Wanted: Dead

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,034 reviews

story62 positive mentions

optimization15 negative mentions

Unique blend of hack-and-slash and third-person shooter mechanics that can be satisfying once mastered.
Quirky characters and absurd humor that add charm to the overall experience.
Fun mini-games and collectibles that provide a break from the main gameplay.

Clunky controls and camera issues that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Inconsistent voice acting and poorly written dialogue that detracts from immersion.
Sparse checkpoints and difficulty spikes that can make the game feel unfair at times.

story
445 mentions
14 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The story of "Wanted: Dead" is widely criticized for being incoherent, poorly executed, and lacking resolution, with many players expressing confusion over the plot and character motivations. While some appreciate the quirky charm and potential depth beneath the surface, the overall consensus is that the narrative feels rushed and disjointed, often overshadowed by the game's focus on combat and mini-games. Despite its interesting cyberpunk setting, the storytelling fails to engage, leaving players unsatisfied with the experience.
- “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 cutscenes add a unique style to the storytelling with the way Stone's flashbacks are depicted in anime style, and the campy voice-over only further adds to the charm of the characters.”
- “Even after beating the game once, I don't know what the 'main conflict' of the story was, who the real villain was supposed to be or why he's evil, or what the heck is going on.”
- “The story is too short and doesn't make sense; there's a lot of characters and plotlines introduced that don't go anywhere, it ends so abruptly... I am pretty sure this was planned to have a longer story, but had to be cut short for budgetary reasons.”
- “The game's story is a complete mess; to my understanding, there was no real plot to speak of, just a series of events and missions that have no relation with one another, they just happened without any real coherence or purpose.”
gameplay
348 mentions
26 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Wanted: Dead" is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of hack-and-slash melee combat and cover-based shooting mechanics that some players find engaging and challenging, while others criticize it for being clunky and unpolished. Many reviewers appreciate the depth of the combat system and the satisfaction of mastering its mechanics, but they also note issues like repetitive enemy encounters, poor voice acting, and a lack of fluidity in controls. Overall, while the game has its moments of fun and excitement, it struggles with technical flaws and design choices that can detract from the overall experience.
- “Extremely entertaining, excellent exciting challenging gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is genuinely great though, despite what you've heard about the game's overall quality and polish, the combat mechanics are tight.”
- “The mix of sword and gunplay is an interesting concept and I think this is a successful first attempt at exploring it, with enough enemy variety, skills that make a gameplay difference, advanced mechanics, and great difficulty balance to make it thoroughly engaging.”
- “The game is super weird and clunky, not just in gameplay but in story.”
- “The gunplay lacks weight, and the shooting mechanics feel outdated, with enemies often taking too many shots to go down.”
- “The gameplay loop can be simply summed up to spamming dodge and shooting enemies from your main weapons that have very limited ammo.”
graphics
117 mentions
26 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Wanted: Dead" receive mixed reviews, with some praising the unique art style and character designs while others criticize the visuals as reminiscent of older console generations, such as the PS3 or Xbox 360. Many players appreciate the game's aesthetic and atmosphere, but note that the overall graphical quality lacks polish and can feel outdated, with stiff animations and occasional graphical bugs. Despite these shortcomings, the game's charm and fun gameplay often compensate for its visual limitations.
- “Graphics and aesthetics are 10/10.”
- “The graphics and atmosphere capture the essence of the wild west beautifully, immersing players in a world that has the potential to be truly captivating.”
- “The graphics are nice and clean, but not cutting-edge.”
- “Visuals and audio graphically, Wanted: Dead is underwhelming.”
- “This game doesn't have much to offer to be fair, graphics are at a level comparable to PS3.”
- “Graphically, Wanted: Dead is rough looking.”
music
110 mentions
35 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the eclectic and catchy soundtrack that features a blend of original tracks and iconic 80s songs, such as "99 Luftballons" and "Maniac." However, some players noted issues with audio glitches, poor looping, and a lack of variety in karaoke options, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the soundtrack is often described as a highlight, enhancing the game's unique atmosphere and gameplay.
- “This game was an absolute banger from the plot to the soundtrack.”
- “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.”
- “The amount of tonal whiplash from scene to scene in terms of line delivery, background music, and subject matter is unlike anything I've seen before.”
- “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.”
- “Not only does it have only one song, and that song is '99 Luftballons', but there are no other songs to collect anywhere in the game.”
humor
95 mentions
99 % positive mentions
-2 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of intentional and unintentional comedy, with many players finding the dialogue, voice acting, and quirky character interactions to be genuinely funny, often in a "so bad it's good" way. The game features absurdist humor, pop culture references, and amusing minigames that contribute to its charm, despite some criticism of the voice acting and overall jankiness. Overall, players appreciate the offbeat humor and find it adds to the game's unique experience, making it enjoyable for those who embrace its campy style.
- “This game is hilarious and I love it!”
- “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 characters are hilarious and I've had quite a few laugh-out-loud moments.”
- “The dialogue is cringy and not funny at all, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
- “The humor feels forced and falls flat, leaving me more annoyed than amused.”
- “The attempts at humor are so bad that they detract from the overall experience.”
optimization
56 mentions
13 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, particularly on PC. While some users noted improvements after patches, others still found the game poorly optimized, especially for AMD hardware. Despite its engaging gameplay, the technical shortcomings have led to a recommendation to wait for further updates or sales before purchasing.
- “The PC version is greatly optimized and runs flawlessly even at max settings, but the graphics aren’t really much impressive, especially compared to other modern action-shooter games.”
- “Optimization on PC is also right as I played on the highest settings.”
- “Performance for me was great; I had no issues on that side, thankfully.”
- “Performance is much better now after a few patches, but still kinda janky.”
- “The optimization could, and should have been improved, especially when dealing with the PC market.”
- “I didn't have enough time to really gauge where the game is going, but there remains one issue that prevents me from recommending this game, which is its very poor optimization and performance.”
character development
19 mentions
42 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is often criticized for being disjointed and reliant on clichés, with many players expressing a desire for deeper narratives. While the character designs are generally praised for their uniqueness and fit within the game's aesthetic, the voice acting and overall storytelling fail to engage players meaningfully. Some reviews note that there are moments of good character development, but these are overshadowed by a lack of cohesive narrative and depth.
- “But later you might be shocked there's good character development and minigames to mix it up (for better or worse, I liked them).”
- “The art style and character design are pretty unique as is the world the devs created.”
- “Excellent character design: I love all team members and bosses.”
- “The narrative feels disjointed and full of cliché tropes, leaving little room for meaningful character development.”
- “I wish there was more character development.”
- “Like there is a lot of content, context, and character development that was taken out.”
stability
19 mentions
16 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
84 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and performance issues, including frame rate drops and problematic cutscenes. While some players have experienced fewer technical problems, the overall consensus indicates that these persistent issues significantly hinder the gameplay experience. Despite its potential, the game's stability challenges prevent it from reaching its aspirations as a standout title.
- “$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.”
- “It runs great on Xenia Canary.”
- “However, as it stands, the game is unfortunately plagued by a plethora of bugs, glitches, and a tendency to crash, significantly detracting from its potential.”
- “Furthermore, there was a sheer number of bugs, such as enemies popping up out of nowhere, characters repeating the same lines over and over again, getting stuck in the same place (as well as enemies), dreadful keyboard controls that change every time you exit the game, the cover system that doesn’t work properly (enemies can still shoot you and your grenades sometimes hit the cover), camera shaking uncontrollably when playing one of the minigames, music sometimes stops during missions, and animation glitches.”
- “However, the frequent bugs and glitches act as persistent roadblocks on this wild ride.”
atmosphere
13 mentions
38 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and unique qualities, drawing inspiration from 80s aesthetics, cyberpunk themes, and a wild west vibe. Players appreciate the intense and skill-based boss fights, as well as the captivating visuals and soundtrack, which contribute to a fun and engaging experience. However, some reviews note that while the atmosphere is strong, other aspects like story and gameplay may not meet the same standard.
- “Picked it up on sale without expecting much, it turned out to have great gameplay and atmosphere.”
- “The graphics and atmosphere capture the essence of the wild west beautifully, immersing players in a world that has the potential to be truly captivating.”
- “Truth is, this game has its own atmosphere; it's random, weird, and disconnected at times.”
- “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.”
- “I will say that despite all of the combat shortcomings, the devs nailed the atmosphere.”
replayability
11 mentions
27 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it offers collectibles, skill trees, and multiple difficulty levels that encourage exploration and engagement, some players find its linear design and lack of optional content limit its long-term appeal. Despite a relatively short campaign, those who appreciate the game's charm and challenge may find enough value to justify multiple playthroughs, though others may feel the price does not match the content provided. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some deeming it infinitely replayable while others see it as lacking in depth.
- “Additionally, the game includes a lot of collectibles which, in turn, give XP for the skill trees and contribute to the lore, further adding to the replayability apart from score attack, etc.”
- “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.”
- “No real replay value.”
- “Replayability appears low due to linear design, limited variability in skills, and an unjustified price tag for content on offer.”
- “There are also no outfit unlocks or much of anything to boost replayability.”
emotional
9 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of *Wanted: Dead* is characterized by its unexpected heart amidst a messy execution, blending dark themes with moments of charm and humor, such as the karaoke scenes. While the game struggles with gameplay mechanics and visual presentation, it evokes a range of feelings from frustration to laughter, particularly through its over-the-top action and unique character interactions. Overall, it presents a complex emotional experience that resonates despite its flaws.
- “Messy and unpolished, but surprisingly heartfelt.”
- “This starts with the main character being a war criminal released from prison, pressed into police service, but with a wholesome work environment and an active dating life.”
- “The karaoke was dumb and charming and heartwarming as Hannah and Vivienne awkwardly sing and dance while the boys are losing their minds.”
grinding
8 mentions
13 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
88 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with players expressing frustration over the long animations and lack of enemy variety that force them to repeatedly clear the same rooms after dying. Many reviewers noted that while the initial challenge is engaging, it quickly devolves into a monotonous experience that detracts from overall enjoyment. The combat system is described as shallow and poorly balanced, leading to encounters that feel more like a chore than a rewarding challenge.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “When you load back into the game, you have to do it all over again—a tedious and slow process, I might add—with a pointless long animation that plays every time. I would refund, but it's too late, and I'm annoyed. Trash.”
- “The core combat system also lacks the depth of its contemporaries, which leads to repetitive, tedious encounters.”
- “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.”
monetization
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
-29 % neutral mentions
86 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some players appreciating the immersive marketing efforts and character promotions, while others criticize the prevalence of microtransactions, loot boxes, and season passes in the industry. There is a sentiment that these monetization strategies detract from the overall experience, especially when gameplay mechanics feel ineffective against enemy designs. Additionally, players express frustration over the inability to toggle ads, which could enhance gameplay fluidity.
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel exploitative, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers a variety of ways to earn in-game currency through gameplay, making purchases optional rather than necessary.”
- “The developers have struck a great balance with their monetization strategy, providing value without compromising the overall experience.”
- “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.”
- “With the sheer amount of extra advertisement put out for the marketing, you can't do anything but smile from the sheer love that was put into all of them for the sake of building the lovely world of the game and expanding on its colorful cast.”