Maniac

Item: Maniac
Rating: 83
Author: VaporLens

Last updated: 2025-06-15

Summary

Fun, chaotic, stress-relieving core gameplay loop.
Varied characters, abilities, and upgrade options.
Map editor enhances replayability and customization.
GTA meets Vampire Survivors-style gameplay.
Repetitive, grindy gameplay loop.
Poor controls and aiming.

Reviews (sample size): 692
Helpful reviews: 66%
Unhelpful reviews: 34%
Protest reviews: 0%

83%
Helpful reviews with positive sentiment
17%
Helpful reviews with negative sentiment

Positive points: 906
Negative points: 494
Gameplay points: 182
Perf. points: 29
Rec. points: 284
Misc points: 22

Point	Description	Importance
Fun, chaotic, stress-relieving gameplay Description The game is praised for providing simple, mindless fun and stress relief through chaotic gameplay and destruction. Many reviewers draw comparisons to classic GTA titles, emphasizing the mayhem and freedom offered. The game is also noted for being suitable for short bursts of play and relaxation. Importance 96%	The game is praised for providing simple, mindless fun and stress relief through chaotic gameplay and destruction. Many reviewers draw comparisons to classic GTA titles, emphasizing the mayhem and freedom offered. The game is also noted for being suitable for short bursts of play and relaxation.	96%
Varied characters, abilities, upgrades Description The game features a diverse cast of characters, each with unique abilities and upgrade paths. Earning money through carnage allows for permanent upgrades, enhancing character abilities and weapons. This progression system adds depth and replayability, encouraging players to experiment with different characters and builds. Importance 19%	The game features a diverse cast of characters, each with unique abilities and upgrade paths. Earning money through carnage allows for permanent upgrades, enhancing character abilities and weapons. This progression system adds depth and replayability, encouraging players to experiment with different characters and builds.	19%
Map editor enhances replayability Description The game includes a map editor and Steam Workshop support, allowing players to create and share custom levels. This feature significantly enhances replayability and allows for unique destruction scenarios. The level editor is noted for being accessible and powerful. Importance 11%	The game includes a map editor and Steam Workshop support, allowing players to create and share custom levels. This feature significantly enhances replayability and allows for unique destruction scenarios. The level editor is noted for being accessible and powerful.	11%
Unique art style and humor Description The game features a distinct art style, often described as a blend of cartoonish visuals and dark humor. Reviewers note the nostalgic Newgrounds feel and the contrast between the comic book style and the absurd violence. This unique aesthetic contributes to the game's overall appeal. Importance 9%	The game features a distinct art style, often described as a blend of cartoonish visuals and dark humor. Reviewers note the nostalgic Newgrounds feel and the contrast between the comic book style and the absurd violence. This unique aesthetic contributes to the game's overall appeal.	9%
Effective upgrades and progression Description The game offers a satisfying progression system with simple yet effective upgrades that significantly boost character abilities. The availability of power-ups and a well-designed perks tree provide incentive for continued play. The game's fast-paced and exciting gameplay reaches a blistering level with enough upgrades. Importance 9%	The game offers a satisfying progression system with simple yet effective upgrades that significantly boost character abilities. The availability of power-ups and a well-designed perks tree provide incentive for continued play. The game's fast-paced and exciting gameplay reaches a blistering level with enough upgrades.	9%
GTA meets Vampire Survivors Description The game is frequently compared to a blend of classic GTA and Vampire Survivors, combining top-down arcade chaos with bullet hell gameplay. This unique combination creates a nostalgic yet fresh experience. The game captures the fun of chaotic police chases with a rogue-lite structure. Importance 9%	The game is frequently compared to a blend of classic GTA and Vampire Survivors, combining top-down arcade chaos with bullet hell gameplay. This unique combination creates a nostalgic yet fresh experience. The game captures the fun of chaotic police chases with a rogue-lite structure.	9%
Enjoyable driving and physics Description The game features enjoyable driving mechanics and physics, reminiscent of classic GTA titles. The ability to drive various vehicles and cause chaos adds to the overall fun. The game's frantic pace and satisfying vehicle control contribute to the enjoyable experience. Importance 7%	The game features enjoyable driving mechanics and physics, reminiscent of classic GTA titles. The ability to drive various vehicles and cause chaos adds to the overall fun. The game's frantic pace and satisfying vehicle control contribute to the enjoyable experience.	7%
Well-executed sound design Description The game's sound design, including music, sound effects, and voice acting, is well-executed and enhances the overall experience. Reviewers praise the realistic and meaty sounds for explosions, weapons, and screams. The voice work is particularly well-done, bringing the characters to life. Importance 6%	The game's sound design, including music, sound effects, and voice acting, is well-executed and enhances the overall experience. Reviewers praise the realistic and meaty sounds for explosions, weapons, and screams. The voice work is particularly well-done, bringing the characters to life.	6%
Satisfying and engaging explosions Description The game features satisfying explosions that are a notable and engaging aspect of the gameplay. The destruction element is super entertaining, with car explosions causing huge chain reactions. The game's explosion mechanics enhance the fun and provide a spectacle of destruction. Importance 5%	The game features satisfying explosions that are a notable and engaging aspect of the gameplay. The destruction element is super entertaining, with car explosions causing huge chain reactions. The game's explosion mechanics enhance the fun and provide a spectacle of destruction.	5%
Pleasant and simple graphics Description The game features pleasant and simple graphics that are surprisingly detailed. Reviewers experienced no technical issues while playing. The controls are simple and intuitive, and the visual style is appealing. The graphics are crisp and clear, making the game easy to look at. Importance 4%	The game features pleasant and simple graphics that are surprisingly detailed. Reviewers experienced no technical issues while playing. The controls are simple and intuitive, and the visual style is appealing. The graphics are crisp and clear, making the game easy to look at.	4%
Great value for low price Description The game is considered a great value for its low price, offering a lot of fun at a cheap cost. Reviewers note that the inexpensive price makes the game accessible. The game is also noted for being super fun to play on the Steam Deck. Importance 4%	The game is considered a great value for its low price, offering a lot of fun at a cheap cost. Reviewers note that the inexpensive price makes the game accessible. The game is also noted for being super fun to play on the Steam Deck.	4%
Mix of GTA, Postal, physics Description The game's dark, cartoonish physics are reminiscent of GTA 2 with perks from Postal. The game is comparable to a top-down Postal game. The nuke explosion at the end is reminiscent of Postal 2 and Hatred. The game features a highly random physics engine. Importance 4%	The game's dark, cartoonish physics are reminiscent of GTA 2 with perks from Postal. The game is comparable to a top-down Postal game. The nuke explosion at the end is reminiscent of Postal 2 and Hatred. The game features a highly random physics engine.	4%