Knight Terrors is a digital only endless runner developed by FreakZone Games that is exclusive for the Nintendo Switch. It seems like a great fit for this platform and is targeting gamers who have a taste for retro inspired games. It’s published by Nicalis (The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth & Rebirth) and is certainly budget friendly at only $3.

The game launches with some fantastic music that takes you back to the 8-bit era of gaming. It also has a Ghouls ‘n Ghosts look to it. Players literally hit the ground running. The knight sprints on his own through each level, leaving you responsible for jumping, flying and swinging your sword and weapons. Your knight has wings which allows players to leap over obstacles and reach enemies at greater heights. There is a nice mixture foes in Knight Terrors that come from both the ground and air, including zombies, bats, flaming skulls and ghosts.

FreakZone Games has implemented the punishing old school difficulty into their Gothic horror runner. If you let three enemies pass, its game over. If you get hit three times, its game over. There is a progress bar up top that shows how close you are to clearing each level. Once you do finish a level, it rewards players with a clean slate and resets how many enemies have passed by you back to zero. It does not however refill your health, but there are hearts available in each level to help gamers get through with enough practice and persistence.

There are multiple modes in Knight Terrors. When players begin, only the Normal mode will be available, as the others have to be unlocked. There is a nice variety here, including an endless mode (where there are no levels) and even one where players fly through Gradius style. You’ll get into a rhythm and find yourself getting further and further into the game. As you progress through the levels, you’ll unlock power-ups that are a tremendous help in clearing out enemies. Players will get axes, boomerangs and extra hearts which help to even the odds. With each playthrough, the levels are randomly generated, ensuring a unique challenge each and every time you play.

Load times are a bit long and the animation when you die drops to a staggeringly low frame rate. The core gameplay and controls are nice and smooth however, which is key for the lightning quick reflexes that are required to get through each level. Knight Terrors delivers some nostalgic action heavily reminiscent of the 8-bit era through its retro art style and excellent music. The gameplay is simple, but highly addictive and challenging. For the entry fee of $3 on the Nintendo eShop, it’s a great bargain and enjoyable experience on the Switch.

Review Copy provided by Nicalis