Terminator: Resistance

64%
Game Brain Score Based on 15,564 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Terminator: Resistance Game Cover
Terminator Resistance suffers from a chronic lack of charm that can't even be saved by evoking its hallowed source material.
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Terminator: Resistance is a single-player, first-person shooter set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by machines. Players take on the role of a resistance soldier, Jacob Rivers, as he fights against the relentless killing machines of Skynet. With multiple ways to tackle missions and a focus on strategic combat, the game offers a challenging and immersive experience for fans of the Terminator franchise.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

64%
Audience ScoreBased on 15,564 reviews
story3,072 positive mentions
stability154 negative mentions
  • story8,554 mentions

    The story of "Terminator: Resistance" is generally well-received, with many players praising its faithful connection to the original films, particularly "Terminator" and "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." While some find the plot predictable and the character development lacking, the game is noted for its engaging narrative, meaningful choices that impact the outcome, and a nostalgic atmosphere that resonates with fans of the franchise. Overall, it is seen as a solid addition to the Terminator lore, providing a satisfying experience for those invested in the series.

    • “The story is engaging, with plenty of nods to the original films, and it’s enhanced by meaningful choices that genuinely impact the plot and the fates of those around you.”
    • “The story is thoroughly enjoyable, and I'm saying this as a lifelong Terminator fan.”
    • “The story ties in well with the first two movies and is interesting enough to keep you going.”
    • “Game feels really cheap, lots of reusing areas, music and enemies with very basic cutscenes for a meh story.”
    • “The story is dull and obvious.”
    • “The story is predictable and the claim that your choices matter means that you get obvious good and bad choices maybe 2 or 3 times that if you for some reason choose wrong someone might get it.”
  • gameplay3,483 mentions

    The gameplay of "Terminator: Resistance" is a blend of first-person shooting, stealth mechanics, and light RPG elements, drawing comparisons to titles like Fallout and Metro. While the mechanics are often described as basic and somewhat dated, they are generally functional and provide an engaging experience, especially for fans of the Terminator franchise. However, criticisms include repetitive gameplay, simplistic AI, and a lack of innovation, leading to a mixed reception where the atmosphere and story often overshadow the gameplay itself.

    • “The gameplay loop was addictively fun to me, to the point where I'm ready to immediately start over at a higher difficulty (which I haven't done with a game in years).”
    • “Gameplay is smooth and fun, atmosphere is great, characters are relatable and interesting and the story is involving.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and the game is clearly made with passion, a love letter to the films but manages to stand on its own well.”
    • “Gameplay loop is fine but gets boring after a couple of hours.”
    • “But the gameplay and all other aspects of the game were about as average as it gets: bland, boring, and repetitive.”
    • “The gameplay is slightly janky, I don't know how else to describe it, but at least the keyboard & mouse controls are standard & acceptable.”
  • graphics2,918 mentions

    The graphics of "Terminator: Resistance" have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they feel dated, reminiscent of early PS3 or Xbox 360 titles. While some appreciate the game's ability to capture the aesthetic and atmosphere of the original films, others criticize the visuals for lacking polish and detail, particularly in character models and animations. Overall, the graphics are considered serviceable but not groundbreaking, with a few standout moments that enhance the game's immersive experience.

    • “This game perfectly nails the aesthetic of the future war from the first two movies.”
    • “While the graphics might not rival the most visually stunning games out there, they are still solid and do a great job of conveying the desolate, war-torn landscape.”
    • “The graphics are surprisingly good and the game just sucks you right in.”
    • “What it loses in jankiness, subpar graphics, and wooden NPCs, it gains in atmosphere, quasi-stealth gameplay, and map design.”
    • “Graphics: garbage tier for a game released in 2019.”
    • “The graphics are quite poor compared to most modern games, this doesn't particularly bother me and I find the aesthetic very authentic to the films but if you care about a game having a high graphical quality this might put you off.”
  • music2,411 mentions

    The music in "Terminator: Resistance" has received widespread acclaim for its faithful homage to the iconic soundtracks of the first two Terminator films, featuring both remixed tracks and original compositions that enhance the game's atmosphere. Players appreciate the nostalgic feel and the way the music intensifies key moments, although some noted that the combat music can become repetitive and jarring. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, effectively immersing players in the Terminator universe.

    • “The intensity peaked during the final missions, where the combination of relentless action and the hauntingly beautiful theme song sent shivers down my spine.”
    • “The soundtrack is a beautiful homage to Brad Fiedel's T1 & T2 score, and fits in perfectly with the game and the franchise, and the sound quality in the environments, weapons and explosions are brilliant!”
    • “The music shines when it's using variations of the Terminator theme, which I enjoyed.”
    • “I would have liked more variety when it comes to the music and the soundtrack.”
    • “They are good but while going for a mission if you engage in combat and start to hear the same music over and over it can get tiresome.”
    • “The sound track got insanely boring by the end as it seems there are only a handful of tracks, and a lot of missions use a repeating, yet simplistic, sort of hoppy beat.”
  • atmosphere1,898 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Terminator: Resistance" is widely praised for its authenticity and immersive quality, effectively capturing the dark, dystopian feel of the original Terminator films. Players appreciate the game's sound design, music, and environmental details that evoke a sense of tension and nostalgia, making it a compelling experience for fans of the franchise. Despite some criticisms regarding graphics and AI, the overall atmosphere is considered a standout feature that enhances the gameplay and storytelling.

    • “The game does an excellent job of capturing the dark, dystopian atmosphere of a world dominated by Skynet, immersing players in the gritty struggle for survival.”
    • “It perfectly captures the post-apocalyptic atmosphere of the Terminator series.”
    • “The atmosphere is bleak and captures the aesthetic of the future war depicted in the first two movies, sometimes doing it even better than the films.”
    • “Despite this game feeling amateurish in several different aspects, it manages to remain endearing and entertaining by totally committing to the grimdark atmosphere, something not seen in the franchise since 1991.”
    • “The entire atmosphere in this game disappears right after the first mission (which is actually promising and even teases stealth, which ends up being quite broken useless, really) and after that?”
    • “While it’s true that the world is supposed to be dark & grey, the developers weren’t able to capture the atmosphere that you’d expect.”
  • replayability282 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players noting the presence of multiple endings and variations in play styles that offer decent replay value, particularly through the Infiltrator mode. However, many reviewers criticize the overall lack of substantial replay incentives, citing the game's short length and limited content as significant drawbacks. While some enjoy the experience enough to replay for different outcomes, others feel it lacks the depth and variety needed for long-term engagement.

    • “The wide variation in play styles and multiple possible endings give the game a decent amount of replayability.”
    • “This adds a layer of depth and replayability, making each playthrough feel fresh and rewarding.”
    • “The new update 'infiltrator mode' makes this game even more highly replayable due to the randomized encounters and the new leaderboard score system which measures you on how long you took, what difficulty you played on, how many healing items you used, and how many enemies were killed.”
    • “The game is a bit pricey for the ~15h campaign with no replayability incentive.”
    • “Due to its length and lack of replay value, I couldn't recommend it at full price, but if you bought it on a sale like I did then it's an absolute gem for any Terminator fan.”
    • “The only real knock I have against the game is the limited replay value, but considering this is very much a mid-tier semi-budget release, I can give the game a lot of slack and wholeheartedly recommend it to my fellow Terminator super fans and people looking for a fun short single-player sci-fi shooter.”
  • optimization198 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting smooth performance and stable frame rates, particularly after patches addressing initial issues. While some users experienced stuttering and performance drops, especially in specific DLC content, the majority found the game well-optimized for a range of hardware, allowing for enjoyable gameplay without significant crashes or bugs. Overall, it appears that the game has improved significantly in terms of optimization, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre.

    • “The experience is amazing, smooth gameplay, great performance on my PC.”
    • “Also has impressive and very well optimized graphics; my rig with a CPU/motherboard combo from 2015 can run the game with the settings maxed out.”
    • “The game is greatly optimized; with a middle-aged card, such as GTX 970, you will have no problem in 1920 x 1080 with full settings.”
    • “Couldn't even get past the intro/tutorial area due to heavy stuttering in the game.”
    • “Somewhat poor optimization in the DLC; my rig with an RTX 4080 was sputtering often.”
    • “This game probably ran well, but there seems to be a bad port over to Steam, because I had so much screen stuttering that I had to lower my graphics settings in order to continue playing the game.”
  • stability190 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting significant bugs, stuttering, and crashes that hinder gameplay, while others found it largely stable and enjoyable with only minor graphical glitches. Many users noted that despite its age, the game has improved over time, with some experiencing a bug-free experience, particularly on specific platforms like Steam Deck. Overall, while there are reports of frustrating issues, a substantial number of players also highlighted a solid performance with minimal disruptions.

    • “The game is stable and bug free.”
    • “Unlike Fallout 4, the game is very, very bug free; I didn't have a single crash or unexpected fault whilst playing this.”
    • “It ran flawlessly all the way through - a bug free and well optimized game seems such a rare thing these days.”
    • “The game constantly stutters and freezes, rendering it unplayable.”
    • “Dont buy this buggy mess, I have played until the part where you join Baron's group and enter the metro drains and I can't complete this as it keeps encountering a fatal error and the game shuts down. Also, I can't delete the corrupted saves and rerun the game from the last uncorrupted save; therefore, another crap game I wasted my money on.”
    • “It is buggy as hell, it looks nice and has the feel of the movies, but it is unplayable due to the bugs, hangs, and crashes.”
  • emotional144 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its heartfelt connection to the Terminator franchise and its ability to evoke nostalgia and genuine feelings, particularly during the final mission and key story moments. However, some critiques highlight a lack of emotional depth in character interactions and voice acting, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, the game is noted for its engaging storytelling and the emotional weight it carries, especially for fans of the original films.

    • “The whole journey is worth playing to reach the very last mission, which is an emotional roller coaster for those who always loved the Terminator franchise (T1 and T2: JD).”
    • “They nailed the final mission so hard that I had goosebumps while playing it, and to be honest, it was kind of emotional.”
    • “As a fan and also as a gamer, I enjoyed almost every aspect of Terminator: Resistance; it made me feel like I was part of one of my favorite franchises, this time not as a spectator but as a member of the resistance against Skynet.”
    • “Boring story, boring characters, boring missions, silly sound effects, boring and old gameplay (with crafting, a thing that literally no one asked for).”
    • “Pretty game, painfully linear and boring story.”
    • “This really empty world and has a really boring story.”
  • humor126 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring both intentional and unintentional comedic moments, such as eccentric character dialogue and awkwardly animated sex scenes that many players found hilariously cringe-worthy. Players appreciated the game's ability to address plot holes with humor and enjoyed the lighthearted breaks from the otherwise bleak atmosphere, though the voice acting and some animations were often described as laughably bad. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm to the experience, making it memorable despite its flaws.

    • “I love how they address plot holes and questions fans ask of the franchise in sometimes a subtle or humorous manner.”
    • “There’s a surprising amount of humor sprinkled in too, delivered by some of the game’s more eccentric characters, providing a welcome break from the bleakness.”
    • “Dialogue is enjoyable and I have found myself laughing to myself at many of the things NPCs say in the game, which is something I hardly ever do.”
  • grinding102 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the looting and resource management tedious and repetitive, particularly on lower difficulties. While some appreciate that leveling up is not overly grindy, the overall gameplay experience can feel monotonous, leading to frustration with the game's mechanics and pacing. Despite some enjoyable moments, the consensus leans towards the game being more tedious than fun, especially in its later stages.

    • “It's not too grindy and has just the right amount of fun.”
    • “Even the side missions are well done, in that they are not out of your way, they are not tedious; you only get maybe about 2 during each main mission.”
    • “This game has optimized the looter-shooter to where it's not grindy at all, and I love that.”
    • “That's not fun, that is tedious.”
    • “The looting of all the trade items is so tedious because there's so much of it everywhere; for every enemy you shoot at, you loot 10 tins of beans in between, and it becomes a boring chore.”
    • “I found this game incredibly tedious.”
  • monetization72 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players appreciating the absence of microtransactions, loot boxes, and other predatory practices commonly found in AAA titles. While some reviewers initially suspected it might be a cash grab due to its movie tie-in nature, they were pleasantly surprised by the game's quality and the developers' apparent dedication to the source material. Overall, players express hope for future updates and expansions without additional costs, valuing the game's focus on delivering a complete experience without the typical monetization pitfalls.

    • “Back to the positives; the publisher has avoided any predatory monetization, which means Reef and Teyon have both earned a loyal fan with me, and I will follow anything they do from now on.”
    • “There are no microtransactions.”
    • “I'm really enjoying this game more than some AAA titles full of microtransactions and content paywalls.”
    • “I don't hate the game, but it needs work and I'm not sure if this game is just a cash grab for the title name or if they plan on updating it. I hope to see some well-needed updates and not more DLC that costs more money.”
    • “Have to say, I was pleasantly surprised at just how competent this game actually was considering the general history of terrible adaptations, where you can clearly see it's just a cash grab riding on a high-profile title.”
    • “This cash grab getting 91% positive is a crime against gamers.”
  • character development62 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating the meaningful choices that impact the story and the depth of character interactions. While some critiques mention a desire for more fleshed-out narratives and NPC development, the overall consensus highlights a strong mix of storytelling and character growth, particularly in creating compelling female characters. However, issues such as inconsistent voice acting and generic character designs detract from the experience for some players.

    • “The character development is also surprisingly well-done, with meaningful choices that impact the outcome of the story.”
    • “Character development is a large part of the game, and your choices matter throughout the story.”
    • “The story kept me interested with its rich and deep character development and choices that would affect your outcome of the game.”
    • “Wished the game was longer and the character development and characters' stories were fleshed out more.”
    • “Lack of character development since they don't come out with you on many missions; you don't learn to care about them as much outside of the first chapter of the game.”
    • “However, I think that there could have been a little more character development for each of the NPCs.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

35% average critic score

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Play time

17hMedian play time
19hAverage play time
11-21hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 118 analyzed playthroughs

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