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Tonight We Riot Game Cover

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Tonight We Riot is a single player and multiplayer arcade hack and slash game. It was developed by Means Interactive and was released on May 6, 2020. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Civil unrest awaits as Tonight We Riot drops players into the boots of everyday working class rebels fighting against the oppression of global capitalism run amok in a dystopian future where the few wealthy elite dominate the entire civilized world.Between its solid gameplay, catchy synth music, retro feel, and challenging gameplay, it definitely looks like this is one mob more than ready to put u…

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97%
Audience ScoreBased on 858 reviews
gameplay70 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions

  • The game features fun and satisfying gameplay, allowing players to control a mob of workers and throw projectiles at enemies, creating a cathartic experience.
  • It has a strong political message that resonates with players, promoting themes of solidarity and anti-capitalism, which many find refreshing in the gaming landscape.
  • The pixel art style and soundtrack are praised for their quality, contributing to an enjoyable overall aesthetic and atmosphere.
  • The controls can be clunky and imprecise, making it difficult for players to aim and throw projectiles accurately, which can lead to frustration.
  • The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in just a few hours, leading to concerns about its value for the price.
  • Some players feel that the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth, with a desire for more levels and challenges to enhance replayability.
  • gameplay
    172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Tonight We Riot" has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its unique crowd mechanics and engaging beat 'em up style, while others criticize it for being repetitive and having janky controls. Many appreciate the game's political themes and aesthetics, noting that the mechanics, though simple, can be satisfying and fun, especially when played cooperatively. Overall, while the game offers a fresh take on the genre, its execution may leave some players wanting more depth and polish.

    • “Not only is the gameplay very interesting and enjoyable, but the unapologetic leftist view it has towards direct action and revolution is refreshing in a sea of games that criticize capitalism but fail to promote alternatives.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, the writing is clever and direct in its targets.”
    • “The gameplay is simple, straightforward and fun, the 8-bit style graphics are wonderfully nostalgic, and how can I not love a game about a socialist revolution?”
    • “I really wanted to like this game and I love the idea, but the gameplay is just lacking.”
    • “Janky controls, repetitive (literally spam your mouse button and beat the baddies) and frustrating gameplay, and mediocre graphics and music really don't save this game.”
    • “I have played flash games with better gameplay.”
  • music
    108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy, energetic, and atmospheric qualities, often describing it as the standout feature. The soundtrack is noted for its retro synthwave style, enhancing the game's engaging art and gameplay while complementing its political themes. However, a few users expressed dissatisfaction, indicating that not everyone found the music appealing.

    • “The soundtrack is arguably the best part of the game.”
    • “The music is raw, brutalist and atmospheric, there's a variety of environments and level designs and the crowd control dynamic makes the game more interesting than your standard retro beat-em-up.”
    • “It's got gorgeous pixel art visuals that's not too cluttered in gameplay and striking in cutscenes, the music is nothing but bangers, and the gameplay while somewhat simplistic is compelling.”
    • “Janky controls, repetitive (literally spam your mouse button and beat the baddies) and frustrating gameplay and mediocre graphics and music really don't save this game.”
    • “The music in level 7 made me uninstall it.”
    • “The soundtrack is obviously aiming to be something like Hotline Miami's, but it just sounds like a mess.”
  • graphics
    72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics are characterized by a charming 8-bit art style that evokes nostalgia and fits well with its dystopian theme. While many players appreciate the cute and inviting visuals, some criticize the graphics as simplistic or lazy, suggesting that they rely heavily on retro aesthetics. Overall, the art and sound design are praised for their cohesion and ability to enhance the gameplay experience.

    • “I love the ethos and art style of this game.”
    • “I'm not generally especially into brawlers, but Tonight We Riot is just aesthetically on point, from the music to the graphics to the gameplay it all fits.”
    • “It's got gorgeous pixel art visuals that are not too cluttered in gameplay and striking in cutscenes, the music is nothing but bangers, and the gameplay, while somewhat simplistic, is compelling.”
    • “Janky controls, repetitive (literally spam your mouse button and beat the baddies) and frustrating gameplay and mediocre graphics and music really don't save this game.”
    • “The pixel graphics are beyond lazy, and you can tell the 8-bit style is a real crutch here, and it's being leaned on hard.”
    • “Wish I could like the game, but at its current price it's a 5€ game mechanics with 15€ graphics production value.”
  • humor
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of leftist satire, clever quips, and playful references, appealing particularly to those with a similar political leaning. While many players find the writing and dialogue hilarious, some critiques suggest that not all jokes land effectively, and the humor can feel forced at times. Overall, the game is described as light-hearted and fun, with a unique charm that balances its serious themes with comedic elements.

    • “The various quips, jokes, and item descriptions were pretty funny to me, but maybe that's just my sense of humor.”
    • “The humor is solid, though you may need to be more left-leaning for some of the jokes to land.”
    • “The writing is funny and on-the-nose; it pulls no punches, it's leftist and it's proud of it.”
  • story
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story has received mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging narrative and meaningful themes related to social justice and inequality, while others find it simplistic. Players appreciate the humor and easter eggs woven into the gameplay, though some express a desire for a longer storyline. Overall, the narrative resonates well with those who connect with its message, particularly in the context of worker solidarity and resistance against oppression.

    • “Fantastic setting and storytelling with addicting gameplay.”
    • “Ppu512 and Means TV (both of which are worker cooperatives, by the way) did an astounding job, especially incorporating humor and easter eggs into the gameplay and story while keeping the story's very real and serious undertones and theme.”
    • “As for its story, 'Tonight We Riot' also presented a simplistic view.”
    • “The story is indicative of not only America's police state, but the global inequality of capital.”
    • “There is no real 'main character' as the protagonist of the story is the workers themselves.”
  • replayability
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability through its multiplayer mode, unlockable items, and an endless mode, encouraging players to revisit levels for better performance and to collect all achievements. While the core experience is relatively short, the unique design of each level and the challenge of completing them with minimal worker casualties provide ample incentive for repeated play. However, some players feel that additional content could enhance the overall replay value.

    • “The unlocks themselves add a fair bit of replay value and optional challenge to the game; it's actually pretty difficult to get through most of the levels with enough workers left for them, and all of them change up the gameplay in some way, giving you new weapons and buffs.”
    • “The unlockable gear for completing levels with as few worker casualties as possible incentivizes some nice replay value and makes you think about how to tackle obstacles in slightly less pyrrhic fashion.”
    • “Endless mode adds some extra length and it seems pretty replayable to unlock all of the riot gear/items.”
    • “While the game was long enough to be enjoyable and worthwhile, I would've liked a little bit more content. The game has 4 areas, each with 4 levels and a boss. It took me only an hour and a half to get to the boss of area 3, roughly 4 hours total to finish the game because I was going for 100% (all achievements, which means a few secrets and getting the top ranking on every level). Maybe 1 or 2 more areas would’ve helped, but each level is unique enough to carry some replay value.”
    • “I think setting a higher bar to get 3/3 on a lot of the levels would give the game a lot more replayability.”
    • “Also, the game could have more replayability.”
  • grinding
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be time-consuming and tedious, particularly noting that it may require significant effort to progress, especially for those not accustomed to combat-heavy gameplay. The need for extensive grinding can detract from the overall experience, making it feel overwhelming for some.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Weapon switching was kind of tedious for me.”
    • “I beat the game in 6 hours, but I'm certainly unfamiliar with scroll/combat heavy games, as I'm more of a life sim and farming gamer.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Tonight We Riot" is centered around the desire for catharsis in addressing themes of inequity and injustice, with a preference for democratic and nonviolent solutions. Players find the experience to be both engaging and uplifting, emphasizing a sense of wholesome fun amidst serious social commentary.

    • “Commentary at the end suggests they made 'Tonight We Riot' for emotional catharsis and would prefer democratic and nonviolent solutions to the world's problems of inequity and injustice.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by raw, brutalist music and diverse environments, enhancing the overall experience. The unique crowd control dynamic further elevates the gameplay, setting it apart from typical retro beat-em-ups.

    • “The music is raw, brutalist, and atmospheric. There's a variety of environments and level designs, and the crowd control dynamic makes the game more interesting than your standard retro beat-em-up.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is focused on a unique scoring system that prioritizes saving allies over traditional metrics like defeating enemies or completing levels quickly, aligning with its overall philosophy. This approach may enhance the gameplay experience by encouraging players to engage with the game's core themes rather than just focusing on performance metrics.

    • “The game scores your performance solely on the number of allies you save, rather than enemies defeated or time taken, which aligns with the game's philosophy over the typical metrics of game difficulty.”
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8h Median play time
6h Average play time
2-10h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Tonight We Riot is a arcade hack and slash game.

Tonight We Riot is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac OS, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 6 hours playing Tonight We Riot.

Tonight We Riot was released on May 6, 2020.

Tonight We Riot was developed by Means Interactive.

Tonight We Riot has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked Tonight We Riot for its gameplay but disliked it for its replayability.

Tonight We Riot is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Anarcute, Hammerwatch, Shovel Knight, Iron Meat, The Messenger and others.