Nightmare Reaper

About

Nightmare Reaper is a single player arcade shooter game with a horror theme. It was developed by Blazing Bit Games and was released on March 28, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Nightmare Reaper" is a nostalgic Boomer-shooter experience with fast-paced action and horror elements. Battle through procedurally generated levels, collecting an arsenal of weapons, upgrades, and abilities. Immerse yourself in a dark, atmospheric story, battling nightmarish enemies and bosses in a relentless pursuit to free your mind.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+12

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,066 reviews

gameplay510 positive mentions

optimization52 negative mentions

Engaging and fast-paced gameplay with a wide variety of weapons and satisfying gunplay.
Unique skill progression system through mini-games that adds depth and variety to the experience.
Randomly generated levels keep the gameplay fresh and encourage experimentation with different weapons.

The game can feel overly long and repetitive, especially in the later levels where the pacing drags.
Some mechanics, like the need to find specific items to progress, can lead to frustrating backtracking.
Performance issues can arise, particularly in chaotic scenes with many enemies and effects on screen.

gameplay
1,246 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
55%
4%
The gameplay of "Nightmare Reaper" is a blend of retro first-person shooter mechanics and modern roguelite elements, offering a fast-paced, satisfying experience with a diverse array of weapons and upgrades. While many players appreciate the addictive gameplay loop and the variety of mechanics, some criticize the procedural level generation and certain gameplay elements for becoming repetitive or frustrating over time. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging combat, unique mechanics, and nostalgic aesthetic, making it a standout title in the boomer shooter genre.
- “The gameplay itself is satisfying, as is the variety of weapons one can wield.”
- “An excellent blend of retro and modern mechanics, Nightmare Reaper has the charm of HD-2D graphics combined with an addictive gameplay loop of looting, upgrading, and playing three different mini-games to continue buffing your character for dozens of hours.”
- “The gameplay in Nightmare Reaper is intense and action-packed.”
- “Great at first but as time goes on, its broken rope swing mechanics and randomly generated environments ruin everything.”
- “No one should have to fail over and over 40 or 50 times until the game's generation mechanics finally decide to make a level fair.”
- “The game does not have the quality needed in level design and balance to hold up for the very long gameplay that it has.”
music
844 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
51%
4%
The music in "Nightmare Reaper," composed by Andrew Hulshult, is widely praised for its heavy metal sound that complements the game's fast-paced action and retro aesthetic. While many players find the soundtrack to be a standout feature, some note that it can become repetitive over time, particularly due to its limited variety and the way it fades in and out during combat. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant asset to the game's immersive experience, though a desire for more musical diversity is frequently mentioned.
- “The music is an absolute banger (but it's Andrew Hulshult and I have yet to listen to anything by him that I didn't like).”
- “The soundtrack is heavy and powerful, perfect for the mood of the game.”
- “The intense action is complemented by an atmospheric and fitting soundtrack by Andrew Hulshult, adding to the overall immersive experience.”
- “The music's alright, but became somewhat repetitive over time.”
- “Oh, and the music sucks (sorry, I just turn it off all the time.)”
- “The game is too busy visually, and by ~1 hour in I was tired of the soundtrack, which became repetitive to me.”
story
756 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
69%
5%
The story in "Nightmare Reaper" is delivered through brief notes and environmental storytelling, primarily focusing on the protagonist's experiences in a mental asylum as she battles her inner demons. While some players find the narrative intriguing and appreciate its subtlety, others criticize it for being simplistic, repetitive, and lacking depth, often feeling like a mere backdrop to the gameplay. Overall, the story is seen as non-intrusive, allowing players to engage with the action while still offering enough context to maintain interest.
- “The game's atmosphere is wonderfully crafted, unfolding like a puzzle, with the story slowly revealing itself (and it's even voiced!).”
- “All in all, Nightmare Reaper goes way deeper into expanding the average retro shooter experience, remixing mechanics and systems from old games while adding its own, very gory and brutal, personal touch while also presenting an intriguing story with a likable and interesting protagonist.”
- “The story takes place in an asylum, and is told through little notes as you progress through the game, as well as slowly being able to explore through the asylum, which has kept me interested the whole time.”
- “I loved going through an absolute gauntlet for that shitass story they tried to save by having the sexy voice YouTube man read over it.”
- “The gunplay isn't enough to prop up the bad mechanics and the story being given to me one sentence at a time is a little frustrating.”
- “I honestly can't recommend this game on the grounds that it is such a slow and boring grind towards a story the game doesn't seem very interested in telling you, seeing how it's all told through a series of notes after each level, which you could honestly completely miss if you weren't actively looking for it.”
graphics
634 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
70%
5%
The graphics of "Nightmare Reaper" evoke a nostalgic retro aesthetic reminiscent of classic FPS games, featuring pixelated environments and character models. While some players appreciate the charm and unique style, others criticize the visuals for being overly cluttered and lacking polish, leading to performance issues on various systems. Overall, the graphics are divisive; they may appeal to fans of retro gaming but could deter those seeking a more modern visual experience.
- “Beautiful retro visuals, tight skill-based gameplay, and an amazing creepy atmosphere make this game one of my favorites so far.”
- “The pixel art visuals are beautifully crafted, capturing the essence of classic shooters while adding a touch of modern flair.”
- “The graphics are a unique blend of nostalgic pixel art and contemporary lighting and shading techniques, creating a visually striking and immersive experience.”
- “Not to mention, this game performs worse on my PC than most modern AAA releases even though the graphics are retro, and they're not even the good kind of retro; they kind of look like shit, to be honest.”
- “I was born in the early 80s and I know that the retro look is currently en vogue, but it's not only about the extremely low-res pixel graphics; it's also the whole art style, colors, sounds, animations—everything that is ugly.”
- “I cannot tell what's a switch in a level; I am just blinded by the terrible graphics.”
optimization
382 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
76%
14%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, including frequent frame rate drops and stuttering, even on high-end hardware. While some users noted improvements after recent patches, the overall consensus is that the game requires further optimization to enhance playability, particularly in more chaotic scenes. Many reviewers recommend waiting for additional updates before purchasing, as the current performance problems can detract from an otherwise enjoyable experience.
- “The optimization is the number one problem with this otherwise wonderfully beautiful game.”
- “While performance optimization could be further improved, it should not deter you from experiencing the brilliance of Nightmare Reaper.”
- “Fluid movement, incredibly robust leveling system, great optimization and a wide range of control over the graphics in-game.”
- “The performance of the game is atrocious.”
- “This has a serious optimization problem.”
- “However, as many are continuing to point out, this game has a significant chance to have impossible to ignore performance issues that render the game at certain points unplayable, even on higher end PCs.”
replayability
194 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
59%
2%
The game is widely praised for its high replayability, driven by features such as procedural level generation, diverse weapon customization, and engaging roguelite mechanics. Many players appreciate the variety and unpredictability that come with randomized elements, which keep the gameplay fresh and encourage exploration. However, some critiques highlight a lack of longevity after completing the main content, suggesting that while the game offers substantial replay value, it could benefit from additional modes or incentives to maintain player interest over time.
- “Designed from the ground up to be a long & replayable experience, you'll certainly be getting your money's worth with this title.”
- “The non-linear structure encourages exploration and rewards thoroughness, adding replayability to the game.”
- “Replayability is through the roof, and I wholeheartedly recommend this game.”
- “The main deal breaker for me as to why I stopped playing this game is the lack of replayability.”
- “Tons of content to experience, but not a whole lot of replayability once you have completed the game.”
- “Unfortunately, while this game puts lots of effort into weapons, enemies, music, and graphic design, Nightmare Reaper lacks replayability & compelling level design.”
grinding
164 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding the mini-games and skill tree upgrades to be tedious and overly time-consuming. While some appreciate the challenge and variety, others feel that the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment, especially as it often leads to repetitive gameplay and a lack of meaningful rewards. Overall, the game is seen as potentially enjoyable for those who embrace grinding, but it may become frustrating for players seeking a more streamlined experience.
- “Given all of the mini-games (which you can mercifully turn off) and the ability to start a new game+ as many times as you want, it seems like the intention was that people play this game literally for the rest of their lives, because that's how long it would take to finish everything without cheating (which I totally did because just like everything else, this game has too much grinding!)”
- “They had a very good base but just reused everything and made it so grindy with horrible platforming/puzzle design that what starts off insanely fun very quickly becomes a tired grind with little enjoyment or payoff.”
- “The problem is this game makes everything so tedious and mindless.”
atmosphere
148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
33%
2%
The atmosphere in "Nightmare Reaper" is widely praised for its dark, immersive quality, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and retro visuals that evoke a sense of nostalgia while maintaining a fresh appeal. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend intense action with atmospheric storytelling, creating a compelling experience that draws them into its eerie world. However, some critiques mention that while the atmosphere starts strong, it can become repetitive in later levels, and comparisons to other titles highlight areas where it may not fully match their atmospheric depth.
- “The game's atmosphere is wonderfully crafted, unfolding like a puzzle, with the story slowly revealing itself (and it's even voiced!).”
- “From the moment you step into the shoes of the reaper, the game immerses you in its dark and atmospheric world.”
- “The music and atmosphere fit so nicely, especially going back and forth between the creepy dank dilapidated hospital and the literal pits of hell within the patient's mind.”
- “Its atmosphere isn't as good as Dusk, its world design isn't as beautiful as Amid Evil, and its level design isn't as good as Cultic (which, among the three I just mentioned, is the best of them), but what Nightmare Reaper has on all of them is content, variety, and being the most sheer joy to play.”
- “Despite its style, the atmosphere, especially within your 'hub' area, is very creepy.”
- “While the minigames felt clunky, they added tremendously to the overall atmosphere and helped drive home the kind of sincerely broken set of lenses the protagonist has to view and interact with the world.”
humor
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by a plethora of absurd and hilariously overpowered weapons, quirky modifiers, and amusing easter eggs that keep players entertained. Many reviewers highlight the comedic elements of weapon design and the protagonist's maniacal laughter, which enhance the chaotic gameplay experience. Overall, the game successfully blends dark humor with retro FPS action, making it a fun and often laugh-out-loud experience for players.
- “As expected from a game with roguelike elements, you wield an increasingly ludicrous arsenal of absurd weapons, slaughtering thousands of wicked-looking demons while chuckling like a maniac.”
- “I died laughing when I saw I had to go into a sewer and the dev had put 'sorry civvie' written in one of the corners of the sewer system.”
- “Old-school boomer shooter action with a dash of roguelike and a wry sense of humor.”
stability
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
87%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly during intense gameplay, leading to freezes and performance drops. While it runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck and has seen improvements through updates, many players still experience significant lag and crashes, especially in later stages or specific game modes. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, its stability issues detract from the experience.
- “Runs great on a Steam Deck.”
- “Runs great, good art, fun mechanics, metal tracks.”
- “Early game framerate was fine but later it tanks and sometimes the game freezes for a second or more at a time.”
- “Then there is the arena which the further into the rounds you get the more the game lags, freezes, and crashes.”
- “I want to finish this game but it just won't let me, instead it just freezes up and never recovers.”
emotional
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of wholesome family fun and a touching story, despite some players feeling disappointed by the narrative depth. While the gameplay is exhilarating and engaging, the emotional weight of the protagonist's journey adds a layer of complexity, though it may not resonate with everyone. Overall, the game balances gory action with moments of heartfelt connection, creating a unique emotional experience.
- “It's gory, hectic, has wonderfully over-the-top weapon combos and a touching story.”
- “The platforming, especially in the challenge rooms but throughout each level, the combat (oooooh the combat. so meaty, so punchy, so precise, it feels so good), the secret/treasure hunting, the collecting and the heartbreaking decision of which one weapon to keep at the end of each level, the Mario 3 style minigames to upgrade your character, and even the plot playing out around you between levels.”
- “Civvie is the gateway drug to fun, came for the addicting gameplay loop, stayed for the wholesome dog pats.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions and season passes, being a fully finished product that offers a complete experience without additional costs. This approach has garnered respect from players who appreciate traditional gaming without the influence of monetization strategies.
- “The scrubs who gave this negative review only play games for microtransactions.”
- “Mad respect for being a fully finished game with no microtransactions or season passes.”
- “The ability to headshot and ads in an old school styled FPS?”

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75%Critics’ scoreBased on 12 critic reviews

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13h Median play time

25h Average play time

5-30h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 54 analyzed playthroughs

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Nightmare Reaper is a arcade shooter game with horror theme.

Nightmare Reaper is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 25 hours playing Nightmare Reaper.

Nightmare Reaper was released on March 28, 2022.

Nightmare Reaper was developed by Blazing Bit Games.

Nightmare Reaper has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its optimization.

Nightmare Reaper is a single player game.

Similar games include Project Warlock, Forgive Me Father, Hell Hunt , Dread Templar, Prodeus and others.

Nightmare Reaper

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