REVEREND

About

REVEREND is a single player shooter game with a horror theme. It was developed by Twisted Sickle and was released on July 15, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

REVEREND is a single-player horror shooter that channels classic 90s FPS gameplay, placing you in the shoes of a disillusioned former reverend battling eldritch and demonic horrors beneath his church. Featuring sensational graphics, a dense atmosphere, gruesome boss fights, and an unholy arsenal, the game rewards exploration with secrets and keys across nightmarish locations. Prepare for intense combat, gore, and twisted environments in this brutal, old-school horror experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 152 reviews

graphics13 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

REVEREND is a charming and atmospheric retro FPS that successfully captures the essence of classic '90s shooters, offering a unique blend of humor and horror.
The game features satisfying gunplay, a variety of creative weapons, and well-designed levels filled with secrets and engaging enemy encounters.
At its low price point, REVEREND provides a fun and nostalgic experience that is perfect for fans of the boomer shooter genre, making it a worthwhile investment.

The game is quite short, typically taking only 40 minutes to an hour to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Some levels can be confusing and poorly designed, leading to frustrating navigation and occasional gameplay issues, such as unclear enemy hit detection.
Technical issues, including a problematic save system and occasional bugs, detract from the overall experience, making it feel less polished than other modern shooters.

graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
59%
8%
The game's graphics are a standout feature, showcasing a confident lo-fi retro style that effectively captures the essence of 90s boomer shooters with pixelated textures and grotesque visuals. Players appreciate the unsettling aesthetic, which enhances the horror elements and atmosphere, although some minor polish issues in level transitions and enemy AI have been noted. Overall, the art style is both nostalgic and immersive, successfully blending campy horror with a unique charm that resonates with fans of classic FPS games.
- “The art style is very true to 90s boomer shooters with digitized looking graphics and a creepy dark style.”
- “Satisfying, stylish and absolutely dripping in atmosphere from the surreal visuals to the soundtrack.”
- “Graphically, the game leans into its lo-fi retro style with confidence, using pixelated textures, flickering lights, and claustrophobic spaces to create a sense of dread and disorientation.”
- “Additionally, while the atmosphere and aesthetic are incredibly effective, some of the level transitions and enemy AI lack polish in comparison to more modern shooters.”
- “I noticed a few minutes in I wasn't asked what difficulty I would like, nor were there graphics options... a pure boomer shooter?”
music
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
57%
14%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric qualities, drawing inspiration from 70s-80s horror and industrial sounds, which effectively enhances the gameplay experience. While some tracks are noted for their short loops and occasional audio issues, the overall soundtrack is described as impactful and engaging, contributing significantly to the game's tense ambiance. Players appreciate the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic FPS titles, with many highlighting the soundtrack's ability to immerse them in the game's world.
- “The music and atmosphere are very 70's-80's horror which I love, and I think the menu/pause music is straight from the 'Day of the Dead' DVD menu screen.”
- “From its pixelated graphics to its adrenaline-pumping soundtrack, this game transports players back to the golden age of FPS gaming.”
- “The soundtrack oscillates between low, ritualistic drones and pounding industrial noise, building a tense backdrop that never lets you feel at ease.”
- “Shooting feels alright, graphics are alright, the music is a thing that exists in the game.”
- “The soundtrack reminded me a lot of the soundtrack seen in the early Serious Sam games, and if I had to nitpick, the first level's soundtrack only played in the left ear for me (bug possibly?), and some of the songs looped quite poorly (blatant when it starts and stops instead of seamless repeat).”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
25%
15%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its raw, immersive quality, blending pixelated visuals with a hellish aesthetic that evokes nostalgia for classic shooters. Reviewers highlight the compelling art style, effective sound design, and a unique mix of dark humor and eldritch themes, creating an engaging experience despite some rough edges in gameplay. Overall, the atmosphere is considered the standout feature, filled with personality and a strong homage to retro horror and gaming.
- “It doesn’t try to reinvent the genre, but it understands what made those early games tick: fast action, dark humor, unique weapons, and strange, atmospheric worlds that feel like fever dreams.”
- “The environments, color palette, music, sound effects, and ambiance create an excellent atmosphere, with ominous synthesizer music reminiscent of John Carpenter’s films.”
- “Additionally, while the atmosphere and aesthetic are incredibly effective, some of the level transitions and enemy AI lack polish in comparison to more modern shooters.”
- “Satisfying, stylish and absolutely dripping in atmosphere from the surreal visuals to the soundtrack.”
- “A retro FPS that costs about a cup of coffee that's oozing with atmosphere and charm!”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
The gameplay of "Reverend" is characterized by its homage to classic "boomer shooters," featuring straightforward mechanics, engaging combat, and a distinctive aesthetic with impressive monster designs. While some players appreciate its charm and nostalgic feel, others note mechanical roughness and glitches that detract from the experience. Overall, it offers a fun, if not groundbreaking, FPS experience that appeals to fans of the genre.
- “From a gameplay standpoint, 'Reverend' is a clear homage to classic 'boomer shooters' like Blood and Hexen, with a heavy dose of surrealism and grotesque art design layered on top.”
- “The weapons in 'Reverend' deserve special mention, not only for their mechanical variety but for their thematic cohesion.”
- “Smooth gameplay, great digitized objects and enemies, and generally just a fun time.”
- “Gameplay is as basic as it comes, which is fitting for the theme but doesn't really do much to elevate it.”
- “The potential for the game to be something good was there; some glitches and bugs were holding it back, like being able to skip a cool boss fight by just running to a gap by the exit, or the final boss being a mechanically confusing mess.”
- “While the gameplay isn’t unique, this isn’t likely to be an issue for boomer shooter fans.”
story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The story is described as minimal and somewhat secondary to the gameplay, featuring a mix of old-school and modern elements with an eldritch atmosphere. Players encounter story snippets through scribbled notes, but many feel that the game’s primary appeal lies in its engaging FPS mechanics rather than its narrative depth. Overall, while the story adds some context, it is not deemed essential for enjoyment.
- “A mix between old-school and modern storytelling - where its eldritch atmosphere will entice you to delve deeper and deeper.”
- “The story bits play out from you reading some scribbled notes before heading into various levels.”
- “I say go forward on this mission to rid the world of an eldritch horror that our eyes can barely make a reality.”
- “The story bits play out from you reading some scribble scratch before heading into various levels.”
- “The story is certainly more of an added bit, with the primary allure of the game certainly consisting of the old-school FPS gameplay.”
- “I wish there was no story.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by dark wit, silly quotes, and clever references, enhancing the overall experience without attempting to redefine the genre. Players appreciate the blend of fast-paced action with amusing easter eggs and unique weaponry, all set in creatively atmospheric worlds. The simple art style complements the humor, making exploration enjoyable and engaging.
- “It doesn’t try to reinvent the genre, but it understands what made those early games tick: fast action, dark humor, unique weapons, and strange, atmospheric worlds that feel like fever dreams.”
- “Fantastic little FPS game, movement and shooting feels good, funny references and secrets.”
- “Simple art and geometry (the game is literally made of blocks), sprite-based elements like items, enemies, furniture, weapons, etc., but exploration feels effortless and even interesting due to the developers' humor - some dumb, silly quotes and a bunch of secret areas with Easter eggs.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is criticized for being somewhat buggy, with various glitches that detract from the overall experience, such as unintended ways to bypass challenges and confusing mechanics during key encounters. While there is potential for a solid game, these issues significantly hinder its execution.
- “The potential for the game to be something good was there; some glitches and bugs were holding it back, like being able to skip a cool boss fight by just running to a gap by the exit, or the final boss being a mechanically confusing mess.”
- “Very confusing, no ammo, hard to see, kinda buggy.”
- “A little buggy.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's brevity enhances its replayability, making it engaging for multiple playthroughs; however, some players may feel that the experience is too short to fully appreciate.
- “While its brevity keeps it tight and replayable, some may find the experience too fleeting.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to return, as the lack of meaningful choices diminishes replay value.”
- “The game offers a single path with minimal variation, making multiple playthroughs feel redundant.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be heartwarming and uplifting, often describing it as wholesome and positive.
- “It's just wholesome, you know.”
- “The story touched my heart in ways I never expected.”
- “I felt a deep connection with the characters and their struggles.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the grinding aspect for its compact and interconnected levels, which are rich in secrets and branching paths. This design allows for rewarding exploration and key-hunting without it feeling tedious.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is noted for its surprisingly effective optimization, suggesting that it runs smoothly and efficiently, exceeding player expectations in performance.
- “Surprisingly optimized.”