Painkiller Reviews
In the end, Painkiller aims for a complete overhaul of the series to attract a new audience but delivers a disappointing co-op experience that falls far short of its competitors. The campaign is excessively short, and enemies are recycled to exhaustion. Although the combat system shows some promise, it’s severely hindered by repetitive design that gives the impression of a rushed project.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Slick combat can’t save Painkiller’s 2025 reboot from being a lifeless, uninspired shell of the series’ already rough legacy.
Painkiller is a strange game because it is both a return and a new start. On the one hand, it has the kind of fast, hard gunplay that makes arena shooters so fun. But it takes away a lot of what made Painkiller great, like the creepy tone, the sense of adventure, and the gothic grandeur.
If you’re looking for a classic Painkiller experience, this isn’t it. But if you’re looking for another multiplayer experience akin to Left 4 Dead and Back 4 Blood, then this Painkiller is for you. Solo or not, this is an enjoyable, albeit shallow experience. Limited level variety, shockingly low quantity of weapon, but the gameplay itself is quite solid and addictive. The shooting is fun, mods on weapons also give a bit of variety.
If you're looking for a co-op shooter to have fun with a group of friends, Painkiller can indeed be a good choice. However, it's important to take into account the numerous flaws the game has, such as weightless gunplay, easy enemies, and uninspired level design.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Painkiller's reimagining is a complicated beast. It's not a perfect homage to the original, nor is it meant to be. Painkiller is still worth checking out if you take nostalgia out of the equation, and I will recommend it even if I can't particularly say it with a clear conscience.
A lot is going on in Painkiller, which is great and will give many hours of enjoyment. However, I question how long Painkiller will stay relevant in today’s market, especially in the co-op shooter genre. Painkiller has solid mechanics and a sturdy frame in which to build on. I’m thoroughly enjoying my time, but if content doesn’t come out at a pace to keep interest, I fear the player base will dwindle, which would be a shame.
Painkiller franchise returns as a live service co-op shooter, abandoning everything that made the original game special. With no proper campaign, repetitive gameplay, and a worrying lack of content at launch, this reboot is more painful than an eternity in hell itself.
Painkiller is like cheap paracetamol—might work for a short while, but don’t expect miracles. As a chaotic boomer shooter, it delivers some smooth, mindless fun, but lacks the plot, character depth, and content variety to really stick. If you're in for four to five hours of flashy, no-brain blasting, it’s worth a shot—otherwise, you might want to reach for stronger meds.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
This remake of Painkiller certainly tried to evoke that feeling of nostalgia, but ultimately proved to be inconsistent.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
With its main offering being the ability to shoot your way through Purgatory with friends, the shine wears off rather quickly.
The textbook definition of a rental game, Painkiller is a blast to play over a weekend, then never think about again.
The new Painkiller is not a good game. This is not a title that almost succeeded or has untapped potential that modders will fix. This is a short production, poorly made and ill-conceived at almost every level.
Painkiller is a mixed bag. It's a classic case of a reboot that successfully captures the feel of a modern shooter. The moment-to-moment gunplay is enjoyable and player movement is fluid and responsive. However, these strengths are almost completely overshadowed by the game's numerous design compromises such as mandatory co-op and an all too short campaign.
After a series of failed resurrections, Painkiller returns without a head, a tail, a soul, or a single reason for anyone to care. Maybe it’s finally time to let it rest in peace.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
Painkiller is a reboot of the old 2004 shooter that’s now built around co-op for up to three players. You’ll battle hordes of demons in gothic, lavishly detailed environments. Painkiller offers replayability in its loop, but the repetitiveness made me not go for the replay, and I was able to finish it in a single sitting. The mechanics are fast and arcade, but the execution has some serious problems. Solo play is particularly weak due to ineffective bot companions. Teaming up with friends to mow through hordes of enemies is a plus. Enemies just soak up damage without reacting or staggering.
Painkiller is a fast and stylish shooter that delivers plenty of satisfying chaos, but it never quite lives up to its full potential. Its gunplay and presentation are top-notch, offering moments of adrenaline-fuelled (and brutally gruesome) fun that capture flashes of what made the original series so beloved… it just doesn’t have the depth or meat on its bones to keep players hooked in for the long-term. Painkiller is by no means a bad game, but it’s one that feels like it’s still searching for its soul. With stronger content, a little more ambition, and a clearer sense of identity, this could have been a triumphant return, but for now, it’s a fun but fleeting blast through purgatory. Here’s hoping that the developers flesh it out with more content soon, or this return might be short-lived.
Lacking identity, with shallow content and performance issues, Painkiller fails to honor the franchise’s legacy and stands as a completely forgettable experience.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
It could have easily been marketed as a brand new IP set in Purgatory; it would have still been generic, the typical game to be released on Gamepass and enjoyed for a month, but it wouldn’t have felt like an attempt to cash in on a dormant franchise’s nostalgic appeal despite having nothing to do with it.
Painkiller is an odd example of reimaging a series, given it isn’t connected to the original game or featuring any of the characters or structure of the original. This is a co-op roguelite shooter that lacks true replayability and a desire to stick with it. Co-op is a blast, even with rando’s, but much of that satisfaction comes from our love of other games. Despite some incredible gunplay, level design, and a stunning soundtrack, Painkiller has a lot of work ahead to be part of the conversation down the road. It can certainly provide a great time, but it’s a brief spark that can’t keep the flame lit.