Nuclear Throne

Quite possibly the best twin-stick roguelike on the Switch.

Starting at $7.43Buy now

Get on Steam

Get on Epic Games Store

"Nuclear Throne" is a fast-paced action roguelike game set in a post-apocalyptic world. Players can choose from 12 unique characters, each with their own abilities, and fight their way through 7 main worlds filled with dangerous mutants and powerful weaponry. With almost 30 ways to mutate your character and over 120 weapons to choose from, each playthrough offers a new and exciting challenge. The game features a pulse-pounding soundtrack to accompany the chaotic battles.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,827 reviews

gameplay389 positive mentions

stability43 negative mentions

gameplay
852 mentions
46 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Nuclear Throne" is widely praised for its fast-paced, addictive nature, combining tight controls with a variety of unique characters and weapons that enhance replayability. Players appreciate the challenging mechanics and the satisfaction derived from mastering the game, despite some frustrations with RNG elements and difficulty spikes. Overall, the game is celebrated for its engaging core loop, which encourages repeated playthroughs and skill development.
- “The gameplay is smooth and each gun feels wholly unique from the last, A+.”
- “The game is fun, fast-paced, and has a good gameplay loop; I highly recommend it.”
- “Nuclear Throne is a unique and tightly crafted game with amazing gameplay, pleasant colorful art style, and a very unique soundtrack that justifies buying this game at full price.”
- “It's very shallow in gameplay/run variety for a roguelike.”
- “While the core gameplay is alright, the game has a lot of gotchas that make it a fairly miserable experience.”
- “The gameplay is fast-paced and unrelenting; however, the game suffers from many early access afflictions.”
music
540 mentions
62 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and atmospheric soundtrack that complements the fast-paced gameplay. While some players noted that the music can become repetitive over time, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout feature, enhancing the game's immersive experience and making it memorable. Many players recommend listening to the soundtrack outside of the game, highlighting its quality and appeal.
- “The soundtrack is one of the best I've heard in video games, and I keep listening to it even when I'm not playing this game.”
- “The music is just excellent and sets the tone of the game really well.”
- “The audio design, including the energetic soundtrack and impactful sound effects, complements the gameplay well, heightening the intensity and excitement of the battles.”
- “The soundtrack is the same few tracks over and over again.”
- “The music is alright but gets annoying after a while to the point where I no longer play with the music on.”
- “It's a lot of fun, but you will probably want to turn the music completely off; it sounds like an acid bath record played on a broken walkman through dollar store headphones, ear-bleedingly bad.”
replayability
353 mentions
58 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
"Nuclear Throne" is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, driven by its randomized levels, diverse character abilities, and a plethora of weapons and mutations. Players appreciate the game's challenging nature and the satisfaction of mastering different strategies, which encourages repeated playthroughs. The inclusion of daily and weekly challenges, along with modding support, further enhances its longevity and appeal, making it a standout title in the roguelike genre.
- “This diversity not only adds depth to the gameplay but also greatly enhances the replayability, as mastering each character offers a new perspective on the challenges of reaching the nuclear throne.”
- “Nuclear Throne is a masterclass in how to blend difficulty, diversity, and replayability into an endlessly entertaining package.”
- “The randomized elements really make this game replayable, which is important considering it will likely take a large number of runs to beat the final boss.”
- “The base game's content can be lacking, but there is intense replayability because the game is just that fun, and on top of that the modding adds in everything else you could want.”
- “My issue with it is that the only replayability in its current state stems from the incredibly difficult task of reaching the nuclear throne.”
- “Probably not much replay value after it is beaten, but it is well worth the price tag.”
graphics
346 mentions
49 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a vibrant and detailed pixel art style that effectively creates a unique post-apocalyptic atmosphere, blending charm with a retro aesthetic. While some players appreciate the simplicity and nostalgic appeal of the visuals, others find them lacking in detail or technical polish. Overall, the graphics are generally well-received for their coherence with the game's theme and their ability to enhance the gameplay experience, despite some criticisms regarding their low resolution and occasional glitches.
- “The game's pixel art style is vibrant and detailed, creating a distinct post-apocalyptic atmosphere that's both grim and colorful.”
- “Bright colors, energetic animations, and a charming pixel-art style contribute to an enjoyable arcade-style feel.”
- “The pixel graphics are very detailed and unique, giving the game great charm and character that is wonderful to look at.”
- “The graphics are beyond awful, the difficulty is ridiculous, the constant camera shaking is disorienting, there are no difficulty options, and did I mention the awful graphics?”
- “I wasn't particularly impressed by the music, graphics, weapons and enemies that feel more like a flash game than a big indie game, but maybe I need to play more.”
- “The only negative that I see with this game is that the graphics are thrown together.”
story
136 mentions
20 % positive mentions
74 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The story in "Nuclear Throne" is minimal and often described as simple or nonexistent, focusing primarily on gameplay rather than narrative depth. While players can uncover a rich backstory through character trivia and environmental details, much of the lore requires external research, such as consulting wikis. Despite its lack of a traditional storyline, the game manages to convey themes and character depth through its chaotic and humorous presentation, making the quest for the titular throne engaging for many players.
- “While the story is presented in a humorous, chaotic way, the lore can be extremely dark and depressing, and I genuinely enjoyed looking into it as I played.”
- “The story is simple: an apocalypse happens in some way or another, nobody was prepared, everyone became mutants and now explores the wastelands to find 'the nuclear throne'.”
- “How it manages to tie such a simple genre into an interesting story is quite unique and makes you want to keep going back to play it, just so you can finally say you reached that nuclear throne!”
- “Story-wise: 6/10 - pretty simple and straightforward, to be honest.”
- “There isn't a strong story progression, so it feels more arcade style.”
- “The story is almost nonexistent, but it hardly matters in a game like this.”
humor
101 mentions
98 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its chaotic and quirky nature, blending dark themes with lighthearted moments that feel organic rather than forced. Players enjoy the amusing character designs, funny sound effects, and clever in-game jokes, which contribute to a vibrant atmosphere filled with unexpected surprises. Overall, the game successfully combines frenetic gameplay with a unique sense of humor, making it both challenging and entertaining.
- “While the story is presented in a humorous, chaotic way, the lore can be extremely dark and depressing, and I genuinely enjoyed looking into it as I played.”
- “The unique blend of style, humor, and soundtrack really sets it apart from other action games.”
- “Great roguelike game with a wicked sense of humor and great design.”
- “Yeah, this game would be less unfunny if I didn't have to restart my PC every time I wanted to play it.”
- “I know the standard of this game is that it's hardcore and skill-oriented, but I think as a pretty good player in most games, but not a patient one, this game is really not worth playing 100 hours or more, because it's just not funny and it's just trying desperately to beat the game while playing 100% of the time as hard as you can instead of enjoying it.”
stability
44 mentions
7 % positive mentions
-5 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that can disrupt gameplay. While some players note improvements due to patches, others feel the game remains unfinished and plagued by issues, particularly in local co-op modes. Overall, the experience varies widely, with some enjoying the core gameplay despite the instability, while others find it frustratingly unplayable at times.
- “Overall, it feels like a solid product with no glitches that I've seen.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or major bugs.”
- “I've experienced consistent performance throughout my playtime, which is impressive.”
- “Would be one of the best dungeon crawlers if not for game-breaking glitches.”
- “It is a buggy mess and updates are slow to the point of abandonware with an update being promised in early 2016 that still has not been deployed.”
- “Really great game when it works; however, it's plagued with too many bugs and glitches.”
grinding
39 mentions
3 % positive mentions
8 % neutral mentions
90 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that the game features significant grinding, with players spending many hours to unlock content and improve their skills. While some find the grinding enjoyable and a core part of the roguelike experience, others describe it as tedious and repetitive, particularly during longer play sessions. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging gameplay, but the grind can become overwhelming for those seeking constant progression.
- “Game is not grindy and there aren't artificial difficulty gimmicks.”
- “This game consists of about 10 minutes of content and 15 hours of grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “With enough playtime, getting new unlocks becomes extremely tedious.”
atmosphere
38 mentions
66 % positive mentions
26 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant pixel art, immersive sound design, and engaging music, which together create a distinct post-apocalyptic world that feels both grim and colorful. Reviewers highlight the synergy between the visuals and audio, enhancing the overall experience and contributing to a sense of madness and excitement during gameplay. The combination of unique characters, challenging gameplay, and atmospheric elements makes for a memorable and captivating gaming experience.
- “The game's pixel art style is vibrant and detailed, creating a distinct post-apocalyptic atmosphere that's both grim and colorful.”
- “This game is really hyping, the desolating visuals, the uncertainty of what's going to happen next, the awesome music, the emblematic enemies and super cool weapons, all account to create an amazing atmosphere of pure madness, where you create a shower of bullets while trying to dodge the bullet-hell your foes are throwing at you.”
- “Every aspect of the game has such perfect synergy you can feel as though you get lost in the atmosphere as you're fighting to survive.”
- “The atmosphere of the decaying world with the lone adventurers is impeccable.”
- “The sounds, music, and the look and atmosphere of the game all fit its post-apocalyptic theme very well.”
- “There's no 'dialogue' per se, but many of the in-game characters add spice to the atmosphere through unintelligible quips and one-liners spoken in an alien language.”
character development
23 mentions
74 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised for its exceptional design and creativity, with players noting the charm and uniqueness of each character, including memorable bosses and enemies. The art style and attention to detail enhance the overall experience, contributing to a rewarding sense of progression and engagement. While some players express frustration with certain aspects of the game, the character designs remain a standout feature that adds to the game's appeal.
- “The character designs are adorable, the gunplay is fun and impactful, and it's quick.”
- “Character designs are also fun and each character's pros and cons feel unique to them.”
- “I'm a sucker for good character development, and when you can create unique and lovable characters without a single line of dialogue, you know you've got it right.”
- “While the character designs I've seen so far aren't really anything unusual, besides maybe the crystal golem character, they all have a lot of charm.”
- “The character designs, from players to enemies to bosses to... vans and radioactive chairs?”
- “But I better stop here now, I still could talk about the unlockables, the secrets, the character designs, the little nuts and bolts, but you already got my point.”
emotional
21 mentions
95 % positive mentions
-10 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Players express a surprising depth of emotional engagement with the game, often feeling heartbroken or reflective despite its minimal story. The music plays a crucial role in conveying emotional moments, enhancing the overall experience and leaving a lasting impact on players' lives. Many describe the game as a blend of intense action and poignant emotional highs and lows, making it a memorable journey that resonates deeply.
- “I'm not really sure how to put into words how much impact and importance this game has had in my life, but I'm going to try regardless; the news of Vlambeer's end has brought with it an intense bout of emotional anguish that I did not expect from an indie game company, thus bringing into perspective the sheer influence this game has had over my very being and the marks etched into my memory.”
- “This game is a heart-wrenching, yet calming, fever dream in the best kind of way.”
- “I believe that this game has made me feel feelings that I've never felt before.”
- “The game had potential, but the emotional depth was lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I expected a gripping narrative, but the emotional moments felt forced and unconvincing.”
- “While the gameplay was enjoyable, the story failed to evoke any real feelings, leaving me indifferent.”
optimization
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game is praised for its smooth performance, achieving 60 fps and running well on various systems, despite some users noting occasional framerate hitches. However, there are concerns about the balance of mutations affecting gameplay, which can lead to frustrating experiences if players don't receive favorable options early in their runs.
- “Extremely well optimized, soundtrack that bangs and gameplay that's simply fun.”
- “That being said, Nuclear Throne still runs smoothly with very few hiccups in the framerate.”
- “Runs smoothly on almost any computer with many other programs.”
- “I find it really easy to slip into optimization mode where I basically give up on a run if I don't get the right mutations or weapons early on, and mutations are imbalanced enough that a bad one can (at least feel like) a run-ender.”
- “Performance is significantly poor for a 2D game.”
- “Optimization in specific utility (for short-term survival or situations that are not sustainable or easily achievable) or for general viability of your build are very important, and I'd hazard most players will spend some time at the inter-level screen, simple as it is.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Many users feel that the monetization strategies in roguelike games can be misleading, often presenting the game as free while hiding additional costs in fine print. This creates a sense of frustration regarding transparency in pricing.
- “The image of roguelikes these days is like advertising a product as free, until you read the small text underneath the big lettering.”
- “The monetization model feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “It seems like every feature is locked behind a paywall, which really detracts from the overall experience.”