Zombie Vikings

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 164 reviews
  • humor
  • gameplay
  • story
Zombie Vikings Game Cover
A gloriously funny and unabashedly enjoyable side-scrolling hack em’ up, Zombie Vikings is great fun with friends but falls just short of true excellence on account of some glaring visual flaws.
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"Zombie Vikings" is a co-op story brawler game where players control undead Vikings on a quest to retrieve Odin's lost eye. The game features single-player and online/offline multiplayer modes, with over 25 levels set in 8 different worlds. Players can choose from four unique characters, each with their own power moves, and unlock over 40 weapons throughout the game. The game's humoristic tone is further enhanced by its writing from Zach Weinersmith of SMBC Comics.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Wii
  • Wii U
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 164 reviews
humor86 positive mentions
optimization4 negative mentions
  • The game features a humorous and engaging storyline with well-written dialogue and voice acting that adds charm to the experience.
  • The art style is unique and colorful, providing a visually appealing environment that enhances the overall gameplay.
  • Local co-op gameplay is fun and encourages teamwork, with various characters offering unique abilities and playstyles.
  • The combat can feel repetitive and lacks depth, leading to a less engaging experience over time.
  • There are numerous bugs and performance issues, including glitches that can disrupt gameplay and affect enjoyment.
  • The online multiplayer experience suffers from lag and desynchronization, making it less enjoyable compared to local play.
  • humor88 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mix of absurd, dark, and juvenile elements, often drawing comparisons to other titles like "Stick It to the Man!" and "Castle Crashers." While many players find the writing and voice acting genuinely funny, the humor can be hit or miss, appealing to those who appreciate quirky and cringy jokes, but potentially alienating others. Overall, the game is praised for its entertaining story and comedic moments, though some players note that the humor may not resonate with everyone.

    • “The quirky (and dark) humor of this game is a blast the whole way through.”
    • “The humor, the voice acting, the graphics, and the music are all incredibly well done.”
    • “Great humor and fantastic art, as you should expect from the brilliant game development company Zoink Games.”
    • “It doesn't mean he is not funny.”
    • “Filled with absolutely cringey and hilarious humor, you are one of four zombie vikings sent on a quest to get Odin's eye.”
  • gameplay78 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its simplicity and repetitiveness, often reducing it to button-mashing combat without much depth. While the cooperative mechanics and humor are appreciated, the lack of character differentiation and clunky movement detract from the overall experience. Despite its fun moments and engaging visuals, the gameplay may not satisfy those seeking a more complex or challenging experience.

    • “Great local co-op, the story was a bit childish for us millennials sometimes, but that's okay. The gameplay was consistently fun and challenging, yet doable for three casual gamers.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, with great characters, nice artwork, and humorous elements that keep you engaged.”
    • “If you're looking for a jolly action, hack 'n' slash game with great gameplay, superb music, and cool characters that will keep you coming back for more, then look no further.”
    • “And don't get me started on the throwing mechanics - it's meant to be cooperative, but half the time you end up launching your mate into oblivion.”
    • “However, there are also some cons - there are not big differences between the game characters along with the absence of their development, clunky movement in a 2.5D environment sometimes, no health bars for your enemies except bosses, and gameplay based on hitting the primary attack button most of the time.”
    • “The combat mechanics, you know, the hinge of the entire game, feel lazy, more so when stretched over more than two dozen levels.”
  • story72 mentions

    The story of the game is characterized by its humorous and quirky narrative, drawing inspiration from Norse mythology, which many players found engaging and entertaining. While some reviews noted that the overall plot may lack depth, the well-developed characters and comedic elements, including funny cut-scenes and voice acting, significantly enhance the experience. Overall, the story is seen as a strong aspect of the game, providing a lighthearted backdrop to the gameplay.

    • “The story is full of humor.”
    • “The voice acting in the game is really superb and the story shines due to amazing personas displayed by each individual character.”
    • “Zombie Vikings is a joy to play, if not for the story, for the bizarre humor that puts a smile on your face.”
    • “Kinda repetitive, the story feels so long, and the enemy does nothing at all.”
    • “If you don't enjoy this game's story and humor, then what you're left with is a very routine slash-em-up.”
    • “The character development is a nice touch to the game, even though the story as a whole seems lacking in many areas.”
  • graphics67 mentions

    The graphics of "Zombie Vikings" are widely praised for their unique and colorful art style, which combines hand-drawn aesthetics with humorous cutscenes and character designs, creating an engaging visual experience. While many reviewers appreciate the artistic presentation and creativity, some have noted performance issues and graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a strong point, contributing significantly to its charm and appeal.

    • “The artwork is fantastic and the comedy is even better!”
    • “Zombie Vikings manages to really draw you into its world through its impressive visuals and sounds.”
    • “The art style and overall presentation of Zombie Vikings is superb.”
    • “Certainly this game demonstrates clearly that developers can and must do better than lazy retro pixel visuals.”
    • “Setting the graphics options to low stopped the shaking and made the game play smoothly, but the options revert every time I load the game, and it doesn't seem like the game is being actively updated as I've finished the game and still haven't had a response on this bug.”
    • “Performance is not great to be honest but hey my rig is not great to be fair, my 550 ti and i5 4460 can only run this game at normal graphics with 40-60 fps but the game still looks great and this game can kind of get away with a frame rate of below 60.”
  • music32 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy, funky soundtrack that blends various genres like jazz, rock'n'roll, and rockabilly, enhancing the overall comedic and whimsical atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the high-quality voice acting and sound effects, noting that the music complements the game's quirky humor and artistic style. While some mention that certain tracks may not be memorable, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's charm and enjoyment.

    • “Great funky music and characters.”
    • “The soundtrack is one comprised of a very groovy sounding 60's/70s style, the kind that I wish I heard much more of in modern video games actually.”
    • “The artistic styling is superb, the script is hilarious, the soundtrack is top notch and absolutely fitting to the game's comedic nature, each character has their own distinct personality and attributes and the gameplay is as smooth as butter!”
    • “The soundtrack could be better.”
    • “Even with a catchy soundtrack, the only song you’ll remember is the pause menu.”
    • “The music has its own unique flavour.”
  • optimization12 mentions

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, including choppy gameplay and micro-stuttering, even on high-end systems. While some users report stable performance without crashes, the overall consensus is that the game requires urgent optimization improvements to enhance playability. Despite its enjoyable content, the technical shortcomings detract from the overall experience, leading many to recommend waiting for patches before purchasing.

    • “The performance is stable; there were no FPS drops, crashes, or freezes.”
    • “All in all, the cooperative play is a blast, but the glitches and the performance drop the buy price.”
    • “I'd personally wait until they get a patch that sorts out the performance issue above all else.”
    • “This game is so poorly optimized that even on the lowest settings, a 2019 gaming laptop can't stop it from chugging—like really chugging—for a few minutes (which are totally unplayable) every other few minutes.”
    • “The game also has terrible micro-stuttering throughout all the gameplay, which also stinks.”
    • “At this stage of eating save games and the micro-stuttering, I cannot recommend this game after escalation with the dev team.”
  • stability10 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant bugs and issues, particularly in multiplayer mode, which some found unplayable. While performance is generally stable with no major frame rate drops or crashes, graphical glitches and other bugs detract from the overall experience. Overall, players suggest that the game's stability issues overshadow its potential enjoyment.

    • “If you did not play Castle Crashers, spare yourself from playing this buggy game. Go play Castle Crashers instead; it's a much more superior game than this mess.”
    • “Do not buy - buggy and multiplayer is completely unplayable!”
    • “Sadly, the programmers for this mess that was buggy to begin with and becomes an unplayable laggy mess in multiplayer, around which the game and a lot of its elements are constructed, simply wasted this potential gem.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game's replayability is mixed; while it may not be particularly challenging and can be completed in one or two playthroughs, it offers high replay value through numerous side quests available in each level.

    • “The game has high replay value due to the numerous side quests available in every level.”
    • “Each playthrough offers new challenges and experiences, making it a game you can return to time and again.”
    • “The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that no two playthroughs feel the same.”
    • “This is not the hardest game, so you will end up finishing it once or twice (depending on if you have a buddy to play it with), which means the replayability is not the best.”
    • “The game lacks depth, making it feel repetitive after the first playthrough.”
    • “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
  • character development3 mentions

    The character development in the game is appreciated for its strong design and art style, though some players feel that the overall story lacks depth. While the character development adds a positive element, it may not fully compensate for the narrative shortcomings.

    • “The character development is a nice touch to the game, even though the story as a whole seems lacking in many areas.”
    • “Favorite thing: the art style and character designs are great.”
    • “Enjoyed the character design.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players note that grinding in the game can be quite time-consuming, suggesting it may require a significant investment of time. However, the combat mechanics are straightforward and engaging enough to prevent the experience from feeling monotonous.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The combat is simple, but never tedious.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by high-quality sound effects that effectively complement its light-hearted and humorous tone, creating an engaging and enjoyable experience for players.

    • “The sound effects are of high quality and perfectly match the light-hearted and highly humorous atmosphere of this title.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its vibrant world with every detail.”
    • “The combination of stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack creates an unforgettable atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Users feel that the lack of a simple leveling system diminishes their emotional investment in characters, suggesting that such mechanics could enhance the overall experience and connection to the game.

    • “The emotional depth of the characters truly resonated with me, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
    • “I was genuinely moved by the story; it evoked a range of emotions that I didn't expect from a game.”
    • “The game's ability to convey complex feelings through its narrative and character interactions left a lasting impression on me.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

72% average critic score

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Play time

6hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
4-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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