Romeo is a Dead Man is a hyper-violent sci-fi trip that’s as gripping as it is mystifying

TechRadar Verdict

Like any game in Grasshopper Manufacture’s offbeat catalog, Romeo is a Dead Man isn’t for everyone. On the surface, it’s a hilariously violent action game with bizarre pop culture references, and the story might alienate players who are more used to titles with straightforward narratives. But dig down a little, and you’ll find that Romeo is a Dead Man deals in immensely rewarding combat, irreverent and varied art styles, and above all, a ton of soul, all in spite of a short runtime.

Pros

• +Fascinating story that’ll leave you thinking long after credits roll
• +Super tight action that builds on Grasshopper’s pedigree
• +Awesome soundtrack
• +‘Bastard’ system allows for creative combat approaches
• +Seriously cool boss fights
• +Really comes alive on higher difficulties

Cons

• -The final third of the game wraps up all too quickly
• -A horror-themed section drags on a bit too long
• -Story can be tough to follow
• -Performance tanks in the optional dungeons

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Romeo is a Dead Man is an action game in which you play as a guy named Romeo Stargazer who - in the first five minutes - has his face ripped off by some kind of demonic creature, only to be saved from the brink of death by his time traveling scientist grandfather and enlisted into the FBI’s Space-Time Police division and reborn as a cyborg known as DeadMan. Your enjoyment of the game may hinge on whether or not you vibe with this bewildering setup.

Review information

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: February 11, 2026

It’s a bonkers premise that could only come from developer Grasshopper Manufacture, and the oddball creative minds of Goichi ‘Suda51’ Suda (killer7, No More Heroes, The Silver Case) and Ren Yamazaki (No More Heroes 3).

It’s quite appropriate, then, that Romeo is a Dead Man’s difficulty selection screen is presented as a literal box of chocolates, because you never really know what you’re going to get from a Grasshopper-developed game.

Romeo is a Dead Man is not a visually stunning tour de force for the action game genre. Its story that traverses time and space can be tough to follow along with, and its cast of utterly bizarre characters seems as random as they are deeply charming. It may even disappoint those looking for something as fleshed out as, say, a Devil May Cry or Bayonetta, with its relatively straightforward combat and short runtime.

Me, though? Outside of some wonky performance issues (and a somewhat disappointing final act), I greatly enjoyed almost every moment of Romeo is a Dead Man in the 12 hours it took me to finish the game. And I loved it even more when turning up the difficulty for a New Game Plus run, as that’s where the game really forces you to learn the nuances of its combat, varied enemy types, and the hilarious ‘Bastards’ summoning system (more on that in a bit).

It might not be your pick for game of the year, but considering it’s not a full-price title, I highly recommend Romeo is a Dead Man if you’re in the mood for a wonderfully weird action game that’ll stick in the memory long after you roll credits.

Killing the past, again and again

So what is the deal with this Romeo fella? Long story short, he falls in love with a woman he finds injured on the road while out on patrol. She’s rather fittingly named Juliet, and after being rescued himself and enlisted with the Space-Time Police, Romeo learns that she’s an extraterrestrial capable of duplicating herself, adopting various powerful forms, and generally disrupting the flow of time. Hey, happens to the best of us, right?

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