Party Hard

Party Hard isn’t without fault; there are a couple minor oversights in the translations, and the voice acting in the cutscenes that tell the story are both awful and predictable, but that sort of lends to the charm.

76%Game Brain Score

gameplay, music

grinding, stability

84% User Score Based on 4,429 reviews

Critic Score 67%Based on 19 reviews

Platforms

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About

Party Hard is a single player and multiplayer arcade strategy game with a horror theme. It was developed by Kverta and was released on August 25, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Party Hard is a tactical game about stopping parties. Playing as someone who got sick of neighbors having loud parties, you decide to take matters into your own hands with the help of your faithful knife. The story follows a series of mass murders around the USA, with parties taking place in various locations including Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, and more.

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,429 reviews

gameplay311 positive mentions

grinding116 negative mentions

Unique and humorous premise that combines stealth and strategy.
Engaging gameplay with various traps and unlockable characters that add replayability.
Catchy soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.

Frustrating AI and inconsistent detection mechanics can lead to unfair deaths.
Repetitive gameplay as players often have to restart levels after being caught.
Bugs and glitches can disrupt the experience, affecting gameplay and achievements.

gameplay
885 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
55%
10%
The gameplay of "Party Hard" is characterized by its simple yet addictive mechanics, allowing players to stealthily eliminate partygoers without being caught. While the game offers a unique premise and engaging dark humor, many reviews highlight issues such as repetitive gameplay, inconsistent mechanics, and bugs that detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, players often find enjoyment in the strategic elements and chaotic fun, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of stealth games.
- “It's a game with a presentation that's not only striking and charismatic, but also tremendously original in its very premise, with simple gameplay full of possibilities and strategy and more fun than it has any right to be.”
- “The gameplay is fun and the stealth is interesting.”
- “The gameplay is simple yet tons of fun, and requires quite a bit of thinking to correctly carry out your killings.”
- “This is a highly flawed game with a ridiculous amount of jank, visual problems, and frustrating, poorly implemented mechanics.”
- “The gameplay loop, unreliable mechanics, very clunky controls, as well as insufferable cooldowns are all pretty annoying.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive, but still fun.”
music
880 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
44%
6%
The music in "Party Hard" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its catchy, upbeat soundtrack that complements the game's party theme and retro aesthetic. However, a common criticism is the repetitiveness of the tracks, as each level typically features only one song that can become grating after multiple attempts. Overall, while the soundtrack is often described as fantastic and memorable, the limited variety can detract from the experience during longer play sessions.
- “The music is fantastic, the visuals are flashy, and the storyline has interesting twists and turns.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing, arguably one of the best I have ever heard in a game.”
- “The music is so empowering and it makes me wanna go ham.”
- “For a game that has you playing your way through a dozen parties, the music for these parties was not very expansive.”
- “Every level has one song that just plays on repeat; this gets annoying fast.”
- “The soundtrack could have been more invested into because it sounds like it's royalty-free.”
story
831 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The story of "Party Hard" revolves around a disgruntled neighbor who resorts to murder to silence noisy partygoers, presented through a series of cutscenes that connect the gameplay. While some players appreciate the dark humor and unexpected twists, many criticize the plot for being predictable, poorly written, and featuring cringe-worthy voice acting. Overall, the narrative serves as a light backdrop to the gameplay, which is often more engaging than the story itself.
- “The story is the right amount of ridiculous, and it got quite a few laughs out of me.”
- “The story is incredibly predictable and the voice acting is 'babby's first edgy newgrounds game'-tier, but it's also such a small part of the game that you can basically ignore it.”
- “The story is interesting and the stages are fun to explore.”
- “The story is incredibly weak and the dialogue is cringe-worthy nearly all the time.”
- “The story is awful beyond belief, predictable, and involves murdering hundreds of innocent party-goers.”
- “Unfortunately, the story giving the context that you are basically murdering innocent people makes the game less fun and the story, again, is so, so poorly written that I'm going to mention how bad it is again.”
graphics
395 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The graphics of the game are predominantly characterized by a polished pixel art style that many players find charming and nostalgic, reminiscent of classic 90s games. While some reviews highlight the visuals as vibrant and detailed, others criticize them for being simplistic or lacking clarity, particularly in gameplay contexts. Overall, the aesthetic is generally well-received, with the retro graphics complementing the game's quirky themes and soundtrack, though opinions vary on their effectiveness in enhancing gameplay.
- “The pixel art style is really vibrant, detailed, and full of personality.”
- “The game's retro graphics and chiptune soundtrack create a fun and nostalgic atmosphere that is a throwback to classic video games of the 90s.”
- “The graphics are very graphically pleasing, as the art style and colors are wonderful.”
- “A lot of mechanics felt very inconsistent and the graphics and plot were very mediocre as well.”
- “The mechanics are pretty chunky, visuals pretty mediocre for a pixel game, story pretty cliché, and the voice acting is hella funny!”
- “It's just boring, the pixel graphics make it hard to tell where you are on the 3D plane and the concept of killing everyone carefully without alerting the police, the first level can take like 40 minutes of making sure that the person is out of sight when you kill them, rinse repeat for 35 other people.”
humor
289 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in "Party Hard" is characterized by its dark, twisted nature, blending absurdity with strategic gameplay as players navigate creative ways to eliminate partygoers without getting caught. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke laughter through its quirky animations, unexpected events, and satirical take on slasher tropes, making it both entertaining and engaging despite its morbid premise. While some find the humor repetitive or cringe-worthy at times, the overall consensus is that the game successfully delivers a unique and hilarious experience for those with a taste for dark comedy.
- “Every level is a twisted little sandbox of 'how do I ruin everyone’s night without getting caught,' and it’s honestly hilarious how creative (and dark) it lets you get.”
- “Not gonna lie, the premise is dark as hell, but it’s also hilarious in a twisted, 'should I really be laughing at this?' kind of way.”
- “Party Hard is a hilarious, over-the-top party-crashing simulator where your goal is simple: stop the loud, obnoxious parties by any means necessary—preferably without getting caught!”
- “Absolutely abysmal: stupid, juvenile, unfunny, repetitive, boring.”
- “For me, it was on that fine line of not knowing if the deliveries were supposed to be funny and cliché, or if this was the hardest the actors were trying.”
- “It isn't funny, the voice acting is cringey, and it's the same thing over and over.”
replayability
131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
59%
7%
The game offers significant replayability through various unlockable characters, randomized levels, and community-created content, which keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging. Players appreciate the diverse playstyles and challenges presented by different characters, as well as the randomization of traps and NPC placements that encourage strategic thinking. However, some reviewers note that the replay value may diminish over time, particularly for those who prioritize story or seek more polished experiences.
- “There is also a lot of replayability in the game with different heroes to choose from, each with a unique way to play.”
- “The variety of levels, hilarious random events, unlockable characters, and challenging achievements keep this game exciting and replayable.”
- “It's a short game (2-5 hours depending on how fast you clear the dozen or so parties), but replayability is guaranteed as you unlock additional characters with different abilities after each playthrough.”
- “The core game really has no replay value other than trying to get achievements.”
- “However, I am not sure how much replayability there really is in here unless you purchase new maps.”
- “While you'd think that makes for replayability, it just kinda... doesn't.”
grinding
121 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
2%
96%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and monotonous, with many players expressing frustration over the repetitive nature of completing levels and achieving objectives. While the initial gameplay can be enjoyable, it quickly devolves into a slow and frustrating experience, often requiring players to restart levels after minor mistakes. Achievements that demand excessive grinding further exacerbate the issue, leading to a consensus that the game lacks the engaging pace and variety needed to maintain interest over time.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “The game feels slow and tedious.”
- “It is legit fun for about the first dozen levels but by the midway point the difficulty just becomes so artificially inflated that whatever early enjoyment you find in the gameplay just turns into nothing but tedious frustration.”
- “After a while, I found it quite frustrating and tedious to start the level all over because somebody spotted me when I had already invested 10 minutes in a level.”
stability
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with numerous players reporting a variety of bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some find the game enjoyable despite these issues, many express frustration over game-breaking glitches, inconsistent mechanics, and buggy achievements. Overall, the game's fun premise is overshadowed by its technical shortcomings, leading to mixed recommendations.
- “On top of that, it should run just fine on even the pokiest of hardware - it runs great on my 1.3 GHz Atom-powered tablet (a keyboard or gamepad is required, mind you) without any issues at all.”
- “The lack of explanation on certain aspects and the buggy achievements soured my experience overall, but I would still say it's worth buying at a discount.”
- “The main and most prevalent problem in the game is the glitches that you encounter.”
- “I don't think you should support a developer who disrespects their customers by selling them a buggy and terribly written game, both of which could have easily been corrected with a minimum effort.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
37%
19%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its nostalgic retro graphics and chiptune soundtrack, evoking a fun and lighthearted vibe reminiscent of 90s video games. While it balances a comedic undertone with darker themes, the overall experience is enhanced by engaging music that complements the gameplay and story. Despite some graphical limitations, the unique atmosphere and engaging sound design make it a memorable addition to any gamer's collection.
- “The game's retro graphics and chiptune soundtrack create a fun and nostalgic atmosphere that is a throwback to classic video games of the 90s.”
- “Amazing atmosphere and idea, 10/10, highly recommend this game!!”
- “The music helps to project a very retro-like atmosphere and feel.”
- “Despite the gloomy atmosphere in the cutscenes, the game is generally pretty lighthearted and careless.”
- “They make me feel awkward and there always seems to be a forced atmosphere.”
- “Graphically, the game isn't a marvel, but it suits the atmosphere of the game.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players find it heartwarming and appreciate its ability to evoke strong feelings, others are disturbed by the juxtaposition of its dark themes and graphic content, particularly regarding the portrayal of violence against women. This contrast creates a complex emotional experience that can leave players feeling conflicted about the game's overall tone.
- “This game is uniquely psychotic, heartwarming, and fun.”
- “Finally, a game that speaks to me on an emotional level.”
- “I must say the story through each level or round is very heartwarming.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with users reporting significant issues such as poor performance and the need to frequently adjust resolution settings. This has led to frustration, as the game struggles to run smoothly despite the capabilities of modern graphics hardware.
- “Nvidia and AMD don't spend all this time making 3D accelerators that run smoothly in 4K for baristas to make low-res 2D games.”
- “When the campaign is completed, and depending on your performance, new characters can become available to you.”
- “The game is an unoptimized mess that forces me to try and blindly change the resolution settings each time I turn it on.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
Character development in the game is visually appealing, with decent level design and attractive character designs, though some players feel that the minimalist pixel art may limit depth. However, the effectiveness of character development is hindered by subpar voice acting, particularly when it fails to match the characters, which is crucial since much of the narrative relies on dialogue.
- “The level design is pretty good, and the character design (from what I've seen, I haven't unlocked them all) is great.”
- “The stages themselves look decent, even with minimalist pixel character design.”
- “I feel like the voice acting really let the game down, as one voice in particular did not seem to match the character portrayed, which is disappointing considering that all of the story and character development come from their dialogue.”
- “I do feel like the voice acting really let the game down, as one voice in particular did not seem to match the character portrayed. This is disappointing considering that all of the story and character development come from their dialogue.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect has received negative feedback due to misleading advertising regarding DLC features, specifically the claim of "local co-op enabled," which has not been fulfilled for an extended period. Users express frustration over perceived dishonesty in marketing and self-promotion.
- “However, I must give it a negative review for now because they have been falsely advertising that the DLC is 'local co-op enabled' for going on a year.”
- “And here, of course, the shameless self-advertising.”