Chainsaw Warrior Review - So Random, So Difficult

In this Chainsaw Warrior Review, we discuss where the game came from, how to play it, and whether or not this type of game is for you.


Published: January 20, 2015 12:00 PM /

By:


Chainsaw Warrior header photo filled with blood and gore from what look to be zombies

Chainsaw Warrior is hard. Chainsaw Warrior may be the most hilariously, frustratingly, randomly difficult game that I keep coming back to. Chainsaw Warrior is a digital port by Auroch Digital of the 1987 Games Workshop card game of the same name. It is essentially a roguelike in card form where the player will be racing against the clock in an attempt to save the city from Darkness.

chainsaw-warrior-lords-of-the-night header image with main character slashing the undead foes with a chainsaw as blood splatters all over the screen

You begin each game by rolling for your stats such as Endurance, Hand to Hand skill, Marksmanship, etc.  You will also make rolls to determine which skill is your specialty and how many points you have to spend on equipment.

Bad rolls in any of these areas can doom you before you even begin the game. Considering the difficulty, using a poorly rolled character until they meet their inevitable death can be as entertaining as a well-rolled character.

Once created, the player will flip cards one at a time and face the obstacle shown. Each card represents 30 seconds of time and the player will need to survive long enough to locate the Darkness card while ensuring that the clock never reaches 0:00.

Adding to the challenge is the fact that the Darkness card will never appear before the first half of the deck is completed and once 30 minutes have passed the sun goes down, making the challenges faced more deadly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long is the Chainsaw Warrior?

A successful run of Chainsaw Warrior usually takes about 45 minutes. Most games of Chainsaw Warrior end in failure and are far shorter.

How is the Music in Chainsaw Warrior?

The music in Chainsaw Warrior is serviceable and ultimately forgettable. The sound effects are rather bare bones and could be considered adequate at best.

So is Chainsaw Warrior For You?

Chainsaw Warrior is random and the difficulty is steep. Nearly everything in the game is determined by a die roll and there are many different ways in which the player can lose. This game is not for everyone but gamers seeking a steep challenge or those that just like to laugh at their own misfortune should give it a try, especially considering the low price point.

The Bottom Line:

Get this game if:

  • You enjoy roguelike games with a heavy element of randomness.
  • You enjoy a steep challenge.

Avoid this game if:

  • You want more than a loose sense of control over your own fate.
  • You want outcomes to be determined by player skill more than luck.

Chainsaw Warrior was purchased and played on PC via Steam by the author. It is also available for iOS and Android devices.

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twilliams
| Senior Writer

Maestro of cardboard and plastic, former Tabletop Editor. Now I mostly live in the walls and pop in unexpectedly from time to time. If you ever want to talk… More about Travis