It doesn't take much for Kingdom of the Dead to catch a players eye thanks to its incredibly unique visual style. This dreary, hand-drawn arena shooter from DIRIGO GAMES embraces its inspirations to the fullest, from games like DOOM to films like Evil Dead. In its embrace, Kingdom of the Dead doesn't over complicate its experience and while that will make it infinitely replayable for some, it will cut the experience short for others.
DIRIGO is known for making highly stylized games and music, such as Stowaway and Depths of Fear: Knossos. Their eclectic style helps titles like Kingdom of the Dead to evoke a strong nostalgia for '90s arena shooters while also providing an experience that feels contemporary and polished. Movement is fast and controlled, the gunplay feels impactful, and each arena is well thought out. That said, it also becomes repetitive after only a couple missions and its unique style may be detrimental to some players.
To anyone that has played classic DOOM or Quake, Kingdom of the Dead's gameplay will feel right at home. Players move quickly between arenas, shoot enemies, collect ammo and devastating DOOM style weapons, engage in mild platforming, then finish it off with a boss fight. The loop is simple and polished, making it a joy to jump into. Players are put in the shoes of Agent Chamberlain, who works with GATEKEEPER, a secret government organization focused on fighting the hordes of Death. Joined by a sentient sword companion, Chamberlain picks from a collection of files to determine what level players will jump into and what their objectives will be.
The loop begins and players are dropped in with only their sword and a revolver, and enemies waste no time in introducing themselves. Enemies range from standard zombie/imp creatures to sorcerers, large brutes, and players even have to kill Cacodemon lookalikes. Once again, this game isn't shy about embracing its influences and that extends to the variety of weapons at hand, such as a mini-gun and the iconic double barrel shotgun among others. Players collect new weapons as they go further into each level and after completing it, those weapons are removed, and players start anew in the next level.
For some players, the loop will start to get a bit stale around the third or fourth file. Kingdom of the Dead does have a variety of different levels and provides secondary objectives for players, but these don't really change the engagement of the core gameplay. The art style also works against the game at times because, while it creates a wonderfully evocative mood, it also can make seeing enemies or the ground nearly impossible at times and it's very easy to get disoriented. There are options to change the color palette and make visibility easier, but the number of individual lines and cross hatching may still prove difficult for those with sensitive or limited sight.
Overall, Kingdom of the Dead is a true love letter to arena shooters and the horror genre. This game stands out among its peers and its visual design, as well as its soundtrack, highlight how unique DIRIGO's style is. It won't be for everyone, as the same things that make the experience tight and replayable can paradoxically make it repetitive and unengaging. Despite this risk, anyone with an interest should absolutely check out Kingdom of the Dead and enjoy some good old-fashioned demon hunting.
Kingdom of the Dead is available now for PC. Screen Rant was provided with a digital download code for the purpose of this review.