Gauntlet Reviews

Gauntlet is ranked in the 40th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
IGN
Top Critic
6.8 / 10.0
Sep 26, 2014

Gauntlet pays faithful homage to the '85 original, but doesn't bring the replay value expected in the post-coin-op era.

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6 / 10
Sep 28, 2014

Sadly, the biggest problem with this whole package may be that Arrowhead has already made a truly great Gauntlet tribute anyway, and it was Magicka. There was a game with the freedom to choose its own first principles, while still having Gauntlet's mean-spirited playfulness baked into it. The difference, I suspect, is between being creatively inspired by the spirit and ethos of a legendary design, and being cast as a kind of well-intentioned caretaker.

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5 / 10
Sep 29, 2014

It's certainly not the worst Gauntlet revamp there's ever been, but there's too little substance or variety to satisfy either new fans or old.

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7 / 10.0
Sep 29, 2014

A retro-restoration that's fun with friends for a while, but the repetitive levels and a lack of any relevant progression set the stage for a mundane mix.

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6 / 10
Sep 28, 2014

An old-fashioned game in a newfangled era, Gauntlet does too much and too little all at once.

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8 / 10.0
Sep 26, 2014

Gauntlet is a polished game that does right by its predecessors. It's a great mix of both old and new school sensibilities, and despite the fact that the art style isn't as pronounced as it could have been, the actual core of the game is very sound. With the addition of online play to the series, this one will have legs for quite some time and deserves a spot in the Gauntlet pantheon.

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Oct 6, 2014

There are some neat little deviations from the formula here, but it's far too safe to linger in your memory once you've had your fill of slaying monsters.

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6 / 10
Sep 10, 2015

There are moments in Gauntlet: Slayer Edition that shine. Whether it's successfully taking out a room full of enemies with your three co-op partners or, even better, single-handedly, because your friends already died and now they owe you a debt. These are the moments that people will play for despite its repetitive nature, but that repetition is ultimately the deal-breaker and the other issues only serve to reinforce that there are other games in the genre that do it better.

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7.9 / 10.0
Sep 28, 2014

Gauntlet is an accessible co-op dungeon crawler that's at its best with a group of friends. It may be on the shorter side, but while it lasts it's an unpredictable and memorable experience. Hopefully this is only the first of many steps into the perilous Gauntlet.

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8 / 10
Sep 24, 2014

Although it isn't as deep as other action role-playing games out there, its simplicity is a big part of its charm. It is the kind of game I find myself trying to talk my friends into playing so that we can confront the hordes, battle giant bosses, and fight over gold.

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Unscored
Sep 29, 2014

Don't spend the $20 asking price, but consider it for a weekend jaunt if you can get a sale price on a four-pack.

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Unscored
Sep 25, 2014

With a party of four, it's an enjoyable diversion and the four classes are well balanced and complementary, but the traps, layouts and enemies aren't quite disruptive enough, and even on higher difficulties the routine of combat tests endurance rather than creative solutions.

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90 / 100
Sep 26, 2014

Few games can come close to creating the same mayhem and excitement as Gauntlet can. While not the game for a lone wolf, Gauntlet is all about friends competing for gold and shooting each others' food. From the new hero designs to the variety of enemies and snarky humor, this is one that co-op fanatics won't want to miss.

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Aug 23, 2015

Gauntlet: Slayer Edition on the PS4 is great fun with some friends, but the end-game consists of too much repetition and endlessly grinding for gold coins.

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Drew Leachman
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Oct 8, 2014

I would say pick it up, but if you do, try to at least convince one or two friends to pick it up with you. You'll all have a more enjoyable time together.

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7 / 10.0
Nov 12, 2014

The newest installment in the Gauntlet franchise is a lot of fun, and the gameplay is strongly reminiscent of classic gaming, while taking advantage of some modern conventions. All of the characters handle differently, and each world has a distinct flavor to it. I like how the leveling system works, since it depends on multiple playthroughs- it fits very well with what I expect from a Gauntlet game. Unfortunately, the lack of variety in levels doesn't warrant more than a couple playthroughs. Which really hampers a game that hinges on you and your friends beating it and coming back for more.

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77 / 100
Sep 29, 2014

Overall, Gauntlet was a lot of fun but it still felt like something was missing. Granted it was reminiscent of my own past experiences with the franchise but playing with friends over Skype and Steam wasn't quite the same as hanging out in the living room with four controllers plugged into one console. That said it still evoked the same thrills and competitiveness as before. We fought for treasure, battled for screen control, and raced for crowns and keys. If you have some friends that love to crawl through dungeons or you just want to relive some memories from the past, I'd definitely suggest grabbing a copy or splitting a 4-pack and going on an adventure sometime soon.

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8 / 10
Oct 3, 2014

Arrowhead has managed to capture the essence of the original Gauntlet in this fast and fun co-op experience.

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Oct 5, 2014

Arrowhead made a very true-to-source Gauntlet game, no doubt, but the source is 30 years old, and could use some modern accouterments. Gauntlet is as much fun as it has ever been, but it'll get old fast for those who still remember slogging through the original.

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8 / 10
Aug 17, 2015

We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Gauntlet: Slayer Edition. While playing single player can be fun, this game shines at its brightest when played with friends at its hardest difficulty. Simply put, Gauntlet: Slayer Edition is a great lark about with buddies, and Arrowhead almost hit the bullseye with this one, if only the visuals and music were a bit more interesting.

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