Paint the Town Red

At first, I felt a little guilty playing Paint the Town Red. Not because of all the gratuitous murder but because, as glorious as this first-person brawler is, it feels like two games.

80%Game Brain Score

gameplay, humor

optimization, stability

96% User Score Based on 24,592 reviews

Critic Score 67%Based on 9 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $7.80

Buy NowGet on Steam$19.99

Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store

About

"Paint the Town Red" is a chaotic first-person melee combat game set in various locations and time periods, featuring dynamic fighting against voxel-based enemies. The game includes Scenario levels with epic battles in bars, discos, and saloons, as well as a rogue-lite adventure called "Beneath" where you'll fight terrifying monsters to unlock powerful upgrades. The game also boasts a level editor and customizable textures and music, with a Steam workshop featuring thousands of user-created levels.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 24,601 reviews

gameplay284 positive mentions

optimization30 negative mentions

gameplay
662 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
54%
3%
The gameplay of "Paint the Town Red" is characterized by its engaging and chaotic combat mechanics, allowing players to utilize a wide variety of weapons and environmental objects in a physics-based brawling experience. While the core gameplay is fun and addictive, it can become repetitive over time, and some players feel it lacks depth and complexity. The addition of modes like "Beneath" and community-created content enhances replayability, but many users express a desire for more varied gameplay and additional levels.
- “The physics-based brawling mechanics ensure every punch and every object hurled feels hilariously satisfying, leaving a trail of delightful destruction in your wake.”
- “The game’s core mechanic—brawling through various levels, each with its own setting and challenges—is incredibly satisfying.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are intuitive, allowing you to unleash a flurry of punches, kicks, and interactive environmental objects to obliterate your adversaries.”
- “Fun for a while, but the core combat and overall gameplay lacks the complexity and depth to stay fresh for long.”
- “To sum up, don't expect brainless fun with this game since it's very difficult (and not fair) and there aren't much depths in the gameplay/weapons/levels.”
- “This restrictive gameplay loop makes almost all aspects of the game get incredibly boring and samey after about 3-4 hours.”
humor
584 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its absurdity and chaotic nature, with players enjoying the combination of slapstick violence and ragdoll physics that lead to hilariously satisfying moments. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke laughter through its over-the-top gore and creative combat scenarios, making it a fun and entertaining experience, especially when played with friends. Overall, the game's comedic elements, including funny character designs and outrageous situations, contribute significantly to its appeal as a stress-relieving and enjoyable brawler.
- “The combat system is satisfyingly brutal and fluid, making use of ragdoll physics to create hilarious and often absurd moments.”
- “This game is hilarious, fun, and very inventive.”
- “The physics in this game are hilarious and every kill is so satisfying.”
- “This game is like I don't care if your head and skull are thick; my fist doesn't bleed, it only destroys. You are an unstoppable being until you get hit in the dome with a katana, then it becomes unfunny.”
graphics
489 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
55%
3%
The graphics of "Paint the Town Red" feature a retro, blocky pixel art style that complements its over-the-top action and gore, creating a unique and visually striking aesthetic. While some players appreciate the charm and smooth performance of the simplistic graphics, others find them lacking and note issues with optimization, leading to lag on lower-end systems. Overall, the visuals are seen as a defining feature that enhances the game's fun and chaotic gameplay, despite not appealing to everyone.
- “Graphics and design: the game's visual style is intentionally retro, with blocky, pixelated graphics that complement its over-the-top action.”
- “While the graphics might seem simplistic at first glance, they serve the gameplay well by ensuring smooth performance and clear readability in the heat of battle.”
- “What sets 'Paint the Town Red' apart is its stylized voxel art style, which infuses every scene with an appealing and visually striking aesthetic.”
- “The graphics aren't working right for me and the game looks horrible.”
- “I want to like this game, but it seems horribly optimized, especially given its graphical quality and art style can't exactly be described as 'state of the art'.”
- “There's also the fact that the graphics are honestly shit and it still lagged on my computer on the lowest settings I could bear.”
story
362 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
68%
15%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its minimal presence, with many players noting that it lacks a substantial narrative or character development. While there are modes like "beneath" that hint at a storyline and offer some environmental storytelling, most reviews emphasize that the game is primarily focused on combat and gameplay rather than a rich narrative experience. Overall, players seeking a deep story may be disappointed, but those looking for engaging gameplay and creative level design might still find enjoyment.
- “Players find themselves in various missions, such as raiding a bar, a prison, or an ancient city, amidst intense fights.”
- “The second game mode is a story mode, in which you set out to explore a hellish location.”
- “Awesome first person beat 'em up with great levels, and a chilling but fun story mode.”
- “For this to be your story mode, you made the worst roguelike I've played to date.”
- “Do I recommend this game? 100% yes, but the only downside is that there's like, no story.”
- “There's no story, no character development, no dialogue, just you - disgruntled for whatever reason - I mean, I assume you are, you could be a happy-go-lucky psychopath - and your fists.”
music
244 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
51%
5%
The music in "Paint the Town Red" is generally described as fitting and energetic, enhancing the game's chaotic atmosphere, though it lacks memorability and variety, with many players recommending the use of custom soundtracks for a more personalized experience. While the original tracks serve their purpose, they can become repetitive, leading to a desire for more diverse options. Overall, the audio design is praised for its ability to complement the gameplay, making it enjoyable to play alongside personal music choices.
- “The game’s aesthetic and soundtrack complement its wild energy perfectly.”
- “The music pumps you up and fits the frenetic pace of the action, making each level feel like a high-energy set piece.”
- “This game is filled with tons of amazing gore and great music, I really enjoyed this one and I say it's worth the price!”
- “I would recommend it before but now when the music is changed the game is terrible.”
- “My only real issue with the game at the moment is that the soundtrack has a total of 5 songs in it, which are all royalty free, sound like crap, and are used in a lot of generic 10-year-old YouTubers' intros.”
- “The music itself gets really annoying after a while.”
replayability
191 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
52%
6%
The game boasts high replayability, primarily driven by a vibrant community that creates user-generated content through a workshop and a map editor, allowing for virtually infinite levels and scenarios. While many players praise the variety offered by these community features and the roguelike mode, some express concerns about the repetitiveness of the core gameplay and a lack of variety in default levels. Overall, the combination of player-made maps, modifiers, and different game modes contributes to a rich replay experience, though opinions on its longevity vary.
- “If you're looking for a game with tons of replay value and a creative community behind it, this is a must-play!”
- “This is my favorite game of all time, it's infinitely replayable, and even if you get bored, there's unlimited user-made levels, and I haven't even mentioned the beneath mode!”
- “The scenarios then have many modifiers to choose from, to alter the way you or the enemy plays, giving great replayability to each scenario.”
- “However, some players have criticized the game for lacking variety in replayability elements.”
- “This game makes you forget that it has very few levels, not because it's good and has replay values, but because it gets stale and boring real quick before playing all 5 or so levels.”
- “It has no replay value, and it is honestly fun for like 20 minutes.”
optimization
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
56%
25%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering and lag, especially in crowded scenarios. While some users have noted improvements over time, particularly in early access updates, the consensus is that the game still requires substantial optimization to enhance stability and performance across various systems. Despite these challenges, many players find the gameplay enjoyable and express hope for future optimizations.
- “While the graphics might seem simplistic at first glance, they serve the gameplay well by ensuring smooth performance and clear readability in the heat of battle.”
- “Performance is good on my 17 7700k and 1070 at 1440p on high settings, getting more than 144 fps in most scenarios.”
- “Very well optimized for a game that's in early access.”
- “This game is really poorly optimized.”
- “It is also not optimized well, so when you have many NPCs around, it will lag even though it doesn't look graphically impressive at all.”
- “I want to like this game, but it seems horribly optimized, especially given its graphical quality and art style can't exactly be described as 'state of the art'.”
stability
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
2%
92%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with many users reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer and specific modes like "Beneath." While some players find the bugs amusing and part of the fun, others express frustration over issues like rubber banding, freezing, and enemies getting stuck. Overall, the game is still in early access, and while it shows promise, it requires significant improvements in stability and optimization.
- “The game itself is not buggy and functions properly; multiplayer mode is also fun too.”
- “I find it a very fun game to play, with nice music before and during fights that fits the moods and settings. I like the graphics quality, and there are no glitches as far as I can tell or recall. Overall, it's a very fun game that I recommend to all above 13 years of age due to excessive blood.”
- “Runs great.”
- “The game still bugs; sometimes you get randomly rubber banded to a random location, and enemies often group up, blocking doorways to the point that the door bugs and glitches.”
- “Still a buggy mess even after coming out of beta.”
- “It's also buggy, and enemies can get caught outside the map, making you unable to complete the level.”
grinding
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
49%
48%
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is often seen as tedious and time-consuming, with many players expressing that it can feel like a chore rather than an engaging experience. While some appreciate the potential for improvement and the fun aspects of grinding in certain modes, the overall sentiment leans towards it being a significant drawback, with players frequently wishing for a more polished and less grind-heavy experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I really do wish the berserk (roguelite) mode were more polished; it feels very empty and grindy on top of that.”
- “If you challenge yourself to do it as quickly as possible, it's fun, but otherwise it gets tedious—what's the point?”
- “The game is good in practice, but it gets tedious and repetitive real quick. It's the type of game you pick up and play for 1-2 hours then never touch it again or at least for a long while, because all the game really is, is a voxel beat'em up with the attractive punchline being the gore.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
25%
13%
"Paint the Town Red" is praised for its engaging atmosphere, characterized by retro pixel art and effective sound design that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a fun yet chaotic environment, with satisfying gameplay mechanics and a variety of moods across different levels. The improvements in atmosphere and physics over time have also been noted, contributing to a creepy yet enjoyable ambiance.
- “Paint the Town Red is a good game for just relaxing, enjoying the atmosphere, and then watching chaos ensue as you pick up a pool stick and ram it through someone's forehead.”
- “I honestly like the music; it's not an epic orchestra, but you never feel like it needs to be. The game does a wonderful job with setting atmosphere and moods for all the available levels and game modes.”
- “The sound design of the enemies and the gruesome sticky splatter and damage sounds give the experience a very creepy atmosphere.”
- “I've seen the earlier stages of the game, and the improvements in the atmosphere, mob elements, and just the physics have gotten way better!”
emotional
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of wholesome enjoyment and moments of laughter and tears, though some players find the experience can become repetitive after a short time. While many appreciate the game's charm, there are also frustrations noted, particularly regarding gameplay balance in endless mode. Overall, the emotional responses range from joy to disappointment, reflecting a varied player experience.
- “I laughed and I cried because the tech demo is enjoyable, but for about 15 minutes then it gets repetitive.”
- “What a wholesome simulator, painting sure is fun.”
- “Fun very wholesome.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The game lacks significant character development, story, and dialogue, focusing instead on excessive gore and a whimsical character design. Reviewers caution that those seeking in-depth narratives and rich character arcs will be disappointed, as the gameplay centers solely on the player's actions without any meaningful context or growth.
- “A warning - if in-depth character development, story-rich plot, and wondrous attention to visual detail are aspects of a game you pine after, then this game is not for you.”
- “There's no story, no character development, no dialogue, just you - disgruntled for whatever reason - I mean, I assume you are; you could be a happy-go-lucky psychopath - and your fists.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is primarily driven by advertising, which some users feel is misleading, portraying it as a simple 3D brawler rather than accurately reflecting its depth and quality. Overall, while the game has garnered positive reviews, the advertising strategy has received mixed feedback regarding its accuracy.