74
MONSTER
Back 4 Blood is a thrilling cooperative first-person shooter from the creators of the critically acclaimed Left 4 Dead franchise. You are at the center of a war against the Ridden. These once-human hosts of a deadly parasite have turned into terrifying creatures bent on devouring what remains of civilization. With humanity’s extinction on the line, it’s up to you and your friends to take the fight to the enemy, eradicate the Ridden, and reclaim the world.
Game analysis
Monster Scorecard
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Story and Narrative
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64
Back 4 Blood’s story is a mixed bag: while its structured campaign and narrative focus over Left 4 Dead earn praise, critics call it shallow, clichéd, and emotionally barren—prioritizing co-op action over depth, leaving a forgettable, derivative tale.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY
Story Score
64
Positive Reviews (80-100)
9%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
72%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
19%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.
TL;DR
story and narrative
Back 4 Blood’s story is a mixed bag: while its structured campaign and narrative focus over Left 4 Dead earn praise, critics call it shallow, clichéd, and emotionally barren—prioritizing co-op action over depth, leaving a forgettable, derivative tale.
Gameplay Mechanics
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83
Back 4 Blood delivers addictive co-op thrills with its inventive deck-building and dynamic teamwork, but repetitive missions, flawed AI, and uneven difficulty undermine its potential, making it a mixed bag of ambition and inconsistency.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY
Gameplay Score
83
Positive Reviews (80-100)
80%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
19%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
1%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.
TL;DR
gameplay mechanics
Back 4 Blood delivers addictive co-op thrills with its inventive deck-building and dynamic teamwork, but repetitive missions, flawed AI, and uneven difficulty undermine its potential, making it a mixed bag of ambition and inconsistency.
Graphics and Visual Design
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75
Polished, immersive visuals with smooth performance and atmospheric depth, but recycled Left 4 Dead designs, monotonous aesthetics, and technical quirks undermine its originality, leaving it as functional rather than groundbreaking.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VISUALS
Visual Score
75
Positive Reviews (80-100)
37%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
62%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
1%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the graphics and visual design.
TL;DR
graphics and visual design
Polished, immersive visuals with smooth performance and atmospheric depth, but recycled Left 4 Dead designs, monotonous aesthetics, and technical quirks undermine its originality, leaving it as functional rather than groundbreaking.
Music and Sound Design
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76
Back 4 Blood’s sound design shines with immersive weapon feedback, chaotic rock tracks, and memorable licensed hits like Ace of Spades, but struggles with inconsistent tension, weak special infected cues, and generic music that fails to match its predecessor’s intensity.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR SOUND DESIGN
Sound Score
76
Positive Reviews (80-100)
54%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
40%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
6%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the music and sound design.
TL;DR
music and sound design
Back 4 Blood’s sound design shines with immersive weapon feedback, chaotic rock tracks, and memorable licensed hits like Ace of Spades, but struggles with inconsistent tension, weak special infected cues, and generic music that fails to match its predecessor’s intensity.
Voice Acting
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69
Voice acting in Back 4 Blood shines with vibrant personalities, humor, and immersive depth—highlighted by standout performances like Mario García’s wit and the Italian dub’s charm—but falters under repetitive dialogue, flat humor, and a lack of character nuance compared to Left 4 Dead, creating a mixed legacy of strong execution vs. uneven design.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VOICE ACTING
Acting Score
69
Positive Reviews (80-100)
35%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
51%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
14%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the voice acting.
TL;DR
voice acting
Voice acting in Back 4 Blood shines with vibrant personalities, humor, and immersive depth—highlighted by standout performances like Mario García’s wit and the Italian dub’s charm—but falters under repetitive dialogue, flat humor, and a lack of character nuance compared to Left 4 Dead, creating a mixed legacy of strong execution vs. uneven design.
Technical Performance
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68
Back 4 Blood shines on PC/PS5 with smooth performance and optimization but crashes, glitchy AI, and broken matchmaking plague all platforms, dragging down an otherwise fun experience despite post-launch fixes.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
Tech Score
68
Positive Reviews (80-100)
24%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
67%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
9%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the technical performance.
TL;DR
technical performance
Back 4 Blood shines on PC/PS5 with smooth performance and optimization but crashes, glitchy AI, and broken matchmaking plague all platforms, dragging down an otherwise fun experience despite post-launch fixes.
Replay Value
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79
Back 4 Blood’s replay value shines in co-op with dynamic card systems and procedural variety, but solo play falters due to repetitive content, flawed AI, and lack of progression incentives.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR REPLAY VALUE
Replay Score
79
Positive Reviews (80-100)
56%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
40%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
4%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the replay value.
TL;DR
replay value
Back 4 Blood’s replay value shines in co-op with dynamic card systems and procedural variety, but solo play falters due to repetitive content, flawed AI, and lack of progression incentives.
Overall Verdict
74
MONSTER
OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION
Monster Score
74
Positive Reviews (80-100)
61%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
39%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.
TL;DR
Back 4 Blood is a thrilling co-op shooter that captures Left 4 Dead’s chaos with fresh mechanics and team-based fun, but its solo play flaws, technical hiccups, and repetitive quests drag it down.
74
MONSTER
Reviews
176 reviews found100
New York Daily News
Oct 16, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Back 4 Blood is described as a good-looking game that builds on the formula of Left 4 Dead. It is praised for its cooperative gameplay and ease of jumping into. It is compared to other cooperative games with deeper story and progression.
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90
TheGamer
Oct 10, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review praises Back 4 Blood as an elevated and enhanced version of Left 4 Dead, with a more mature and rewarding gameplay experience.
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90
God is a Geek
Oct 13, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Despite some glitches and issues with the solo mode, the reviewer considers Back 4 Blood to be the most fun they've had with a shooter this year and an absolute blast to play with friends. The game is praised for its atmosphere, gameplay, and card system.
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90
Inverse
Oct 11, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Back 4 Blood is praised for its intense moment-to-moment gameplay, clever level design, variety from run to run, and memorable characters in a campy story. It is considered a near-perfect cooperative experience with a focus on creating unique cooperative moments rather than a deep narrative. The botched PvP multiplayer mode is criticized for lacking creativity and being less enjoyable compared to the main campaign experience.
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88
PC Gamer
Oct 16, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Back 4 Blood is praised as one of the best co-op experiences, especially when played with friends. Despite some flaws in the PvP mode, the overall fun and gameplay depth make it a standout title.
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85
Stevivor
Oct 13, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Despite some criticisms, Back 4 Blood is seen as a worthy successor to Left 4 Dead, offering engaging gameplay and a fun experience overall.
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85
Gamers' Temple
Nov 18, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Back 4 Blood is praised for its replay value, card system, and finely tuned gun controls. The lack of a true single player mode and the requirement for an online connection are noted as drawbacks. The game is recommended for shooter fans looking for a game with longevity and fun multiplayer experiences.
85
Malditos Nerds
Nov 9, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Back 4 Blood is a thrilling and engaging cooperative shooter that retains the essence of Left 4 Dead while introducing new mechanics that elevate the experience. Despite some technical issues, it offers hours of fun and is highly recommended for players.
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85
Softpedia
Nov 1, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Back 4 Blood is a challenging co-op release and worth a chance, especially for fans of post-apocalyptic first-person shooters.
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85
GameCritics
Nov 10, 2021
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Back 4 Blood is a solid, well-polished co-op shooter with minor flaws that could be improved with some tweaking. With more content updates and the engaging card system, it has the potential to become a great game with lasting appeal.
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