Neon Inferno

 Xbox Series X
Neon Inferno Image
Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: Taking inspiration from classic titles like Contra and Wild Guns, Neon Inferno splits the action into the foreground and background with a variety of enemies and bosses in levels set in a dystopian New York City of 2055.

    Developed by Zenovia Interactive and published by Retroware, Neon    Taking inspiration from classic titles like Contra and Wild Guns, Neon Inferno splits the action into the foreground and background with a variety of enemies and bosses in levels set in a dystopian New York City of 2055.

    Developed by Zenovia Interactive and published by Retroware, Neon Inferno lets players take on the role of either Angelo or Mariana as they fight for a fledgling crime family striving for power against a corrupt NYPD and other crime syndicates in the war-torn metropolis.

    With “Bullet Time,” players can deflect certain projectiles back at enemies they choose—regardless of whether they’re in the foreground or background! With multiple upgrades available to equip between missions, multiple difficulties, including an Arcade Mode, and two-player co-op available, players will be able to tackle their missions however they choose.

    Key Features

    Shoot Close, Aim Far – A dynamic blend of side-scroller and gallery-shooter, where the action takes place in both foreground and background (like playing Contra and Wild Guns at the same time).
    Glorious 32-Bit Style – A science-fiction cityscape rendered in beautiful pixel art and backed by an evocative soundtrack.
    Two-Player Cooperative Play – With danger lurking around every street corner, wouldn’t you be better off with a friend?
    Satisfying Arcade Challenge – Enjoy a playthrough on an easier mode… or put your skills and resilience to the test with 1-credit-clear arcade mode.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. TheXboxHub
    Jan 6, 2026
    80
    Neon Inferno is a challenging game with a cracking amount of enjoyment to it. Couch co-op helps, as does the stiff challenge, but that does mean you’ll need to put in the work in order to get through everything it has to offer.
  2. ZTGD
    Nov 19, 2025
    80
    Neon Inferno stands out amongst the sea of other pixel-art 2D shooters. It leans into what makes these kinds of games good and doesn’t rely on nostalgia. It brings unique mechanics and a great presentation to round out the package. If you are like me and roll your eyes when another “one of those” is announced, this deserves your attention. The developers have done a great job of mixing the right amount of nostalgia with a core experience worth diving into.
  3. Xbox Tavern
    Jan 5, 2026
    70
    This type of game may not be for everyone, but for anyone who misses the era of “gameplay only possible in an arcade cabinet” you might want to check out Neon Inferno.
  4. GameCritics
    May 21, 2026
    55
    In the end, Neon Inferno is a largely decent action romp that never comes close to the classics of the genre it clearly has deep respect for. It certainly looks the part, and that may be enough for some nostalgia driven gamers to give it a whirl, but it’s hard not to feel like it’s outclassed by its inspirations.

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