Strange Brigade is a third-person shooter developed by Rebellion Developments and released in 2018 for the PlayStation 4. Set in 1930s Egypt, the game follows a team of adventurers who battle the resurrected Witch Queen Seteki and her forces of undead creatures across ancient ruins and tombs. Players control one of four distinct heroes equipped with prototype firearms and supernatural abilities while navigating linear levels filled with combat, environmental hazards, and light puzzle elements. The experience supports solo play or online co-op for up to four participants.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on third-person shooting against waves of enemies in confined arenas and larger exploration areas. Combat involves standard firearms alongside special weapons such as the fire-spitting Krakatoa, the Chill Burster that freezes foes, and the Blunderbuss for close-range devastation. Each of the four heroes brings unique magical powers that complement the arsenal during fights. Environmental traps scattered throughout levels allow creative eliminations, including spinning blades that decapitate enemies, fire pits that incinerate groups, and falling boulders that crush clusters of undead. Puzzles require observation of clues and activation of ancient mechanisms to open paths or reveal treasure caches. Progression moves through a series of themed stages containing dig sites, pyramids, and caves, with enemies including moaning mummies, fire-breathing assassins, armor-plated minotaurs, and giant scorpions appearing in increasing numbers.
Game Modes
The main campaign delivers a story-driven sequence of missions playable alone or in 2-4 player co-op. Two additional modes expand replayability for the same player counts. Horde mode challenges participants to survive successive waves of enemies while collecting gold from kills. Score Attack emphasizes speed and efficiency, requiring players to clear objectives quickly while maintaining high style multipliers through precise shooting and trap usage. Both extra modes are available from launch without additional downloads and scale in difficulty across multiple maps.
Characters and Progression
Four playable fortune hunters each offer distinct playstyles through their signature weapons and abilities. Players select a hero at the start of a session and can switch between them across different runs. Gold earned from combat and exploration funds upgrades that improve damage output, ability cooldowns, and special ammunition types. The system encourages experimentation with different hero combinations in co-op to handle varied enemy threats effectively.
Is It Worth Playing?
Strange Brigade delivers a straightforward co-op shooter experience that shines most when played with friends due to its emphasis on shared combat and trap coordination. The campaign provides a complete narrative arc with nine stages that typically last around forty minutes each. Horde and Score Attack modes add variety for those seeking endurance challenges or timed runs. Reception has been mixed, with praise for the light-hearted tone, level design, and co-op fun alongside criticism for repetitive elements when played solo. The game remains fully playable on PS4 with no required online services beyond optional co-op matchmaking. It suits players who enjoy accessible third-person action with horror-comedy themes and short session lengths rather than deep progression systems or ongoing content updates.
