Based on the information in the article, here’s a summary of what we know about the upcoming Painkiller (2025) game:

Developer: Anshar Studios Publisher: 3D Realms Release Date: Fall 2025

The new Painkiller was recently unveiled at the Future Games Show Spring Showcase. The trailer shows the return of iconic weapons from the original 2004 game, including the Stake Gun, Electro Driver, and the titular Painkiller weapon (described as a “spinning fan of death”).

Key changes from the original include:

• Four playable characters instead of a single protagonist
• Each character has unique passive abilities and personalities
• Collectible Tarot cards that empower characters
• Currency system earned through raids and challenges
• Unlockable weapons, upgrades, and character skins
• Updated enemy designs with a “darker tone.”

The article’s author expresses significant scepticism about the new game, noting that while the original 2004 Painkiller was exceptional (“lightning in a bottle”), all subsequent entries in the franchise have disappointed. The author worries that the new features like currencies, character banter, and a conventional approach to hell-themed enemies might miss what made the original special—its bizarre environments, creative level design, and straightforward premise.

While the 45-second trailer “looks the part,” the author admits to having doubts but remains hopeful and plans to play the game when it releases. The game is currently available for wishlisting on Steam.

Painkiller (2004) Review

Painkiller stands as one of the most adrenaline-fueled first-person shooters of the early 2000s, embracing old-school FPS design while delivering it with then-modern graphics. The game follows Daniel Garner, who finds himself trapped in Purgatory after dying in a car accident with his wife. To escape and reunite with her, he becomes Heaven’s hitman, tasked with eliminating Hell’s generals who are preparing for war against Heaven.

Gameplay

The core gameplay is straightforward and exhilarating: kill everything that moves. Painkiller focuses purely on combat with minimal puzzle elements, emphasizing speed, accuracy, and crowd control. The game features arena-style levels where players face waves of diverse enemies, from zombies and demons to ninjas and various otherworldly creatures.

Combat is enhanced by a unique checkpoint card system that offers special powers when certain conditions are met. The “Black Tarot” card system allows players to equip cards that provide various bonuses and abilities, adding a layer of customization to the gameplay.

Weapons

The arsenal is among the game’s strongest features, offering genuinely creative weapons:

• The Painkiller: A spinning blade device that can also fire a powerful energy beam
• The Shotgun/Stake Gun combo: A standard shotgun that alternately fires wooden stakes that pin enemies to walls
• The Electrodriver: Fires electrified projectiles that chain lightning between enemies
• The Rocket Launcher/Chaingun: Combines explosive area damage with rapid-fire capability
• The Demon Morph ability: Temporarily transforms the player into a powerful demon

Level Design

The level design is varied and often bizarre, taking players through twisted versions of familiar locations—cemeteries, cathedrals, opera houses, an asylum, and even a medieval town. Each location features distinctive architecture and atmosphere, creating memorable battlegrounds.

Graphics & Sound

For its time, Painkiller featured impressive graphics with detailed enemy models, dynamic lighting, and physics. The Havok physics engine allowed for impressive ragdoll effects and environmental destruction. The metal soundtrack by bands like Mech Age perfectly complemented the intense action.

Multiplayer

The multiplayer mode included standard deathmatch and team deathmatch options, as well as a unique “People Can Fly” mode where players could launch enemies into the air. The multiplayer had a small but dedicated following and even saw some competitive play.

Legacy

Painkiller is remembered for reviving the classic, fast-paced FPS formula when many games in the genre were moving toward more tactical or story-driven experiences. It spawned multiple expansions and sequels, though most fans agree that none matched the quality of the original game.

Verdict

Painkiller excels as a pure action shooter that prioritizes fun gameplay mechanics over complex narrative. With its unique weapons, varied enemies, and frenetic pacing, it stands as a cult classic in the FPS genre. While it may not have the depth of story or mechanics found in some contemporaries, it delivers spectacularly on its promise of chaotic, high-octane combat.

For fans of classic shooters like Doom, Quake, and Serious Sam, Painkiller remains an essential experience that captures the raw, unfiltered joy of virtual carnage.