Highly anticipated co-op shooter that lets you fight hordes of zombies launches on Steam with "Mostly Positive" reviews

John Carpenter's Toxic Commando was first announced back in June 2023 and was originally expected to launch sometime in 2024. However, the developers eventually delayed the release for additional development time. After the long wait, the game finally launched across all platforms yesterday, and early feedback from players looks promising.

On Steam, the game currently holds a Mostly Positive rating, which is a strong start for a brand-new release. At the time of writing, it has over 1,500 user reviews, and around 76% of them are positive. Most players are praising the missions, combat system, and the large variety of weapons available in the game. Some users are even claiming it’s better than other zombie shooters like Back 4 Blood, Killing Floor 3, and the Zombies mode from Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

The early player count is also strong. According to data from SteamDB, the game reached 14,288 concurrent players on Steam within its first 24 hours, which is almost double the peak player count of World War Z on Steam. 

As for what the game offers, Toxic Commando focuses heavily on four-player cooperative action. Players can team up with friends or match with others online to fight large waves of infected enemies. Teamwork plays a big role in survival, as players can revive teammates, share ammunition, and protect each other while fighting through missions filled with enemies attacking from multiple directions.

Combat is built around large-scale zombie hordes. The game uses Saber’s Swarm Engine, the same technology used in games like World War Z and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. This system allows hundreds or even thousands of infected enemies to appear on screen at the same time. 

Players also have access to a wide range of weapons, grenades, and special abilities. On top of that, the game includes semi-open maps with vehicles scattered across the environment. Some vehicles offer heavy weapons or special tools, while others simply help players move quickly through areas filled with zombies.