More than two whole decades since we last had a proper Painkiller, the dormant PC shooter is back with a fresh entry that carries the same name. The new project appears to a reboot that brings the series into the modern era, and that carries with it some elements that may not be to everyone’s liking.
The new Painkiller comes from something of an unlikely source. You may recall that Space Marine and MudRunner developer Saber Interactive announced back in 2021 that it’s working on a new entry in the series, but we’ve seen next to nothing from the project since.
This all changed overnight.
At the Future Games Show, we got treated to a proper reveal of Painkiller. The game is published by Saber’s 3D Realms label, but its developer is not one you may have heard of. The game is being worked on by Polish team Anshar Studios, whose credits include support work on some of the biggest games, such as Baldur’s Gate 3, Layers of Fear as well as other Bloober Team and Larian projects.
The only game Anshar developed (and published) itself is 2021’s excellent Gamedec, an isometric RPG with strong narrative and decision-making elements. So while the studio does have pedigree, it’s not exactly entirely aligned with the type of game Painkiller was. But that may not matter much because the new game appears to be taking things into something of a different direction.
The new Painkiller is a co-op shooter that has its own look. It still retains the emphasis on fast shooting, fluid movement, metal music, gothic pastiche, and the violence and gore the original games are known for.
The horde shooter can be played solo (with bots), of course, and it looks to be offering its own take on some of the weird and whacky weapons of the originals. You’ll be able to pick from four characters with unique perks, and you’ll get to upgrade them over the course of play.
Painkiller comes to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S this fall, and you can wishlist it now on Steam if you’re intrigued (the trailer does look amazing, to be fair).
