Where to get it

2019 · Double Fine · Action role-playing · Adventure

Rad

Rad is a 3D action rogue-like set in a post-post-apocalyptic world, where humanity has faced armageddon not once, but twice.

Released: 20 August 2019
Platforms: Nintendo Switch PlayStation 4 Windows Xbox One
Genres: Action role-playing Adventure Arcade Beat 'em up Indie Post-apocalyptic Role-playing
Developers: Double Fine
Publishers: Bandai Namco Holdings
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Third person Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Action
Country: United States
Age ratings: PEGI 12 ESRB T GRAC 12+ACB PG
Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Spanish (Spain)
Time to beat: 8.5hmain story10hcompletionist

About

Rad is a roguelike action game developed by Double Fine and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in August 2019 and for Amazon Luna in May 2021.

›Story

In RAD, the fate of the world depends on you, your trusty bat, and whatever strange new abilities you gain as the world around you ravages your body — twisting and mutating you into something far less than human, but far more powerful.

Playing as a teenage protagonist, it is here where you must venture into the Fallow — an ever-changing, radioactive wasteland filled with unknown and unspeakable creatures in the hopes you will find the solution to heal the world, and transform the cracked, barren landscape into a lush source of new life.

Players say

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Rad is a roguelike video game played from an isometric perspective. In the game, players control a teenager whose goal is to explore a procedurally-generated wasteland for effigies known as respirators, items that may restore the human civilizations after a devastating apocalypse. As the character explores the wasteland, their genes will mutate, granting players additional powers and perks. For each character, players can have unlimited passive bonuses and at most three active mutations. If the player character dies, they will be replaced by a new character.

Development

Lee Petty, the director for Headlander, served as the game's director. The game was inspired by his teenage years and his love for 1980s aesthetics. In each run, abilities are gained randomly. According to Petty, this creates different combinations, which enables players to better explore the strengths and weaknesses of each mutation.

The game was officially announced in March 2019 by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on August 20, 2019, and for Amazon Luna on May 13, 2021.

Reception

Rad received "mixed or average reviews" for Switch, Windows, and PlayStation 4, and "generally positive reviews" for Xbox One according to review aggregator website Metacritic.

Destructoid praised the game's aesthetics, lore, and sense of humor, while criticizing the load times and noting its short length. IGN noted the game's difficulty, calling it "the good kind of tough" and similarly lamented the sluggish frame rate and load times. Nintendo Life lauded the game's combat and dozens of hours of content while taking issues with the RNG balance and the Switch port's handheld performance. Rad is painfully style-over-substance".