‘Rollerdrome’ Review: Satisfying Sport Combat With Extreme Replayability

If you’d have told me a year ago that one of my favourite games of 2022 would be about roller skating deathmatches, I wouldn’t have doubted you for a second. Despite this, I’m still delightfully surprised by how exceptional Rollerdrome is. 

I covered the gameplay mechanics in our preview, so I won’t repeat myself here. Instead, I want to tell you what a satisfying and replayable game Roll7 has made with Rollerdrome. 

Here’s one of my runs from the game:

In truth, I can happily replay levels from the campaign time and time again. Thanks in part to the list of challenges each level possesses, no two runs of an arena need be the same. Striving for the shortest time and the biggest combo is a painstaking but rewarding process, with more challenging levels appealing to the masochist in us all. “Just one more go” is very much my mantra in Rollerdrome.

Even when a level has been fully completed, there is still plenty of reason to simply drop in and enjoy a more casual session. The free-flowing tricks and simple gunplay make it easy to keep the tempo where you want it, although there’s no shame in hitting restart if the first few seconds don’t go the way you like. 

Private Division / The Author

To add to this replayability, once beating the primary campaign, Rollerdrome rewards you with Out For Blood. This extra game mode is essentially another campaign that cranks up the difficulty, and the higher level of challenge is excellent. I won’t say much more about it because of potential spoilers, but it’s a punishing gauntlet that demands your best.

However, if a tougher mode doesn’t interest you then don’t be alarmed. Playing through the initial campaign as protagonist Kara Hassan is worth the price of admission by itself, from the array of arenas and bosses, to the in-between sections where you can gain a deeper knowledge of the bleak future in which Rollerdrome takes place. And, as previously mentioned, all of the campaign missions can be replayed. 

Private Division / The Author

In short, there isn’t much else to say about Rollerdrome. At its core, it’s a simple roller skating combat game that deserves a spot in any Steam or PlayStation library. Each level plays similarly but with exciting variations, whether it be the layout or enemy types. It’s a game to be played over and over again,  but even a single playthrough will feel rewarding enough. 

It’s an incredible sport and action game, with fun lore pieces to ponder while you’re not catching air, grinding lips and shotgunning opponents. To put it simply, don’t miss out on Rollerdrome.

Pros: Fluid and frenetic gameplay, good variety of maps and enemies, plenty of replay value

Con:: Feels perfect for multiplayer but currently doesn’t offer it

For fans of: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Jet Set Radio, Roller Champions

9/10: Exceptional

Rollerdrome was tested on pc with code provided by the publisher. The game releases august 16, 2022 for PC, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Find a guide to GAMINGbible's review scores here.