ChainStaff Reviews
ChainStaff isn't complicated or overly difficult like its inspirations, although it can tire the player at times. However, combining a simple genre with a versatile tool, intergalactic insects, and heavy rock music was a good mix. Anyone looking for genuine fun will find it here without hesitation.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
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Review in Italian | Read full review
ChainStaff embraces the past to fuel its patently insane premise, execution, and creature design. This is one weird game that, through its minor annoyances, should delight retro fans seeking an 2D shooter that frequently surprises.
ChainStaff is the kind of game that sticks with you because of how confidently it commits to its ideas. It takes a single mechanic and builds an entire experience around it without losing momentum or focus. The combination of strange storytelling, flexible gameplay, and striking visuals makes it feel distinct in a crowded genre. Even with some rough edges, there's a lot here to enjoy, especially if you like mastering systems and finding your own rhythm within them. It's also easy to see the appeal for speedrunning with how fluid movement can become. If it catches your interest even a little, it's worth stepping into, because there's not much else that plays quite like it.
This is just a cool video game with novel gameplay mechanics and a consistently heavy metal style. If you came in here wanting another stellar Mommy's Best Games distillation of classic 2D tropes, you'll be satisfied. If you've never heard of Mommy's Best Games before, sign up here for an incredible action platformer that will feel like a long-lost retro classic.
I had a blast with ChainStaff in all of its disgustingly gruesome action-packed glory; it's indie 2D action at its most ridiculous and I love it. đź¦
ChainStaff blends platforming, action, and metroidvania ideas through a spear as deadly as it is versatile, creating a fun, demanding adventure despite its hard-to-digest visual style.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
ChainStaff is a fun yet challenging tribute to the golden age of the run-and-gun genre. Its hand-painted, grotesque aesthetic and pulse-pounding soundtrack feel like stepping into a living '80s rock album, while the titular ChainStaff offers a unique twist as you navigate each stage and face off against massive bosses. With sprawling areas to explore and various upgrade paths to master, ChainStaff encourages multiple playthroughs—an easy feat given how addictive the experience truly is.
With its strange visuals and fresh ideas, ChainStaff screams confidence as a bold and distinctive entry in its genre. The game offers plenty for fans of this style, especially with its loud soundtrack and unconventional concepts, making it an experience that truly deserves your time.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
ChainStaff is an easy recommendation. The titular weapon is one of the most creative tools I have used in a run-and-gun in years. The throwback sci-fi art direction is wild and original. Deon van Heerden's heavy metal soundtrack keeps the energy high from the opening level to the last boss, and six possible endings along with New Game+ give reasons to go back for another run.
ChainStaff is very clear about what it is. It’s a fast, movement-heavy action platformer that leans on skill and consistency. It doesn’t try to do everything, and that’s a good thing. What it does, it does well. If you enjoy games that keep you moving and reward you for improving, this is worth your time. It can be tough at first, but once it clicks, it’s hard to put down.
Bottom line: ChainStaff's gimmicks sets it apart from other indie shooters in this current timeline of gaming, and it pays in loads for it. It's fun to play, doesn't wear out its welcome, keeps its tone light-hearted yet casually gory, and will keep you entertained with ChainStaff shenanigans for hours to come.
ChainStaff is an imperfect yet incredibly inspired game. An action platformer that takes the best of a bygone era and reimagines it with a visual imagination that is all too rare in today’s landscape. It has obvious flaws, including an uneven pace, a few too many frustrating moments, and gameplay that isn’t always flawless. But it also has something that many more polished games lack: a strong, distinctive and constantly surprising vision. It is a title that dares, overdoes it, makes mistakes, but never ceases to be interesting. And in a market full of well-made but soulless games, that is no small feat.
Review in Italian | Read full review
ChainStaff is a fantastic indie game. The run-and-gun madness and lineup of impressive aliens make ChainStaff a fantastic indie game. It is vibrant, loud, and great to play. Although there are moments that’ll test your resolve, patience, and hard work, make this a phenomenal platform experience. Accordingly, I think it’s amazing, and I recommend grabbing a copy from the Xbox store!
ChainStaff rips, no doubt. It has supreme action, nice difficulty, and the only thing more beautiful than its movement is its resplendent landscapes. It ain’t perfect, but it’s perfect for me at this moment, and I hope you try it and find something to love with it as well.
ChainStaff is a game that doesn't try to please everyone. It's aggressive, loud, over-the-top, and deeply mechanical.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Chainstaff starts from an idea so wild it feels born from a particularly inspired night among friends, yet it turns that bizarre imagination into its greatest strength. Between chitinous grappling hooks, empowering parasites, and saving humanity with heavy‑metal fury, Jesse Varlette’s adventure is surprisingly solid, fun, and engaging to the very end. It won’t reinvent shooters, but it definitely leaves a mark — maybe not a butterfly in your stomach, but certainly a pleasant buzz that lingers long after you put down the controller.
Review in Italian | Read full review
I played many games that had crazy premises for alien invasion, but I don’t think I played any with a concept as wild and out there as ChainStaff, from developer Mommy’s Best Games (the same guys behind the seriously under-rated Serious Sam Double D XXL), and I mean that in a good way: This game is insane, wild, disgusting, beautiful, and I just couldn’t stop playing.
The best thing about the game is the ChainStaff system, which gives players many options for movement, combat, and exploration. In addition to creative level design, fun boss fights, and a unique art style, it makes for a consistently fascinating gaming experience.
ChainStaff is a stylish retro-inspired run and gun platformer that stands out with its bold 1960s sci-fi art direction and inventive alien chain weapon, blending classic influences like Contra and Bionic Commando with modern design ideas. While its versatile chain mechanic and branching progression add depth and replay value, uneven pacing, inconsistent combat flow, and technical hiccups on Switch hold it back from fully realizing its potential.