J
Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief
Guest
October 17, 2025
Mark your calendar: Painkiller launches on Xbox Series X|S on October 21. For Anshar Studios the opportunity felt both familiar and thrilling. This was a cult classic with a legacy of speed, brutality, and gothic flair. The project came with a clear set of constraints: cooperative gameplay and a need to honor the original’s DNA. For Anshar, these weren’t limitations: they were a creative opportunity.
The original Painkiller was known for its bunny-hopping movement and dual-mode weaponry, giving players a kinetic edge in combat. Anshar’s new installment amplifies that philosophy with dashing, sliding, wall bouncing and hook shots, which turn every arena into a vertical playground. The movement isn’t just fast; it’s fluid, empowering players to outmaneuver enemies. Combat becomes a symphony of destruction.
Classic weapons like the Stakegun and Electrodriver return, now enhanced with elemental effects and physics-based interactions. Fire, ice and electro elements combine to create emergent chaos. Impaling, freezing and chain-reacting enemies rewards experimentation. This is a shooter that invites creativity, where every fight is a puzzle and every solution is pure chaos.
Painkiller’s signature gothic horror aesthetic gets a brutal facelift in Anshar’s reimagining. Purgatory is now split into three thematic chapters: Gothic, Sand and Nature. Each is dripping with atmospheric horror. The environments are twisted, the enemies tormented and the bosses massive, grotesque and ruthless.
But amid the darkness, the game never loses its sense of fun. Over-the-top action remains the focus, now enhanced by a 3-player cooperative mode that adds strategic depth to the chaos. Players can coordinate weapon synergies, manage Tarot card builds, and dominate the battlefield together. The Tarot system itself returns with dozens of cards that shape playstyles and amplify abilities, giving players the freedom to craft their own brand of destruction.
This isn’t just Painkiller with a fresh coat of paint. It’s a full-throttle reinvention, built inside a box and bursting out of it with style. Painkiller arrives on October 21 – pre-order today!
3D Realms
☆☆☆☆☆ 3
★★★★★
$39.99
Get it now
Painkiller is a modern reimagining of the classic franchise, featuring online co-op for up to three players and offline play. Battle hordes of demons and titanic terrors across richly detailed gothic environments. Trapped in Purgatory, you are sentenced for your transgressions against Heaven. But the Voice of the Creator gives you a chance to redeem yourself. As one of the Champions, you are to stop the fallen angel Azazel who is about to unleash his demonic armies onto Earth. You will face hordes of enemies, demons with unique powers and three monstrous children of Azazel – the Nephilim. Will you succeed in your mission and earn your salvation? Purgatory Is Your Playground – Jump, dash, and hook across vast biomes while fighting enemies with a host of new and classic Painkiller weapons. Grotesque Terrors Await – Challenge a variety of enemies ranging from hordes of smaller demons to titanic terrors. Unleash The Pain – Utilize tarot cards to enhance your abilities and combine them with other players to obliterate your foes. Choose Your Character Wisely – Play as one of four distinctive characters – Ink, Void, Sol and Roch – and take advantage of their unique perks to boost your energy, health, power and damage.
The post Painkiller, Brutally Reimagined: How Anshar Studios Gave the Cult Classic New Life appeared first on Xbox Wire.
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Painkiller, Brutally Reimagined: How Anshar Studios Gave the Cult Classic New Life
- Damian WyspiańskiCreative Director, Anshar Studios
Summary
- Anshar Studios reimagines Painkiller, blending classic chaotic gameplay with modern co-op.
- Advanced traversal mechanics and elemental weapons synergize, delivering fast-paced, strategic combat.
- Gothic horror returns with a brutal new vision, now playable solo or in 3-player co-op.
Mark your calendar: Painkiller launches on Xbox Series X|S on October 21. For Anshar Studios the opportunity felt both familiar and thrilling. This was a cult classic with a legacy of speed, brutality, and gothic flair. The project came with a clear set of constraints: cooperative gameplay and a need to honor the original’s DNA. For Anshar, these weren’t limitations: they were a creative opportunity.
Movement, Mayhem, Mastery: The New Painkiller Formula
The original Painkiller was known for its bunny-hopping movement and dual-mode weaponry, giving players a kinetic edge in combat. Anshar’s new installment amplifies that philosophy with dashing, sliding, wall bouncing and hook shots, which turn every arena into a vertical playground. The movement isn’t just fast; it’s fluid, empowering players to outmaneuver enemies. Combat becomes a symphony of destruction.
Classic weapons like the Stakegun and Electrodriver return, now enhanced with elemental effects and physics-based interactions. Fire, ice and electro elements combine to create emergent chaos. Impaling, freezing and chain-reacting enemies rewards experimentation. This is a shooter that invites creativity, where every fight is a puzzle and every solution is pure chaos.
Fun-Fueled, and Unapologetically Brutal
Painkiller’s signature gothic horror aesthetic gets a brutal facelift in Anshar’s reimagining. Purgatory is now split into three thematic chapters: Gothic, Sand and Nature. Each is dripping with atmospheric horror. The environments are twisted, the enemies tormented and the bosses massive, grotesque and ruthless.
But amid the darkness, the game never loses its sense of fun. Over-the-top action remains the focus, now enhanced by a 3-player cooperative mode that adds strategic depth to the chaos. Players can coordinate weapon synergies, manage Tarot card builds, and dominate the battlefield together. The Tarot system itself returns with dozens of cards that shape playstyles and amplify abilities, giving players the freedom to craft their own brand of destruction.
This isn’t just Painkiller with a fresh coat of paint. It’s a full-throttle reinvention, built inside a box and bursting out of it with style. Painkiller arrives on October 21 – pre-order today!
Painkiller
3D Realms
☆☆☆☆☆ 3
★★★★★
$39.99
Get it now
Painkiller is a modern reimagining of the classic franchise, featuring online co-op for up to three players and offline play. Battle hordes of demons and titanic terrors across richly detailed gothic environments. Trapped in Purgatory, you are sentenced for your transgressions against Heaven. But the Voice of the Creator gives you a chance to redeem yourself. As one of the Champions, you are to stop the fallen angel Azazel who is about to unleash his demonic armies onto Earth. You will face hordes of enemies, demons with unique powers and three monstrous children of Azazel – the Nephilim. Will you succeed in your mission and earn your salvation? Purgatory Is Your Playground – Jump, dash, and hook across vast biomes while fighting enemies with a host of new and classic Painkiller weapons. Grotesque Terrors Await – Challenge a variety of enemies ranging from hordes of smaller demons to titanic terrors. Unleash The Pain – Utilize tarot cards to enhance your abilities and combine them with other players to obliterate your foes. Choose Your Character Wisely – Play as one of four distinctive characters – Ink, Void, Sol and Roch – and take advantage of their unique perks to boost your energy, health, power and damage.
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The post Painkiller, Brutally Reimagined: How Anshar Studios Gave the Cult Classic New Life appeared first on Xbox Wire.
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