Nightmare Frontier

About

Nightmare Frontier is a single player tactical turn-based strategy game with horror and fantasy themes. It was developed by Ice Code Games and was released on June 16, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Nightmare Frontier is a Tactical Extraction Looter where you lead a band of scavengers against the supernatural threat of the Dreadweavers in an alternative 1900s American nightmare. Engage in advanced tactical combat by chaining trick shots, countering foes, and strategically pushing through haunted city quarters. Reclaim the devastated boom town and uncover new challenges in a world turned dark and twisted.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 80 reviews

gameplay20 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Engaging tactical design with a variety of combat mechanics that reward strategic planning and execution.
Unique atmosphere and setting that combines elements of horror and the Wild West, creating a memorable experience.
Addictive gameplay loop with risk-reward mechanics that keep players invested in each run.

Game feels incomplete and lacks variety in characters, loot, and enemy types, leading to repetitive gameplay.
Some balancing issues make certain characters or strategies feel overpowered, diminishing the fun of choice.
Technical issues such as crashes and slow performance, especially on lower-end hardware, detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
42%
8%
The gameplay is characterized by a fun and engaging tactical loop that emphasizes strategic planning, resource management, and environmental interaction, reminiscent of titles like Rogue Waters. Players appreciate the challenging combat mechanics, including the ability to chain abilities for powerful combos and the innovative "extract shooter" mechanic that adds depth to runs. While the game is praised for its smooth performance and rewarding progression, some reviewers noted a desire for more variety in weapons and enemies to enhance long-term engagement.
- “The gameplay of the game is tactical planning and interaction with the environment, as well as using resources for survival and improving equipment to increase the chances of success.”
- “It incorporates an 'extract shooter' mechanic extremely well as you have to decide if you want to push your run further for potentially better rewards, but risk losing it all to eventually being whittled down by the constant fights.”
- “The gameplay is really cool; you actually have to think ahead and come up with smart strategies instead of just rushing in.”
- “The gameplay loop is tight, progression feels rewarding, and I haven’t gotten bored.”
- “Variety could use more diversity in weapons, loot, monsters, and attack mechanics long-term.”
- “The game has a 'rested' mechanic where any unit that stayed back at camp instead of going out to scavenge gets extra health, which is huge in this game, encouraging you to cycle out units.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beautiful aesthetic, particularly the horror and old west themes, which enhance the overall experience. While some reviewers note that the visuals are not cutting-edge, they are considered serviceable and contribute positively to the game's atmosphere. Overall, the art style is well-received, with no significant issues reported.
- “Graphics are beautiful, mechanics pretty straightforward.”
- “The horror and old west aesthetic is great, and the enemies are creative.”
- “I like the art style.”
- “Don't expect cutting-edge graphics.”
- “Despite this, the visuals are serviceable and don’t detract significantly from the overall experience.”
- “Graphics are okay, no bugs so far (after about 2 hours of gameplay on ultra).”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a haunting blend of dark fantasy and gritty horror, set in a ruined city reminiscent of an alternative 1900s. Players appreciate its immersive qualities, which evoke a sense of dread and exploration, making it a memorable experience for fans of tactical shooters and roguelites. The combination of unique visual design and thematic depth enhances the overall gameplay, appealing to those who enjoy atmospheric storytelling and strategic combat.
- “Very fresh game within its narrow genre; so far I am really enjoying both the unique atmosphere and solid gameplay with a few really cool combat tricks and options (especially regarding character movement).”
- “The atmosphere in the game is imbued with the spirit of the American dream that has turned into a nightmare, and the excellent combination of genres and the original concept make this game memorable and exciting for fans of dangerous adventures and dark fantasy stories.”
- “Visually, the game’s gritty horror-western atmosphere really shines on the OLED screen.”
- “Want a slower, almost meditative experience focused on exploration and soaking in the atmosphere?”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The story is criticized for being filled with dull exposition and lacking engaging content, with progression primarily driven by looting rather than narrative development. However, players find the gameplay loop compelling, as it creates tension and strategic decision-making during missions, even if the story itself is not a major highlight. Overall, while the writing is decent, it does not significantly enhance the gaming experience.
- “Between missions, you upgrade gear, balance supplies, and decide if you’re ready to go deeper—or live to fight another day.”
- “I was surprised during the time I played how the loop pulled me in, and I was curious what layered mechanics and crazy creatures would pop up each new mission.”
- “Every mission is tense — you’re constantly weighing risk vs. reward: do we stay another turn and grab more loot, or do we evac before something horrible eats us?”
- “The story is just huge blobs of boring unintelligible exposition with nothing interesting going on, and as far as I can tell, the only progression is through looting.”
- “The story and writing are decent, but not a major draw for this type of game.”
- “I have barely played so far, but my biggest complaint as of now is probably the lacking inventory space on missions.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on the Steam Deck despite not being officially verified, players report struggles to maintain a consistent 60 FPS even on low settings. High GPU usage on moderate settings indicates that further performance improvements are needed for a better experience.
- “The game is definitely made for Steam Deck, even though it isn't verified/playable right now, but in my 3 hours of gameplay, the game runs smoothly with no issues.”
- “Enjoyable, challenging gameplay and everything runs smoothly.”
- “Even on the lowest settings with FSR set to performance, the game struggles to maintain a locked 60 FPS.”
- “One thing to note: the game could use some optimization.”
- “I noticed high GPU usage even on moderate settings, so performance improvements would be welcome.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The music in the game is generally praised for enhancing the immersive experience, with great sound effects and a captivating menu soundtrack. However, some users express a desire for more dialogue and additional music options.
- “Great graphics, sound effects, and music.”
- “Plus, the music and sound effects really pull you into the game.”
- “That menu soundtrack!”
- “The menu soundtrack is quite underwhelming.”
- “The music and sound effects fail to enhance the gaming experience.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be tedious and time-consuming, appealing primarily to players who enjoy this aspect of gameplay.
- “It just becomes tedious and time-consuming.”
- “If you like grinding, this game is for you.”