Nuclear Gladiators 3000

Genre: 2-Stick Shooter / Arcade / Roguelike

Players: 1

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Review:

Nuclear Gladiators 3000, released in 2025 on PC and Nintendo Switch, is an Arcade-style 2-Stick Shooter with Roguelike elements that resembles the “Bullet Heaven”-style games inspired by Vampire Survivors. This game has players in a post-apocalyptic future where they participate in an ultraviolent TV show a la Running man or Smash TV.

There’s not really much more I can add to that. Players gradually unlock Roguelite-style upgrades, additional characters, and so on, the weapons are fine but not terribly inventive, and the Roguelike elements sadly aren’t anywhere near as varied as you’d hope for in this sort of game. In other words, apart from the theme, this is a pretty bog-standard Vampire Survivors-style Roguelike.

At the very least, the theme is well-done, using 2D pixel art visuals with some inventive character design, appropriately gaudy menus, and an over-the-top voiced announcer as befits the theme. Likewise, the music here goes for a synthesized 80s/90s metal-esque theme that works very well for the game.

The one other thing to point out here is this game’s standard $7 pricing is too overpriced when it’s a pale copy of the Vampire Survivors formula and Vampire Survivors itself is only $5. That said, this is one of those clearly gimmicked pricing things where the game is going to go on sale for $2 regularly and this overpriced normal amount is clearly inflated just to make the game look like a better deal when it goes on sale.

Is Nuclear Gladiators 3000 worth $7? No, you have far better options for this type of game at a lower price than that. Is it worth $2? Maybe… but don’t expect anything incredible. This is an okay but unspectacular Vampire Survivors clone with a Smash TV-esque theme, nothing more. If that sounds good to you, then go ahead and get this game… but be sure to wait for a sale.

tl;dr – Nuclear Gladiators 3000 is a blend of 2-Stick Shooter with Arcade-style Roguelike that has similarities to “Bullet Heaven”-style games like Vampire Survivors. This game had a great Running Man/Smash TV-style theme, but beyond that it doesn’t really distinguish itself within its genre, and its normal price is way too much for what’s on offer here. However, if you wait until this game gets a good sale, it might be worth a look if the blend of gameplay and theme interests you.

Grade: C+

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