Nuclear Throne

 PC
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. TheGamer
    Dec 15, 2019
    100
    While Nuclear Throne might at first appear to be another difficult bullet-hell or punishing roguelike, a little practice quickly reveals a system that is meant to make the game accessible by a broad range of players. Thanks to the procedurally generated levels, weapon drops, and opponents, the game has virtually endless replay value and is an outstanding free game from Epic Games this week.
  2. DarkStation
    Feb 21, 2016
    100
    Nuclear Throne knows what it is and makes no bones about it. It’s a difficult, stylized roguelike with a clear vision of what it’s trying to achieve.
  3. games(TM)
    Apr 8, 2016
    90
    It’s wonderful, evil, gorgeous, horrible, satisfying and merciless. You might hate its lack of checkpoints, or bad levels spawns that almost instantly kill you. It doesn’t care. Screw you. It hates you. But you’ll love it.
  5. DarkZero
    Jan 27, 2016
    90
    Grab the spoils of combat as quickly as you can, and get ready to be sucked in to the next level. Just be glad you don’t have to keep putting money in when you die again, and again, and again.
  6. Everyeye.it
    Jan 8, 2016
    90
    It's a very challenging game, but the gameplay is so well crafted that it becomes more and more natural while you master it. Definitely a game worth considering for 2D fans.
  7. 3DJuegos
    Dec 22, 2015
    90
    A real rush to play rogue-like experience. Dozens of hours of challenge and fun awaits for the most talented and expert players.
  8. IGN
    Dec 18, 2015
    90
    Its action is brutal, over-the-top, and rewarding; a hyperactive arcade-style shoot-em-up with enough dynamism to keep me captivated moment to moment, but a strong sense of strategy to give me something to invest in over longer playthroughs.
  9. PC Gamer
    Dec 14, 2015
    90
    A crowning achievement for Vlambeer, and one of the finest action-roguelikes ever made.
  10. Metro GameCentral
    Dec 10, 2015
    90
    Another perfectly constructed neo-arcade game from the makers of Luftrausers, which perfectly marries twin stick shooters with roguelike punishment.
  11. Softpedia
    Dec 8, 2015
    90
    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.
  12. Multiplayer.it
    Dec 21, 2015
    87
    Nuclear Throne is a frantic and challenging action game. If you love the rogue-like games get this without hesitation.
  13. SpazioGames
    Jan 22, 2016
    85
    An amazingly simple game when it comes to mechanics, but also one that offers an incredible amount of challenge, secrets, and pure, unfettered fun. Definitely one of the best Roguelikes out there, even with its technical limitations.
  14. Kill Screen
    Jan 27, 2016
    83
    For a game that has zero puzzle elements Nuclear Throne sure feels like a seeing-eye puzzle.
  15. CD-Action
    Mar 4, 2016
    80
    Vlambeer’s game is difficult, repetitive and ugly but it doesn’t stop it from being unbelievably addictive. [02/2016, p.64]
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  16. GameStar
    Jan 31, 2016
    80
    Brain off, trigger finger on. It's easy to forget the simple visuals and it's ideal for a quick game.
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
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These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.

In Progress & Unscored

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  1. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Dec 8, 2015
    This is so immediately accessible, so ridiculously replayable, and so satisfying to get better at, that it transcends. And if those sorts of games are your thing and you’ve not already delved in during development, then flipping crikey, get this immediately.

Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Best PC Game of 2015
68
#68 Most Discussed PC Game of 2015
47
#47 Most Shared PC Game of 2015

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 240 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 164 out of 240
  2. Mixed: 48 out of 240
  3. Negative: 28 out of 240
  1. bearcav
    Jun 4, 2014
    10
    Nuclear Throne is pure, unadulterated chaos on top of a set of evolving and tight controls. Things will try to kill you, and you need to learnNuclear Throne is pure, unadulterated chaos on top of a set of evolving and tight controls. Things will try to kill you, and you need to learn exactly how many hits each enemy takes, how each of the multitudinous weapons deals damage, how the mutations work alongside weapons and character traits, what particular types of terrain and obstacles do, etc. - otherwise, you'll fall apart in this randomly-generated top-down shooter. It's brutal! That's part of the fun - even the developers often have a hard time getting past World 5. [@GenoTS - that chest is called a "Mimic," and having no indicator that it's a mimic is the whole point of the enemy, a la Dark Souls. It's supposed to be tough!] Coming up on its 30th update, the team has been squashing bugs and making new stuff, while broadcasting their work on Twitch. They've almost reached their creation of the final level now. The soundtrack is awesome. The pixel art is expressive, weird, and cool. There are some really freaking cool secrets, and also some secrets that will kill you.… Full Review »
  2. raorian
    Dec 23, 2015
    7
    a nice small game. very fun. why 7? cause i hate the trend of making a game rouge like as an excuse for a small amount of content. a gooda nice small game. very fun. why 7? cause i hate the trend of making a game rouge like as an excuse for a small amount of content. a good rouge like should be like ftl. every playthrough is awesome and UNIQUE… Full Review »
  3. ephewe
    Dec 23, 2013
    9
    Nuclear Throne does a fantastic job at filling the role of a mere "shooter", but after your first glance, you'll see that the game-play isNuclear Throne does a fantastic job at filling the role of a mere "shooter", but after your first glance, you'll see that the game-play is deceptively strategic. While *extremely* difficult, it never feels "cheap". Prepare yourself for one of the most addictive games to come out this year. At present, the game is not complete but as it stands right now, it's easily worthy of a 9.0 score. That said, the developers are quite prolific in their efforts (with updates like every week) and I have no doubt that Nuclear Throne will retain its worthiness of such a high score (if it doesn't exceed it, that is).… Full Review »
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