Nuclear Throne Reviews

Nuclear Throne is ranked in the 96th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9.5 / 10.0
Mar 24, 2019

It runs flawlessly in both handheld and docked modes, the pixel art looks great with interesting character and enemy design, offers co-op play, and the amount of variation between each run keeps it fresh as you slam your head against the wall again and again on the way to the throne. The difficulty is absolutely harsh and is sure to turn some off, but feels completely fair, outside of the rare fake chest which can quickly destroy an otherwise promising run. However, no matter how frustrating a death can be, I constantly found myself right back into it without a second thought.

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9.5 / 10.0
Mar 20, 2019

Though it’s pretty clear in places that Nuclear Throne has aged a bit since its original release, its unapologetic degree of challenge and a wide variety of builds still make it one of the best twin-stick shooters on the Switch...

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90 / 100
Dec 14, 2015

A crowning achievement for Vlambeer, and one of the finest action-roguelikes ever made.

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IGN
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Dec 16, 2015

Nuclear Throne is an enjoyably tough run-and-gun with tons of energy and variety to justify hours and hours of replays.

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9 / 10
Dec 10, 2015

Another perfectly constructed neo-arcade game from the makers of Luftrausers, which perfectly marries twin stick shooters with roguelike punishment.

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9 / 10.0
Dec 21, 2015

Multi-layered in its sophistication while being drenched in aesthetic bombast and effortlessly entertaining, Nuclear Throne isn't just Vlambeer's finest work to date, it also happens to be the best twin-stick shooter since Helldivers; even in light of its relatively minor transgressions.

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9 / 10
Jan 8, 2016

Nuclear Throne is one of the greatest rogue-like games that we have ever played: the gunplay is very satisfying, the characters and their creative abilities are wonderfully wacky, and the entire experience has so much variety that it becomes very addictive. If you are a fan of rogue-likes or simply want an outstanding game to play, then we suggest that you let Vlambeer's latest rule over your PlayStation lands, 'cause it's definitely ruling over ours.

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9 / 10
Jan 9, 2016

Nuclear Throne is an addicting game, especially given its simple, yet challenging design. Each mutant feels unique in their special abilities, and the levels feel like a throwback to classic 8-bit designs. I highly recommend it, especially as those capable of overcoming the main game can look into its co-op options or the daily and weekly challenges Vlambeer throws in for fun.

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9 / 10.0
Dec 22, 2015

Balancing demand for careful planning and perfect execution, Nuclear Throne is a frantic funhouse of procedurally-generated carnage.

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9 / 10
Apr 8, 2016

Sets a new benchmark for twin-stick shooters

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9 / 10
Jan 27, 2016

I would recommend Nuclear Throne to anyone that likes video games.

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9 / 10.0
Dec 8, 2015

Nuclear Throne manages to walk a fine line between challenging, with options for the player who wants to succeed in the post-apocalypse, and unfairly difficult, filled with obstacles that will induce frustration for even the most hardened fans of the rogue-like genre.

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Jan 31, 2016

Nuclear Throne's nearly a perfect entry into the roguelike-like genre for anyone who's butt needs a throne to sit and ego needs a beat down.

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8.5 / 10.0
Dec 10, 2015

Nuclear Throne revels in its own madness as a twin-stick shooter that could easily stand shoulder to shoulder with any other in the genre. While the repetitive nature of locales does grate after a while, it's still difficult to not come back for one more game time and time again.

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83 / 100
Jan 27, 2016

"Point, click, boom" in its most distilled form

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8 / 10.0
Dec 15, 2015

In the end, I have come to love and loathe Nuclear Throne. It's one of the hardest, most rewarding games I've ever played. But as satisfying as it can eventually become, I think it is far too demanding for its own good. With additional polish and balancing, this could be a masterpiece in the genre. It's not quite there yet, but it's close.

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4 / 5.0
Dec 27, 2015

Nuclear Throne is impeccably presented and tightly designed. There is enough variety in characters, upgrades and weapons to ensure that playthroughs never get repetitive and its visceral combat is a joy in itself. Its frustrating unfairness, however, holds it back and may alienate even hardcore roguelike fans. Not the heir to Isaac's throne many had hoped for then, but still the best action roguelike of 2015.

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8 / 10.0
Sep 10, 2021

While an older entry in the genre, Nuclear Throne is still creative and fun and feels totally fresh in the sea of bullet hells. It has just enough to it to keep you going, though, by comparison to more robust roguelikes, it has the potential to dry up after a while if you’re not mastering it fast enough. Nonetheless, it’s well worth a dive into, especially with its appearance on Xbox Game Pass.

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7.6 / 10.0
Feb 9, 2016

Nuclear Throne is a thrilling rogue-like twin stick shooter that'll keep you coming back for more.

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7.5 / 10.0
Dec 16, 2015

While the core game can be completed by a skilled player in under an hour, plenty of roguelike randomness and challenges keep you coming back

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