RetroRealms Arcade

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 73 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • replayability
RetroRealms Arcade Game Cover
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"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.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 73 reviews
replayability3 positive mentions
monetization3 negative mentions
  • The game features iconic horror characters and offers a nostalgic 16-bit experience with fun gameplay reminiscent of classic titles like Castlevania.
  • Each character has unique styles and weapons, adding variety and replayability to the gameplay, which is complemented by well-designed levels and collectibles.
  • The art direction, music, and overall presentation are impressive, making it a visually appealing and enjoyable experience for fans of the horror genre.
  • The game is criticized for its high price relative to the short length of the campaigns, with many players feeling that the content does not justify the cost.
  • Gameplay can be frustrating due to clunky controls and a lack of checkpoints, leading to repeated attempts at levels and a sense of unfair difficulty.
  • Some players feel that the characters play too similarly, lacking distinct movesets and depth, which diminishes the overall experience.
  • gameplay12 mentions

    The gameplay features a nostalgic blend of pixel art and classic 2D mechanics, offering fast-paced and addictive action with a mix of combat and platforming. While many players appreciate the fun level design and character crossplay, some criticize the game for its lack of polish, including finicky controls and untested mechanics that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, fans of the franchises may enjoy the novelty, but the gameplay issues have led to mixed reviews regarding its value.

    • “It feels like stepping into a time machine with pixel art, simple yet addictive gameplay, and that nostalgic vibe.”
    • “The basic gameplay is fast and snappy enough with a fair amount of options, the level design is simple and fun, a good balance of combat and platforming, the visuals are very pleasing, all the little references are really fun.”
    • “The music is on point, and the gameplay feels really smooth and fun.”
    • “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. Some of the most finicky wall jumping; 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 these 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.”
    • “There's two games here, both of which share the same framework and gameplay, with different levels for each franchise.”
    • “A lot of old school 2D mechanics in this game.”
  • story12 mentions

    The game's story is creatively tailored to different characters, offering unique twists and nods to their respective movie franchises, which enhances replayability. While the narrative may not closely follow the original plots, it effectively integrates various IPs, allowing for diverse gameplay experiences. Overall, fans of the movies will appreciate the inventive storytelling and the potential for future expansions.

    • “If you love any IP they add to this, then definitely buy it; they’re very creative with the story modes!”
    • “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 either!”
    • “The storytelling is simple but works very well for the characters and is a great way to tie in future IPs.”
    • “Sure, it's got barely anything to do with the plot of the movie (unless a hidden cut exists where Michael Myers murders demon spiders whilst escaping the hospital).”
    • “It slightly changes the story and collectibles, but not much else.”
    • “Other playables should have different stories per each game.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while multiple characters offer some incentive to replay, many players feel that additional modes and longer campaigns are necessary to enhance the experience. Suggestions for improvements include introducing difficulty settings and varied gameplay modes, which could significantly increase replay value. Despite these concerns, some players appreciate the game's length relative to its genre.

    • “The multiple characters also add replayability, which is nice considering the campaigns are really short otherwise.”
    • “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.”
    • “That's some BS right there; if you want any replay value, you have to shell out more cash for extra characters.”
    • “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.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and alignment with the overall vibe, enhancing the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the smooth integration of music with game mechanics, contributing to a fun and engaging atmosphere.

    • “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.”
    • “The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “While the sound design is decent, the soundtrack is forgettable and doesn't enhance the gameplay experience.”
    • “The background music is often too loud, drowning out important sound cues and dialogue.”
  • graphics2 mentions

    The graphics are visually pleasing and effectively complement the fast-paced gameplay, featuring simple yet engaging level design. The visuals are enhanced by fun references to the series, contributing to a solid overall experience in this action platformer.

    • “The visuals are very pleasing, and all the little references are really fun.”
    • “It's just a really solid action platformer wrapped with a series you know, with dialogue, visuals, and characters all referencing it.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with players feeling that it prioritizes profit over player experience.

    • “This game feels like a blatant cash grab, with every feature locked behind a paywall.”
    • “The monetization strategy is frustrating; it seems like they prioritize profits over player experience.”
    • “I can't believe how much they charge for basic content. It really ruins the enjoyment of the game.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional response to the game is largely one of disappointment, as players feel let down by its lack of polish and playtesting, which detracts from the enjoyment of the experience. While the novelty of the characters is appreciated, the frustrating gameplay and design flaws overshadow any potential fun, leading to a sense of regret for the investment made. Overall, players express a desire for improvements before they can recommend the game.

  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be prominent due to the extremely short levels and a focus on unlockables, 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, there are some technical issues that distract me from playing.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
    • “I find myself spending more time grinding for resources than actually enjoying the gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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