Anshar Studios is looking to build on Painkiller’s foundation with modern features and sensibilities.
Painkiller was a popular first-person shooter in the mid 2000s and one of the first big hits from a Polish studio. Inspired by games like Doom and Quake, Painkiller prioritized fast-paced combat that kept players engaged as they killed demon after demon. Now, a new Painkiller game is set to arrive this October from Anshar Studios, and we got to check it out ahead of its full release.
The new Painkiller is a reimagining of the 2004 game. It features the same demon-slaying action that fans loved in the first one, but with some visual and technical improvements. The visuals are much sharper, a solid upgrade given how far video game graphics have come since the last Painkiller. These visual enhancements extend to the game’s wacky arsenal of weapons, which have unique effects that really pop as you explore Purgatory.
Maintaining the frenetic movement and fast-paced combat was a focal point for the team at Anshar Studios during Painkiller’s development. In addition to jumping, players can utilize the hookshot to quickly close the distance between themselves and enemies, and this ability can be followed up with a weapon to quickly dispatch foes. There is also a dash ability that can be used to quickly avoid an incoming attack, or get into position to unleash your own.
There are multiple distinct biomes in Painkiller, and player exploration is a large emphasis for this modern reimagination. There’s a solid variety of grotesque, demonic enemies to be found in Purgatory, and you’ll take them on with one of four playable characters: Ink, Void, Sol, and Roch. Each character has unique perks that affect health, energy, power, and damage output. Painkiller has online co-op for up to three players, offering a new way to share the chaos with friends.
Painkiller was developed in association with Saber Interactive and will be published by 3D Realms. It launches on October 9, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Donovan is a journalist from Maryland. His oldest gaming memory is playing Pajama Sam on his mom’s desktop during weekends. Pokémon Emerald, Halo 2, and the original Star Wars Battlefront 2 were some of the most influential titles in awakening his love for video games. After interning for Shacknews throughout college, Donovan graduated from Bowie State University in 2020 with a major in broadcast journalism and joined the team full-time. He is a huge film fanatic and will talk with you about movies and games all day. You can follow him on twitter @Donimals_
