Here at Retro News, we’ve been following the progress of Terrifier: the ARTcade Game since it was first announced last year, and as of November 21st, 2025, the game, which was developed by Relevo, and published by Selecta Play, has been available for players looking to recreate the bloody mayhem of Art the clown on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 (version tested), PlayStation 4, and Xbox Series X|S.
The Terrifier films, on which this game is based, are almost certainly among the goriest, most sadistic slasher films I’ve ever seen, combining a relentlessly sadistic tone with some creative gore, achieved by satisfyingly gruesome practical effects.
And now, Terrifier: the ARTcade Game gives players the chance to take on the role of the film’s twisted clown antagonist, Art, though if you’d actually want to behave like Art, then you should probably be asking some serious questions about yourself! And if you do fancy playing Terrifier: the ARTcade Game,but don’t want to take on the role of Art, you can also choose from other characters from the franchise, such as the equally disturbing Emily, and Little Pale Girl, or the rather more wholesome Adam Burke.
The game itself is a side scrolling beat ‘em up, inspired by the arcade classics of yesteryear, but unlike recent entries in this genre, such as Streets of Rage IV, Shredder’s Revenge, and Marvel: Cosmic Invasion, which offer retro-styled side scrolling beat ‘em up action, but with slick modern gameplay, Terrifier: the ARTcade Game is a strictly retro -style proposition, with pixel art graphics and resolutely old-school gameplay, featuring rather simplistic combat, and having to hammer a button repeatedly to recover from attacks can get rather tedious. . However, just as the Terrifier films serve as tributes to the slasher movies of the 1980s, Terrifier : The ARTcade Game also serves as a tribute to the arcade beat ‘em ups of that same era.
One aspect of the Terrifier films that Terrifier: The ARTcade Game incorporates well is the full-on gore, with every attack resulting in a spurt of crimson, and the screen itself getting covered with splatters of blood, and there are also some creatively gory finishing moves, including one particularly satisfying one involving Art’s beloved horn, but Terrifier: the ARTcade Game’s finishing moves are as simplistic as the rest of the game’s combat, relying on single button presses, rather than Mortal Kombat-style sequences. So, much like the films on which it’s based, Terrifier: the ARTcade Game is not for the faint of heart. However, the cartoonish pixel art graphics do afford the game a rather more lighthearted tone than the movies on which the game is based, which was a wise move, as replicating the grim tone of the films would no doubt have made the game considerably less fun to play.
Another way in which Terrifier: the ARTcade Game deviates from the movies in a positive way, is that the films tend to focus on Art’s relentless pursuit of, and horrific murdering of young women, as is a common trope in slasher films, of course. However, were this also the focus of the game, it may come off as feeling unpleasantly misogynistic, so, thankfully, in Terrifier: the ART Game, Art is much more of an equal opportunities offender. The reality of the game is also somewhat distanced by its meta plot revolving around Art trying to stop the films about him from being made, so Art’s victims include actors playing cops, the film’s director, and cameramen, and in what may be a tribute to the classic beat ‘em up Bad Street Brawler/Street Hassle, old people!
There’s no doubt that Terrifier: The ARTcade Game is a success on its own terms, as a genuine 80s-style arcade beat ‘em up, but with plenty of blood and gore splashing around, so gorehounds and fans of Art’s sadistic cinematic rampages are sure to enjoy Terrifier: the aRTcade Game a lot, making the game easy to recommend if you fall into these categories. However, gamers who are just looking for a new beat ‘em to play may be better served by one of the many budget indie beat ‘rem ups on the market, or by one of the slicker, higher profile titles of recent years. All that said, there’s no doubt that while Terrifiier: the ARTcade Game may not be the best modern beat ‘em up on the market, it still delivers a bloody good time!
