Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 15
  2. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. 90
    Ultimately, I never had much of a choice in Ruiner. I was simply a tool that awaited command, one that only could express myself during combat. I killed because I was told to do so, but even if I had free reign I doubt I would’ve ever had disobeyed. After all, sometimes it’s too much fun to be used.
  2. Sep 26, 2017
    85
    The gameplay feels tight and precise, which is great considering how fast paced and frantic this game can get. The soundtrack sets the cyberpunk tone well and even mixes in the ominous feeling of something not being right. The world that is built is amazing yet dark and disturbing at the same time. There are plenty of challenging fights to keep you playing until you've beaten the game.
  3. 85
    An effortlessly stylish cyberpunk, twin-stick shooter, RUINER is essential for fans of the genre.
  4. Oct 6, 2017
    80
    Ruiner is a very good action game with an on-par scenario, very good gameplay and quite impressive graphics for an indie game. The only shortcoming is the eight hours of life this game has, but for such a low fee we can't really complain.
  5. Sep 26, 2017
    80
    In a year crowded with incredible titles, Ruiner manages to be a standout anyways. The red neon-plastered world presented by Reikon Games is beautiful, brutal, and terrifying. With some impressive art direction, great music, and a wealth of immensely satisfying combat systems, Ruiner offers essential top-down gameplay, and comes highly recommended.
  6. Sep 26, 2017
    80
    An especially a great debut for the young Reikon Games: a frantic, brutal and rewarding brawler that can blend a good depth of gameplay with a character and a really noteworthy style.
  7. Sep 26, 2017
    75
    What a fascinating game. Ruiner truly is something different. It's a pity that sometimes can be too harsh and that all of its side-missions seem just sketched.
  8. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Nov 22, 2017
    70
    A roughhouse riot when you find its rhythm, alternating between bloody attacks and essential damage avoidance, Ruiner may be little more than the sum of its parts, but what parts they are. [Dec 2017, p.97]
  9. Oct 9, 2017
    70
    Ruiner offers a particularly demanding gameplay, with very cool gun fights that will surely satisfy hardcore twin stick shooter fans. Unfortunately, the visuals are very repetitive, and the story is nearly as much absent as the multiplayer mode.
  10. 70
    As striking as RUINER is with its bold visuals and violent gameplay, the effect initially wears off pretty quickly thanks to some very repetitive level design. Stick with it though and the game's varied arsenal and multitude of upgrading options give it some depth and make the core shooting action stand out from the crowd.
  11. Sep 26, 2017
    70
    Ruiner feels like a fantastic slice of action orbited by a bunch of mediocre elements, so the experience never coalesces into something truly exceptional. However, that gameplay is solid enough to prop up this bloody sci-fi adventure, even if it never amounts to anything more than forgettable fun.
  12. Oct 16, 2017
    60
    Ruiner has some great set pieces and a dark, bleak world that I would normally gravitate towards. Yet when the dystopian renders everyone inhabiting it to be as relatable as raw sewage, there was little for me to latch onto. Maybe you’ll find the world of Ruiner to be more bearable than I did, but even the best films of the genre have a glimmer of hope for the audience to cling to, something Ruiner is devoid of.
  13. Oct 9, 2017
    60
    This feeling of style over substance largely describes Ruiner in total — the aesthetics are on point, but style alone can’t carry a game. It’s a shame that it fizzles out so soon after starting, but I’m left with the sense that this studio will be turning out great things in the future… they’re just not quite there yet. If their next project manages to bring gameplay as rich as their visuals, it’ll be a real crackerjack.
  14. Sep 26, 2017
    60
    Fighting my way through Ruiner felt like work, and if I weren’t obligated to finish it for the review I probably wouldn’t have bothered. It’s too bad it focuses on being difficult over being fun, because the combat totally works when you’re given access to the full range of weaponry and gadgets and can finally stand up to the nearly endless waves of varied enemies thrown at you. This one is definitely better the second time around. Games should be fun right from when you hit the start button – that’s kind of the whole point – but Ruiner puts you through too much of a hazing ritual to get there.
  15. Sep 26, 2017
    50
    While falling into a genre saturated with thousands of titles, Ruiner is a shoot ‘em up like few others. Sure, it’s not as fast paced as most, and it features far fewer enemies than the norm, but it’s a game that requires precision, calculation and a hell of a lot of patience. The number of upgrades and abilities to play around with make it worth playing through to the end but it’s ruined (get it?) by a short campaign, and repetitive levels. If it were to feature a well-executed endless/survival mode the play re-play factor might have increased slightly but in its current form you’re unlikely to play this more than once. Only drop coin on this if you’re a huge fan of the genre.
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 59 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 59
  2. Negative: 8 out of 59
  1. Sep 28, 2017
    9
    "It was too hard for me - 6/10" - IGN
    Anyway, if you enjoy cyberpunk and action and you also enjoyed other Devolver Digital game called
    "It was too hard for me - 6/10" - IGN
    Anyway, if you enjoy cyberpunk and action and you also enjoyed other Devolver Digital game called Hotline Miami you can't go wrong here. Soundtrack is great as well just like in other DD games. I've watched Dredd again and Im looking forward to watch Blade runner 2049 so I was just in the right mood for this game :) And at the top its for the very good price. Thanks again for the fun Devolver !
    Full Review »
  2. Sep 29, 2017
    10
    Great cyberpunk adventure! Super dynamic combat system, beautiful graphics, fat beat and crazy creeps. This is a new quality in top down action games!
  3. Oct 5, 2017
    10
    The best game I have played in a long time. Incredibly difficult yet incredibly addictive, Ruiner has you continuously dying, yet the slowThe best game I have played in a long time. Incredibly difficult yet incredibly addictive, Ruiner has you continuously dying, yet the slow load times, frequent checkpoints, and lack of having to watch cutscenes over and over again means every time you do die, you jump straight back in. Great gameplay dynamics (although I can see it being less tricky on the PC version), and a range of guns and abilities that keep you experimenting.

    It looks incredible. Soundtrack is fantastic. Characters, although not overly developed, look awesome.

    All in all, I loved playing through this game, and at $20, its great value for money.
    Full Review »