A new Painkiller game arrives in 2025 after the franchise’s long dormancy, following a string of mixed to poor sequels.

Capsule Computers’ Travis Bruno covers the release, highlighting the long hiatus and the reception of the franchise’s latest return.

The franchise’s return in 2025 follows over a decade of dormancy and mixed-to-poor reception to earlier installments.

The revival of Painkiller is under scrutiny for whether it preserves the core appeal of the original or simply casts a shadow of what fans loved.

Early assessments question whether the overhaul will meet expectations and risk eroding the franchise’s identity in pursuit of a new direction.

The revival’s shift toward raid-based cooperative play marks a major stylistic and gameplay departure from previous Painkiller entries.

Critics describe the new model as a significant change from the original formula, affecting the overall experience.

The project is led by 3D Realms and Anshar Studios, who are reviving the classic series for this release.

Overall, the new direction risks diminishing Painkiller’s core identity by transforming it into something markedly different from the traditional experience.

reviewers note the revival may lean toward contemporary genre trends rather than faithfully continuing Painkiller’s legacy.

Early reviews suggest the revival reimagines Painkiller as a raid-based co-op shooter, stepping away from the traditional single-player/arena shooter format.

The collaboration between 3D Realms and Anshar Studios aims to bring Painkiller back, though reception to the revival remains uncertain.