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RetroRealms Arcade

RetroRealms Arcade is a great double feature of platformers that is an easy recommendation to horror fans, platforming fans, and is a must play for both.
RetroRealms Arcade Game Cover
76%Game Brain Score
replayability, music
story, gameplay
80% User Score Based on 94 reviews
Critic Score 72%Based on 8 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
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RetroRealms Arcade Game Cover

About

RetroRealms Arcade is a single player platformer game. It was developed by Wayforward and was released on September 13, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"RetroRealms Arcade" is a 16-bit pixel art game featuring over-the-top arcade action with iconic horror characters. Play as Michael Myers from "Halloween" and Ash Williams from "Ash vs Evil Dead" in separate platformer games with terrifying levels and familiar sights from the original films and series. Purchase the Double Feature bundle to receive additional playable characters, Laurie Strode from "Halloween" and Kelly Maxwell from "Ash vs Evil Dead", each with their own play style, story, and achievements.

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Play Modes
RetroRealms Arcade screenshot
RetroRealms Arcade screenshot
RetroRealms Arcade screenshot
RetroRealms Arcade screenshot
Skip User Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 94 reviews
replayability4 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique concept that allows players to control iconic horror characters like Ash Williams and Michael Myers, providing a nostalgic and enjoyable experience for fans of the franchises.
  • The gameplay is fun and challenging, with a good balance of action and platforming elements, making it engaging for players who enjoy retro-style games.
  • There is potential for future content and expansions, with hopes for additional horror franchises to be included, which could enhance the overall experience.
  • The current price is considered too high for the amount of content offered, with only 10 short levels per game that can be completed quickly, leading to concerns about value for money.
  • Technical issues and a lack of diverse character mechanics contribute to a frustrating gameplay experience, particularly with difficulty spikes and clunky controls.
  • The game feels incomplete, with some players expressing disappointment over the lack of voice acting, minimal character interactions, and the absence of a true ending.
  • story
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is simple yet effective, enhancing character development and tying into future intellectual properties. Players appreciate the replayability offered by different characters, which introduces unique plot twists and gameplay mechanics, particularly through crossplay scenarios. Fans of the movies will find numerous nods and inspirations that enrich the narrative experience.

    • “There's tons of nods to the movies and plenty of inspiration from them too, but with their own unique twist, and the story changes for the characters who visit a realm that isn't their own!”
    • “If you're a fan of the movies, you'll want to replay the game over again, especially with crossplay of using different characters, like Ash Williams in Halloween, which creates a different plot twist and gameplay mechanics.”
    • “Other playables should have different stories per each game.”
    • “It slightly changes the story and collectibles, but not much else.”
    • “The storytelling is simple but works very well for the characters and is a great way to tie in future IPs.”
  • gameplay
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Gameplay is described as a mix of fun and frustration; while the music and character crossplay add enjoyment, many players find the mechanics, such as wall jumping and enemy interactions, poorly executed and untested. Despite the initial appeal, issues with precision and level design detract from the overall experience, leading some to feel the game is overpriced and in need of significant improvements. Fans of the movies may appreciate the novelty, but many suggest waiting for patches or sales before diving in.

    • “The music is on point, and the gameplay feels really smooth and fun.”
    • “I'm not even that far into this, and the sounds are boppin', and the gameplay is snappy.”
    • “If you're a fan of the movies, you'll want to replay the game over again, especially with crossplay of using different characters, i.e., Ash Williams in Halloween, which creates a different plot story twist and gameplay mechanics.”
    • “I was really looking forward to this, but this was immensely disappointing. It's obviously unplaytested and incredibly overpriced. It needs to be fixed to even remotely justify the $50 it costs to get both the Halloween and Evil Dead arcade games. The wall jumping is finicky; half the time it takes three or four attempts for the game to even register what you wanted to do. Most of the time, past level two, there are large enemies off-screen that smash the ground and shake the whole screen. If you were touching anything, you will get flung around or knocked down. This makes the precision platforming a test of luck, not skill. It's obvious this was not playtested. I really wanted to push through, but it's not worth it and it's not any fun. The novelty of playing as these characters is cool, but they and the fans deserved a better game. Maybe in the future, on sale, it'll be worth a shot after patches to fix the gameplay and level design issues.”
    • “It hurts me to vote no for this, especially after putting in several hours of gameplay on it.”
    • “The gameplay is a test of luck, not skill, and it's obvious this was not playtested.”
  • replayability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is seen as limited, with players expressing a desire for additional modes such as arcade, permadeath, or speedrun options to enhance the experience. While the game offers a lengthy playthrough for a horror platformer, the lack of varied gameplay modes detracts from its overall replay value.

    • “For the amount of replayability this holds, I feel it's pretty lengthy for a horror gory platformer, and we don't have too many of those.”
    • “Again, just a difficulty mode or an 'arcade' mode where you start on 1-1 and have to finish the game with only a certain amount of lives would be great for replayability.”
    • “If each game had double the current levels and different ways to play (arcade mode, permadeath, speedrun, etc.), it would be a nice addition to make the replayability a bit more exciting.”
    • “For the amount of replayability this game offers, I feel it's pretty lengthy for a horror gory platformer, and we don't have too many of those.”
    • “For the amount of replayability this game offers, I feel it's pretty lengthy for a horror gory platformer, and we don't have too many of those.”
  • music
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is consistently praised for being well-composed and fitting the overall vibe, enhancing the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the smooth integration of music with controls and level design, contributing to a fun atmosphere. However, some users express a desire for a more enjoyable overall experience despite their appreciation for the music and art.

    • “The music is on point, and the gameplay feels really smooth and fun.”
    • “Music is nice, upgrading is nice, unlocking stuff is nice, controls and level design feels nice.”
    • “From what I've seen, I love the art, music, and vibe, and I really want to enjoy it.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be prominent, as levels are notably short and focused on unlocking content, which can lead to a repetitive experience. Additionally, technical issues further detract from the enjoyment of the grinding process.

    • “Levels are extremely short, designed around grinding and unlockables. There are only 10 levels in each game, and on top of that, some technical issues distract me from playing.”
    • “The grinding in this game feels excessive and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I find the constant need to grind for resources to be frustrating and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional response to the game is largely negative, with players expressing disappointment due to unpolished gameplay and frustrating mechanics that detract from the experience. While the novelty of the characters is appreciated, the overall execution leaves players feeling let down, suggesting that the game fails to meet expectations and lacks the fun factor necessary for enjoyment. Many hope for improvements in future updates, but currently, it feels like a missed opportunity.

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72%Critics’ scoreBased on 10 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

RetroRealms Arcade is a platformer game.

RetroRealms Arcade is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

RetroRealms Arcade was released on September 13, 2024.

RetroRealms Arcade was developed by Wayforward.

RetroRealms Arcade has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its replayability but disliked it for its story.

RetroRealms Arcade is a single player game.

Similar games include Iron Meat, NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound, The Rogue Prince of Persia, Contra: Operation Galuga, Mega Man 11 and others.