Nightmare Reaper

Nightmare Reaper fits squarely into the box you’ll want to slot it into at first glance. It may have a few minor differences, but if it’s blasting demons you’re after, you’ll get exactly that here.

In theory, a roguelike FPS could work, however, there needs to be a very specific reason to even try. Nightmare Reaper never gives us that reason. It comes across like a game that’s a roguelike purely because that was how an indie developer should shove 100 levels of grind into it. There’s no narrative nor thematic value to it being a roguelike, and in all that randomness, it loses the soul of what makes those games it pays homage to so special.

This is a must play for any fan of retro FPS titles. Every inch of this game is dripping with action and gore, blowing monsters apart has never felt better. And with a heavy metal OST to top things off, Nightmare Reaper is a high watermark for the retro FPS genre. If the story was as good as the gameplay, this would have been nearly perfect, but if you're the sort of person that doesn't care about story, than Nightmare Reaper is a wonderful time.

Switch owners should definitely consider Nightmare Reaper if you’re wishing for a retro shooter that successfully marries roguelite gameplay, fountains of 2D gore, and elements of the original DOOM games. The difficulty curve may be steep at times, but it’s worth sticking with given its high replayability and fresh takes on chaotic first-person combat. I highly recommend Nightmare Reaper for those wanting a bloodbath or an adrenaline rush, as you’ll definitely get it alongside some fun bonus content.

Nightmare Reaper does, however, achieve most of what it sets out to do, pushing boundaries in terms of weaponry, spectacular abilities, and more trinkets than a fully loaded cargo ship. It’s at its best when it devolves into a spectacular bloodbath at the whims of your creative weapon and ability choices. And, while imperfections exist, its violent, adrenaline-fuelled highs will make it very appealing to fans of the old-school FPS.