Risk of Rain

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 14,737 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Risk of Rain Game Cover
Risk of Rain is a great blend of difficulty and approachability
Starting at $2.79Buy now
Get on Steam

"Risk of Rain is a 2D action roguelike game with randomized stages, enemies, and permadeath. Players can find over 100 items to help them fight through hordes of monsters and bosses as they search for the teleporter to escape the planet. The game features online co-op for up to 4 players. Each run offers a new, challenging experience with its procedurally generated content."

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

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 14,737 reviews
music1,308 positive mentions
stability180 negative mentions
  • music1,941 mentions

    The music in "Risk of Rain" is widely praised for its exceptional quality, with many reviewers highlighting it as one of the game's standout features. Composed by Chris Christodoulou, the soundtrack is described as atmospheric, engaging, and perfectly suited to the game's themes, enhancing the overall experience. Players often express a desire to purchase the soundtrack separately, indicating its lasting impact and appeal beyond the gameplay itself.

    • “The soundtrack is heavenly, especially 'Coalescence'; sometimes I get distracted listening to the music while being harassed by imps.”
    • “The music adds to the immersion and kind of feels like Terraria.”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal and the graphics are actually really cool, for being pixel-art based.”
    • “The only redeeming qualities are the music and the art.”
    • “Its music is literally its only redeeming feature, but unlike other games with good soundtracks, it makes no effort to make the rest of the game not awful.”
    • “The music sucks you into an unfriendly world where you must annihilate everything in order to take control back of the ship.”
  • gameplay1,821 mentions

    The gameplay of "Risk of Rain" is characterized by its fast-paced, challenging mechanics that combine roguelike elements with platforming action. Players navigate through procedurally generated levels, facing increasingly difficult enemies as time progresses, which adds a unique layer of urgency to the gameplay. The game features a variety of characters, each with distinct abilities, and a plethora of items that can drastically alter playstyles, ensuring high replayability and a rewarding experience for those who enjoy skill-based challenges.

    • “Gameplay is amazing and tight with infinite replayability and tons of variation, secrets, different item combos and builds and unique characters, and different challenge modes.”
    • “The gameplay is fast-paced, challenging and even punishing at times - and it's exactly what's missing in so many games today.”
    • “The gameplay loop is satisfying and the game is incredibly replayable.”
    • “Afterwards you are stuck in a relatively repetitive gameplay loop with variations only being your class choice, difficulty, artifact choice, and the occasional alternate planet for levels.”
    • “The core gameplay revolves around pressing 3 keys and waiting for your movement ability cooldown to come off so you can use it again to move faster and loot unsatisfying items, most of them are either useless or horrible.”
    • “The gameplay is monotonous, with every character playing the same, using your abilities in a never-changing rhythm.”
  • graphics987 mentions

    The graphics of "Risk of Rain" are characterized by a charming pixel art style that evokes nostalgia while effectively supporting the game's chaotic gameplay. While some players appreciate the simplicity and aesthetic appeal, others find the small character sizes and minimalistic visuals challenging, especially during intense moments. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received for their consistency and ability to convey the game's atmosphere, despite not being graphically sophisticated by modern standards.

    • “Graphically, 'Risk of Rain' embraces a pixel art style that delivers a nostalgic yet visually appealing experience.”
    • “The pixel graphics are so well done and so well animated that it creates a feeling unobtainable with other forms of visuals.”
    • “Risk of Rain is a platformer with rogue-like and RPG elements using a very gorgeous pixel art style.”
    • “Things aren't made better by the microscopic graphics; this is the worst of the 'indie' style, and I'm glad this 'indie games' scam era is finally over.”
    • “The graphics are so simplistic they genuinely hurt your eyes; the camera is so zoomed out that you can barely make anything out even with the max zoom-in setting.”
    • “The graphics are extremely simple (your character is about a dozen pixels), and while the gameplay is fun, the visuals can be frustrating.”
  • replayability904 mentions

    The game "Risk of Rain" is widely praised for its high replayability, attributed to its procedurally generated levels, diverse characters, and a vast array of unlockable items and artifacts that significantly alter gameplay. Players appreciate the unique playstyles of each character and the randomness of item drops, which ensure that no two runs are the same, although some note that the game can become repetitive after extended play. Overall, it offers a compelling mix of challenge and variety, making it a favorite among roguelike enthusiasts.

    • “The level design in 'Risk of Rain' is procedurally generated, providing endless replayability.”
    • “Gameplay is amazing and tight with infinite replayability and tons of variation, secrets, different item combos and builds, and unique characters, and different challenge modes.”
    • “The replayability is enormous: each play feels different because the number of items you can find is so vast, and they combine in interesting ways.”
    • “The game is (obviously) replayable due to its nature, though it gets repetitive quickly, even for a rogue-lite.”
    • “The replayability in this game is quite high, but I am quite disappointed that there seems to be only two to three variants of each level, and they weren't randomly generated.”
    • “While the map randomization, map types, bosses, and enemies are all rather limited, once again compared to other rogue-likes, it does not damage the replayability to any significant degree.”
  • story370 mentions

    The story in "Risk of Rain" is minimal and often described as vague, focusing on the player's role as a crash-landed astronaut tasked with survival and defeating a boss named Providence. While the narrative is not central to the gameplay, it is conveyed through item descriptions and environmental storytelling, allowing players to piece together a deeper lore if they choose to explore. Many players appreciate the atmospheric elements and the subtle hints of a darker backstory, despite the overall simplicity of the plot.

    • “The narrative is open to interpretation, allowing players to piece together the backstory of their stranded survivors and the enigmatic world they're trying to escape.”
    • “The story is a love song to every NES action game, short on narrative but delivering much in the way of information through snippets.”
    • “The atmosphere is phenomenal and the story, yet faint, is very interesting.”
    • “The story is weak and cliché; the hordes are limited and predictable.”
    • “There is no story, it's just gameplay and style done really well.”
    • “The story is minimal, and you're only given a vague idea of what's going on and the personality of the characters, but every aspect of this sci-fi universe that you're given a peek at is truly a joy.”
  • stability189 mentions

    The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent freezes, especially when using specific items like the spike strip, and various glitches that can disrupt gameplay. While some players find the single-player experience relatively stable, the multiplayer component is often described as "excruciatingly buggy," requiring extensive troubleshooting to set up. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable but marred by persistent technical issues that detract from the experience.

    • “Excellent game, nice graphics, not buggy.”
    • “Realistically, it's simple enough, runs great.”
    • “No glitches, no hangups, no unbalanced or OP enemies, no unbalanced or OP items.”
    • “Whenever I get the spike strip item, the game freezes and the music keeps playing, so the game is no longer playable.”
    • “This game is a complete and utter buggy mess.”
    • “Does not seem to run longer than 5 minutes before it completely freezes with the latest update.”
  • atmosphere179 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, combining retro-style graphics, a captivating soundtrack, and procedurally generated environments that evoke feelings of isolation and tension. Players appreciate how the music enhances the eerie and hostile settings, creating a unique and engaging experience that encourages replayability. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its standout features, contributing significantly to its appeal and emotional impact.

    • “The game's levels are procedurally generated and filled with diverse environments, each teeming with perilous enemies and atmospheric lighting.”
    • “Creating an atmosphere unlike any other, along with the music track, evokes this unsettling eerie yet attractive theme persistent throughout every level.”
    • “The atmosphere in this game is unlike anything else; the soundtrack is phenomenal and fits each part of the game seamlessly.”
    • “While it's not a lot, and I'm not going to spoil it, all I can say is it's a lot darker than the story of its sequel, and makes the graphics and the soundtrack work in conjunction to create an atmosphere no game has.”
    • “The atmosphere this game provides is chilling, the way it blends into the sound of the strange alien landscapes and accents every quirk included in the lore behind this game.”
    • “As much as I like the gameplay itself, the sheer size of the world and enemies creates an atmosphere of isolation and loneliness.”
  • grinding171 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and slow, particularly due to the high health of enemies and the necessity to backtrack. While some enjoy the challenge of balancing farming for items and progressing through levels, others feel that the grind detracts from the overall experience, leading to repetitive gameplay. Overall, the game appeals to those who appreciate grind-heavy mechanics, but it may frustrate players seeking a more streamlined or story-driven experience.

    • “Challenge yourself by rushing and not farming items.”
    • “Core gameplay is kind of similar to MapleStory, except good, with no grinding involved at all.”
    • “Levels are huge, which gives the feeling of grandeur, but backtracking, overall slowness, and enemies that grow in HP over time just makes it very, very tedious.”
    • “The game was addicting as soon as you understand how it works, but the situations where you slowly realize that there's nothing you can do are incredibly tedious and unfun.”
    • “The health bloat, randomness, and slow walking speed make this a very tedious game.”
  • humor116 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by absurd situations, darkly comedic death messages, and witty item descriptions that enhance the overall experience. Players often find themselves laughing at the chaotic gameplay and the game's tendency to mock them as they struggle against its challenges. The combination of funny mechanics, quirky character interactions, and humorous lore contributes to a lighthearted atmosphere, making it enjoyable both solo and in multiplayer settings.

    • “It's the kind of game where you'll start with dreams of conquering the alien hordes and end up laughing at the absurdity of your perilous predicament.”
    • “To those contemplating a rainy adventure: embrace the chaos, accept that death is a way of life, and remember that in Risk of Rain, it's not about surviving forever; it's about the epic battles and hilarious mishaps along the way.”
    • “The difficulty ramps up over 40 minutes, and after that the game is laughing in your face, throwing everything it has at you like Freddy Krueger doing his one-joke stand-up comedy routine, and his one joke is having you drown in a vat of snakes and bugs.”
    • “The humor in this game falls flat; it's more cringeworthy than funny.”
    • “I expected a lot of laughs, but the jokes just missed the mark.”
    • “The attempts at humor feel forced and often detract from the overall experience.”
  • optimization47 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on lower-end devices and has improved performance in recent updates, many players report significant lag and performance issues, particularly in later levels and during multiplayer sessions. Some users have noted that the game struggles with high enemy counts and complex graphics, suggesting that it could benefit from further optimization. Despite these concerns, the game's engaging mechanics and accessibility on various systems are frequently praised.

    • “Runs smoothly on any device, very challenging but also intuitive and easy to pick up.”
    • “Jokes aside, it is impressive how well this game is optimized.”
    • “Performance-wise, this game will run on anything more powerful than a TI-84; it runs smoothly even on my measly E5500 Dell work laptop with its 2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, and 400MHz integrated graphics.”
    • “The game is poorly optimized: later levels will probably cause you to lag.”
    • “The biggest con of the game is the performance.”
    • “Super cool game... only problem is that it is poorly optimized.”
  • emotional23 mentions

    Players describe the game as deeply emotional, often leading to tears and a strong sense of attachment. The combination of challenging gameplay and a powerful soundtrack enhances the emotional experience, making moments of victory and loss feel profoundly impactful. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from joy to sadness, creating a unique and memorable experience.

    • “This might sound a bit stupid, but the first time I heard this track in-game while just shredding everything in my way almost made me cry.”
    • “A game that can affect you like that pretty much means you've emotionally invested in it.”
    • “I can't stress how much this game can play with you emotionally (the music writer is a goddamn genius on the last stage).”
  • character development14 mentions

    Overall, the character development in the game is praised for its vibrant and engaging design, with players appreciating the unique and lively character aesthetics that enhance the game's atmosphere. However, some reviews note that the game lacks deep narrative or meaningful character arcs, suggesting that it may not satisfy those seeking a rich story experience. The combination of appealing pixel art, intriguing character designs, and a captivating soundtrack contributes to a compelling visual and auditory experience, despite the gameplay's shortcomings.

    • “And the character design is amazing; each character feels so alive and real.”
    • “The pixel art looks great for reasons beyond just nostalgia; I actually really enjoy the character designs and tiny visible details.”
    • “Numerous enemy types and beautiful character designs make this game a must-buy.”
    • “Now, for kiting enemies... this just leads into horrible character design.”
  • monetization7 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players expressing concern over potential cash grabs and the presence of purchasable items that enhance gameplay. While the game is praised for its value and enjoyment relative to its low cost, there are criticisms regarding misleading advertising and the need for improvements in online features. Overall, players appreciate the co-op experience but feel the monetization strategy could be better aligned with the game's core offerings.

    • “In fact, there's a monetization system in this game that permits you to buy new items that will greatly benefit your character; then there's the experience which, predictably, will give us a level up that'll boost our stats.”
    • “You're close to making something perfect here, Hopoo, but my god... one of the elements of this game's advertisement I found most appealing was the biggest letdown, and you have some pretty serious work still to do on the online elements of Risk of Rain, given you made the co-op experience three years ago.”
    • “+ In fact, there's a monetization system in this game that permits you to buy new items that will greatly benefit your character; then there's the experience which, predictably, will give us a level up that'll boost our stats.”
    • “Too little advertising in the gaming community for this game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

83% average critic score

Buy Risk of Rain

Play time

23hMedian play time
43hAverage play time
10-60hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 87 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games