Rack N Ruin

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 62 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Rack N Ruin Game Cover
Rack N Ruin has some clever concepts that ultimately fall short due to moments of extraordinary frustration.
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In "Rack N Ruin," play as the demon Rack, wreaking havoc in a peaceful world while seeking to impress your demonic overlord. Traverse environments, battle enemies, and solve puzzles to unleash destruction. Players must balance wreaking havoc and sparing innocent lives to progress through the game storyline.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 62 reviews
gameplay9 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The game features a beautiful art style and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • Playing as the villain is a refreshing twist, and the humor throughout the game adds to its charm.
  • The gameplay combines elements of classic Zelda with bullet-hell mechanics, providing a fun and engaging experience.
  • The level design can be tedious, with players often feeling lost and having to backtrack excessively.
  • Puzzles can be frustrating and lack clear explanations, leading to moments of confusion and annoyance.
  • Combat can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with some players finding the gameplay too easy and not challenging enough.
  • gameplay32 mentions

    The gameplay is a blend of 2D Zelda-style exploration and Metroidvania mechanics, featuring bullet-hell combat that some players find engaging while others describe it as bland and lacking depth. While the game boasts a beautiful art style, humor, and a solid soundtrack, many reviews highlight issues with level design, control mechanics, and a lack of clear guidance, leading to a mixed reception overall. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the variety in gameplay and the unique enemies, suggesting that enjoyment may vary based on individual preferences.

    • “A little indie gem, a likable evil main character, old school Zelda gameplay and awesome humor.”
    • “The gameplay, however, is solid and the soundtrack is absolutely amazing.”
    • “Gameplay is fun, because you will kill a lot of different monsters, people and bosses with your fire (your first skill) as you progress on your quest to conquer the world.”
    • “What brings this game down and into a negative review for me is gameplay and level design.”
    • “Gameplay loop is a bit bland.”
    • “Sadly, the actual gameplay is more than boring.”
  • graphics25 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful, hand-drawn art style and colorful aesthetics, which enhance the overall experience. However, some players criticize the character designs as unattractive and note that the graphics can sometimes feel disconnected from the gameplay. Overall, the visuals are often described as whimsical and well-executed, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.

    • “The handcrafted art is pleasing to look at and, contrary to the story of the game, it has a fairly cutesy art style.”
    • “I think the graphics are very well done, and the transitions from the light graphic sets to the dark ones feel good.”
    • “Each area is very unique, the music is great, and of course, the art style is wonderful and whimsical.”
    • “I don't like the art style; the design of the characters and the main character just looks ugly to me.”
    • “It underdelivers on both graphics and voice acting.”
    • “The graphics of the levels and enemies are lacking.”
  • music18 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with standout tracks particularly noted during boss encounters. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to complement the game's aesthetic, creating a whimsical yet engaging atmosphere. However, some feel that while the music is good, it is occasionally misplaced within the gameplay context.

    • “The game's got really outstanding artwork and soundtrack.”
    • “Awesome soundtrack, especially in boss fights.”
    • “Incredibly fun game, excellent aesthetic and quality soundtrack.”
    • “I want to give this game credit for the animation and music, but the gameplay is just your ordinary Zelda clone with nothing significantly interesting; it's not bad.”
    • “The art and music are sublime and whimsical; even when dark and supposedly evil.”
  • story15 mentions

    The game's story is generally perceived as lackluster and simplistic, often described as a goofy take on villainy reminiscent of a Saturday morning cartoon. While the art style is praised for its beauty and charm, the narrative lacks depth and engaging dialogue, leaving players feeling disconnected from the supposed epic quest. However, some reviewers appreciate the humor and lightheartedness of the story, finding it enjoyable despite its shortcomings.

    • “The handcrafted art is pleasing to look at and, contrary to the story of the game, it has a fairly cutesy art style.”
    • “It's a nice twist to shake up the typical story of the genre.”
    • “It always tries to maintain its humor, and as such stays extremely fun throughout its story despite the issues I've mentioned.”
    • “The story and characters of the game are very lackluster.”
    • “You're essentially a Saturday morning cartoon villain trying to start a line of Hot Topic shirts, and you never feel like the exploder of worlds the story claims you are.”
    • “Story is so critical to single-player adventure games, and yet it feels like the devs just gave up on the dialogue.”
  • humor13 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it delightful and engaging, particularly enjoying the witty dialogue and interactions with characters. Others feel the humor can fall flat or be hit-or-miss, depending on personal taste, especially regarding the cartoony and sadistic elements. Overall, those who appreciate the quirky writing and comedic situations, especially in the context of an evil protagonist, tend to have a more favorable view of the game's humor.

    • “A little indie gem, a likable evil main character, old school Zelda gameplay, and awesome humor.”
    • “Despite being a demon, Rack is an adorable character that presents a funny situation in which he thinks himself bigger than he really is.”
    • “My favorite thing about the game is the interactions you have with the other characters in the world; the writing is funny and snappy, and there's even a bit of lore thrown into the mix.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the artistic design is praised, the repetitive nature of enemy respawns and backtracking can make the gameplay feel tedious and cumbersome at times.

    • “Enemy respawns can make getting around a bit tedious, as going through areas a dozen times (lots of backtracking in the game) means you will have to clear out the same enemies over and over. You can dodge past them easily enough, but it's a nuisance.”
    • “Much of this is enjoyable, but sometimes it is tedious.”
    • “Artistically amazing, but tedious.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users giving it a perfect score of 10/10, indicating an immersive and captivating experience that enhances the overall storytelling.

    • “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the world with every detail.”
    • “The game's ambiance creates a hauntingly beautiful experience that lingers long after you play.”
    • “Every sound and visual element contributes to an atmosphere that feels both alive and haunting.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the tension created in high-stakes situations, where imprecise movements can lead to dire consequences, enhancing the player's anxiety and investment in the gameplay experience.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

60% average critic score

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Play time

9hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
7-9hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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