Groundhog Day Meets Dishonored

Imagine Groundhog Day, but with a twist of chaos, espionage, and supernatural powers, and you’re starting to get a sense of what Deathloop brings to the table. Arkane Studios, the creators of the Dishonored series, have combined their knack for immersive world-building with a thrilling time-loop mechanic that keeps you guessing, planning, and rethinking every move. Like Groundhog Day, you’re trapped in an endless cycle, but in Deathloop, every loop is a chance to rewrite your fate in a world that’s alive, dangerous, and constantly shifting.

Set on the island of Blackreef, where every day resets, you play as Colt, a man stuck in a loop with only one goal: to eliminate eight Visionaries and break free. The catch? Each day is a new opportunity to experiment, strategize, and make mistakes. It’s a world rich in detail, tension, and creativity, one that channels the same inventive gameplay Dishonored fans know and love but with a far more explosive and unpredictable spin.

But does Deathloop make good on its time-looping promise, or does it fall into the trap of repetitiveness? Let’s dive in and see what makes this game tick, and where it could do even better.

🎨 A World Like No Other – Stunning Visuals & Edge-of-Your-Seat Action

With stunning visuals, impeccable atmosphere, and a soundtrack that keeps you on the edge of your seat, Deathloop grabs you from the moment you hit play. The mid-century aesthetics blended with industrial locales create a unique world that feels like a vibrant, chaotic puzzle box, and it’s one hell of a ride. As Colt, you’re hunting down Visionaries in a race against time to break the loop, and the thrill of orchestrating your plan is as satisfying as it is engaging.

The game’s UI mirrors its bold aesthetic, presenting key information in a stylish yet functional way. Menus are crisp and clean, making every piece of intel feel like it’s part of Deathloop’s world rather than a separate game overlay. However, at times, the sheer amount of text-based exposition, especially in menus, can slow down the pacing, requiring players to sift through multiple screens to piece together information. A more streamlined approach could have made the experience smoother.

Deathloops text heavy “leads” menu, displaying multiple clues on how to advance.

💥 An Unforgettable World – Vibrancy and Style at Its Peak

What sets Deathloop apart is its aesthetic design. The combination of mid-century charm with gritty, industrial settings creates a visually stunning world unlike anything else. Whether you’re scaling the cliffs of Blackreef or sneaking through the old streets of Updaam, every environment feels meticulously crafted, offering a blend of beauty and tension. The sound design is equally immersive, catching the pulsing rhythms of the island’s mysterious energy while maintaining that essential aura of unease.

There’s a distinct joy in uncovering every corner of this world. From the nuanced storytelling tucked in hidden places to the electrifying battles that erupt out of nowhere, it’s clear that Arkane has poured immense detail into Deathloop’s world. You won’t just be going through the motions; every loop encourages you to explore, discover, and adapt.

However, mission tracking could use some refinement. While objectives are generally well-marked, they can sometimes feel rigid, forcing players to reset progress rather than allowing for flexible solutions. A more dynamic approach to tracking goals, perhaps with optional hints or better in-world markers, could make exploration feel even more natural.

💣 The Loop is the Thrill – Mechanics, Combat, and Strategy

As Colt, you’re armed with a mix of supernatural abilities and high-powered weapons, each offering unique ways to engage with the world. Deathloop invites you to experiment with everything, from using teleportation to flanking enemies or hacking security cameras to turn them against your foes. This flexibility allows for a fresh experience with each run, creating opportunities to experiment with different strategies. It’s a sandbox where the possibilities feel endless.

One of Deathloop’s most important mechanics is Infusion, which allows you to carry weapons, abilities, and upgrades between loops by spending Residuum, a collectible resource. Without this, you’d lose everything when the loop resets. This system adds an addictive layer of progression, ensuring each run feels meaningful and not like a complete reset. It can be difficult to distinguish between infused and non-infused items at first, especially since you can infuse duplicates and accidentally discard equipped gear.

Deathloops infusion menu: The hourglass icon means a item has not been infused, whereas the hand icon means that the item is equipped.

The weapon wheel and slab selection work well, but swapping between powers on the fly could be more intuitive. When combat gets chaotic, navigating menus to change gear can feel clunky. A quick-select system for slabs or the ability to set power presets could improve the flow of combat significantly.

The game’s unique time-of-day system adds another layer of depth. Each shift opens new opportunities and challenges, keeping the game feeling alive even as you loop back again and again. And let’s not forget Julianna, your relentless rival who turns every encounter into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. Whether controlled by AI or a real player in the separate multiplayer mode, Julianna injects a thrilling sense of unpredictability, forcing you to stay sharp and adapt on the fly. Every invasion is a test of strategy and reflexes, making her presence one of Deathloop’s most exhilarating mechanics.

Deathloops time of day screen. You can choose from the 4 locations of where to go, at the 4 different times of day. (Morning, Noon, Afternoon, Evening)

⚙️ UX Features and Accessibility – Making the Loop Accessible to Everyone

One of Deathloop‘s standout features is its focus on accessibility. Arkane Studios has integrated a host of settings that cater to a wide range of players, ensuring that everyone can jump into the loop, regardless of their skill level or physical abilities.

• Customisable Difficulty: Players can tweak the game’s challenge to suit their preferences, making combat more forgiving without sacrificing the thrill of the hunt.
  
• Subtitles and Audio Options: Fully customisable subtitles allow players to adjust size, background opacity, and color to improve readability.
  
• Colorblind Modes: Several colorblind-friendly settings help ensure that every player can navigate Blackreef’s world with ease.
  
• Control Remapping: Every action can be remapped for accessibility, whether you’re using a controller or a keyboard and mouse.
  
• Visual Assistance: High Contrast Mode helps key objectives and enemies stand out, and text size adjustments make menu navigation smoother.

While these features are welcome, Deathloop’s inventory and loadout system could use some refining. Some players may find themselves accidentally swapping out useful gear due to the way items are categorised. A more refined inventory sorting system, such as a favorites feature or better filtering, would help streamline customisation.

🚨 What Could Make Deathloop Even More Legendary?

While Deathloop dazzles with its ideas, there are moments when the cracks start to show.

• Onboarding & Tutorials: The game bombards players with information early on, making the first few hours feel overwhelming. A more gradual introduction to mechanics would ease new players into the loop.
  
• Death and Loop Resetting: While the time loop is integral to the game, dying near the end of a loop can feel frustrating. Though players can skip forward in time, they often need to redo setups for the next day. A better checkpointing system could ease the frustration.
  
• Enemy AI & Challenge: Combat, while exhilarating, becomes a bit too easy once you’ve mastered a few powers and weapons. The enemy AI isn’t particularly smart, and more variety in enemy behavior could elevate the challenge.
  
• Colt & Julianna’s Relationship: Their dynamic could have been explored further. While their banter is engaging, adding more depth to their history and interactions could have made their rivalry truly unforgettable.

🌟 Final Thoughts – A Brilliant, Flawed Gem

Deathloop is a chaotic, unique, and thrilling experience. It pulls you into its world with style, immerses you in a time loop you can’t help but want to break, and delivers a strong narrative that keeps you coming back for more. Sure, it has a few bumps, an over-complicated intro, some UI quirks, and a couple of missed opportunities, but it remains a thrilling ride that is well worth experiencing.

If you’re ready to dive into a world of mystery, action, and relentless time loops, Deathloop will keep you on your toes. Just be prepared for the occasional frustration, but don’t worry, you’ll always get another chance to get it right.

With a playtime of 35.5 hours and all 58 achievements unlocked, Deathloop delivers a thrilling, stylish, and inventive experience, though not without its flaws, earning it a solid 3.5/5