Painkiller Reviews
An uninspired return, frantic and fun, but lacking the soul and depth that made the original Painkiller a cult game.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The 2025 Painkiller reboot feels like a game stuck between two worlds: on the one hand, it delivers fast-paced, straightforward action, a technically polished foundation, and an atmospheric Purgatory setting that’s a lot of fun to play through in co-op with friends. Those who view the title as a modern multiplayer shooter will find solid entertainment, snappy gunplay, and an accessible progression system that keeps you motivated for at least a few sessions. The game works best when you don’t weigh it down with the burden of its own history, but instead see it as a straightforward co-op action title for in-between moments. On the other hand, however, there is an inescapable shadow: the name Painkiller. Fans of the original classic will find little here that tangibly carries on the DNA of the original title. The story remains superficial, the scope manageable, the variety limited, and many elements feel generic rather than iconic. In the end, the reboot isn’t a bad game, but one that was burdened by false expectations. It fails as a nostalgic return, but it works as a light co-op shooter—and that’s exactly where it finds its small but fair raison d’être.
Review in German | Read full review
Painkiller does not completely dishonor the series. It works perfectly as a mindless shooter who knows how to provide the necessary hours of fun. Only it is too thin to be able to count as a full-fledged reboot.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
I understand it's a "reimagining," but it feels completely unoriginal. The developers have taken Doom Eternal, mashed it with Vermintide, added a painfully thin campaign, and tacked on a roguelike mode nobody asked for. All the unique aspects of the original Painkiller are gone. Personally, as a massive fan of the originals, I feel sour playing this. It's Painkiller in name only. That being said… if you have never played the original games, you might love this. If you can get over the name, forget it's a Painkiller title, and treat it like a new co-op shooter spin-off, it's actually a very good game to play. The shooting is fun, it runs perfectly, and it’s a decent co-op romp with friends. It's just not the game fans were waiting for.
Painkiller is easy to recommend with the right expectations. If you want a story-heavy shooter with deep narrative payoff, this is not that game. If you want a polished demon-grinder where movement is snappy, weapons are fun to master, and every mission gives you excuses to paint the floor red, it delivers. I had a great time with it during the campaign, even when I could see the repetition coming.
As someone approaching Painkiller with a fresh set of eyes and no preconceived ideas of what it should be, I can’t say that I found it that much better. I mean, I didn’t loathe it, but I certainly can’t recommend it to anyone, either.
Painkiller 2025 is a game that offers real pleasure in short sessions and genuine frustration over longer ones.
Painkiller on PS5 delivers classic arena shooting, built around quick missions and constant action. The hellish settings sets the mood, and the audio keeps the combat feeling loud and satisfying. I do wish Painkiller offered more content though, after one night I felt like I experience much of what the game has to offer.
Painkiller could be considered the median of all co-op shooters. It offers mindless running and gunning but doesn't go any farther than that. With equal good points and bad points, it's simply a game that doesn't offer anything new to the table.
Painkiller (2025) is a solid, if often flawed, co-op reimagining of a retro shooter that could have, honestly, been called anything else.
A catastrophic failure. Compared to the original, this remake collapses under the weight of its own misguided changes, resulting in a punishing experience that seems beyond repair.
Review in Persian | Read full review
If you want a few hours of low commitment demon slaying with friends, Painkiller does the job and does it with style where it counts most – in your hands and on your triggers. If you are hunting for something deeper, richer, or more distinct in today’s crowded shooter scene, this will probably feel like a stopgap rather than a staple.
Painkiller is an old-school cooperative shooter that's overall fun and quite adrenaline-pumping, sold at a price far from AAA. It boasts a good weapon system, as well as a cooperative experience that's generally enjoyable and satisfying enough. Currently, Anshar Studios' product has some obvious limitations, both conceptual and content-related, which undermine the overall experience. That said, continued support could ultimately make it one of the best options for those seeking a light-hearted and frenetic experience.
Review in Italian | Read full review
As a reboot of the 2004 game with the same name, this is a pretty poor entry. Changing what players loved from an emotional story to a generic multiplayer shooter doesn’t offer the best of gaming. That’s not to say this game isn’t good, it was a tonne of fun and with friends, trying to beat the missions on nightmare, I can see a lot of gamers enjoying this. Luckily, its saving grace is the amazing visuals and snappy gameplay, whilst it may feel repetitive, kept me coming back for more. Some more mission variety would have been nice but for a cheaper overall price at $60AU/$40US, this is a solid multiplayer game.
By distancing itself from its origins, the new Painkiller tries to reach a new audience by leaning into an online, co-op experience similar to many other titles in the genre, but it ends up aiming high while offering very little.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Painkiller is an honest production about its intentions: it wants you to shoot, explode, and customize your arsenal until you find the perfect combination for destruction. In this goal, it succeeds. The combat is satisfying, the weapon customization is robust, and the cooperative sessions deliver the expected chaos. The problem is that, surrounding this solid core, there is little content to sustain the structure. Nine stages across three biomes, repetitive enemies, and predictable level design cause the experience to quickly exhaust its freshness. For those looking for a few hours of unpretentious fun with friends, Painkiller delivers. However, for those expecting a shooter with the legs to last, the game remains trapped in its own purgatory of repetition.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Painkiller combines DOOM’s speed, Back 4 Blood’s cooperative chaos, and its own legendary flair for carnage. The refined weapon system, deep progression, and atmospheric visuals make it a must-play for fans of high-intensity shooters. Though brief in length, its sheer entertainment value and co-op replayability secure its place as one of the best action titles of the year.
Painkiller is a hard game to recommend. It’s certainly not made with the loyal fans in mind and does little to appeal to the new crowd. Even if you’re dead-set on getting on sale, I recommend buying your best mates extra copies because the real painkillers are the friends we made along the way.
The levels all look very similar, the characters play very similarly, and the story is forgettable. However, anyone looking for a classic shooter and who can convince their group of friends to buy "Painkiller" can certainly be entertained for a few hours.
Review in German | Read full review
Painkiller is an enjoyable experience, though one that varies greatly from what many fans were expecting it to be. The gunplay is fun, and in co-op the game can be a good time. However, it suffers from a lack of content and endgame, which may be made worse by the game’s dwindling player count