Carmageddon: Rogue Shift Review - A Zombie-Infested Return to the Past
The original Carmageddon game, banned in the UK for its controversial content, has returned with a twist. Carmageddon: Rogue Shift introduces a roguelite, track-based take on the zombie-squashing franchise, but does it live up to the hype? Let's dive into the review.
A Zombie-Infested Return to the Past
In the late 1990s, video games were often blamed for societal issues, and Carmageddon became a prime example of this moral panic. The game's marketing team, aware of the controversy, played on the public's fascination with violence, leading to its eventual ban in the UK. However, the game's unique premise and memorable name have endured, inspiring a new entry in the series.
Rogue Shift: A Roguelite Take on Carmageddon
Rogue Shift is a spin-off rather than a direct sequel, offering a roguelite experience. Players start with a simple car equipped with a machine gun and navigate through zombie-infested urban tracks. The game's atmosphere, featuring graffiti-covered buildings and an industrial backdrop, is familiar to seasoned Carmageddon fans.
Objectives and Challenges
Each race in Rogue Shift has primary and secondary objectives. The primary goal is typically to finish on the podium, while the secondary objectives include squashing a certain number of zombies, using nitrous oxide boosts, or causing damage to fellow racers. The tension arises from the conflict between destroying other racers and winning the race.
Vehicle and Track Dynamics
The game's vehicles are designed with two distinct playstyles in mind: speed and manoeuvrability, or resilience and damage-dealing. The tracks, filled with immovable obstacles like pillars and indestructible barricades, force players to choose their approach. Clipping these obstacles results in an immediate halt, making it crucial to navigate the track carefully.
Rubber Banding and Randomness
To compensate for the vehicle's limitations, the game employs shameless rubber banding. In boss battles, when a collision briefly stops your progress, the boss and their henchmen are effectively parked a few hundred meters ahead. Similarly, if you've been in the lead for too long, other cars may occasionally sail past you, even without any fault on your part.
Mod Shop and Upgrades
Races are interrupted by trips to the mod shop, where players can purchase weapons and perks to upgrade their car. The availability of weapons and the number of credits earned are largely random, adding an element of chance to the gameplay. Ensuring you have useful weapons, like the rocket launcher, is a matter of luck.
Pros and Cons
Rogue Shift offers some interest through its roguelite format, and moments of fun can be had destroying other racers once you've unlocked a decent car and weapons. However, the chaotic races often frustrate rather than excite, with some cars and weapons proving useless. The game's multiple random factors overwhelm any sense of skill development, making it more interesting to read about than to play.
Final Verdict
Carmageddon: Rogue Shift is not a terrible game, but it also fails to be a good one. The racing experience is not gripping enough, and the game's focus on permanent upgrades and random factors overshadows the skill-based gameplay. Despite its authentic take on the franchise's history, the game is more engaging to read about than to play.
Review Summary
In Short: A roguelite, track-based take on Carmageddon's usual zombie-squashing, where skill matters less than permanent upgrades and the random weapons available in its store.
Pros: Roguelite format adds some interest, and moments of fun can be had once you've unlocked a decent car and guns.
Cons: Chaotic races regularly frustrate rather than excite, some cars and weapons are not useful, and there's far too much randomness. Boss races are tediously long, and there's no multiplayer.
Score: 5/10
Formats: PlayStation 5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC
Price: £32.99
Publisher: 34BigThings
Developer: 34BigThings
Release Date: 6th February 2026
Age Rating: 16
