Neon Blood

“While it has the retro techno-noir look and general tone covered, clunky mechanics and weak combat hold it back”

“I hope a lot of folks connect with Neon Blood in a way that I sadly couldn’t, as there really is a lot to enjoy here, but the choices in gameplay mechanics did wear me down in the end.”

“Neon Blood isn’t just a game—it’s an experience. It’s a bold, ambitious title that tackles complex themes while delivering a solid RPG experience. Its strengths far outweigh its flaws, making it a must-play for fans of story-driven games and cyberpunk aesthetics. For me, the time spent in Viridis was more than just gaming—it was a journey through a world that felt eerily reflective of our own. If you’re ready to dive into a dystopia filled with heart, grit, and neon-soaked rebellion, Neon Blood is waiting.”

“"Neon Blood" appealed to me primarily because of its looks. Pixel art mixed with hand-drawn cutscenes in comic style - that sounded really good. Unfortunately, in the end it remained a pleasure for the eyes and less for the players. The story never goes beyond okay status, and the fights are inconsequential and almost boring. There is no kind of level system or skill tree where new skills can be unlocked. The few skills you get during the story have little influence on the gameplay and don't make the fights more tactical. Since the use of skills in battle is not tied to action points or the like, nothing stops me from simply spamming the "Headshot" skill until my opponent falls over. All planning and tactics fly completely out the window. If you add to this the fact that the German translation reads a bit like fresh from Google Translate and that the game crashed twice, "Neon Blood" unfortunately doesn't remain much more than a pretty façade with little behind it.”

“Neon Blood opens with some undeniable potential, but it's too short and ultimately feels hollow.”

“Neon Blood is a game based on an interesting premise and an excellent artistic and audiovisual section, an excellent letter of introduction for one of the most anticipated Spanish indies of the year.”

“All in all, Neon Blood is a game that is undoubtedly visually and artistically striking. The combination of its pixel art aesthetics with the 3D of the settings is sublime and even the plot is interesting, but everything develops too quickly, almost as if the previous one is no longer interesting enough. The combats are too simple or simple, and offer no motivation beyond being another formality in pursuit of the story itself, which could have been improved by adding companions or including a certain strategy in them.”

“Neon Blood, on its surface, is a stunning pixelated cyberpunk adventure that boasts an intriguing plot. However, players will unfortunately find that when they spend more time with the game it is riddled with clunky traversal, uninspiring combat and the lack of accessibility features. Though Neon Blood looks like it would be an exciting cyberpunk adventure, the issues make it visually gorgeous but not a super fun experience.”

“Neon Blood is a graphic adventure with RPG touches with a sublime cyberpunk setting and a great narrative with a marked noir character. If you are looking for a short, visually striking adventure with a narrative focus, Neon Blood is an option that is quite worthwhile, as long as you are willing to forgive its limitations.”

“Neon Blood stands out for its art, featuring incredible environments, great pixel art, and incredible hand-drawn cutscenes. However, the rest of the gameplay and narrative features a disappointing lack of depth, preventing the game from reaching its full potential.”

“Neon Blood’s gorgeous presentation hides its lackluster combat and exploration. Its solid story lacks the length and details to maximize its setup and worldbuilding.”

“If you enjoy science fiction, futuristic settings and detective series or movies, Neon Blood is perfectly made for you. ChaoticBrain Studios has managed to develop a very good narrative adventure that blends cyberpunk and film noir aesthetics wonderfully.”

“The beauty of an art style in which retro and modern give life to a visually credible dystopian world cannot hide the gameplay lacks under its pixelated guise: despite the short duration, the lack of depth between investigative phases, exploration and combat has time to leave a bitter taste in the mouth.”

“Although graphically impressive and it does manage to tell a decent story, Neon Blood’s gameplay may prove to be too lacking for any RPG fan. The game has the makings for a great adventure game if it were a couple hours longer perhaps but, it’s bare bones and unchallenging gameplay left quite a lot to be desired.”

“Managing to get ahead of the most promising titles of cyberpunk pixel art, Neon Blood surprises with outstanding visuals and its dazzling atmosphere, in a game where the only "buts" are limited gameplay and its short duration.”

“Axel McCoin must investigate a corpse plot while trying to remember his past in Neon Blood. Its style, halfway between Pixel Art and 3D rendered environments, offers us a gameplay proposal that reminds us visually of the 90's experiments and, in its structure, of the old Nintendo 8-bit games. An experience that works but leaves us halfway in many aspects.”

“Neon Blood is a truly outstanding graphic adventure whose plot captivates you from the start, constantly inviting you to continue its development while exploring each and every corner that is part of the city of Viridis. Ending all corruption and returning peace to the streets and inhabitants of the city will only be possible if detective Axel McCain, in the company of his allies, overthrows the dangerous powers present. If, in addition to liking graphic adventures, you are passionate about pixel art, you will love this 'Made in Spain' title.”