Neon Inferno

One of the most beautiful and striking games of the year and a sure bet for any run and gun fan. It could use more content, but it's a blast while it lasts.

Even if it’s a very short game, Neon Inferno is memorable and it brings one of the best side-scrolling shooting experiences in recent times. Zenovia Interactive has improved on the already good Steel Assault core gameplay. Their new game, Neon Inferno, feels more polished, and despite its shorter length, it brings a great story and wonderful moment-to-moment gameplay. Neon Inferno is an ode to the games of a golden era, and an excellent introduction to arcade shooters for those that never played one. It’s a must-have for any fan of action shooters, and a great way to take a break from demanding, challenging games.

Neon Inferno fuses '90s action platformer nostalgia with modern design to deliver a stylish, chaotic 2D shooter set in a vividly dystopian New York. With two unique protagonists and a hybrid combat system that blends run-and-gun with gallery shooting, the game stands out for its character depth, artistic flair, and dynamic level design. Though occasionally uneven, its ambition and retro-futurist energy make it a memorable experience for genre fans.

Neon Inferno is a frantic, hyper-stylish evolution of Zenovia’s Steel Assault. The time, the developers cranked up the spectacle with busy set-pieces, dual-plane combat, and even more attractive pixel art. It can be visually overwhelming, but if you love arcade-era chaos, this one practically begs a play.

Neon Inferno is the perfect Contra - Gallery Shooter mashup. A brilliantly crafted arcade experience made to be replayed, as were the titles of yesteryear.

Neon Inferno is a short but valuable experience. The game has enough action and variety in its settings and enemies to keep the players entertained while not overstaying its welcome. It’s a good game for a short weekend with friends and family, especially if you are not a hardcore gamer and don’t mind its shallow economy and progression system.

Neon Inferno is a blast. It has a lot of enemies you can shoot at, and with good visual design, you can understand how to react to everything on screen.

Neon Inferno is in many ways that delightfully cosy, action-packed, gorgeous tribute to all things 16-bit, and it's so obvious that the creators of the game love the genre, love the old classics, and have sprinkled this love and passion into every little pixel.”

An old-school Run 'n' Gun with a few modern touches, Neon Inferno is a small dose of adrenaline and nostalgia, the kind we need to take us back to a time when everything was simpler and carefree.

Overall, Neon Inferno is a fantastic run ‘n’ gun shooter that’s dripping with style and gritty edge. The stages are beautifully designed, the art style is immediately impressive, and the gameplay is sharp and balanced. Even the soundtrack sets the tone perfectly with incredible synth rock music.

Although Neon Inferno is ultimately limited by its arcade sensibilities, with a short runtime and a generally familiar structure, it largely nails its homage, mitigating some of its superficiality with pixelated mayhem that will keep you entranced. Like its points of inspiration, it understands how to grab your attention and keep it with brutal challenges that will test your dexterity, as you face off against giant robots, the police, and that time when you felt really bad because you accidentally blew up a civilian’s futuristic Honda Civic. You may have already seen much of what this one has in store, but it executes this classic template well enough that you probably won’t mind.

Neon Inferno delivers exactly what it promises: fast-paced action, stylish visuals, and gameplay that blends intense gunfights with strategic moments, thanks to its shift between perspectives and projectile deflections. The bosses are memorable, the variety of situations keeps the pace engaging, and the cyberpunk setting adds the final touch. However, it remains a short and simple experience, more notable for its stylish intensity than depth. Like a modern arcade session, it offers an hour of frantic fun. While not particularly memorable, it’s a game that justifies the time spent—quick, straightforward, and full of personality.