Kill Knight is a fast-paced twin-stick shooter that demands precision and mastery. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.

KILL KNIGHT Review Overview

What is KILL KNIGHT?

Kill Knight is a relentless, top-down twin-stick shooter that offers a blend of punishing difficulty and deep mechanics. With a primary objective of hunting down the Last Angel, players must battle through five grueling levels filled with deadly enemies and hazards, all while managing a variety of weapons, armor, and special abilities. The game feels like a modern take on classic shooters, offering high replayability through a ranking and leaderboard system.

KILL KNIGHT features:

　⚫︎　High-Intensity Twin-Stick Shooter
　⚫︎　Gear System with Five Types of Equipment
　⚫︎　Procedurally Timed Enemy Waves
　⚫︎　No Checkpoints
　⚫︎　Grim and Gritty Aesthetics
　⚫︎　Endless Room for Mastery

For more gameplay details, read everything we know about KILL KNIGHT's gameplay and story.

Digital Storefronts
Xbox		PlayStation		Steam		Switch
$14.99

KILL KNIGHT Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Intense and Rewarding Combat Deep Gear and Progression Systems Replayable Levels with Leaderboard	Environments Can Feel Repetitive Extremely Difficult for Casual Players Some Mechanics Could be Overwhelming

KILL KNIGHT Overall Score - 76/100

Kill Knight excels in its unforgiving, skill-based gameplay, but its high difficulty may alienate more casual players. Its strengths lie in its challenging, but fair, design that rewards players who invest time in learning the mechanics. However, the repetitive level design and lack of enemy variety hold it back from reaching its full potential.

KILL KNIGHT Story - 6/10

The story in Kill Knight is minimal and straightforward: your singular goal is to defeat the Last Angel. While this narrative premise sets the stage for the game’s brutal combat, it doesn’t expand into anything deeply engaging. The story serves as a backdrop for the action, rather than being a central element.

KILL KNIGHT Gameplay - 9/10

Gameplay is where Kill Knight truly shines. The twin-stick shooting mechanics are tight and responsive, with a strategic depth that keeps each encounter fresh. The gear system offers plenty of customization, and the absence of checkpoints forces players to master the game’s punishing but fair difficulty curve. Replayability is high thanks to the leaderboard and challenge-based structure.

KILL KNIGHT Visuals - 8/10

The visuals of Kill Knight are dark, gritty, and perfectly suited to the game’s violent and tense atmosphere. While the levels can feel a bit repetitive, the environmental hazards and dynamic transformations in each stage keep things visually engaging. The design of the enemies and effects adds to the overall aesthetic.

KILL KNIGHT Audio - 7/10

The sound design is solid, with impactful effects that enhance the game’s intensity. The music complements the action well, creating a sense of urgency during battles. However, the soundtrack doesn’t stand out as much as the rest of the audio design, and it could have used more variety to match the escalating intensity of the gameplay.

KILL KNIGHT Value for Money - 8/10

For $15, Kill Knight offers a lot of content, especially for players who enjoy a challenge. With five levels, four difficulty settings, and a gear system that encourages replayability, there’s plenty of gameplay here for the price. The difficulty may deter some, but for those who enjoy mastering tough mechanics, the value is definitely there.

KILL KNIGHT Review: Brutal, Satisfying, Relentless

Kill Knight doesn’t hold back when it comes to difficulty. From the moment you step into the game, it becomes apparent that mistakes are costly and success must be earned. Even on the easiest difficulty setting, the game is punishing. Kill Knight’s no-checkpoint system means every encounter feels like life or death—you can’t just rely on luck or brute force to push through. The game demands precision and skill, forcing you to master its mechanics in a way that’s both brutal and rewarding. I found myself replaying sections dozens of times, each run teaching me something new. Yet, despite the constant deaths, I never felt like the game was being unfair. Enemy patterns and level layouts are deliberate, giving you the tools to succeed as long as you put in the effort to learn them.

What stands out is how the difficulty feels earned. You’ll never experience that "cheap death" frustration some hard games tend to deliver. Kill Knight respects the player’s ability to learn and grow within the game’s systems. The steep learning curve feels intimidating at first, but overcoming those hurdles is what makes the experience so gratifying. Every victory feels like an achievement, a testament to your growing mastery over the game’s unforgiving mechanics.

Deep Mechanics That Reward Mastery

One of the most rewarding aspects of Kill Knight is its complex gear system. Players have access to a variety of loadouts, with different light weapons, heavy weapons, and armor types to choose from. You can mix and match these pieces to suit your playstyle, making the game feel incredibly customizable. Each gear type has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the variety of bonus attributes you can unlock keeps things fresh. This means that every run has the potential to feel different depending on your choices. Experimentation is key here, and I found myself constantly tweaking my loadout to find the perfect combination for each level’s challenges.

The focus on melee combat and resource management also adds depth. Rather than spamming attacks, you need to balance offense and defense, timing your moves to optimize damage and conserve resources. Kill Knight encourages you to diversify your attacks to keep ammo flowing and stay alive. This adds layers of strategy, as you must always be aware of your surroundings, enemy patterns, and your own limited resources. The game doesn’t allow for passive play—you must be engaged and thoughtful with every move.

It’s not just the gear system that makes Kill Knight stand out, though. There’s a rhythm to the combat that feels exhilarating. The game’s active reload mechanic, which allows you to perform additional actions mid-reload, is a clever touch. You can use melee strikes to clear enemies, or suck in nearby orbs to power up your special abilities. This system is nuanced and ties into the game’s overarching theme of constant tension and management. You’re not just battling enemies; you’re juggling resources, timing reloads, and making split-second decisions that could mean life or death. This level of strategic depth makes Kill Knight much more than a standard action game—it’s a carefully crafted test of skill and reflexes.

Repetition in Enemies and Environments

While the combat and mechanics of Kill Knight are top-notch, there is one area where the game stumbles a bit—enemy and environmental variety. As much as I loved slicing through hordes of enemies with my finely-tuned arsenal, I couldn’t help but notice that many of the enemies began to feel familiar after a while. Kill Knight reuses its enemy types with only slight variations, which can lead to a sense of repetitiveness in later stages. This lack of variety becomes especially noticeable when you’re already struggling through the game’s intense difficulty.

The environments, while initially interesting, also begin to blend together after several levels. The game introduces new hazards and obstacles in each stage, which helps keep the gameplay fresh, but visually, there isn’t much that sets one level apart from the next. The shifting hazards do force you to adapt, but a bit more creativity in both enemy design and environmental variety would have added another layer of immersion to the experience.

That said, the game’s tight level design and carefully crafted encounters make up for some of this lack of variety. The challenge comes from mastering each level’s layout and enemy placement, so even if the environments don’t feel particularly diverse, the gameplay remains engaging and challenging. Still, for a game with such a strong foundation, it’s a shame there wasn’t more variety in this aspect.

Satisfying Combat and Strategic Depth

Even with its shortcomings, the core gameplay loop of Kill Knight remains incredibly satisfying. The combat is fast-paced, intense, and forces you to constantly think on your feet. Whether you’re using your dash to evade attacks or timing your melee strikes for maximum damage, the gameplay is a high-stakes dance that rewards precision and quick reflexes. The controls are responsive, making every input feel tight and deliberate, which is crucial for a game as punishing as this.

What I found particularly engaging was the way Kill Knight makes every decision feel impactful. There’s no autopilot here—you can’t mindlessly mash buttons and hope for the best. Every attack, every dodge, and every reload has to be executed with intention. The fact that the game gives you so many tools to play with—from active reload mechanics to resource management systems—means that there’s always something to think about. The result is a game that feels constantly engaging and dynamic, even in its most challenging moments.

The absence of checkpoints also adds to this intensity. Each run feels like it carries weight because you know that any mistake could set you back to the beginning of the level. While this might sound frustrating, it actually heightens the sense of accomplishment when you finally succeed. Kill Knight is a game that demands perfection, and when you achieve it, the payoff is immense.

Endurance and Replayability

Replayability is one of Kill Knight’s greatest strengths. Even after completing a level, there are plenty of reasons to go back and try again. Each level features multiple challenges, from time trials to carnage multipliers, that encourage you to improve your performance. The leaderboard system adds an extra layer of competition, pushing you to not just survive but excel.

The endurance required to master each level is no joke. You’re not just fighting through individual encounters—you’re surviving entire levels with no room for error. This endurance-based gameplay adds a level of tension that few games can match. Every move feels significant, and the knowledge that one slip-up could cost you a successful run keeps you on edge throughout the entire experience.

Additionally, the slow progression of unlocking new gear adds to the replayability. You’ll spend a lot of time with your initial loadout before unlocking more advanced weapons and armor. While this can feel like a grind at times, it also gives you a reason to keep playing and mastering the game. The progression system is designed in such a way that you’re constantly working toward something, whether it’s unlocking a new weapon or perfecting your score on a level.

The game doesn’t just test your reflexes but your ability to adapt and strategize under pressure. Its unforgiving nature and steep learning curve make it a title best suited for players who crave difficulty and precision. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, hardcore experience that rewards dedication and mastery, Kill Knight will be more than worth your time. For those who prefer more forgiving games, the brutal difficulty might be a dealbreaker, but for those willing to rise to the challenge, this game offers a thrilling and satisfying ride that’s hard to put down.

Is KILL KNIGHT Worth It?

A Challenge for the Brave

If you’re looking for a game that will test your skills and push you to the limit, Kill Knight is worth every penny. The $15 price tag offers a lot of bang for your buck, especially if you’re the kind of player who enjoys mastering tough mechanics. However, if you’re not a fan of high difficulty and repetition, this game might not be for you. But for those who thrive on a challenge, Kill Knight is an unforgettable experience.

Digital Storefronts
Xbox		PlayStation		Steam		Switch
$14.99

KILL KNIGHT FAQ

Does KILL KNIGHT have multiplayer?

No, Kill Knight is a single-player experience but it has leaderboards.

How many levels are there in KILL KNIGHT?

There are five levels, each offering increasing difficulty.

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KILL KNIGHT Product Information

Title	KILL KNIGHT
Release Date	October 2, 2024
Developer	PlaySide
Publisher	PlaySide
Supported Platforms	PC (Steam), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Genre	Action, Isometric-Shooter
Number of Players	1
Rating	ESRB Teen
Official Website	KILL KNIGHT Official Website

Allisandra Reyes

I find joy in the adrenaline rush of horror games, but my thrill-seeking doesn't stop there. Beyond the digital realm, I like to take on the role of designated GM in TTRPGs.