Maniac

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 919 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • humor
Maniac Game Cover
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"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.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 919 reviews
gameplay27 positive mentions
story8 negative mentions
  • The game captures the chaotic fun of the original GTA games, allowing players to engage in mindless destruction and mayhem.
  • Great replayability with a variety of characters and upgrades, making each run feel fresh despite the core gameplay loop.
  • Affordable price point for the amount of entertainment it provides, making it a great value for casual gaming sessions.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive after a few hours, with limited depth in character progression and upgrades.
  • Some controls and mechanics feel clunky, particularly with vehicle handling and aiming, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • The game lacks meaningful content updates and variety, leading to a sense of stagnation once all characters are unlocked.
  • gameplay69 mentions

    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 an addictive and chaotic experience. While many players appreciate the fun and engaging core loop, some express concerns about repetitiveness and a lack of meaningful progression, suggesting that the game could benefit from more variety in missions and character differentiation. Overall, it offers a satisfying blend of destruction and strategy, though some players feel it may not sustain long-term interest without additional content.

    • “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.”
    • “Blending old school GTA with rogue-lite mechanics was a brilliant idea.”
    • “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.”
    • “My second biggest problem is that the game is technically a bit of a mess, which makes for frustrating gameplay.”
  • story50 mentions

    The game's story aspect is virtually non-existent, as it strips away traditional missions and narrative elements in favor of chaotic gameplay reminiscent of early GTA titles. Players engage in mindless destruction without meaningful progression or objectives, leading to a repetitive experience despite the initial thrill. While some users express a desire for a whimsical story or side missions, the overall consensus is that the game prioritizes mayhem over narrative depth.

    • “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 basic idea is fun: what if GTA's old rampage missions, but as a roguelike?”
    • “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, just mindless fun.”
  • humor30 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its hilarious and chaotic nature, often drawing comparisons to classic titles like GTA. Players appreciate the colorful cast of characters and the incorporation of dark humor, with many finding the absurd physics and comedic achievements to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the game delivers a fun and entertaining atmosphere that keeps players engaged and laughing.

    • “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.”
  • graphics29 mentions

    The game's graphics feature a vibrant and stylized art style reminiscent of classic titles, blending nostalgic elements with modern visuals. While some players appreciate the colorful and chaotic aesthetic, others note that the graphics can feel simplistic or dated after extended play. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received for their creativity and impact, enhancing the game's fun and manic gameplay.

    • “The game's art style is full of vibrant color and stylized visuals full of explosive particles and rampant bloody gibs.”
    • “The bright graphics and the 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.”
  • replayability23 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits a mixed reception regarding replayability. Many players appreciate its high replay value, driven by unique characters, upgrades, and engaging gameplay, especially considering its low price point. However, some critics note a lack of variety in builds and repetitive elements that may limit long-term engagement.

    • “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.”
  • music12 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its intensity and fit for the gameplay, while others express a desire for more variety and length in the soundtrack. Users 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 sound: music, sound effects, and character quips were all great.”
    • “The menu music goes so hard.”
    • “The soundtrack is a great fit, although it would be nice if it was a bit longer or had a few more tracks.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized for being excessively tedious, especially for players aiming to achieve 100% completion, which requires an overwhelming number of kills and vehicle destruction. While some players find enjoyment in the repetitive nature of grinding, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, suggesting that additional side missions could alleviate the monotony. Overall, the game is seen as too grindy, even for fans of the genre.

    • “If you want to 100% this game, you have a hell of a grind 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.”
  • stability10 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while recent updates have reduced some bugs and improved performance, players still report various glitches, wonky collisions, and occasional crashes. Many feel the game lacks polish and stability, suggesting it resembles an early access title despite being fully released. However, it runs well on the Steam Deck, which is a positive note for that platform.

    • “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “Runs great on Steam Deck, perfect game for it.”
    • “Sometimes the collision is wonky and you teleport above or below things, but other than that the game seems bug-free.”
    • “There are a lot of glitches in the level as well.”
    • “However, despite not being in early access, this game feels like it should be in early early access, because there's just not a lot of it and what there is, is kind of buggy and unbalanced.”
    • “It's fun, but doesn't feel finished; it's buggy, the controls are wonky. For the price, it's not terrible, but I can't recommend it in its current state.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised for its smooth performance and minimal bugs, providing a satisfying experience. 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.”
    • “The game struggles to maintain a consistent frame rate, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.”
    • “Loading times are excessively long, which disrupts the flow of the game.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a striking contrast, where intense violence is juxtaposed with heartwarming moments, creating a unique and impactful experience for players.

    • “So violent, it's heartwarming.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Users express a desire for more progressive character development and an upgrade menu, indicating that these features would enhance their engagement and motivation to continue playing.

    • “The character development in this game is incredibly immersive, allowing players to truly shape their characters' journeys.”
    • “I love how the character development feels organic, with choices that genuinely impact the story and the characters' growth.”
    • “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.”
    • “I was disappointed by the shallow character development; it doesn't offer enough depth or choices to make me care about my character's journey.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

3hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
2-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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