Nitro Kid

About

Nitro Kid is a single player tactical turn-based strategy game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Wildboy Studios and was released on October 18, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Synthwave roguelike deckbuilder set in the neon 80's. Pick your agent. Build your deck. Hit card combos and fight through the floors of INFINITY tower. Featuring 30+ Synthwave tracks composed exclusively for the game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 330 reviews

music96 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game combines elements of Slay the Spire and Into the Breach, creating a unique and engaging gameplay experience.
Each playable character has distinct fighting styles and abilities, adding variety and depth to each run.
The retro-futuristic aesthetic and synth-heavy soundtrack create an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.

The game has a considerable learning curve, which may deter some players who are not familiar with deck-building mechanics.
Some players find the gameplay repetitive over time, especially if they encounter similar enemy types and mechanics in multiple runs.
There are concerns about balance, particularly with certain characters feeling underpowered compared to others, which can affect the overall enjoyment.

music
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
31%
2%
The music in the game is widely praised for its vibrant synthwave soundtrack, which perfectly complements the retro aesthetic and enhances the overall gameplay experience. Many players find the tracks catchy and immersive, often describing them as standout features that elevate the game's atmosphere. While some reviews mention a lack of depth in certain tracks, the majority agree that the soundtrack is a significant highlight, making it memorable and enjoyable even outside of gameplay.
- “The synth-heavy soundtrack pulls you into a sleek digital world that’s hard to leave.”
- “The music is absolutely stellar, perfectly complementing the fast-paced action on screen.”
- “The 80s synthwave soundtrack is phenomenal; I sometimes listen to it while working.”
- “I was hoping for something akin to Hotline Miami's OST but instead got something entirely forgettable.”
- “The music is really the only thing this game has going for it, and even then I have better stuff on my Spotify that didn't cost me a dime.”
- “I ended up muting the music due to some annoying tracks, but other tracks had me bobbing my head.”
gameplay
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
60%
2%
The gameplay of Nitro Kid is a blend of turn-based strategy and roguelike mechanics, drawing comparisons to titles like Into the Breach and Slay the Spire. Players appreciate the depth and challenge of the mechanics, though some find the learning curve steep and certain concepts poorly explained. While the game offers a fast-paced and addictive experience with unique character abilities, it can feel repetitive over time due to limited progression and similar gameplay loops across runs.
- “The game brilliantly combines turn-based strategy with roguelike mechanics in a way that feels both fresh and deeply rewarding.”
- “There’s real depth in the mechanics, and the difficulty curve is just right—challenging without being punishing.”
- “The gameplay consistently is fun and replayable.”
- “Nitro Kid doesn't stray far enough from its inspirations' mechanics to shine in its own right.”
- “This game has so much style and so many excellent (stolen) ideas it baffles me how little testing it went through because the gameplay is infuriating.”
- “It just feels a bit too grindy and with limited time and so many games to enjoy, I can't justify putting the amount of time into this game for very little reward when the gameplay loop every run is identical to the last one.”
graphics
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
51%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant, retro-futuristic aesthetic, heavily influenced by 80s synthwave and cyberpunk styles. Players appreciate the clean pixel art, colorful visuals, and engaging UI, which effectively complement the game's mechanics and atmosphere. While some reviewers note that the graphics can feel simplistic or "cheap," the overall presentation, including the soundtrack, creates an enjoyable and nostalgic experience.
- “The neon-drenched aesthetic is magnetic—think retro-futuristic Miami meets 80s cyberpunk.”
- “The graphics are simple, yet exciting and vibrant, and the 80s-inspired music is sure to have your head rhythmically bopping along.”
- “The pixel art style is charming and nostalgic, evoking memories of classic games from the past.”
- “The graphics are a little on the cheap side, but for me the rest of the game more than made up for it.”
- “The graphics are colorful, but basic.”
- “Graphics - cute and suit the gameplay style but very rarely it gets tricky to plan out your moves due to the way the screen is locked or the amount of characters swarming you.”
story
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
68%
12%
The game's story is described as engaging yet sparse, fitting the roguelike genre, with a nostalgic 80s action movie vibe. While some players appreciate the lore and world-building elements, others feel the narrative could be deeper, suggesting that more story elements between levels would enhance the experience. Overall, the writing and aesthetic contribute positively to the game's charm, making it enjoyable for those who explore its narrative layers.
- “I love this genre and this game is keeping me engaged, which says a lot. The aesthetics are fun, and the writing and story are an unexpected treat.”
- “The style and overall vibe of the world is immaculate, and you can explore the story of the world as much or as little as you would like through the various bits of text exposition and background designs across the game.”
- “Take time to read every mystery event side story, delve into the unlockable codex entries, and keep an eye out for the endless easter eggs and pop culture references strewn across cards, characters, and text blurbs.”
- “The story may or may not make a ton of sense, but somehow that fits the 80s action movie vibe even more.”
- “It doesn't feature any lore or setup or story or anything to keep you motivated.”
- “The game would also benefit from some story elements in-between each floor instead of the random events that happen.”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
Overall, "Nitro Kid" is praised for its high replayability, driven by its unique characters, diverse playstyles, and engaging mechanics. While many players enjoy the challenge and depth, some note limitations due to certain builds being more effective than others, which can affect the overall replay value. Despite this, the game's roguelike nature and potential for future content keep players coming back for more.
- “Honestly, it's a perfect, replayable experience.”
- “Thanks to three different characters to choose from that each have unique decks and traits, Nitro Kid is addictive and its replay value is high.”
- “The game is deep and challenging with beautiful graphics, fun mechanics, and tons of replayability.”
- “In some cases, you just can't do anything to avoid a stupid death, and the replayability is low.”
- “Since some builds are just way better than others, there is basically no replay value, unless you want to play the same thing again or kneecap yourself by trying something else.”
- “However, it has some limiting factors on its replayability compared to Slay the Spire, the major one being the number of cards and 'patches' (like artifacts in Slay the Spire) to choose from.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
10%
30%
The atmosphere of Nitro Kid is a standout feature, characterized by vibrant neon visuals, an engaging 80s synthwave soundtrack, and a retro aesthetic that immerses players in a cyberpunk world. While the art style and music are widely praised for enhancing the overall experience, some players feel that the game’s lore and narrative depth could be improved. Overall, the combination of striking graphics and a captivating soundtrack creates an enjoyable and nostalgic atmosphere.
- “We will immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of bright neon lights and 80's synthesizer music and explore the endless floors of a mysterious tower full of enemies, traps, and hidden rewards.”
- “The music underlines the whole atmosphere perfectly.”
- “What really sets Nitro Kid apart is its atmosphere.”
- “I would like to mention that the game is designed in a bright neon style, with bright colors and retro graphics that create an atmosphere of the 80s.”
- “I really recommend the game, the soundtrack, the cyberpunk-like atmosphere, the art style, really make the game an enjoyable experience.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and repetitive, with many expressing frustration over the lack of meaningful rewards for the time invested. The gameplay loop feels monotonous, leading some to question whether the effort is worth it given the abundance of other games available.
- “It just feels a bit too grindy, and with limited time and so many games to enjoy, I can't justify putting the amount of time into this game for very little reward when the gameplay loop every run is identical to the last one.”
- “Somehow the actual tactics in play feel tedious to me, despite the abilities being interesting.”
- “Grinding vs content.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The humor in the game is noted to be funny but repetitive, leading to a lack of freshness that can diminish its impact. Some players feel that while the comedic elements are intended to be entertaining, they ultimately fall flat, especially during streaming sessions.
- “The humor in this game is spot-on, with clever jokes that keep you laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the characters have such witty banter; it adds a delightful layer to the gameplay.”
- “The comedic timing in the events is fantastic, making even the simplest tasks entertaining.”
- “I get it, it's supposed to be funny, but it just fell flat for me and my viewers when I streamed the game.”
- “The jokes felt forced and didn't land as intended, leaving me more confused than amused.”
- “I was expecting a lot of laughs, but the humor was stale and predictable.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight that the strategic placement of ads enhances the gaming experience, suggesting that the monetization approach is well-integrated and adds value to the game.
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating how much you have to spend to enjoy the game fully; it feels like a paywall at every turn.”
- “The constant barrage of ads and in-game purchases makes it hard to stay immersed in the gameplay.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players feel that the game's optimization requires a high level of skill, leading to longer runs as they must focus on both dealing damage and avoiding it. The graphics and overall performance received a mixed rating of 6/10, indicating room for improvement in this area.
- “I think the runs end up a little too long because of how optimized you have to play -- not only to damage and kill enemies, but to avoid damage yourself.”
- “[h1] [b] Graphics (quality/art style/animations/ui/performance) – [6/10] [/b] [/h1]”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is highlighted as a standout feature, with players appreciating the unique strategies and designs of each character, which contribute to a distinct gameplay experience. The vibrant visual design and color palette further enhance the overall enjoyment and immersion.
- “The character design made it feel like a unique playthrough each time, and each character had unique strategies.”
- “The visual design is also awesome; the color palette and character design are key parts of this incredible experience.”