Maniac

About

"Maniac" is a single-player Role Playing game that promises a hilarious and chaotic experience, reminiscent of classic GTA games. With six unlockable characters, including a murderous Clown and an inebriated Santa Claus, and a vast open world with destructible environments, the game offers stellar replayability. The unlockable weapons, gear, and vehicular upgrades, along with the built-in map editor, ensure endless mayhem and fun.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,838 reviews

gameplay54 positive mentions

story16 negative mentions

Maniac offers a chaotic and fun experience reminiscent of the original GTA games, allowing players to unleash mayhem without the constraints of missions.
The game features a variety of characters with unique abilities, providing a sense of progression and replayability as players unlock new characters and upgrades.
At a low price point, Maniac delivers a satisfying gameplay loop filled with explosions, humor, and mindless fun, making it a great value for players looking for a quick gaming session.

The gameplay can become repetitive after a few hours, as the core mechanics lack depth and variety, leading to a grind to unlock all characters.
Some players have reported issues with controls, particularly with auto-aim and vehicle handling, which can detract from the overall experience.
The game currently lacks meaningful content updates and achievements, leaving some players wanting more in terms of gameplay variety and challenges.

gameplay
138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
57%
4%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a compelling mix of old-school mechanics reminiscent of classic GTA and modern rogue-lite elements, providing a chaotic yet addictive experience. While many players appreciate the fun and strategic aspects of the gameplay, some express concerns about its repetitiveness and lack of meaningful progression, suggesting that the game could benefit from more varied missions and deeper mechanics. Overall, it offers a satisfying arcade-style experience, though some players feel it may not hold their interest for extended periods.
- “Really fun game with old school mechanics mixed with the fun of modern physics.”
- “The simple yet addictive gameplay loop kept me hooked for a few hours.”
- “This game is awesome, it's essentially an old school top down GTA roguelike, different characters/weapons/abilities provide each character with unique gameplay that also gives high replay value.”
- “Even if the characters were unlocked, the gameplay loop is boring; it provided about an hour of value to me at most.”
- “The lack of meaningful progression or variety in missions makes the experience feel repetitive, and the initial thrill gives way to a sense of 'been there, done that.' The semi-dynamic environments are fun, but without fresh objectives or surprises, the gameplay begins to drag.”
- “While the concept is fun, the core gameplay loop got boring pretty quickly.”
story
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
76%
16%
The game's story aspect is virtually non-existent, with players describing it as a chaotic experience reminiscent of the original Grand Theft Auto, but stripped of missions and narrative depth. While some players enjoy the freedom to create mayhem without the constraints of a storyline, many express a desire for at least minimal missions or character-driven narratives to enhance engagement. Overall, the focus is on mindless fun and destruction rather than a cohesive story.
- “Each mission, lasting around 20 minutes, is a meticulously crafted episode of chaos and fun that never feels repetitive or tedious.”
- “It’s not just a game; it’s a high-speed joyride through a world where chaos reigns supreme, and every mission is an invitation to indulge in your wildest gaming fantasies.”
- “The only thing I wish for is a cheesy story for each character.”
- “The lack of meaningful progression or variety in missions makes the experience feel repetitive, and the initial thrill gives way to a sense of 'been there, done that.' The semi-dynamic environments are fun, but without fresh objectives or surprises, the gameplay begins to drag.”
- “If you are looking for depth, innovation, or some form of story then stop right now, don't buy this.”
- “No story, all mayhem.”
humor
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its dark and chaotic nature, reminiscent of classic titles like GTA, with players enjoying the absurdity and comedic elements of the gameplay. Characters are described as colorful and memorable, contributing to a hilarious experience, while achievements and in-game events add to the comedic value. Overall, the game is considered a fun and entertaining time-sink, filled with laugh-out-loud moments and ridiculous physics.
- “Addictive, challenging, and hilarious at times, Maniac is one of the most fun and well-made hidden gems of the year.”
- “The screams when you Tokyo drift into a crowd of pedestrians never stop being funny. 10/10.”
- “Not only is Maniac absolutely hilarious, it is a joy to play.”
graphics
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
50%
5%
The game's graphics feature a vibrant, cartoonish art style that evokes nostalgia for classic titles like the early GTA games, enhanced with modern visual effects such as explosive particles and stylized gore. While some players appreciate the unique aesthetics and detail, others note that the graphics can feel simplistic or dated over time, leading to a mixed reception regarding creativity and depth. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received for their fun and engaging presentation, complementing the chaotic gameplay.
- “The game's art style is full of vibrant color and stylized visuals, packed with explosive particles and rampant bloody gibs.”
- “The bright graphics and upbeat tunes perfectly balance out the game's bonkers gameplay.”
- “Really great arcade style game with nice graphics and excellent gameplay.”
- “Expected more creativity and better graphics as well.”
- “Graphics: it won't win many contests with its dated look, but that's the whole point.”
- “It's incredibly simple in that regard - run, shoot, with fairly basic (but crisp and clear) graphics and not a huge deal of content.”
replayability
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
28%
7%
Overall, the game offers a high level of replayability, particularly praised for its engaging upgrade systems and diverse character options that enhance gameplay variety. While some players note a lack of different builds and potential repetitiveness, many find the low cost and enjoyable mechanics justify repeated playthroughs. The addition of achievements and future content could further enhance its replay value.
- “It's an excellent time and infinitely replayable.”
- “The upgrade system and unlocks gives fantastic replay value.”
- “Overall it's brilliant and you get a ton of replayability for the price.”
- “The game overall feels gimmicky and lacks replay value compared to other roguelikes.”
- “Not a ton of replayability because there are no different builds; every run you get the same weapons and upgrades.”
- “Maniac is a very fun, very rewarding burst of dopamine with seemingly very little replay value unless there are some serious plans for content addition on the horizon.”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
46%
13%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its fitting and intense soundtrack while others express a desire for more variety and length. Many players appreciate the ability to turn off the music and sound effects, indicating that while the music is enjoyable, it can become repetitive. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a strong aspect, but there is room for improvement in diversity and track quantity.
- “The soundtrack is a great fit, although it would be nice if it was a bit longer or had a few more tracks.”
- “The menu music goes so hard.”
- “The art style and music are also great in my opinion.”
- “I'm glad I can turn the music off, but I wish I could also mute the repetitive player sound effects as well.”
- “The soundtrack is okay, but it could use a bit more diversity too.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
grinding
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized, with many players noting that achieving 100% completion requires an excessive amount of time and effort, particularly for tasks like accumulating 100,000 kills and destroying 100,000 vehicles. While some find enjoyment in the repetitive nature of grinding, others feel it becomes tedious and lacks variety, suggesting that additional side missions could enhance the experience. Overall, the game is seen as overly grindy, especially for those seeking to fully complete it.
- “If you want to 100% this game, you have a hell of a grind ahead with the 100,000 kills and especially the destroy 100,000 vehicles achievements. Even with the right strategy, this will take you countless hours of grinding and gets so tedious.”
- “It's a bit too grindy.”
- “Too grindy and repetitive even for a roguelike.”
stability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
70%
The game's stability has improved since launch, with fewer bugs reported, particularly regarding tank movement. However, players still encounter various glitches, wonky collisions, and occasional crashes, leading many to feel that the game is not fully polished and resembles an early access title. While it runs well on the Steam Deck, the overall experience is marred by its unfinished state and persistent issues.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “Runs great on Steam Deck, perfect game for it.”
- “The game seems bug-free.”
- “However, despite not being in early access, this game feels like it should be in early access, because there's just not a lot of it and what there is, is kind of buggy and unbalanced.”
- “I encountered a few crashes and stumbled upon glitches that, while not game-breaking, remind you of the title’s imperfections.”
- “It's fun, but doesn't feel finished; it's buggy, and the controls are wonky. For the price, it's not terrible, but I can't recommend it in its current state.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
17%
17%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised for its smooth performance and minimal bugs, providing a satisfying experience with impressive destruction mechanics. However, some users report occasional performance dips, particularly after completing a run.
- “It handles wonderfully, the performance is smooth and rarely hiccups, and the amount of soul-crushing destruction you can cause is quite satisfying.”
- “Runs smoothly, no noticeable bugs.”
- “Performance dips from time to time, especially once you finish a run.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a striking contrast, where intense violence is juxtaposed with moments that evoke warmth and tenderness, creating a unique and compelling emotional experience for players.
- “So violent, it's heartwarming.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Users express a desire for more progressive character development and a comprehensive upgrading menu, indicating that these features would enhance their engagement and motivation to continue playing.
- “I would prefer a more progressive character development system and a general upgrading menu to keep me engaged.”
- “The character development feels stagnant and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to stay invested in the game.”
- “There is a noticeable absence of depth in character development, which detracts from the overall experience.”