Game Review: Krampus Kills (Xbox Series X)

From developer and publisher DangerousBob Studio comes the most action-packed Christmas-themed game ever. Taking Doom and dressing it up in garish lights and festive decorations.

At least that is what it promises to be. Unfortunately, the end result is more Doom 3 than classic Doom. Not a terrible game but one with so many flaws, it’s hard to see to the diamond amongst the coal.

A first-person adventure/shooter, Krampus Kills puts you in the pyjamas of a kid. One who appears to be a little bit of a git, if his letter to Santa is anything to go by. This bad behaviour hasn’t gone unnoticed though. On Christmas Eve, you are woken by the sound of footsteps and bells. However, it’s not Santa arriving to drop off presents. It’s Krampus and the demon is here to collect your soul.

So, what’s a naughty kid to do? Grab his father’s shotgun, go on a demonic killing spree, and make your way to Krampus’ dimension so you can destroy the ‘naughty list’ once and for all.

It sounds like a blast, and it is, in spates. However, there are fundamental issues that stop it being a great game. Frustrating issues that arise almost immediately in the game’s training level. Here, you’ll learn the simple controls (there’s even a button for giving the finger) and be walked through the game’s mix of action and stealth. Yes, you read that right. Krampus Kills has stealth sections and they are not fun at all.

You see, Krampus is unkillable. The only way to deal with the Christmas demon is to sneak. Staying out of sight as he lumbers around slowly. Should he see you, you can run and hide but most times, he will simply catch you and kill you instantly. Forcing you to restart at a checkpoint or manual save.

These segments are easily the worst thing about the game but might have been more forgivable if the action was up to par.

Krampus Kills throws a handful of enemies at you. Some have a festive spin, such as elf goons and killer snowmen, but others, like skeletons and zombies, seem oddly out of place. These enemies come at you in small waves and/or during timed sections. The surprising thing is just how little actual combat moments there are. Even at the end of the game, approaching Krampus’ lair, the enemies would come in twos or threes and be easily put down with the shotgun. The only weapon that anyone is really going to use, especially as the game gives you more ammo than you will need.

That might make it sound easy but it’s not. Any enemy, regardless of size, will kill you in a handful of hits. Not only that, they seem to have the ability to stun-lock you, so if you start taking damage and aren’t quick enough, you’re basically dead.

The only way to avoid this is to stay as far away from enemies as possible and shoot from a distance. Hardly what you would call ‘Doom-like’ gameplay.

The levels deliver mixed experiences and there are minor branching paths to get to the end of the game. For every boorish and ugly sewer/hospital level, there is an impressive snowy maze/Krampus domain (basically Hell). That also goes for the enemies too. Where Jack Frost-esqe snowmen stand out against bland looking imp creatures and skeletons. Thankfully, the big bad demon himself, Krampus, looks great and the developers certainly came up with a unique design for him.

On easier difficulties, Krampus Kills can be completed in around 2 hours but there is replay value. Higher difficulties, a different path through the game, collectable snow globes, rankings and other modes. A wealth of reasons to keep coming back and making Krampus wish he’d never put you on the naughty list at all.