Nightmare Reaper

Nightmare Reaper is a fast paced and fun boomer shooter, which isn't too punishing with the Roguelike stuff.

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"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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,741 reviews

gameplay220 positive mentions

optimization23 negative mentions

Fast-paced and satisfying gameplay with a wide variety of weapons.
Unique roguelite elements with mini-games for skill upgrades that add depth.
Engaging story told through journal entries that unfold as you progress.

Repetitive level design with some frustrating key-hunting mechanics.
Performance issues, especially in later levels with many particle effects.
Difficulty spikes can feel unfair, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.

gameplay
540 mentions
41 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Nightmare Reaper" is widely praised for its fast-paced, satisfying mechanics that blend retro FPS elements with modern looter-shooter and roguelite features. Players enjoy the variety of weapons, responsive controls, and engaging combat, although some criticize the repetitive nature of the gameplay and the impact of procedural generation on level design. Overall, the game offers a compelling and addictive experience, particularly for fans of classic shooters, despite some minor frustrations with mechanics and pacing.
- “The gameplay itself is satisfying, as is the variety of weapons one can wield.”
- “The core gameplay is actually pretty fun, getting overpowered weapons, the movement with the grappling hook, and the fully upgraded airdash.”
- “The gameplay is top notch, well thought out, all enemies and bosses are challenging, but not plain annoying.”
- “Take time out of my gameplay so I can play a shittier game that isn't actually fun, but is blatantly there to break up the pace of the game?”
- “It's so frustrating to finish a shooter level just to go do some off-topic platformer bits for 5 minutes, knowing that when you get done with that, you'll be rinsing and repeating the same exact gameplay loop with the single gun you're allowed to keep.”
- “The core gameplay takes place inside the dreams of a woman locked up alone in a haunted, derelict psychiatric hospital.”
music
380 mentions
47 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in "Nightmare Reaper," composed by Andrew Hulshult, has received widespread acclaim for its heavy metal soundtrack that complements the game's fast-paced action and intense atmosphere. While many players praise the soundtrack as a standout feature, some note that it can become repetitive over time, particularly as it often only plays during combat sequences. Overall, the music enhances the gameplay experience, making it a significant aspect of the game's appeal.
- “The music is incredible, simply outstanding.”
- “The soundtrack is heavy and powerful, perfect for the mood of the game.”
- “Andrew Hulshult's musical talents are part of why I even bought this game, and the soundtrack is high in quality.”
- “The music's alright, but became somewhat repetitive over time.”
- “On the other hand, the music is repetitive as hell, levels are a bit samey and the game is perhaps more difficult than it needs to be.”
- “The music is actually rather repetitive, which I hate to say because Andrew Hulshult has done great work on other games.”
story
331 mentions
24 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story in "Nightmare Reaper" is presented through brief journal entries and notes from a psychiatrist, revealing the protagonist's background as a mental patient. While some players appreciate the atmospheric and psychological elements, many find the narrative delivery slow and fragmented, often feeling tacked on or lacking depth. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop to the gameplay, which is the primary focus, with varying opinions on its engagement and execution.
- “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 tackles mental health problems, specifically early trauma leading to mood/personality disorders in a plausible manner, so respect for that.”
- “The story is barely existent, and I think some will appreciate the fact that you can skip most of the backstory given to the player.”
- “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.”
- “The story is told one sentence at a time, after each level, which I found way too slow.”
graphics
280 mentions
26 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Nightmare Reaper" evoke a nostalgic blend of retro pixel art reminiscent of classic FPS games like Doom and Quake, enhanced with modern lighting and shading techniques. While many players appreciate the charming aesthetic and vibrant visuals, some criticize the performance issues and visual clutter that can obscure gameplay. Overall, the graphics are seen as a unique and integral part of the game's appeal, though they may not satisfy everyone, particularly those seeking a more polished visual experience.
- “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.”
- “Nightmare Reaper is a visually captivating game that combines retro aesthetics with modern design elements.”
- “Lowering the settings to make the visuals easier to decipher is an option, but without lighting and particle effects, the game loses the only graphical glory that it holds over something like Ultrakill or Amid Evil.”
- “The graphics can be quite off-putting, and for my taste, they are too pixelated.”
- “Despite being pixel graphics, the telegraphed power and destruction is beyond what you'll see in most games with similar art styles.”
optimization
180 mentions
11 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting frequent performance dips, stuttering, and frame rate drops even on high-end hardware. While some users noted improvements after updates, the overall consensus is that the game still requires substantial optimization to provide a smoother experience, particularly in more chaotic scenes. Despite its enjoyable gameplay, the persistent performance issues detract from the overall experience, leading many to recommend waiting for further updates before purchasing.
- “The optimization is the number one problem with this otherwise wonderfully beautiful game.”
- “Fluid movement, incredibly robust leveling system, great optimization and a wide range of control over the graphics in-game.”
- “Performance is good enough for an early access; there are some cases where you can get some fps drops, mostly when there are tons of enemies that are doing AoE attacks, and lots of props breaking at the same time, but overall it's good.”
- “Nightmare Reaper uses what should be the now familiar crunchy pixel-art style and it mostly looks really solid, although performance can be pretty abysmal at times (often for no apparent reason) and enemies can be a touch on the small side, which in more open levels can result in situations where it's hard to figure out what's shooting you and from where.”
- “The optimization is the number one problem with this otherwise wonderfully beautiful game.”
- “If the developer is able to fix the performance issues this game is a no-brainer but as it stands the performance has degraded so thoroughly after about three-ish hours of game-time that it is unplayable for me.”
replayability
84 mentions
36 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its procedural generation, random level layouts, and various gameplay modes like New Game Plus, which contribute to a high replay value. However, some reviewers express disappointment with the lack of engaging content post-completion and the grindy nature of certain elements, suggesting that while the game offers replayability, it may not sustain long-term interest for all players. Overall, it is seen as a fun experience with significant replay potential, particularly for fans of the genre.
- “The non-linear structure encourages exploration and rewards thoroughness, adding replayability to the game.”
- “The levels are procedurally generated, which makes for excellent replayability.”
- “The combat is tight and responsive, the variety of weapons and randomization of level layouts leave plenty of room for replayability.”
- “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.”
- “I had a lot of fun with this game for the first couple of hours, but there's just no longevity/replayability to it.”
grinding
74 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the mini-games and skill tree upgrades to be tedious and overly repetitive. While some appreciate the depth and challenge of the grinding mechanics, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to a sense of stagnation and frustration, especially in later stages. Overall, the game offers a significant amount of content, but the grind can be a major hurdle for those not fully invested in the 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
64 mentions
69 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, immersive quality, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and retro-inspired visuals that create a unique blend of horror and nostalgia. Players appreciate the atmospheric storytelling that unfolds gradually, alongside intense gameplay and well-designed levels, although some note a tendency for repetitive textures as the game progresses. Overall, the combination of sound design, level aesthetics, and thematic elements contributes to a compelling and engaging experience that stands out in the genre.
- “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 soundtrack is superb, fits the horror atmosphere and weapon punch.”
- “Despite its style, the atmosphere, especially within your 'hub' area, is very creepy.”
- “Combat is very responsive and the atmosphere is dark and creepy, inspired by classic horror themes.”
- “Nightmare Reaper is a game that I ultimately describe as 'the Suda 51 FPS that never was.' Like many Suda 51 games, it's a mix of love letter to games, psychological weirdness, atmosphere, and clever reuse of old game mechanics.”
humor
32 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurd and over-the-top weaponry, featuring hilariously powerful and bizarre modifiers that often lead to laugh-out-loud moments during gameplay. Players appreciate the comedic elements woven into the design, such as funny weapon names and quirky easter eggs, which enhance the overall experience of chaotic combat. While some aspects may become frustrating, the game's blend of dark humor and retro shooter mechanics keeps players entertained and engaged.
- “You can find some of the most hilariously overpowered weapons in here, scrunched up with some piddly poodle shooters.”
- “But man, there's nothing better than getting some hilariously OP shotgun that fires cannonballs or a burst fire orbital cannon and watching whole rooms of enemies get obliterated.”
- “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.”
stability
15 mentions
13 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
87 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly during intense gameplay or in later stages, leading to performance issues like freezing and frame rate drops. However, many players have noted improvements following updates, and some have experienced smooth performance on devices like the Steam Deck. Overall, while there are notable stability concerns, the game's enjoyable elements often outweigh these issues for players.
- “Runs great on a Steam Deck.”
- “Runs great, good art, fun mechanics, and metal tracks.”
- “The game offers some nice graphics and some nice pixel art graphics, although some ugly glitches here and there, it is pleasant all the same.”
- “Early game framerate was fine but later it tanks and sometimes the game freezes for a second or more at a time.”
- “I want to finish this game but it just won't let me, instead it just freezes up and never recovers.”
emotional
8 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of intense, gory action and a surprisingly touching narrative, highlighted by moments of humor and heartwarming interactions, such as patting a dog. While the gameplay is addictive and exhilarating, some players feel let down by the shallow mini-games and an underwhelming story that could have been more engaging. Overall, the game evokes a rollercoaster of emotions, balancing chaotic fun with poignant moments, despite some technical issues.
- “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 mini-games to upgrade your character, and even the plot playing out around you between levels.”
- “Don't let the emotionally frayed female protagonist put you off, this game is still pure, unbridled, testosterone.”
monetization
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the game's lack of microtransactions and season passes, highlighting it as a fully finished product. This positive reception contrasts with criticisms aimed at players who focus on monetization aspects in other games. Overall, the monetization model is seen as a strong point, contributing to the game's appeal.
- “Mad respect for being a fully finished game with no microtransactions or season passes.”
- “The scrubs who gave this negative review only play games for microtransactions.”
- “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.”