Painkiller

Painkiller is a game about nothing for no one, a mediocre resurrection of a classic trying to put a new cover on an old book and hoping it still has some relevance 21 years later

Painkiller is easy to recommend with the right expectations. If you want a story-heavy shooter with deep narrative payoff, this is not that game. If you want a polished demon-grinder where movement is snappy, weapons are fun to master, and every mission gives you excuses to paint the floor red, it delivers. I had a great time with it during the campaign, even when I could see the repetition coming.

As someone approaching Painkiller with a fresh set of eyes and no preconceived ideas of what it should be, I can’t say that I found it that much better. I mean, I didn’t loathe it, but I certainly can’t recommend it to anyone, either.

Painkiller delivers a classic, old-school shooter action experience, backed by a dark atmosphere and well-crafted lighting that adds depth to its world. While the gameplay can become repetitive and dull at times, it still surpasses the original release thanks to its online mode, which significantly enhances the fun and intensity of the encounters.

Painkiller (2025) is a solid, if often flawed, co-op reimagining of a retro shooter that could have, honestly, been called anything else.

A catastrophic failure. Compared to the original, this remake collapses under the weight of its own misguided changes, resulting in a punishing experience that seems beyond repair.

If you want a few hours of low commitment demon slaying with friends, Painkiller does the job and does it with style where it counts most – in your hands and on your triggers. If you are hunting for something deeper, richer, or more distinct in today’s crowded shooter scene, this will probably feel like a stopgap rather than a staple.​

Painkiller 2025 is a game that offers real pleasure in short sessions and genuine frustration over longer ones.

Painkiller does not completely dishonor the series. It works perfectly as a mindless shooter who knows how to provide the necessary hours of fun. Only it is too thin to be able to count as a full-fledged reboot.

The 2025 Painkiller reboot feels like a game stuck between two worlds: on the one hand, it delivers fast-paced, straightforward action, a technically polished foundation, and an atmospheric Purgatory setting that’s a lot of fun to play through in co-op with friends. Those who view the title as a modern multiplayer shooter will find solid entertainment, snappy gunplay, and an accessible progression system that keeps you motivated for at least a few sessions. The game works best when you don’t weigh it down with the burden of its own history, but instead see it as a straightforward co-op action title for in-between moments. On the other hand, however, there is an inescapable shadow: the name Painkiller. Fans of the original classic will find little here that tangibly carries on the DNA of the original title. The story remains superficial, the scope manageable, the variety limited, and many elements feel generic rather than iconic. In the end, the reboot isn’t a bad game, but one that was burdened by false expectations. It fails as a nostalgic return, but it works as a light co-op shooter—and that’s exactly where it finds its small but fair raison d’être.