Listen up, survivors. AMC’s The Walking Dead is an absolute cultural juggernaut that has had its fair share of video game adaptations over the years, and this is definitely its simplest and most fun entry, in my view. If you like classic beat ’em ups like Streets of Rage, and you love TWD, then this is for you. Obviously.
Of the previous games, some are absolutely legendary (we still shed a tear thinking about Telltale’s narrative masterpiece), and others that are best left rotting in a ditch somewhere outside Atlanta (anything VR-related alienates too many players, in my view. But we live in an era where the classic arcade beat ’em up has been beautifully resurrected from the grave, and when games can be over-complex and too flashy, this chaos is welcome. Indeed, In a post-Streets of Rage 4 and Shredder’s Revenge landscape, the brawler genre has real teeth again.
Enter Odaclick Game Studio and Trailmark Games with The Walking Dead: Streets of Survival. Firing this up on the PlayStation 5, we were absolutely buzzing for a visceral, arcade-style bloody brawl through the show’s iconic ‘All Out War’ storyline. We’ve spent the last few days cracking skulls and slicing through hordes of walkers to see if this game delivers the chaotic, gritty adrenaline rush we crave here at Soundsphere…
Aesthetic
Straight out of the gate, Streets of Survival absolutely nails the apocalyptic vibe. If you’re a fan of alternative, grungy art styles, you’re going to be all over this. Odaclick has gone for a retro-inspired presentation that successfully bridges the gap between classic 16-bit nostalgia and modern, fluid animation. It’s a gorgeous, blood-spattered love letter to the end of the world.
Running through the desolate, ruined streets of Alexandria, the fortified walls of Hilltop, and the intimidating industrial grunge of the Sanctuary feels proper authentic. The lighting is moody, the environments are littered with dynamic hazards. It’s a dark, brooding, and atmospheric backdrop for what is, essentially, a non-stop old-school zombie slash-fest.
Combat
Let’s talk about the meat and potatoes of any beat ’em up: the combat. You get to step into the blood-soaked boots of franchise heavyweights Rick Grimes, Daryl Dixon, and Michonne right from the off. And yes, as the recent trailers confirmed, everyone’s favourite leather-clad antagonist Negan is an unlockable playable character (you have to grind through levels with the aforementioned first to get him, but it’s not too hard), complete with his beloved baseball bat, Lucille.
The combat loop is responsive, fast-paced, and incredibly satisfying, at first. As ever, it can get repetitive at times with this style of game, but that is what we sign up for here. This isn’t just mindless button mashing forever though; you have to balance brutal melee combos with crowd-clearing ranged attacks and devastating finishers. Michonne’s katana slices through walker flesh with a visceral elegance, while Daryl’s crossbow (Daryl has by far the best combat variations) acts as a brilliant, punchy tool for crowd control.
Noticeably, playing this on the PS5 elevates the experience massively thanks to the DualSense controller. The haptic feedback is a nice touch. The adaptive triggers give a nice bit of resistance when you’re firing off Rick’s signature magnum. It makes the violence feel tangible and weighty, even in such an animated setting.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack is a brooding, synth-heavy triumph that pulses dynamically with the on-screen action. It perfectly matches the visual art style. When you’re cornered in a Sanctuary hallway with dozens of Saviors bearing down on you, the music swells into this frantic crescendo that genuinely gets the blood pumping. Combine that with the sickening squelch of zombie flesh tearing and the sharp, metallic shwing of Michonne’s katana, and you have an audio experience that is worth noting.
Boss Fights
The game isn’t just about clearing out cannon-fodder zombies. The boss encounters are where Streets of Survival forces you to actually think and adapt, and it certainly took me a few goes on certain bosses! Odaclick has pulled in some fantastic, fan-favourite threats. Throwing down with the heavily armoured, spike-covered Winslow (a real beast to beat) or the grotesque Well Walker genuinely tests your spacing and combo mastery.
But the human enemies are the real stars here. The Saviors are relentless, and the multi-phase boss brawls against the likes of Simon and Negan are proper intense, as they will swarm you, alongside the zombie hordes. These fights require sharp reflexes, smart use of environmental hazards, and a solid understanding of your chosen character’s moveset (again, go with Daryl). It’s a relentless, bruising challenge that feels highly rewarding once you finally deliver the knockout blow.
Missing Teeth
As much as we’ve enjoyed our time painting the town red, Streets of Survival isn’t without a few glaring drawbacks that keep it from absolute perfection.
The most baffling omission is that the experience is entirely single-player. In a modern-day beat ’em up, the absence of couch co-op or online multiplayer feels like a sad misstep as I found myself excited to tell friends about the game so that we could play it together, down the line. The entire legacy of the arcade brawler genre is built on grabbing a mate, snacking, and tackling the hordes together. Wandering the apocalypse solo fits the grim tone of The Walking Dead, sure, but mechanically, fighting off waves of enemies in a brawler is screaming out for a two-player option that the absolute classics haven’t missed out on.
While the roster looks incredible and their signature weapons change up the visual flair, the actual under-the-hood gameplay can feel a bit too similar. Despite Rick using a revolver and Daryl wielding his iconic crossbow, their core melee combo inputs, movement speeds, and overall utility don’t feel distinctly different enough. Once you master the rhythm of the game with one character, you’ve essentially mastered them all, which slightly dampens the replay value of running the campaign again.
The Verdict
The Walking Dead: Streets of Survival is a gutsy, heavy-hitting brawler that manages to capture the grim, desperate atmosphere of the AMC television series while delivering a solid, arcade-style punch to the jaw. If you’re looking for a satisfying, visceral solo brawler to sink your teeth into over a weekend, this is absolutely worth your time. It’s dark, it’s bloody, and it’s a whole lot of alt-arcade fun. Grab Lucille, step into the streets, and start swinging.
The Walking Dead: Streets of Survivalwill release on 18th September, priced at£16.99(UK) and€19.99 (EU), with Deluxe Edition also available for £24.99 (UK) and €29.99 (EU).
