Mad King Redemption review

A desperate king tries to raise his dead queen with forbidden magic, loses his mind and takes the kingdom with him. Mad King Redemption sends four heroes, each with their own fighting style, stats and backstory, through randomised runs that blend classic brawling with 2.5D platforming. It has been in Early Access on Steam since May 14, reached the Xbox Store in August, and joined Game Pass on Sept 23. Treat it as a work in progress.

There’s no aggregate score, but Gaming Cypher’s Early Access review (8.5/10) liked what it saw: detailed pixel-art sprites under dynamic 3D lighting, a Hades II-style Brotherhood Camp hub for permanent upgrades, and a heroes roster ranging from Branok the Wrestler’s crowd control to Elowen the Sorcerer’s ranged spells and healing.

The standout mechanic is risk and reward: lean on the Mad King’s forbidden powers and your Corruption meter fills, leading to an overcharged frenzy followed by an instant 50% health penalty.

The rough edges are real, though. Gaming Cypher reports depth-perception problems in the 2.5D view, where swings and airborne hitboxes don’t line up, cheap chip damage from some shielded enemies, and a restrictive stamina meter. Its conclusion: iron out the jank and this has “all the makings of an indie brawler classic.”