Game2012

Painkiller: Recurring Evil

Action

Developer Med-Art

Battle never ceases in the realm known as Hell. This time around it's a battle for the freedom of your very soul. Will you be able to escape from the prison hidden in the darkest deepest chasm of Hell? Do you have enough courage to travel through the most dangerous and twisted areas, infamous for their unsafety, even among demons... From the Steam store page

268 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon) · newest Oct 4, 2026 · last updated Oct 8, 2026 · How this works

Audience score

39
Rotten

60 positive · 94 negative
95% range 32–47%

Source+−=
Steam reviews60940
Bluesky *000
Mastodon *000

* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).

114 newer reactions are still waiting for a label.

Steam's own rating
Mixed
201 of 483 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)

What people are saying

Summary pending — the reactions are listed below.

Reactions

60 of 268 · most liked first
  • Civvie11 @civvie11.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 21, 2025

    Cautious optimism in the face of always-on co-op (3 players?) with AI companions and 3D Realms publishing. Anshar Studios has contributed to other games and dev’d a couple VR games so hard to say anything about their record. Congrats to Painkiller fans for getting a new game that isn’t shovelware.

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  • Commander Sterling @commandersterling.bsky.socialBluesky · Nov 2, 2025

    Drafted a huge review for the new Painkiller. It contains more words about the new Painkiller than anyone else will ever want to read, but I had a lot to say about it. Review’ll be up later today, but I really must confess that I love the game even if very few others seem to. The guns are SO good.

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  • Shinobi602 @shinobi602.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 20, 2025

    Painkiller | Reveal Trailer ▶️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGkJ... "Saber Interactive and 3D Realms are developing a brand new game based on the legendary 2004 purgatorial shooter. Coming to PC and consoles in Fall 2025" #Painkiller #FutureGamesShow

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  • jitspoe @jitspoe.bsky.socialBluesky · Jul 22, 2025

    You will like my game KOOK if you enjoyed: - Quake - Prey (2006) - Painkiller - Quake2 - HROT - DUSK - LawBreakers - M. C. Escher store.steampowered.com/app/2329690/...

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  • Steam user Steam user …2587Steam reviews · Jul 7, 2015 · 5 h played

    Painkiller: Recurring Evil is the last "stand-alone expansion pack"/"fan sequel" for Painkiller. It feels like it's a sequel to Painkiller Redemption for sure, feeling like it was made by fans. And it was also released in 2012, 8 years after original Painkiller, not being ashamed of milking it today with that old engine. At least this is the last one. There is no multiplayer, just single player horde gameplay of 5 levels. Technically, it didn't bug or crash on me so much, but there were still…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …0485Steam reviews · Jun 19, 2013 · 2 h played

    I recommend you to buy something else. This game is total crap. Boring as ♥♥♥♥, ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ level design I've seen in years. If you want a Painkiller game, pick Painkiller: Black Edition.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Retronauts @retronauts.bsky.socialBluesky · Apr 12, 2024

    Happy 20th anniversary to the debut game from People Can Fly, the diabolically fast-paced first-person shooter Painkiller

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  • Steam user Steam user …0181Steam reviews · Aug 13, 2014 · 8 h played

    It *is* better than Redemption and especially Ressurrection, but considering those are two of the most piss poor attempts at making a videogame I've ever played that's like saying that Desert Gunner is better than Air Control. It's functional, yes, but that doesn't really make it good. It's got the same "kill a million dudes, another six feet of the level opens, then kill a million more dudes" that the last two had, but the main difference here is that that "zillion" is down from the…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Nyek London @stupidhoroscope.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 23, 2025

    Painkiller is such a ridiculous game. Bunnyhopping around army dudes wearing ball gags shooting them with a shuriken launcher and then suddenly you're in a cutscene that seems to think it's telling a serious story about heaven, hell and redemption. It's adorable

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  • Zuul Nightingale🚪 @danaenight.northsky.socialBluesky · Mar 20, 2026

    Just some video game weapons I remember The stake launcher from Painkiller The blue beam gun from UT Kate Archer Thief's blackjack Those gloves from Heretic Something about frozen mercury in Oni two shots then cooldown? Gloo Gun from Prey My beak in Goose Game Gep Gun Bloodborne fucking Chain Cane

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  • Steam user Steam user …6767Steam reviews · Jul 16, 2021 · 1 h played

    Well the series had a couple of awesome games and then as you can see went completely off the rails. I guess after the first two different developers tried to take over this series and fell flat on their faces. It's rough and uninspired much like Redemption and honestly just stay away from the arse end of this series, it's just not worth it!

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Knoebel @knoebel.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 20, 2025

    A new 'Painkiller' game launches later this year on Xbox Series, PS5 and PC. youtu.be/uGkJUhm9nc0?...

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  • Gaijin (GimGam Glitzdakka) Goombah @gaijingoombah.bsky.socialBluesky · Oct 6, 2024

    Satan'z gonna get da biznus end of me kombi-shoota! Finishing up the best FPS game of 2004, Painkiller in one hour! www.twitch.tv/gaijingoomba

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  • Steam user Steam user …1325Steam reviews · Dec 21, 2023 · 2 h played

    Concise reviews for the Painkiller series in order of what you should play Painkiller Black Edition: Great oldschool no messing around shoot things from point A to B using a variety of weapons, for such and old game the gunplay (especially the shotgun) is strangely satisfying. Painkiller Hell & Damnation: A remake of the OG and as a result, it is a solid entry worth playing, albeit similar. A lot of changes were made some for the best some watering down the experience, but ultimately if you…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Spooky Miss Mia 👻🖤 @smol0spooks.bsky.socialBluesky · Apr 14, 2026

    Life is genuinely like a video game, fr 👁️👄👁️ some people aren’t tanks, they’re supports and that’s totally okay (Painkiller medication high thoughts really do different)

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  • Steam user Steam user …8828Steam reviews · Jul 13, 2023 · 1 h played

    Despite countless negative reviews, well I liked it. Of course it should be taken for what it is. That is a game with the aim of killing 4000 enemies. stop. There are bugs between uploads and they are quite annoying. 10 euros is not worth it, but if you find it for less than 2 euros, in my opinion it's ok. overall grade 6/10 (full price too high)

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • chiller @chiller.eurosky.socialBluesky · Apr 25, 2026

    Painkiller-at-bedtime really is a game changer. Maybe I ought to just surrender to it for a month and see what happens.

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  • A Chromo that's back to game devin' @thechromonaut.bsky.socialBluesky · Jan 8, 2025

    beat Old Blood, a good time was had, I like by the end the game just looks like something outta Painkiller lol

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  • Steam user Steam user …4798Steam reviews · Jun 1, 2015 · 4 h played

    Play Black Edition instead!

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …5655Steam reviews · May 15, 2025 · 5 h played

    Painkiller: Recurring Evil was developed by Med-Art and released in 2012. It is the fifth installment in the franchise. The Painkiller games are renowned for their old-school, fast-paced, and brutally intense gameplay, where you mow down hundreds of enemies with hardcore weaponry in dark, grim, and gothic levels. Recurring Evil is no exception: the formula remains as effective as ever, but it feels stale and recycled. To be completely honest, I feel like I’m writing nearly the same review…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …0209Steam reviews · Dec 11, 2016

    Still a better love story than Twilight.

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …5112Steam reviews · Sep 14, 2014 · 6 h played

    Worst Painkiller game ever made (not to mention that its fan-made)! I just wanted to see the ending, and when I finish it said "finish the game in trauma mode" Wasted my hours recklessly and finished in trauma and then "unlock all cards for more" and still no ending! I say this is a waste of money and time!

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …6583Steam reviews · Sep 19, 2013 · 4 h played

    The most intense Painkiller. Less levels, more enemies.

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Robert Jones @robertnjones.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 19, 2025

    The latest @pcgamer.com magazine is out now, with world exclusive access to Anshar Studios' exciting new co-op reimagining of classic FPS game Painkiller. Plus, Anno 117: Pax Romana, The Alters, Redneck Rampage, air coolers tested, and much more, too. 🏹😈💥 tinyurl.com/ywdetejm

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  • hazzadorgamin.bsky.social @hazzadorgamin.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 20, 2025

    Painkiller reimagining announced for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC, Fall 2025 by Saber Interactive and 3D Realms, developing a brand new game based on the legendary 2004 purgatorial shooter. youtu.be/uGkJUhm9nc0?...

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  • Steam user Steam user …3804Steam reviews · Feb 25, 2016 · 1 h played

    Here's Hoping this review raises my steam lvl Edit: It didn't

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …1668Steam reviews · May 11, 2014 · 5 h played

    This game sucks. Actually, it is not a stand-alone game, but a fan-made mod for a Painkiller, but whatever, it sucks. It should be free, I still don't understand the way developers put it on Steam for sale. Don't buy it and don't play it - it doesn't worth your precious time and money.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Ryan McCaffrey @dmc-ryan.bsky.socialBluesky · Jul 24, 2025

    A couple new hands-on previews from me today. First up is Painkiller, the revival of the 20-year-old boomer shooter. It probably won't knock your socks off, but that's fine. We need just-chill-with-your-friends low-stakes games like this. My impressions: www.ign.com/articles/pai...

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  • Steam user Steam user …4255Steam reviews · Jan 31, 2023 · 1 h played

    unforeseen consequences

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …4961Steam reviews · Jun 28, 2015 · 8 h played

    Recurring Evil is copy paste qulity. The worst version ever. 7hours and finished. No story, no new weapons, boosses so useless.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Psychedelic Eyeball @psycheyeball.bsky.socialBluesky · Oct 21, 2025

    New Painkiller game follows the tradition of the series. AKA it's terrible. The writing/gameplay don't feel like it was made by people who understood what the original game was about. It's essentially discount Doom Eternal with forced multiplayer. Let me kill demons alone, don't force bots on me!

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  • Mike McPhil @philkensebben.bsky.socialBluesky · Oct 20, 2025

    I bought DL The Beast thus weekend, played 30min and returned it. Nothing against the game at all, but I realized I only like thwacking zombies in those games. Never finished one of em. Just seasonal thwacking. So my dumbass bought Painkiller instead. Vermintide clone yeah, but a solid one. A lotta

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  • BRUTAL JOHN 2 - EARLY ACCESS @brutaljohn-game.bsky.socialBluesky · Jul 25, 2026

    This game is for fans of first-person games like Duke Nukem, Doom, Half-Life, Serious Sam, Painkiller or even Cyberpunk 2077. Brutal John 2 on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/1859620 #indiegames #halflife #cyberpunk #dukenukem #city

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  • Fronkon Games @fronkongames.bsky.socialBluesky · Feb 5, 2026

    How Painkiller RTX Uses Generative AI to Modernize Game Assets at Scale #gamedevelopment #indiedev #gamedev

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  • Steam user Steam user …8031Steam reviews · Feb 28, 2017 · 3 h played

    This plays like a lazy, fan-made Painkiller mod. Just infinitely re-spawning enemies with no story and rarely even a scenery change. I'm a big Painkiller fan, but it wasn't long before this felt more like a thankless chore than playing a game. Pulling weeds is just as fun and actually useful. The graphics are inferior to the very first Painkiller game--huge bland polygons I haven't seen since the Mid '90s. It's a shame because I think a next gen Painkiller game with a new graphics engine and…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …5365Steam reviews · Feb 26, 2017 · 15 h played

    I've always been a fan of painkiller, they were great games. This time it's even better, all games were amazing of course, but because of their age, the graphics weren't what they used to be, this game brings back the oldschool painkiller with improved graphics! The AI also is smarter, and they have more detail. The campaign is done well, it's 6 hours long. The campaign doesn't really got the best story in the world but it's alrigh

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …4721Steam reviews · Sep 15, 2016

    Simply put : If u had a bad day and u had need to make love with a rhinoceros, THIS THE GAME. ORGY OF BLOOD PAINKILLER STYLE, another great chapter in the series that will REVITALISE YOU, make you go young like in the COCOON movie, and increase you spermatozoide level to OP LEVEL 10/10

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …2339Steam reviews · May 29, 2012

    Reminded me of 'Rise of the Triad' but not in a good way. Rise off the Triad also Reminded me of 'Rise of the Triad' But not in a Good Way.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • BeatRushMetro @beatrushmetro.bsky.socialBluesky · Aug 28, 2026

    55. Twisted Tower (2026 Video Game) Visually it feels like Bioshock, mechanically it reminds me more of Painkiller. The ending was trippy but look man, I'm just happy there's an indie FPS that isn't taking influence from the same pool of Quake and Doom that every other indie FPS does.

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  • deenom @deenom.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 5, 2026

    "This game is basically Painkiller, guys. Stop saying 'Blood' at me, that's basically a death threat"

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  • A Shark For Trouble @sweetshark.bsky.socialBluesky · Nov 1, 2025

    For the new #RandomGameSaturday I have the original Painkiller [2004]. It is needless to say it was a great FPS and it still is. So surreal I needed 3 CDs to install the game.

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  • Seasoned Gaming @seasonedgaming.bsky.socialBluesky · Oct 29, 2025

    It's 2025 and Painkiller has been reborn. But is it worth your time? After spending time shooting his way out of Purgatory, @andresplays.bsky.social offers his review: seasonedgaming.com/2025/10/29/r...

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  • Jimmy Wuffster 🔞 @jimmy.wuffster.liveBluesky · Oct 27, 2025

    Time for our first sponsored stream of the week! We've got three of these planned, and the first is the reboot of the 2004 shooter Painkiller! Disclosure: I received a free copy of this game from Lurkit! Check out Painkiller here: lurk.ly/sbH92J www.twitch.tv/jimmy_wuffster

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  • lex luddy needs a nap @lexluddy.xyzBluesky · Oct 21, 2025

    Wait... is that new Painkiller game out?

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  • thearchivalone.bsky.social @thearchivalone.bsky.socialBluesky · Dec 23, 2024

    20 games that greatly influenced you. One game per day for 20 days. No explanations, no reviews, no particular order. #GameDev #RetroGaming #GameChallenge #promosky 10: Painkiller: Overdose (PC)

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  • Steam user Steam user …3697Steam reviews · Jul 1, 2023

    Okay, i just played all the Painkiller games. just going to give a list of my favorite games in here because why not, in case some new people that wants to jump the Painkiller funny wacky train. Best games: 1- Painkiller: Black Edition (the original) 2- Painkiller: Hell & Damnation (Remake of the first game with LESS levels for some reason but the game is awesome) 3- Painkiller: Black Edition DLC "battle out of hell" 4- Painkiller: Overdose (the new weapons, levels and enemies are fantastic)…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …4217Steam reviews · May 22, 2022

    After playing the first Painkiller i'm not gonna bother with this awful series even tho i bought all the games years ago. My time is better spent on other games.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …0262Steam reviews · Aug 6, 2013

    can't really say its so good.. screams poland all over it.. Release: Feb 29, 2012 (US) are you kidding me? more like 2005 .. and even then.. 4/10

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …8563Steam reviews · Mar 25, 2026 · 3 h played

    “You’re dead! We killed you!” ~Emil Antonowsky, RoboCop JoWooD, who previously consumed DreamCatcher with its Painkiller IP and kept milking the living Hell out of the poor thing, was finally dead. Which means that finally, finally we stopped getting crappy mods being sold to us as proper commercial products, right? Right? Well... About that. Remember that old RoboCop meme? The one about how “the dude died, but they still made him go to work”? Well… yeah. Nordic Games, who just acquired our…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Jordan @pagemasterjordan.bsky.socialBluesky · Nov 2, 2025

    Fake Game Watch tier list as of today. Painkiller 2025 had the strongest showing of the games we've played so far. FAKE GAME WATCH WILL RETURN 🕵️‍♂️

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  • 🎃ghoulfella👻 @grogfel.laBluesky · Nov 1, 2025

    Kicked off Fantasy Month by giving Amid Evil a decent chance, and I'm so glad I did. If someone had told me that this game pulls heavily from Painkiller, I would have played through it much sooner.

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  • Steam user Steam user …1272Steam reviews · Jul 27, 2025 · 18 h played

    Recurring Evil refers to the experience of playing this more than once. Or at all and because the devs keep re releasing the same Painkiller game under different names.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Bridgeburner @bridgeburner56.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 20, 2025

    The original painkiller is S tier, one of the greats. Everything else is increasingly garbage. The og Painkiller devs are now making Witchfire and holy fuck is that game good. Highly recommend

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  • Steam user Steam user …7433Steam reviews · Mar 18, 2017 · 20 h played

    Is again a Painkiller fan part he is also good. Painkiller Recurring Evil has surprised me for the most part Positive: Pros: + 5 new maps + Any map coming + More than 600 enemies + Nice design on the maps Cons: - its to short - no new weapon - no new enemies I thought the Painkiller Recurring Evil has a new gun. Hell Gun maybe it was cut from the game.

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Mummified (but spooky) Tony @mummifiedtony.bsky.socialBluesky · Apr 22, 2026

    I tried to play Painkiller: Black Edition on my beefy $6k computer last night and was shocked to see it ran 3fps. Spent 30 minutes of my 1 hour of game time last night trying to "fix" the issue.

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  • Steam user Steam user …0149Steam reviews · Oct 29, 2025 · 2 h played

    It's not bad, no matter what people say. The pacing is sometimes a bit off, due to the high number of enemies. They also should have placed significantly more emphasis on atmosphere and environmental storytelling. As it is, everything feels a bit lazy. It's a level pack. For example, many enemies don't fit the environment thematically. But the gameplay is that of the legendary Painkiller, so it still plays very well ;) If you love the main game, like I do, then you'll still have fun with…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Aoguma @aoguma.bsky.socialBluesky · Oct 28, 2025

    Bear stream! Tonight's feature is a pair of FPS games, Painkiller (the new one) and Painted in Blood! I'll also be trying some demos and giving in to my usual tangents. www.twitch.tv/aogumabear

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  • Andy Chalk @andychalk.bsky.socialBluesky · Oct 23, 2025

    Painkiller is still great. NuPainkiller, well, it's a videogame.

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  • Megan Fox @glassbottommeg.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 24, 2025

    oh, sure, but if you can't pull that off, you uhhhhh probably shouldn't make a Painkiller game

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  • Steam user Steam user …6608Steam reviews · Oct 28, 2024 · 1 h played

    I played it out of morbid curiosity and because it came with the bundle. It's really not good. The levels are uninspired. You just keep going back and forth between the same few areas in each level and the only thing the game can do is just spam you with a ton of enemies with zero thought put into using them in any way to make the fights interesting. I made it through most of the second level and wasn't having any fun. Fortunately my save corrupted. It was either replay the whole level again or…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →

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