Though I wouldn't say the issues make the game painful to play.”
“I enjoy the gameplay; however, the performance and UI are not that great at all. The servers are slow, and the game randomly freezes and kicks you out of a match.”
“Performance is a big thing, though - if you have an older machine, you might find your game dropping frames like crazy, even on the lowest video settings.”
- monetization47 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 66 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the presence of intrusive ads and microtransactions, particularly for cosmetic items and DLC. While some appreciate that the game does not heavily rely on pay-to-win mechanics, others feel that the constant advertising and additional costs detract from the overall experience, likening it to a cash grab. Overall, players express frustration over the aggressive monetization strategies, especially in a paid game.
“I like that it doesn't make you pay for in-game purchases to get the full experience.”
“The only microtransactions are for cosmetic stuff, a'la TF2.”
“No microtransactions unlike the inferior KF2 :)”
“The game shows the same characteristics as a free-to-play title with microtransactions everywhere; you have to search through 'buy now' buttons whenever you're looking at the stuff you've unlocked, but I paid 20 bucks for it.”
“Worst of all, the pre-game lobby includes obnoxious video ads not only for DLC, but for one of Tripwire's other games.”
“Paid-for games shouldn't contain in-game advertising, especially for other games or products.”
- emotional16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mixed response from players, with some expressing a lack of emotional connection due to unfamiliarity, while others highlight intense feelings ranging from joy to terror. The game's unique characters and chaotic environment contribute to a blend of humor and horror, creating memorable experiences that resonate deeply with certain players. Overall, while some find it emotionally impactful, others feel it lacks a cohesive narrative to enhance their investment.
“Incredibly intense, I thoroughly enjoy every heart-wrenching moment of silent terror and sheer joy I gain every single time I play this game.”
“I haven't been emotionally affected by a game this much in years.”
“If you have an emotional attachment to Killing Floor in some way, I'd say go for it.”
- character development7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while the attention to detail in character design and backstories is praised, many players find the characters lack distinctiveness and depth, leading to a sense of monotony. The use of a single voice actor for most characters detracts from the overall experience, leaving some feeling that the character development is inadequate compared to other titles. Despite these criticisms, the game does offer engaging designs and humorous dialogue that contribute to its immersive environment.
“The attention to detail in both character design and environment is commendable, effectively immersing you in a desolate realm teeming with chaos.”
“Cool character designs, fun backstories, tons of weapons, crazy enemies, and (at least to me) hilarious dialogue.”
“What it does have, though, is character development.”
“My main problem with this game was how similar all the characters were to each other, and how dull and unappealing the character designs were.”
“The character design, voice acting, and general gameplay are, of course, very simplistic and a little monotonous at times.”
“Character development is terrible though because there's only one voice actor for the entire cast (except the one character who has a vagina).”