The Quake remaster restores the full edge of the shooter that invented so much: speed, brutality, labyrinthine levels soaked in Lovecraftian dread. Trent Reznor's soundtrack stays chilling. On Switch, controller in hand, it remains surprisingly nimble.
Your verdict
Category
First-Person Shooter4 players16+
Co-op
Description
A lone warrior battles Lovecraftian hordes through labyrinthine fortresses. Published by Bethesda, released worldwide in 2021. Fast, brutal first-person action, a remaster with bundled expansions, secret levels and multiplayer for up to four.
Quake review
3/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Polished"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Pure speed, brutality and labyrinthine levels steeped in a Lovecraftian mood: the 1996 FPS regains its edge without losing any of its original snap. The first-person action keeps a fluidity and intensity few modern games match, lifted by brilliant level design. Expansions and fresh levels swell the content, the multiplayer still holds, and the Switch port is solid. A rediscovery that's startlingly alive.
A pioneer of muscular FPS combat, this landmark turns every guardian into a test of controlled aggression: circle-strafing, space management and weapon choice decide survival against butchers like the Shambler or the Vore. Verticality, a relentless tempo and oppressive atmosphere turn difficulty spikes into mobility duels where backing off means dying and pushing forward is the only way out.
Better with friends
Deathmatch remains a benchmark of pure speed: you jump, strafe and blast through twitchy arenas where instinct rules. Rivalry spikes fast, punctuated by snatched frags and unpredictable swings, while the co-op campaign offers a welcome dose of teamwork. Frantic yet readable, it's a classic you happily fire up again among veterans and newcomers alike, with no lulls and no fuss to slow the momentum.
Is Quake still worth playing in 2026?
The Quake remaster is a lesson in preservation: the 1996 FPS finds new life without betraying its original snap. The first-person action keeps a fluidity and intensity few modern games match, carried by brilliant labyrinthine level design and a clammy Lovecraftian mood. The added expansions and levels swell already plentiful content, and the multiplayer still holds. On Switch the port is solid. For any fan of old-school fast shooting, it is an essential rediscovery, surprisingly alive today.
