Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Momo and Okarun share a close moment in Dandadan

    Momo And Okarun: The Gold Standard For Shonen Romance

    07/03/2025
    Ironheart Episodes 4 6 But Why Tho 1

    ‘Ironheart’ Explained: Explore MCU’s Bold New Chapter

    07/01/2025
    Buck in 9-1-1

    ‘9-1-1’ Has To Let Buck Say Bisexual

    06/29/2025
    Nintendo Welcome Tour promotional image of the maraca mini-game

    The One “Game” That Justifies The Nintendo Switch 2 Purchase

    06/25/2025
    Destiel Confession in Supernatural - Castiel (Misha Collins) and Dean (Jensen Ackles)

    The Destiel Confession: The Lasting Importance Of Supernatural’s Greatest Ship

    06/22/2025
  • Squid Game
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
  • Summer Game Fest
But Why Tho?
Home » Xbox Series X/S » REVIEW: ‘Nuclear Throne’ Retains Its Reign (XSX)

REVIEW: ‘Nuclear Throne’ Retains Its Reign (XSX)

Jason FlattBy Jason Flatt09/10/20214 Mins ReadUpdated:05/25/2022
Nuclear Throne - But Why Tho
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Nuclear Throne - But Why Tho

Nuclear Throne is a bullet hell roguelike by Vlambeer. Originally released on PC, PS3, PS4, and Vita six years ago, the simple yet satisfying game has just arrived on Xbox via Game Pass, and despite its age, it remains a very satisfying game.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Roguelikes have gotten massive over the years. And this is generally awesome because innovation is the best way to keep a genre fresh. But it also helps make more clear how older games do and don’t hold up and why. Nuclear Throne is from a time before Enter the Gungeon or Dead Cells. Things were simpler. You pick your character; each has one stat difference like more HP or higher speed, and one ability like a dodge roll or shield. And then you just go at it. In this nuclear wasteland-themed game, you must kill every enemy on screen to progress in your quest to claim the Nuclear Throne. Aim with one stick, shoot with the trigger. Don’t get hit too many times, or you’re done for, and it’s back to the very beginning. You’ll pick up weapons, ammo, and health along the way, and between every few levels, you’ll be able to pick Mutations that give you certain buffs or abilities. But that’s about it. Other than that, just run, gun, and don’t die.

But this simplicity is everything. Without all the bells and whistles of upgrades and unlockables, you’re left needing only to hone your dodging and aiming skills. And you’ll need them because while this game isn’t a one-hit and you’re dead level of difficulty, it gets pretty hard pretty fast. Between hordes of enemies with different types of attacks at different ranges, tight corridors, and environmental hazards, it’ll take a lot of practice to get to the Nuclear Throne.

The gameplay’s simplicity doesn’t mean it’s without complexity, though. There are myriad weapons and weapon types, from machine guns to energy guns to a wrench or a crossbow. There are secret areas to stumble upon and a Crown mechanic, essentially modifiers, that you can unlock permanently among other cosmetics for completing loops with them. They’re tied specifically to the character you completed the run with, giving players a whole host of additional goals to strive towards besides simply beating the game once or twice. The key aspect, though, is that they’re modifiers. They’re not stat boosts or weapon enhancements necessary for fighting your way through the game. Sure some of them are helpful, but they’re also a natural part of progressing through any loop. Essentially, they’re an optional aspect of the game that doesn’t make or break progress.

Artistically, the pixel art style may be reminiscent of a time when that was basically the only way indie games were being designed in the previous generation. Still, on Xbox Series X|S, it looks very refined. The style lends itself perfectly to the simplicity of the gameplay and looks pretty good and smooth on current generation consoles. The music and sound design are subtle but very atmospheric, fitting totally within each of the environments. The post-apocalyptic vibe as a whole is well-serviced by its bizarre playable characters, their personalities, and the enemies you fight.

I also appreciate that it always feels like you’re progressing, not because you unlock new upgrades or anything, but because you unlock more playable characters the further you get into a run without dying. This is just enough incentive to keep pushing me to get further even when things start to get dull in their simplicity. Because there are only so many types of enemies and weapons per area, it can get repetitive after a while. But, the levels are short, so the repetitiveness doesn’t drag on either.

While an older entry in the genre, Nuclear Throne is still creative and fun and feels totally fresh in the sea of bullet hells. It has just enough to it to keep you going, though, by comparison to more robust roguelikes, it has the potential to dry up after a while if you’re not mastering it fast enough. Nonetheless, it’s well worth a dive into, especially with its appearance on Xbox Game Pass.

Nuclear Throne is , PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Mac, and PC.

Nuclear Throne
  • 8/10
    Rating - 8/10
8/10

TL;DR

While an older entry in the genre, Nuclear Throne is still creative and fun and feels totally fresh in the sea of bullet hells. It has just enough to it to keep you going, though, by comparison to more robust roguelikes, it has the potential to dry up after a while if you’re not mastering it fast enough. Nonetheless, it’s well worth a dive into, especially with its appearance on Xbox Game Pass.

  • Play Now Via Xbox Game Pass

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Struggling’ Is a Struggle Worth It (XSX)
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Kid Cosmic’ Season 2 Continues To Defy Superhero And Sci-Fi Standards
Jason Flatt
  • X (Twitter)

Jason is the Sr. Editor at But Why Tho? and producer of the But Why Tho? Podcast. He's usually writing about foreign films, Jewish media, and summer camp.

Related Posts

Still Wakes the Deep: Siren's Rest
6.0

DLC REVIEW: ‘Still Wakes The Deep: Siren’s Rest’ Is Too Brief And Lacks Closure

06/18/2025
MindsEye
3.0

REVIEW: ‘MindsEye’ Is An Unfinished Tech Demo

06/17/2025
Lies of P Overture DLC Keyart
8.5

DLC REVIEW: ‘Lies Of P: Overture’ Is P’s Hardest Journey Yet, Even On Easy

06/10/2025
Spray Paint Simulator
7.0

REVIEW: ‘Spray Paint Simulator’ Is Easy To Flow State With

06/02/2025
DOOM The Dark Ages key art from Bethesda and Id Software
8.5

REVIEW: ‘DOOM: The Dark Ages’ Is Aggressive As Hell

05/09/2025
Oblivion Remaster Sheogorath Shivering Isles But Why Tho
9.0

REVIEW: ‘The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remaster’ Is Exactly What I Hoped For

04/30/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Taecyeon and Seohyun in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8
7.5
TV

REVIEW: ‘The First Night With The Duke’ Episodes 7-8

By Sarah Musnicky07/03/2025

The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8 spends welcome time in pre-domestic bliss before new developments stir up trouble.

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf trailer First Look Image From Prime Video News

Prime Video Unleashes Teaser for Prequel Series The Terminal List: Dark Wolf

By Kate Sánchez07/04/2025

The first Terminal List: Dark Wolf trailer was released today by Prime Video. The series…

Together (2025) still from Sundance
8.0
Film

REVIEW: Have A Grossly Good Time ‘Together’

By Kate Sánchez01/27/2025Updated:07/04/2025

Dave Franco and Alison Brie’s Together (2025) is disgustingly funny, genuinely ugly, and just a good time at the movies.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here