Necrodome

Set in a near post-apocalyptic future in North America, Necrodome is set in Arenas where vehicular combat provides televised and violent entertainment to the public of the New World. Each society across the world has their own Arena within their own city-like states. Players are a driver operating an armoured car named a Raider, and set out to complete The Circuit, a layered stack of Arenas of increasing difficulty leading to the final challenge, named the Necrodome. No one driver has ever survived the entire Circuit, and only one has made it to the Necrodome.

The gameplay objective of Necrodome is to navigate a series of 30 levels in an armoured car known as a Raider, capture a flag, and return it to the player's starting point to complete the level. Returning the flag completes the arena, and unlocks additional levels that players can complete in a non-linear progression by selecting from a map. To navigate across arenas, players must exit the vehicle to operate switches which can unlock doors to new parts of the level. Levels are designed as flat, open areas, with terrain effects such as slippery ice or lava and toxic waste that damages the vehicle. Controls support the use of the computer keyboard, mouse or joystick.

Developer Raven Software created Necrodome on an engine first developed as a planned sequel to the game CyClones. Smacker was used for the cinematics. A prototype for the PlayStation was previewed in 1995 and advertised for release in 1997, and a 3DO port was also considered. Publisher Mindscape also announced the game as part of its lineup at E3 in 1996.

A shareware game demo version of Necrodome was also published on the Raven Software website. Necrodome was released on 30 October 1996. com, alongside other SSI and Mindscape titles including Take No Prisoners and CyClones.

Necrodome received mixed reviews upon release. Critics shared mixed views on the merit of the game's hybrid shooter and vehicular combat; some reviewers found it innovative, whilst others felt it was repetitive and cumbersome. Both PC Gamer and Computer Gaming World considered the switching of combat modes was repetitive and interrupted the game's action, and that there was little for players to do on foot. Different opinions were expressed on the controls: Jason D'Aprile of Computer Games Strategy Plus found the vehicle handling "exceptional" and worth the effort to learn, whilst Steve Faragher of PC Gamer UK faulted the game physics and vehicle handling, stating that it was difficult to navigate and distracted from gameplay.

Necrodome's multiplayer was unanimously praised, with many reviewers having expressed that this mode was more appealing than single-player mode and made the most use of its gameplay. Martin Cirulis of CNET GameCenter felt these play modes were highly enjoyable that best demonstrated the "fun and potential" of a multiposition vehicle. Some lamented the omission of a direct network option.