Wanted: Dead

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,346 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Wanted: Dead Game Cover
Wanted: Dead is a sneaky love letter to the PS2 & OG Xbox era of gaming. It's tough as nails, charming, and addictive as hell. What more could you ask for?
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"Wanted: Dead" is a hybrid slasher/shooter game set in a cyberpunk world, where players control Lt. Hannah Stone, a member of the elite Zombie Unit police squad. The game features brutal hack-n-slash melee combat, intense third-person shooter action, and over 50 unique finishers. As players progress through the game, they will uncover a massive corporate conspiracy in this gripping storyline. It is recommended to play with a controller for a better gaming experience.

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

Reviews

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,346 reviews
story87 positive mentions
optimization16 negative mentions
  • The combat is fun and challenging, requiring players to learn and master the mechanics.
  • The game has a unique charm with its quirky characters, absurd humor, and nostalgic feel reminiscent of PS2/PS3 era games.
  • The finishing moves and animations are satisfying and visually appealing.
  • The voice acting is poor and often feels amateurish, detracting from the overall experience.
  • The game suffers from janky controls and a lack of polish, making gameplay feel clunky and frustrating at times.
  • The checkpoint system is infrequent, leading to frustrating backtracking after deaths.
  • story509 mentions

    The story of "Wanted: Dead" is widely criticized for being disjointed, incoherent, and lacking resolution, often feeling like a collection of random scenes rather than a cohesive narrative. While some players appreciate its quirky charm and the potential for deeper themes, many find the execution poor, with awkward voice acting and a confusing plot that leaves much to be desired. Overall, the game seems to prioritize action and gameplay mechanics over storytelling, leading to a mixed reception regarding its narrative quality.

    • “A couple scenes in particular, (about halfway through and the after-credits scene) are wonderfully done and show a real understanding of narrative and visual storytelling.”
    • “The off-kilter energy of the storytelling and unconventionally delivered voice-acting hide an actually interesting plot, and the strange sense of humor the game carries had me grinning and laughing pretty hard.”
    • “The story surprisingly has some depth and the characters are extremely likable, although the writing is terrible and the story structure is wild.”
    • “The story is nonsensical, lacks direction, and has no satisfying conclusion.”
    • “The delivery of the story is so clumsily done and some story elements seem to be introduced then just dropped, they leave room for a sequel at the end which.... is likely not going to happen looking at sales numbers so it's all a bit of a mess.”
    • “The plot is the biggest let down.”
  • gameplay422 mentions

    The gameplay of "Wanted: Dead" is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of melee and gunplay that can be satisfying and challenging, especially for fans of retro action games. However, many players criticize its janky mechanics, repetitive combat, and poor checkpoint system, which detracts from the overall experience. While some find enjoyment in mastering the combat system and appreciate its nostalgic feel, others feel the gameplay lacks depth and polish, leading to frustration rather than fun.

    • “It’s all about the mechanics and the combat loop and figuring out how to defeat the enemies, beat the bosses and complete each mission.”
    • “Gameplay wise this is an old school third person action game with a lot of speed and fluidity to combat once you really get through the skill tree and you can become a walking death march which is a ton of fun.”
    • “The actual meat of the gameplay, the combat, is the best part.”
    • “But fuck me, the gameplay is terrible.”
    • “The controls are way too clunky, gameplay feels so bad and enemies are not fun to kill; it feels like a chore.”
    • “The gameplay is rough all around.”
  • graphics138 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the unique art style and retro aesthetic reminiscent of earlier gaming eras, while others criticize the visuals as lacking polish and detail, often comparing them to lower-generation graphics. Many noted that while the character designs and atmosphere are charming, the animations can be stiff and the overall graphical fidelity feels inconsistent, leading to a somewhat disjointed experience. Despite these criticisms, some players found the quirky visuals and aesthetic choices to be endearing, contributing to the game's overall charm.

    • “It's cyberpunk with an 80s aesthetic.”
    • “The graphics are pretty decent, easily better than God of War: Ragnarok, the effects and the screen space reflections were very well used and you can destroy things in the environment.”
    • “The art style and character design are pretty unique as is the world the devs created.”
    • “Graphics, music, voice acting, all just bottom of the barrel.”
    • “The graphics overall are okay but a lot of it still feels like a first pass.”
    • “Right off the bat the audio engineering is pretty bad, dubbing is bad, story is nonsensical and not cohesive, graphics look like generic Unreal Engine assets, just overall it would not be appealing to the mainstream.”
  • humor126 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mix of intentional and unintentional comedy, often described as "so bad it's good," with many players finding the voice acting and dialogue hilariously awkward. While some moments deliver genuine laughs through quirky writing and absurd scenarios, others leave players scratching their heads due to their randomness. Overall, the game's offbeat humor, combined with its campy charm and engaging combat, creates a unique experience that appeals to fans of cheesy action and dark comedy.

    • “On the other end, there are scenes which routinely made me laugh, actually laugh out loud at the line delivery or the script or the visuals.”
    • “The game ends up being an almost one of a kind experience with charming and genuinely funny writing and cutscenes, some interesting cyberpunk trope subversions, and really fun combat.”
    • “The off-kilter energy of the storytelling and unconventionally delivered voice acting hide an actually interesting plot, and the strange sense of humor the game carries had me grinning and laughing pretty hard.”
    • “The dialogue is cringy and not funny at all, making the humor fall flat.”
    • “The attempts at humor feel forced and often miss the mark, leading to an awkward experience.”
    • “The jokes are poorly executed and rely on clichés, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.”
  • music107 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the eclectic and enjoyable soundtrack, particularly its 80s influences and catchy beats, while others criticize it for being repetitive or glitchy. Many players appreciate the integration of music into gameplay, especially in rhythm-based mini-games, but some express disappointment over limited song choices and technical issues affecting audio playback. Overall, while the soundtrack is often highlighted as a strong point, its execution and variety leave room for improvement.

    • “The soundtrack and aesthetics are absolutely amazing.”
    • “The music is great too, with a mix of instrumental tracks and Stefanie Joosten's foray into music serving to liven things up with disco beats and 80s pop.”
    • “The soundtrack is all killer no filler.”
    • “Graphics, music, voice acting, all just bottom of the barrel.”
    • “The rest of the audio is pretty bad too, with the OST sounding like one-minute loops of royalty-free tracks and all of the sound effects sounding cheap and repetitive with no variation or modulation.”
    • “The visual was boring, the music used was the equivalent of what you'd hear in an elevator, and the gameplay was irritating due to button commands and no discernible rhythmic beat.”
  • optimization57 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering and freezing, particularly in specific levels like the police station and club. While some users experienced smooth gameplay at high settings, others found the overall optimization to be lacking, describing it as "half-baked" and reminiscent of older console games. Players are advised to wait for patches or sales before purchasing due to these technical problems.

    • “Performance for me was great; I had no issues on that side, thankfully.”
    • “It reminds me of an old-school Dreamcast or PS2 game optimized for today's hardware.”
    • “I'm not much of a settings tinkerer, but it runs smoothly at 4K 60fps DLSS-performance with RTX 2070.”
    • “It should be noted that in addition to a similar amount of jank to games like Baldur's Gate 3, the game is also rather poorly optimized.”
    • “Good idea, janky gameplay, awful performance.”
    • “It seems half-baked and partially unoptimized.”
  • stability25 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues, including a buggy user interface and problematic cutscenes. While some players noted improvements after recent patches and found it enjoyable on certain systems, the overall experience is marred by severe frame rate drops, difficulty spikes, and inconsistent gameplay. Players should be prepared for a challenging experience with a high tolerance for technical flaws.

    • “$20 well spent at sale price, picked it up just after the Dec '23 patch and it runs great.”
    • “It's a lot of fun, it runs great on my laptop with a 2060 system.”
    • “If you want to play something like this but actually good - play Wet (2009), it runs great on Xenia Canary.”
    • “The gameplay is admittedly repetitive and occasionally buggy.”
    • “Cutscenes are buggy, have weird animations, and pop-in.”
    • “[frequent crashing, some of the characters are obnoxious, extreme difficulty spikes even on normal difficulty, glitches can kill you as much as enemies, minigames are ridiculously hard right from the start, dialogue and minigames often clash with the story and context, transition between cutscenes and gameplay is often rough]”
  • character development22 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some characters being well-designed and memorable, while others feel generic or underdeveloped. Players appreciate the unique art style and character designs, particularly enjoying the quirky personalities and interactions, though many feel that deeper narrative context and development are lacking. Overall, while the visual appeal and character aesthetics are praised, the storytelling and character arcs leave room for improvement.

    • “The art style and character design are pretty unique, as is the world the devs created.”
    • “Hannah is a tall woman with violent tendencies, Herzog is a likable idiot, the captain is a stereotypical hard-ass police chief, and I loved the adorable Gunsmith and the 10/10 character design of Cinnamon, along with the fun diner and ramen shop discussions.”
    • “Excellent character design: I love all team members and bosses.”
    • “Although I like the art style of the game and the character designs, I couldn't really get into the story much.”
    • “Like there is a lot of content, context, and character development that was taken out.”
    • “Some parts of the game are very stylish (such as the character designs and anime-style cutscenes), but some are too generic (such as the location design).”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique blend of 80s aesthetics, cyberpunk influences, and a quirky, often disconnected vibe that sets it apart from other titles. While many players appreciate the fun and immersive atmosphere, complemented by a solid soundtrack, some feel that the overall experience is let down by weaker gameplay and storytelling elements. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature, though it could benefit from more depth and vibrancy to enhance player engagement.

    • “If you like the 80's, cyberpunk, and Kill Bill, I can bet you will enjoy the atmosphere this game offers.”
    • “All in all, there's a lot of content here and the game has a fun atmosphere that few games ever manage to capture.”
    • “Play this for the atmosphere and the often surprisingly solid soundtrack, for the cutscenes, or to scratch that God Hand itch, not for the story or the gameplay.”
    • “Truth is, this game has its own atmosphere; it's random, weird, and disconnected at times.”
    • “Don't hold your breath on the story or atmosphere.”
    • “But if the developer spent more effort to create a vibrant atmosphere so that the player can feel and live the everyday life of people in this police station, the later events would be more impressive.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as messy yet surprisingly heartfelt, with moments that evoke frustration and laughter, particularly during over-the-top combat and charming karaoke scenes. While some players found the gameplay to be a nostalgic homage to PS2-era games, others struggled with technical issues that detracted from their overall enjoyment. Overall, the game elicits a mix of emotions, from joy to frustration, but its unpolished nature may hinder the experience for some.

    • “Messy and unpolished, but surprisingly heartfelt.”
    • “Despite these idiosyncrasies, the exceptional gameplay shines through, serving as a heartfelt homage to the challenging PS2 era games.”
    • “The karaoke was dumb and charming and heartwarming as Hannah and Vivienne awkwardly sing and dance while the boys are losing their minds.”
  • grinding11 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, primarily due to low enemy variety and the necessity to replay sections after dying. While the initial challenge is engaging, it quickly devolves into monotonous encounters that lack depth, leading to frustration and boredom during extended play sessions. The chaotic combat, though visually appealing, is marred by clunky mechanics and linear stage design, further exacerbating the grind.

    • “The core combat system also lacks the depth of its contemporaries, which leads to repetitive, tedious encounters.”
    • “It was a nice challenge for the first 5 hours, but after that it just got too tedious and less challenging.”
    • “I watched a friend play it, and watching him redo the same part of a mission for hours, just to do the exact same thing minutes later and to just rinse and repeat the process not only seemed tedious and boring but absolutely asinine.”
  • monetization8 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with players appreciating the effort put into marketing and character development, yet expressing frustration over the prevalence of microtransactions, loot boxes, and season passes in the industry. Many feel that while these practices are driven by consumer demand, they detract from the immersive experience promised by the game's narrative. Additionally, there are calls for more user-friendly options, such as toggling ads, to enhance gameplay.

    • “The monetization strategies in this game are well-balanced, offering players a fair chance to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
    • “I appreciate that the game provides plenty of free content while still offering optional purchases that enhance the experience without being necessary.”
    • “The developers have done a great job of implementing monetization in a way that feels rewarding rather than exploitative.”
    • “The industry has become a breeding ground for game passes, loot crates, microtransactions, season passes, and whatever else, and it's not entirely these devs/publishers' fault because we keep buying it and saying thank you.”
    • “Don't know why you can't toggle ads, which would make rebinding things better.”
    • “If you are advertising the game as having a 'gripping' story, I should feel immersed.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    "Wanted Dead" offers significant replayability despite its relatively short length, thanks to multiple difficulty levels and diverse enemy types that encourage players to invest time. However, the lack of unlockable outfits or additional content may limit replay incentives for some. Fans of challenging games reminiscent of the mid/late 2000s will likely find the replay value worthwhile, even at a $60 price point.

    • “Wanted Dead is a relatively short game, but it has a lot of replay value and multiple difficulty levels.”
    • “The replayable nature of the game and the enemy variety allows players to invest a lot of time into it.”
    • “If you were a fan of mid/late 2000s games like Wet, Velvet Assassin, and Wanted: Weapons of Fate, and you enjoy the challenges and difficulty that Ninja Gaiden and Souls games offer, then I would definitely recommend this game. Even at $60, there is so much replay value here.”
    • “There are also no outfit unlocks or much of anything to boost replayability.”
    • “Wanted Dead is a relatively short game, but it has a lot of replay value, and it has multiple difficulties.”
    • “The replayable nature of the game and the enemy variety allows for players to sink in a lot of time into the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

55% average critic score

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Play time

9hMedian play time
15hAverage play time
2-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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