Ruiner

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Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 69

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Ruiner is a solid cyberpunk action game with exceptional gun and melee based combat, but it’s over too soon and the gloomy setting will not be for everyone.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 69

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 69

Ruiner is a solid cyberpunk action game with exceptional gun and melee based combat, but it's over too soon and the gloomy setting will not be for everyone.

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Critic Reviews for Ruiner

Reviews

High Score - 100/100

Low Score - 50/100

Lucas Sullivan (GamesRadar+)

4/5 stars

“With its brutal, agile combat and engrossing slice of cyberpunk existence, you’ll desperately want Ruiner to keep the story going.”

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Omri Petitte (PC Gamer)

84/100

“Dazzling, dangerous, and dripping in style, Ruiner is a superb, if short, whirlwind of cyber-violence and sightseeing.”

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David Rayfield (GameSpot)

8/10

“Ruiner’s world of pure and absolute murder is one teeming with interesting concepts, and its stellar combat makes it a journey well worth taking.”

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**Read all 69 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (69 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
33bits	Fernando Sánchez	80 / 100	07-28-2020	RUINER is a twin stick shooter that offers much more than meets the eye. An interesting plot, a cyberpunk setting of manual, frenetic action but also tactical and strategic thanks to the skills system, and guaranteed fun for the first game of Reikon Games, which have aimed high and have achieved a game that is very interesting for fans of the action.	Read review
3DNews	Денис Щенников	7 / 10	10-14-2017	Does your heart beat faster when you hear “neon”, “cyberpunk”, and “hardcore” in one sentence? Then you definitely should give RUINER a shot.	Read review
ACG	Jeremy Penter	Not Recommended	09-26-2017	Video Review	Read review
Areajugones	Víctor Rodríguez	8 / 10	10-02-2017	RUINER is a game that wins the player with its very well done cyberpunk style, a gameplay system based on speed and a sweet violence aura that is everywhere. A great game that is one of this year best surprises.	Read review
Ars Technica	Steven Strom	Recommended	09-26-2017	Ruiner has a lot in common with other top-down action games, but blends bits of all of them into a uniquely demanding, satisfying shooter. Buy it.	Read review
AusGamers	Kosta Andreadis	9.2 / 10	09-26-2017	And I love it.	Read review
BaziCenter	Ali Rezazadeh	8 / 10	10-05-2017	Beside special atmosphere, Ruiner brings exciting challenges. different type of weapons, bosses and good skills will encourage you to spend your time and enjoy fights.	Read review
Bazimag	Ehsan Nakhoda	7 / 10	10-25-2017	Ruiner has been successful in delivering a perfect cyber-punk world and it is also a good game in shooting genre. However, unfortunately, some in-game issues such as unbalanced difficulty and various glitches have prevented the game from being a fully entertaining experience.	Read review
CGMagazine	Joel Couture	7 / 10	09-26-2017	Ruiner is a dizzying affair in combat, offering tons of things for players to consider as music pounds their senses. However, a lack of weapon impact, fights that often feel too similar, and a lifeless world takes away from its appeal.	Read review
Chalgyr’s Game Room	Robert Risdon	8.8 / 10	10-10-2017	Ruiner has been on my radar for months and how I came about it was a bit different for one being in the games industry. Rather than receiving a press release regarding Ruiner, I actually found it while doing some animated GIF searches for “cyberpunk” and I was instantly hooked. Set in the year 2091 in the fictional cyber-metropolis Rengkok, Ruiner game is a brutal isometric shooter that immediately reminded me of a gritty title pulling influences from sources like Super Smash TV, the Contra series, A Scanner Darkly, and a handful of different Anime. What Reikon Games gives us though, is far, far more than just a run-and-gun action title set in the corporately-run underbelly of a future megalopolis, but rather a wild ride through the mind of someone that has had enough of a corrupt system and aims to bring it all crumbling down.	Read review
COGconnected	Clayton Cyre	90 / 100	07-09-2020	When I finish a game feeling like I just want more, I know the journey was worth every moment and RUINER has me counting the days until a potential sequel.	Read review
Cubed3	Gabriel Jones	7 / 10	09-26-2017	Ultra violent and very entertaining, Ruiner is quite an achievement. Not only does the game offer a meaty challenge, it doesn’t bore and frustrate players with wave after wave of minions; each level is filled with just enough action to keep them invested. Some aspects aren’t quite as polished as they could be but, again, a great soundtrack makes everything better. The effects could have also been dialled back a tad, but otherwise its inspired art direction is really impressive. On the merits of its presentation alone, this cyberpunk thriller deserves a look. Of course, it certainly helps that the rest of the game is solid, as well.	Read review
Cultured Vultures	Jimmy Donnellan	8.5 / 10	10-02-2017	Ruiner is an enthralling and blood-pumping adventure into a nightmarish future that absolutely should not be overlooked. Get it, Puppy.	Read review
Destructoid	Anthony Marzano	9 / 10	09-26-2017	When all is said and done, you ultimately have a solid cyberpunk action game that has exceptional gun and melee based combat taking place in a beautifully fleshed out world that it, unfortunately, doesn’t utilize to its full potential. It may not be perfect but I can wholeheartedly recommend RUINER if you are looking for a good challenge or a game that would fit perfectly in a dark room with your headphones cranked to maximum.	Read review
DualShockers	Michael Ruiz	6.5 / 10	10-06-2017	However, when a game is purposely difficult solely due to the amount of overpowered enemies it can throw at you, it makes for an unsatisfying experience. This blended with clunky gameplay only amplified my disappointment. I would not be surprised if someone stopped playing twenty minutes into Ruiner with its uninviting gameplay.	Read review
Eurogamer	Edwin Evans-Thirlwell	Not Recommended	09-26-2017	A powerfully grim, fleet-footed cyberpunk action odyssey that is caught in the spell of its own nihilism.	Read review
Explosion Network	Dylan Blight	8.5 / 10	09-25-2017	Ruiner ticks a lot of boxes for what I love in video games: fun gameplay with a degree to master it; an interesting story with characters I’m intrigued by; most importantly though, this art style and music — I’m an admitted sucker for it. Fortunately, it is more than just art and music; it’s also fast-paced combat that requires thinking and reflexes with a story that belongs in the worlds it feels inspired by, which is a compliment. Ruiner is, most definitely, another kick-ass game published by Devolver Digital, where you just so happen to play as a guy wearing a mask (it’s actually a helmet.)	Read review
FingerGuns	Rossko Keniston	8 / 10	09-26-2017	Ruiner is terrific. The story is a bit of a misfire and the characters are difficult to engage with, but the solid gameplay, the terrific visuals and the cracking soundtrack should get you through. The difficulty levels are overwhelming – at least for me – but it doesn’t take away from the fact Ruiner is just a great game.	Read review
Game Informer	Javy Gwaltney	7 / 10	09-26-2017	Ruiner’s messy brand of violence and stylish visuals make for a fun and chaotic (if brief) ride	Read review
Gameblog	Angel Davila	7 / 10	10-09-2017	Ruiner offers a particularly demanding gameplay, with very cool gun fights that will surely satisfy hardcore twin stick shooter fans. Unfortunately, the visuals are very repetitive, and the story is nearly as much absent as the multiplayer mode.	Read review
GameGrin	Ethan Butterfield	6.5 / 10	10-28-2017	Ruiner is a competent top down sci-fi shooter that boasts an emphasis on difficultly, but a lacking in story. The gameplay sells it, for sure, just don’t be shocked when the plot doesn’t draw you in.	Read review
GameMAG	xtr	8 / 10	10-11-2017	Ruiner, despite some small problems, is incredibly addictive, and completely absorbing your attention. And that’s a nice surprise.	Read review
Gameplanet	Leo Rae-Brown	7 / 10	10-10-2017	Ruiner’s cyberpunk carnage and soundtrack evoke Hotline Miami, even if the gameplay doesn’t quite measure up. It’s a spectacle, but it’s over too soon.	Read review
GamePro	Sascha Penzhorn	74 / 100	09-28-2017	Brutal twinstick shooter with gloomy cyberpunk setting. The battles are bizarre, but never frustrating.	Read review
GameSpew	Richard Seagrave	9 / 10	09-26-2017	Ruiner’s budget presentation does little to sully what is otherwise a challenging, addictive and sublime twin-stick shooter experience.	Read review
GameSpot	David Rayfield	8 / 10	09-26-2017	Ruiner’s world of pure and absolute murder is one teeming with interesting concepts, and its stellar combat makes it a journey well worth taking.	Read review
GamesRadar+	Lucas Sullivan	4 / 5 stars	09-26-2017	With its brutal, agile combat and engrossing slice of cyberpunk existence, you’ll desperately want Ruiner to keep the story going.	Read review
Gaming Nexus	Nathan Carter	7.4 / 10	02-07-2018	Ruiner is a fun and fast twin stick shooter that ends all too soon and leaves you asking way too many questions.	Read review
GamingTrend	T.K. Hale	85 / 100	06-30-2020	The gameplay feels tight and precise, which is great considering how fast paced and frantic this game can get. The soundtrack sets the cyberpunk tone well and even mixes in the ominous feeling of something not being right. The world that is built is amazing yet dark and disturbing at the same time. There are plenty of challenging fights to keep you playing until you’ve beaten the game.	Read review
GBAtemp	Derek Bortz	8.1 / 10	11-17-2017	If you are a fan of top-down twin-stick games, Ruiner is for you. It’s not perfect, but it’s flaws are easily overlooked in favor of this cyberpunk dystopia. The gameplay is where it’s at. Mapping dash points, dashing around and ruining your enemies with the tools you are given. It’s short, not too sweet, and generally worth a play.	Read review
Generación Xbox	Antonio Sánchez Vázquez	8.5 / 10	09-27-2017	The technological cadence of a near future full of violence is the context in which Ruiner takes us. A zenithal-view action game that surprises us with its technical section, its frenetic shootings and its variety of weapons.	Read review
God is a Geek	Mick Fraser	8 / 10	09-26-2017	Fun and frustrating, often in equal measure, Ruiner is polished to a high shine but still won’t appeal to everyone.	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Kyle LeClair	4 / 5 stars	09-27-2017	Despite a bit of a hurdle when it comes to difficulty at the beginning, Ruiner is quite the addictive action game, one with a lot of variety in its combat that packs a lot of experimentation into a small package.	Read review
IGN	Daemon Hatfield	6 / 10	09-26-2017	Fighting my way through Ruiner felt like work, and if I weren’t obligated to finish it for the review I probably wouldn’t have bothered. It’s too bad it focuses on being difficult over being fun, because the combat totally works when you’re given access to the full range of weaponry and gadgets and can finally stand up to the nearly endless waves of varied enemies thrown at you. This one is definitely better the second time around. Games should be fun right from when you hit the start button – that’s kind of the whole point – but Ruiner puts you through too much of a hazing ritual to get there.	Read review
IGN Italy	Mattia Ravanelli	7.5 / 10	09-26-2017	What a fascinating game! Ruiner truly is something different. It’s a pity that sometimes can be too harsh and that all of its side-missions seems just sketched.	Read review
IGN Spain	Jaume Esteve	7.5 / 10	09-26-2017	Ruiner won’t be a revolution in video games but it doesn’t aim for that. Instead, it tries to explore the violent isometric shooter adding a lovely cyberpunk aesthetic as well as gallons of blood. An average heir to Hotline Miami.	Read review
Impulsegamer	Chris O’Connor	4 / 5 stars	10-03-2017	If you want a healthy dose of style and don’t mind potentially rage quitting every now and then when faced with a boss battle then this should be right up your alley.	Read review
Kinglink Reviews	Unknown	4.5 / 5 stars	06-25-2018	An excellent shooter wrapped in cyberpunk style and look that just impressed me every step of the way. Excellent ability tree and gameplay worked well but the presentation sealed the deal.	Read review
MonsterVine	Diego Escala	4 / 5 stars	09-26-2017	It’s safe to say that Reikon Games completely blew away all expectations with their first game.	Read review
New Game Network	David Will	81 / 100	09-27-2017	Over-the-top and frequently overwhelming, Ruiner might be the first cyberpunk game to give an inkling of what it’d be like to have a deluge of sensory stimuli downloaded directly into your head. A guilty pleasure, and a damn good twin-stick shooter to boot.	Read review
Niche Gamer	Brandon Orselli	10 / 10	09-26-2017	If you’re into high-action, challenging games and / or anything cyberpunk, do yourself a favor and just buy Ruiner.	Read review
Nintendo Life	PJ O’Reilly	8 / 10	06-18-2020	Ruiner is an exceptionally stylish, brutal and bloody top-down shooter that hurls you unceremoniously into a relentless onslaught of deranged creeps, cyborgs and enormous mechanoid bosses all hellbent on your destruction. A steady drip-feed of new combat skills – alongside a ton of meaty guns and melee weapons – keeps the action feeling fresh, and the game’s excellent graphics and thumping techno soundtrack do a top-notch job of bringing the whole thing vibrantly to life. There are a few framerate issues here and there in docked mode – something which has been an issue in other versions of the game – but, overall, this is a super-solid version of a supremely enjoyable and challenging cyberpunk action-adventure.	Read review
NintendoWorldReport	Unknown	8 / 10	06-24-2020	It’s surprisingly fun. Just don’t play it in Handheld mode, where you’ll be struggling to see things (the Joy-Con sticks aren’t necessarily up to the task, either). I will say there’s a plot twist that could not have been more telegraphed, which was a little disappointing, but this isn’t a game you’re playing for depth of story. Ruiner is a good time and is definitely worth trying.	Read review
Oyungezer Online	Utku Çakır	8.2 / 10	10-05-2017	RUINER is a purebread action game with breathtaking visual and sound design.	Read review
Pardis Game	Parham Aghakhani	8.5 / 10	10-24-2017	RUINER is a great game. Its excellent visuals & amazing soundtrack create an engaging atmosphere and combat is exciting & fast-paced. But unfortunately, its brutal difficulty & linear, combat-focused gameplay might discourage some players from continuing the game	Read review
PC Gamer	Omri Petitte	84 / 100	09-26-2017	Dazzling, dangerous, and dripping in style, Ruiner is a superb, if short, whirlwind of cyber-violence and sightseeing.	Read review
Player2.net.au	Matt Hewson	Recommended	09-25-2017	Ruiner is the perfect experience for a twin-stick veteran looking for something a little different to cut their teeth on or a gamer that thrives on challenge and doesn’t have a squeamish stomach. Ruiner is a gory journey that is worth taking, just don’t be afraid of dropping the difficulty. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.	Read review
PlayStation LifeStyle	Tyler Treese	9 / 10	10-03-2017	Ultimately, I never had much of a choice in Ruiner. I was simply a tool that awaited command, one that only could express myself during combat. I killed because I was told to do so, but even if I had free reign I doubt I would’ve ever had disobeyed. After all, sometimes it’s too much fun to be used.	Read review
PlayStation Universe	John-Paul Jones	8.5 / 10	09-26-2017	An effortlessly stylish cyberpunk, twin-stick shooter, RUINER is essential for fans of the genre.	Read review
Polygon	Jeremy Winslow	6 / 10	09-29-2017	By the time I fought Mother for the third and last time, I was prepared to throw my controller because of how quickly she evaporated my energy and health bars the first two times. Ruiner is one of those games that is unabashedly difficult for the sake of being difficult. It demands you face waves upon waves of the same enemies and mini-bosses before you can even see the final, incredibly trite cinematic. Are you the ruiner or the ruined? I won’t spoil the answer that the game offers up, but I will say that I sure didn’t feel triumphant when I finally set the controller down.	Read review
PowerUp!	Steven Hayes	6.5 / 10	09-27-2017	RUINER is well worth the money spent and the time played. It’s a solid game with an interesting story and mechanics and not too many negatives.	Read review
PS4Blog.net	Unknown	8.5 / 10	12-22-2017	Ruiner is a fast-paced and hectic twin-stick game with an interesting cyberpunk setting and solid gameplay mechanics that come together to offer a fun experience.	Read review
Push Square	Graham Banas	8 / 10	09-26-2017	In a year crowded with incredible titles, Ruiner manages to be a standout anyways. The red neon-plastered world presented by Reikon Games is beautiful, brutal, and terrifying. With some impressive art direction, great music, and a wealth of immensely satisfying combat systems, Ruiner offers essential top-down gameplay, and comes highly recommended.	Read review
Saving Content	Scott Ellison II	4 / 5 stars	10-03-2017	RUINER is absolutely a difficult game, but not one I would call unfair. I did find I found it more enjoyable when I played it in short bursts than longer sessions because of how frustrating it can be. That said, it is so satisfying when you conquer a hard room or a boss, and then you feel energized to continue. The game asks the question, “Are you the Ruiner or the Ruined?” – depending on how things go for you while playing, can be either. The best games challenge us and push us to our limits, and RUINER is among those.	Read review
SpazioGames	Yuri Polverino	8 / 10	09-30-2017	Devolver Digital hits the target one more time. Ruiner is a really solid game, with great personality and gameplsy.	Read review
Stevivor	Jay Ball	5 / 10	09-26-2017	Only drop coin on this if you’re a huge fan of the genre	Read review
SwitchWatch	Jason Capp	8.6 / 10	06-18-2020	Ruiner is a game that bleeds style. It is cool beyond measure, and it holds itself high with its stellar soundtrack and gorgeous visuals.	Read review
The Digital Fix	Daniel Pearce	7 / 10	10-24-2017	A brutal, chaotic top-down shooter that offers great focused gameplay but little else.	Read review
The Outerhaven Productions	Keith Mitchell	3.5 / 5 stars	09-26-2017	Ruiner is a fast-paced, hectic game of survival, cast in a cyberpunk filled future. A brilliant twin-stick shooter that is sadly riddled with control issues. Yet so full of fantastic artistic stylization, extremely pleasing visual and some pretty technical tricks. Definitely a good strong showing for Polish developer Reikon Games.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Dave Irwin	6 / 10	10-16-2017	Ruiner has some great set pieces and a dark, bleak world that I would normally gravitate towards. Yet when the dystopian renders everyone inhabiting it to be as relatable as raw sewage, there was little for me to latch onto. Maybe you’ll find the world of Ruiner to be more bearable than I did, but even the best films of the genre have a glimmer of hope for the audience to cling to, something Ruiner is devoid of.	Read review
TrueAchievements	Kelly Packard	4 / 5 stars	10-05-2017	Ruiner is a whirlwind of shooting, dodging and dying that falls just shy of true greatness.	Read review
VG247	Matt Martin	Recommended	09-27-2017	Ruiner boils down its reason for existence into two words: KILL BOSS.	Read review
Video Chums	A.J. Maciejewski	8 / 10	07-02-2020	If you haven’t played Ruiner yet then getting it on Switch is a must, especially if you enjoy dark, gritty, and action-packed indie games.	Read review
WayTooManyGames	Leonardo Faria	7 / 10	06-18-2020	I can only recommend the Switch version of RUINER to die-hard twin-stick shooter fans. It’s still a stupidly challenging but entertaining title, and its chaotic, arcade-like nature is a good fit for a portable system, but the Switch’s controller options just don’t offer the precision a game like this needs in order to become truly enjoyable.	Read review
Wccftech	Christian Vaz	8 / 10	09-26-2017	For only £15/$20, you really are getting your money’s worth with RUINER. I finished my first playthrough of the game in just over four hours. It’s important to remember half of this playthrough was on Easy (meaning I rarely died) and I didn’t attempt any of the side quests.	Read review
We Got This Covered	Jordan Hurst	2.5 / 5 stars	09-26-2017	RUINER ruins its own explosive presentation and promising combat with poorly thought-out difficulty and incomplete narrative and gameplay concepts.	Read review
WellPlayed	Aza Hudson	8.5 / 10	09-26-2017	RUINER is going to be a cult classic cyberpunk game. From incredibly tense combat to unforgettable atmosphere, it’s a title you’re going to love	Read review
Windows Central	Paul Acevedo	4.5 / 5 stars	09-28-2017	With so many twin-stick shooters on the market, they often tend to blend together. Ruiner stands at the top of the field, thanks in large part to its ultra-cool presentation.	Read review
ZTGD	Ken McKown	6 / 10	10-12-2017	Ruiner succeeds upon completion	Read review

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

RUINER is a top-down action shooter created in the spirit of cult cyberpunk anime and game classics. RUINER is quick and brutal but sophisticated gameplay, original world with mature storyline and unique visual style.

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