Much like the hordes of enemies from which they take their name, horde shooters love it Toxic Commando are everywhere. between the The killing floor series, Warhammer 40K: Darktide, And a great, looming shadow Left 4 deadAmong others, fans of the genre are spoiled for choice, making it difficult for new entries to make a splash. It's a crowded field, though John Carpenter's Toxic Commando It manages to stand out not by doing anything new, but by doubling down on making the tried and true formula great.
Saber Interactive first revealed Toxic Commando Bon Jovi and the 2023 Summer Games Fest with a trailer full of over-the-top, zombie-shooting action. While the actual game has a bit less hair metal, it stays true to that early preview. This isn't a game you play for the thoughtful story or the first-of-its-kind gameplay. It's the type of game to laugh with your friends and cut down hordes of undead, and it doesn't disappoint on that front.
Innovation takes a backseat to simple thrills
Toxic Commando Follows the same basic gameplay loop as many others Left 4 dead-Likes: Teams of four work together to complete objectives while avoiding the relentless onslaught of supernatural enemies. The missions themselves, all a few variations on getting X and making it to Y, are really just a backdrop for the zombie-killing action, and Saber Interactive leans into it. You never have to go far to reach the next swarm of monsters to blast your way through, and the game doles out weapons like candy. In fact, you don't even have to unlock any guns or melee weapons, letting you experiment with all kinds of firepower without any grind.
When it comes to guns, there are many to choose from. There are 16 primary weapons and three secondary ones, all with unlockable attachments as well as a few special ones you can pick up during gameplay, and Saber Interactive plans to add more in the future. Each of these weapons feels different, and you can also choose from one of four classes with RPG-style skill trees. as straightforward as Toxic CommandoWith action-packed gameplay, these options offer a good deal of variety.
Toxic Commando It's far from the first to introduce any of these elements, but by keeping things diverse but basic, it focuses on the fun part. You'll spend less time grinding levels or finding the perfect build and more time shooting, slicing, and blowing things up.
An area where Toxic Commando brings something new to the table that its vehicles have. Instead of hoofing it through an apocalyptic landscape, you and your team will find trucks, police cars, ambulances, and more on your way to various objectives. Some missions require the use of a specific vehicle, while others let you choose from what you can find on the map, but in all cases, the device acts more like a mobile base of operations than mere transportation.
Some vehicles are equipped with mounted weapons, another can heal your party, and another can turn into a large bomb. They effectively serve as another way to customize your preferred loadout, and if nothing else, add a fun new dimension to the classic horde shooter formula. Toxic Commando May not be to scale state of decay 2'An array of vehicles, but this is another example of the game executing something well by focusing on refining the basics.
Toxic Commando doesn't do anything groundbreaking, but it doesn't need to either. It's simple, but that simplicity makes it easy for anyone to jump into it, which is what you want primarily for the multiplayer experience. Stripping away the complexities you find in many games of this era, it focuses on the pure, unbridled joy of cartoonish, campy 80s action.
The biggest problem with Toxic Commando is that there isn't much of it
For all its powers, Toxic Commando not complete The corny banter of its characters is endearing at first, though it never quite gets there Border 3-Level eye roll, it gets old after a while. Its AI teammates are a nice inclusion for those wanting to play solo, but they're effectively useless in anything outside of combat. The biggest issue, though, is simply that there isn't much of a game to enjoy.
At launch, there are nine missions, and depending on how much time you spend exploring, you can complete them all in eight to 10 hours. Each is fairly packed with things to map and find, but they feel a little small if you find enough gas to take your vehicle everywhere. who Toxic CommandoThe credits, starting points, and locations of some objectives and items change between playthroughs, so there's some solid replay value, but the gameplay can still feel repetitive after a while.
Future content updates may change things. Toxic Commando Not necessarily joining the ranks of the ever-popular live-service game model, but a handful of new maps and enemy types can go a long way. For now, though, it's certainly enough to keep a good time going for dozens of hours, but more may be needed to keep the game fresh beyond that.
Toxic Commando is a fitting tribute to the 80s horror and horde shooter genre.
Saber Interactive did the marketing Toxic Commando As a love letter to 80s action-horror, it lives up to that. It's got blood and guts, a slow and fog-drenched atmosphere, and a killer synth-heavy disco-meets-metal soundtrack. Carrying the name of one of the greatest horror filmmakers of all time is no small burden, however Toxic Commando Sounds like a classic John Carpenter work through and through.
Pulpy horror flicks aren't the only inspiration Toxic Commando Wear it on your sleeve. Its straightforward, no-frills approach is a throwback to the crowd shooters of old, namely Left 4 Dead, which today can feel like a breath of fresh air. It takes things back to basics while adding just enough polish and attitude to keep it different.
There are nits to pick Toxic CommandoBut how strong they are will ultimately come down to player preference. Some may champion its accessibility to the multiplayer experience, while others may find it too easy. Some will appreciate its lack of bloat, while others want deeper skill trees and more customization. All in all, though, fans of cheesy horror and zombie co-op shooters will find a lot to love in this one. John Carpenter's Toxic Commando Not a game-changer, but it doesn't pretend to be, and it's all the better for it.
- issued
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March 12, 2026
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and gore, intense violence, strong language, in-game purchases, user interaction
- Publisher(s)
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Focus entertainment
- Intense crowd-based combat
- Vehicles add a fun twist to a tried and true formula
- Skill and weapon customization requires minimal grinding
- Killer soundtrack
- Missions are limited and lack variety
- Character dialogue can get old
John Carpenter's Toxic Commando Launches March 12, 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. GameRant was provided the PC code for this review.
