Gauntlet

🎮 Steam ⏳ 10 hours ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

Modern Classic Reimagined #

This title is a modern reimagining of the beloved 1985 arcade classic, it preserves the chaotic, cooperative dungeon-crawling spirit of the original while introducing updated visuals, refined controls, and light RPG elements. The game features four classic heroes, the Warrior, Valkyrie, Wizard, and Elf, each offering distinct playstyles that encourage teamwork. The Warrior is all about brute strength and close-range combat, the Valkyrie balances offense and defense with her shield, the Wizard combines elemental spells in a system reminiscent of Magicka, and the Elf focuses on speed and ranged attacks.

Diverse Hero Playstyles #

Particularly I liked the Warrior and the Valkyrie the most, and was highly intrigued to try to master the Wizard, but even though I played through the entirety of Magicka 1 and 2, I couldnt even begin to understand this character. The Wizard is definitely the most complex one to play, and the most powerful at the same time, it almost has limitless effectiveness because of how flexible his playstyle is. This diversity keeps combat fresh, especially in multiplayer, where coordination becomes essential for survival. Visually, the game uses a clean, dark fantasy aesthetic that fits its dungeon-crawling roots.

Chaotic Dungeon Action #

Levels are filled with hordes of enemies, gold, traps, and destructible objects, keeping the action frantic and rewarding. The tongue-in-cheek narrator adds personality and humor, poking fun at players’ mistakes or greed in a way that pays homage to the arcade original’s taunts (“Wizard needs food, badly!”). Despite these strengths, Gauntlet can become repetitive. The level design relies heavily on similar enemy waves and room layouts, and the progression system, focused on collecting gold to unlock relics or upgrades, can feel grindy over time.

Best With Friends #

Solo play also lacks the chaotic energy that makes co-op so enjoyable, emphasizing that the game is best experienced with friends, either locally or online. I played through the campaign mostly solo, but I sometimes play with a friend and I highly recommend doing so, it is a much more enjoyable experience, though playing alone is also pretty much viable. This game succeeds as a faithful, fast-paced revival that thrives on cooperative mayhem. It’s a blast for short sessions with friends but doesn’t quite have the variety or depth to sustain long-term solo play.