Scathe

Scathe is a serviceable shooter with a few nice touches, but there's little to set it apart from other Doom-likes.

Starting at $18.99Buy now

Scathe is an FPS on steroids. A Hell initiation test like no other for up to four co-op players. Grab insane weapons, find the four Hellstones, mow down everything in your way and escape. If you're good enough...

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

59%

Audience ScoreBased on 284 reviews

gameplay14 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

Fast-paced and engaging gameplay that captures the essence of classic FPS games.
Co-op mode enhances the experience, making it more enjoyable when played with friends.
Visually appealing with good graphics and a solid soundtrack that fits the game's theme.

Requires an Epic Games account to play, which is not clearly stated on the store page.
Gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with limited weapon variety and unclear objectives.
Technical issues such as bugs, poor enemy spawn mechanics, and frustrating lives system detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
75 mentions
19 % positive mentions
77 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with some players finding it engaging and fast-paced, particularly in co-op mode, while others criticize it for being derivative, poorly explained, and lacking meaningful mechanics. Many note that the game feels repetitive and frustrating, with limited maneuverability and a lack of variety in weapons and environments. Overall, while the shooting mechanics are solid, the gameplay experience is marred by a lack of depth and clarity, leading to a disconnect between player expectations and the actual gameplay.
- “As far as gameplay goes, it's fun and keeps you engaged.”
- “The gameplay is the main thing here, and it suited me.”
- “Gameplay is faster and deeper, even more enjoyable while playing on co-op.”
- “I think I will just go back to Konvaz's slaughter maps for Doom Eternal because this just lacks anything that feels like active engagement. The starting level doesn't feel like it's teaching you abstract skills; it's teaching you to hold M1 and move the mouse keys, even less brain-dead than Dark Souls' pitifully easy gameplay.”
- “There are going to be a plethora of mechanics down the line that I'll likely miss, but the game feels too much like it was made to taunt its player instead of warm us up to its various challenges.”
- “There is nowhere to turn around, there is nothing to hide behind. As a result, all pro players will simply stand 3 meters from the next room, aiming at opponents in advance, without entering into a direct dynamic battle. If you consider Serious Sam, for example, as a bad game, then here you won’t be able to play at all. At least in Serious Sam, there are open large locations, but here you are locked in a rectangular box and there is practically no space for maneuver. I just don’t understand what the gameplay of the game is then?”
graphics
45 mentions
71 % positive mentions
22 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many players praising their beauty and smooth performance, especially on high-end systems. However, some critiques highlight that while the visuals are impressive, the environmental design feels lacking and underdeveloped, leading to a sense of emptiness in the game world. Overall, the graphics are seen as a strong point, but they are somewhat overshadowed by other gameplay issues and technical shortcomings.
- “The graphics looked beautiful using 4070 8GB + i9-13900H, and it is so nice to see a game offer you DLSS options.”
- “Game is amazing; graphics were stunning.”
- “We immediately fell in love with it; it's a game I'd highly recommend to anyone at any age. The graphics are beautiful and the storyline is intriguing.”
- “I had to check if the game was in early access, because it feels so undercooked, apart from the visuals.”
- “On top of this, graphics and some technical issues make the game feel rather rough around the edges.”
- “Ok graphics and sounds (although the sounds that play when you're low on health are absolutely bothersome), but where it matters the game really misses the mark: the gunplay isn't good - it doesn't have the 'punch', and everything feels weirdly weightless and unnatural.”
music
37 mentions
49 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its fast-paced and heavy nature that enhances the gameplay experience, while others find it repetitive and unengaging. Highlights include a stellar soundtrack that suits the game's environments and excellent menu music, but there are complaints about the music cutting out during gameplay and a general sense of cheesiness reminiscent of Rammstein. Overall, while some players recommend the music as a standout feature, others suggest it detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “The music suits the environments perfectly, fast paced, heavy and it provides the momentum to keep moving forward.”
- “Soundtrack is stellar, definitely a highlight of the game for me.”
- “I really enjoy it, it's fast paced, fun, easy to get into and the music is great.”
- “The music is cheesy, sounds similar to Rammstein, but I play without it; then the sound effects are very good.”
- “It is trying to be Doom so bad; the game is boring and awful. The noises of the little ball demons make me mute the entire game, even the music is ew.”
- “The music is boring.”
story
21 mentions
24 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The game's story receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and intriguing, particularly in the context of an FPS experience, while others criticize it for being trivial, lacking stakes, and offering minimal lore. Many players express disappointment over repetitive gameplay elements and a lack of depth in the narrative, suggesting that the story may improve later in the game. Overall, the narrative aspect seems to be a hit or miss, depending on individual player expectations.
- “We immediately fell in love with it. It's a game I'd highly recommend to anyone at any age; the graphics are beautiful and the storyline is intriguing.”
- “I really love the storyline and the whole ideation of the game. Highly recommended if you are looking for an FPS storyline game.”
- “The story is good enough and the combat feels visceral.”
- “This is such a trivial and boring experience that has no stakes, no story, no complexity, and no purpose.”
- “There is very little story and lore but nothing to get excited about; maybe there are more later in the game.”
- “Then the next room said 'collect 40 plot items' and I just said no.”
grinding
7 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with repetitive travel between stages and lackluster gunplay contributing to a monotonous experience. The promise of engaging gameplay is overshadowed by the laborious nature of combat and progression.
- “What a tedious and terrible experience.”
- “Traveling between stages can be tedious.”
- “While the gameplay concept of a labyrinthine shooter holds some promise, the gunplay is flat and mowing through enemies is extremely tedious.”
atmosphere
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is described as tense and fiery, perfectly capturing a demonic setting filled with blood and guts. Players appreciate the tight hallways and engaging level design that enhance the feeling of being pursued by demons, while the music complements the overall vibe effectively.
- “The level design that I've seen is also enjoyable to explore/jump around on in firefights, and I think the general 'vibe' of the music and atmosphere is very cool.”
- “Aesthetic & atmosphere - the settings feel demonically appropriate, with lots of blood and guts, and tight hallways to navigate with demons trying to sandwich you.”
- “The settings feel demonically appropriate, with lots of blood and guts, and tight hallways to navigate while demons try to sandwich you.”
- “Overall, the atmosphere felt tense and fiery - just what I'd expect!”
stability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Scathe has been criticized for its stability, with players reporting audio glitches, questionable design choices, and frustrating balance issues at launch.
- “Scathe is a game that launched with some questionable design decisions, weird audio glitches, and some frankly infuriating balance issues.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players report that the emotional impact of the game can evoke feelings of discomfort, particularly towards the conclusion, suggesting a strong atmospheric presence that enhances the overall experience.
optimization
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game features excellent optimization, allowing for full key rebinding and a contemporary aesthetic that stands out among retro titles.
- “Perfect optimization, full rebind of all keys, plus a more modern look than most retro games.”