Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 39
  3. Negative: 0 out of 39
  1. Aug 12, 2022
    100
    The art and music are dripping with style, the mechanics are easy to learn and offer enough wiggle room to be challenging without demanding perfection, and the story is full of heart — if a bit corny at times. If this game looks even remotely interesting, don’t sleep on it.
  2. Jul 19, 2022
    100
    It gets its hooks in deep and fast, but the true fun and challenge in Neon White becomes apparent the more you play it.
  3. Jul 7, 2022
    100
    I’ve just rolled the credits as I write this review, and it feels like there’s a hole in me. It longs for more stages, it wants to chase that exhilaration. I’m hoping that someone goads me on Twitter tomorrow, to spur me into rushing back into the early stages. I can’t wait to get back out there with a purpose. Neon White has style. Neon White has intensity. Neon White makes me feel alive.
  4. Jul 3, 2022
    100
    Neon White’s chaotic presentation and somewhat puerile script conceals a game of taut design and striking imagination – a delicious test of skills that generously rewards commitment with exhilaration.
  5. Jun 28, 2022
    100
    Neon White is a video game vision executed with the kind of immense creativity and skill the industry needs more of. Intensely satisfying gameplay combines with a well-executed story, engaging characters and a crisp art style. Every facet compliments another area of the title with a serene cohesion which culminates in an adrenaline pumping, high-octane blockbuster of a game. Neon White is a very strong contender for my game of the year, and if you own a Switch or PC you owe it to yourself to experience this incredible title. Failure is common in Hell, but only through trial can you reach the salvation of Neon Heaven.
  6. Jun 22, 2022
    100
    Neon White is a love letter to turn-of-the-decade internet weirdos. It's full of rule-of-cool anime nostalgia, ear-shredding electronic music, and dialogue ripped straight out of my group chats. It's a genuine game made for an audience rarely prioritised, but even if you don't fit the archetypical person this game was made for, you're still in for the most stylish and satisfying action-platformer I've ever experienced.
  7. 100
    This is a video game about flying around heaven, shooting and dashing through demons, flirting with your other neons, gathering cards that happen to double as weapons, and talking to angels that just so happen to be cats with comically large sunglasses. If any of that sounds even slightly interesting to you, you may have found your new obsession.
  8. Jul 5, 2022
    95
    Neon White nails the “one more try” mentality. With complex and fast levels, great enemy variety, and easy readability, it feels like a fantastic intro to speedrunning. My biggest gripe? I want more! Not that there isn’t enough, but I just can’t get enough of the Neons and the gripping nature of this game.
  9. Jun 17, 2022
    95
    Neon White is a tour de force, combining incredible level design, excellent storytelling, and brilliant mechanics.
  10. Jun 15, 2022
    95
    As suggested by its tagline, ‘made by freaks for freaks’, this game might not win you over if you are not already interested in speedrunning, puzzle-shooters and/or anime-inspired visual novels but, if you even slightly happen to be, Neon White is a bona-fide cult classic with a genre combination made in heaven.
  11. Jun 15, 2022
    95
    Neon White achieves everything it sets out to with remarkable success. Not only is it one of the most entertaining experiences I've played in years, but it also speaks to a highly specific audience many just don't anymore. It's for weirdos, misfits, and dorks. Neon White is one of the best games of the year, and it'd be a colossal mistake not to check it out...If you're able, we highly recommend playing on PC – particularly with a mouse.
  12. Jul 15, 2022
    90
    Neon White is a brilliant, immensely satisfying and stylish hybrid of an FPS and a platformer. It’s gameplay is crazy fast, the level design is stellar, and although the game takes place in Heaven, it’s devilishly addictive. It’s one of the best games of 2022, no doubt in my mind about it.
  13. Edge Magazine
    Jul 14, 2022
    90
    Neon White's story might revolve around a bunch of dead people in the afterlife, but when its magic is upon us it's hard to recall a game that has made us feel quite so alive. [Issue#374, p.106]
  14. Jul 8, 2022
    90
    While the story never fully grabbed me, Neon White is an absolute joy to play, keeping me hooked and repeatedly making me ask myself if I had one more run in me. Even if you’re not the sort of player who usually gets into chasing high scores and leaderboards, Neon White might surprise you.
  15. Jul 1, 2022
    90
    Neon White is flawless from a gameplay perspective and is not only stylish and incredibly satisfying, but a magnetic execution of a fascinating idea. There's nothing else quite like it, and you'd be doing yourself a massive disservice if you don't at least give it a try.
  16. Jun 27, 2022
    90
    As you run, jump, and dash your way through Neon White, you’ll not only find yourself comfortably falling into the natural rhythm of each platforming puzzle, you’ll also find yourself eager to replay stages and beat your previous score, or your friends’ scores, or both.
  17. Jun 24, 2022
    90
    Neon White isn’t just a contender for the title of year’s best action game, but also a fascinating blend of genres, all mixed together to create a truly unique delight. The stellar level design, swift platforming and gunplay, and the terrific challenge in figuring out the optimal demon extermination route work together in harmony to make it a true heavenly delight, all set to a soundtrack that won’t be leaving the heads of players anytime soon. Neon White isn’t just a speedrunner’s delight, but a delight for any gamer in general, and it would be foolish to pass up something so sublime.
  18. Jun 22, 2022
    90
    Although Neon White goes by in a blur, that fast pace is only made greater with excellent level design, fun characterisation, and so many little secrets to find. Though I was expecting to be entertained by Neon White's gameplay for a few hours, its likeable cast and surprisingly sincere geekiness has managed to stay in my mind long after the credits have rolled. It's hard to really grasp its long-term staying power but Neon White has secured its place on many lists for the end of the year.
  19. Jun 16, 2022
    90
    Neon White, behind the sexy suitors and anime villains, underneath the storyline and relationship building, is a game about speedrunning. It’s about learning and replaying, and it’s about beating your friends. It’s a modern iteration of a classic, simple premise, but without perfect execution, a simple premise can easily flop. Thankfully, Neon White delivers nearly flawlessly. Just make sure to take your time with this whirlwind ride, you’ll thank me for it.
  20. Jun 15, 2022
    90
    Neon White is an absolute delight of a speed-running game. It's easy to pick up and play, and it has enough bite that you need to master how to shave off a few seconds from your time to proceed. More importantly, it feels really good to do so. The plot is fun, if not groundbreaking, and the likeable characters keep you invested. Aside from some backtracking that I wasn't fond of, Neon White hits all the marks and hits them well. Just be prepared to start playing and discover that eight hours have flown by.
  21. Jun 15, 2022
    90
    Neon White is a fun, immediate but challenging game with perfect design. The plot is enjoyable and dances between comic and dramatic, always proving interesting.
  22. Jun 15, 2022
    90
    Neon White is as addictive as it is challenging, with plenty of replayability and varied gameplay, looking gorgeous at every step. It's a magnificent take on the FPS-genre, building complex and thrilling levels where simply pulling the trigger isn't enough.
  23. Jun 15, 2022
    90
    Neon White is a combination of genres that probably shouldn’t work, yet I had a fantastic time playing. Each stage tests your platforming skills, and new cards keep traversal fresh. The speed and level design are impeccable, but I couldn’t help but feel burnt out after multiple replays in some areas. Regardless, the character writing grounds you in this unique space and urges you to complete every optional mission to unlock everything this game offers.
  24. Jun 15, 2022
    90
    Neon White is a stylish, unique title that’s sure to see a dedicated community of speed runners and action game fans alike flock to it. It’s like nothing I’ve played before, and I can’t stop thinking about its lucid but responsive gameplay even after playing for hours on end.
  25. Jun 15, 2022
    90
    Neon White perfectly captures the sense of speed without compromising on accuracy or enjoyment. It’s a ride that’s worth playing, whether to appreciate its finely tuned level design, its enjoyable narrative or that sense of accomplishment when you best a run on the first try.
  26. Jun 15, 2022
    88
    Neon White is everything you want from a speedrunning game: fast, super precise, well structured and built around short and various levels. This alone would be enough to recommend it, but the package is completed with a unique artistic style, a valuable writing and a clearly original and strange game design that mixes together visual novel, dating sim, first person shooter and platformer. Some very small technical uncertainty in the repetition of the attempts does not affect the overall quality.
  27. Jul 3, 2022
    85
    Neon White is one of those games you wish you knew about when they were red hot. Its a game that puts everything that he has on gameplay, and it works marvelously. If you enjoy fast paced shooting and like a good challenge, you should definitely try this game.
  28. Jun 27, 2022
    85
    You might love or loathe Neon White's willfully cringe anime storytelling, but these blistering platforming time trials are a heavenly delight.
  29. Jun 24, 2022
    85
    Neon White stands out for its gameplay that allows you to enjoy hyper speed action with simple maneuver. Even though who are not familiar with speedruns can enjoy it without burden, obtaining ace medals is challenging enough for skilled gamer as well. Meanwhile, a bit awkward Korean localization makes it difficult to fully immerse into characters.
  30. Jun 16, 2022
    85
    Neon White is a truly unique first-person action experience. With its clever level design and Soul Card system, chaining together demon-slaying and platforming to get to the goal the quickest is a breeze. The game’s compelling cast and setting draw you into its story, and the wealth of side content and drive to improve on one’s scores will keep you coming back. Even its sluggish boss fights and somewhat samey visual style doesn’t do much to hold the game back. If you are looking for a truly unique indie action title, you should definitely check out Neon White.
  31. Jun 15, 2022
    85
    If shoving Toonami and the Titanfall 2 Pilot’s Gauntlet into a blender and turning it to the highest speed sounds like a good time, then Neon White might be what you’re looking for. It’s a blood-pumping, speed-infused anime shooter with style and a decent bit of heart. While it’s short and sweet, Neon White gives just enough to get the player keen on shaving off seconds and fractions of seconds until they are, indeed, a speedrunning freak. For anyone who likes to go fast, that’s at least worth the price of admission.
  32. Jan 25, 2023
    83
    Neon White has perfected its simple and unique shooter concept. It won't win any awards for its story.
  33. 80
    Neon White is going to make more than a few people realize they’re speedrunners at heart. Its brand of competition with the self is enthralling, and it's lifted to greater heights by its presentation, music, and mechanics.
  34. Jul 5, 2022
    80
    Part visual novel, part lightning-fast FPS platformer, Neon White's angst-ridden assassins are unbearable but its airtight level design and fantastic sense of momentum ensure its gameplay is something to celebrate.
  35. Jun 27, 2022
    80
    Neon White is a rare example of a game that is basically almost impossible to put down.
  36. Jun 16, 2022
    80
    As long as players know what they’re getting into With Neon White, chances are they’ll have a brilliant time. It’s got a clean visual style, a brilliant soundtrack, and gameplay that’s challenging but moreish. Add in a story that will keep you interested in uncovering the fate of Neon White and his acquaintances, and you have one of the most interesting releases of the year so far.
  37. Jun 15, 2022
    80
    A stylish and brilliantly designed blend of first person shooter and platformer, which nails the compelling and addictive chase for the perfect run.
  38. Jun 15, 2022
    80
    Neon White takes some big swings with its card-shooter/platformer premise and fortunately doesn’t miss. Its execution-heavy action is wildly fast and fun, pushing players to complete complex demon-slaying gauntlets that pepper in exciting twists through the game’s last moments. Levels can feel disappointingly linear and longer stages can drag the momentum down, but the action is largely satisfying from start to finish. That would be enough to make this a worthwhile package, but its surprisingly thoughtful commentary on spirituality and strong late-game hooks make this a game worthy of divine judgment.
  39. Jun 15, 2022
    80
    Neon White was designed with a clear philosophy in mind and it shows. It’s about smooth movement, interesting level design, creative puzzle solutions and most of all, speed. Those looking for a shooter may be disappointed, but players who are looking for the aforementioned attributes will certainly not be. Amusing characters and a lighthearted tone are just icing on the cake on this very well-designed platformer. If you enjoy the game’s first level, then you likely won’t be dropping Neon White any time soon.
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.
  1. Jun 15, 2022
    With airtight controls, smooth speedrunning and a big helping of anime-inspired flair, few games can keep up with Neon White's pace. [Eurogamer Recommended]
  2. Jun 28, 2022
    Game lead Ben Esposito has described Neon White as “for freaks, by freaks.” And yet, identifying as a freak isn’t a prerequisite for enjoying Neon White. The game’s greatest strength may, in fact, be how welcoming it is. Its difficulty is perfectly curved, its story is disarmingly charming. But after an hour of restarting the same level, ignoring all my other responsibilities to cross the finish line just a little faster, I realized that Neon White may have turned me into a freak so gently that I didn’t even notice. [Polygon Recommends]
  3. The only bad thing I can say about Neon White is that I wish there were more of it. I would have loved a level editor or workshop support where users could create and upload their own tracks. I suppose that’s a testament to the quality of what’s already there. Neon White is a solid, speedy romp polished to a mirror sheen and oozing with style. I think I’m gonna go try for a new best time again. [RPS Bestest Bests]
  4. Jun 15, 2022
    On paper, Neon White sounds strange and confusing. It’s a demon-hunting parkour shooter where you run through heaven to get a high score. Also, it’s a visual novel. But, in practice, it’s quite simple: each level is a puzzle, and it’s your job to figure out how to utilize its various components to get the best time. It may take some time and a few run-ins with giant heads that fire lasers at you, but it’s incredibly satisfying when you pull it off — even if it results in a little neck pain.
  5. Jun 23, 2022
    The presentation of this game is what makes its gameplay feel so sharp, including the way it tells its story and characterizes the other Neons that compete with you and tease you shamelessly. Once you get the hang of Neon White’s fast-paced gameplay, it feels incredibly natural—as natural as the witty, sexy banter between the characters therein. It’s sweet as sin itself, and goes down just as easy.
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 165 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 12 out of 165
  1. Jul 14, 2022
    7
    Simple straight forward fast paced fun but not much to do, also i didn't like the environment, setting and concept
  2. Jun 23, 2022
    7
    A cool speedrunning game where its mostly about reflex and thinking on your feet, you dont need to memorize the maps or cards to get aces.A cool speedrunning game where its mostly about reflex and thinking on your feet, you dont need to memorize the maps or cards to get aces.
    The story has a Shin Megami anime style and its like Hades where it just serves as a breather between missions, i didnt care much for it.
    Full Review »
  3. Jun 17, 2022
    10
    FOR FREAKS, BY FREAKS!
    This game is one of the most fun games i have ever played.
    Its just plain and simply fun.
    Amazing soundtrack as well