Risk of Rain Reviews

Risk of Rain is ranked in the 71st percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8 / 10
Dec 11, 2013

But any time Risk of Rain loses its sheen, you can always start again, with a new character. You can always go online with friends and enjoy the game's robust co-op mode. And starting that new game is always so appealing because of the slow opening. You're free to warm up, to find your first few items, and see where this game is going, before things slowly accelerate into panic, dread and near-inevitable death. Lovely!

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8.5 / 10.0
Dec 23, 2013

Risk of Rain is a great blend of difficulty and approachability

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8 / 10
Nov 18, 2013

Risk of Rain brings roguelike elements to a challenging 2D platformer that glorifies the item hunt.

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Unscored
Nov 26, 2013

[T]he day that I find the final object in the database, I'll most likely be ready to move on for good.

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7 / 10.0
Nov 13, 2013

All things considered, Risk of Rain is a lot of fun. Though it is held back by its technical faults (which can be reasonably expected from a project created by two students), it has the right stuff to elicit the "just one more run" response that roguelike games are known for. With a little more polish, it could be truly great, but as it is now, it's still totally worth checking out.

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Unscored
Nov 15, 2013
► WTF Is... - Risk of Rain ? video thumbnail
Gameblog
Fumble
Top Critic
7 / 10
Nov 21, 2013

Is a survival shooter with clever difficulty mechanisms, forcing you to make difficult decisions between rushing forward and seeking power

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4 / 5.0
Nov 22, 2013

Risk of Rain is a fantastically deep roguelike that excels at offering you opportunities for success but only if you're willing to take them for yourself. It's really amazing how balanced this game feels despite its difficulty. And did I mention the soundtrack? Gorgeous ambient-techno makes this game more akin to Metroid Prime crossed with Binding of Isaac and if that doesn't sound like the best thing ever, I don't know what else to tell you.

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85 / 100
Dec 2, 2013

Whatever downsides Risk of Rain has are absolutely outweighed by the many things the game does right. The gameplay is refreshing and fun, the graphics are charming, the setting is unique, the music is pleasant to listen to. On top of all of this, there's a slew of unlocks on offer that make the game an achievement-addict's dream, and each of the ten available classes (which, I stress, require unlocking in order to acquire) are wonderfully distinct, giving Risk of Rain some serious replay value.

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9 / 10.0
Feb 26, 2014

While frustrations will arise, they're quickly subsided by accomplishment, joy, and amazement that you were really able to live for that long against seemingly insurmountable odds.

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GameSpew
Ben
Top Critic
9 / 10
Apr 20, 2016

The relatively simple pixel art that makes up Risk of Rain's visuals, while minimalistic, is still able to be consistently appealing and, sometimes, even stunning

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7.5 / 10.0
Oct 9, 2018

A lack of clarity plagues both the aesthetics and gameplay. Reaching a place where you know what you're doing isn't an easy task, but getting over the learning curve is worth it. A single run in Risk of Rain is quick, but it's also so addicting that you'll rarely ever play just one run.

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9 / 10.0
May 2, 2016

Risk Of Rain finally gets the console release it deserves, a solid port with improved multiplayer capabilities only improves upon the fun had with the PC version. Must have for those looking for a great couch co-op experience.

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Apr 26, 2016

It's a clever, expertly-designed game that works just as well with buddies as it does alone.

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Jan 2, 2014

Risk Of Rain is a retro-tough indie gem that pumps Roguelike and RPG elements into insane old-school run & gun platforming. You'll love every ridiculously addictive hardcore second of it, probably grinning and gurning like a sweaty lunatic as you do so.

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37 / 100
Jan 8, 2014

Risk of Rain winds up feeling as insubstantial as its pursuing Wisps and free-floating Jellyfish. It looks small to me not because it takes such a wide view, but because I was given such a minor stake in it. The tiny figure of my Bandit character doesn't stand in for the sum of my decisions, or my engagement with rewarding systems of movement and attack. He doesn't begin to represent anything. He's a piece of the landscape, not part of a game.

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64 / 100
Dec 8, 2013

One of the better games currently inhabiting the discarded skin of the roguelike. Doesn't do anything particularly mind-blowing, but it's definitely fun while it lasts.

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