{{Infobox video game | title = Wanted: Dead | image = Wanted Dead cover.jpg | alt = | caption = | developer = [[Valhalla_Game_Studios|Soleil]] | publisher = 110 Industries | director = Hiroaki Matsui | designer = Natsuki Tsurugai | programmer = Yoshihiro Ueno | artist = Koki Inoue | composer = Keiichi Sugiyama | series = | engine = [[Unreal Engine 4]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/wanted-dead-pc-performance-analysis/|title=Wanted: Dead PC Performance Analysis|website=DSOGaming|date=February 14, 2023|accessdate=December 1, 2023}}</ref> | platforms = {{plainlist| * [[PlayStation 4]] * [[PlayStation 5]] * [[Windows]] * [[Xbox One]] * [[Xbox Series X/S]] }} | released = {{vgrelease|WW|February 14, 2023}} | genre = [[Action game|Action]], [[hack and slash]], [[third-person shooter]] | modes = [[Single-player]] }} '''''Wanted: Dead''''' is a 2023 [[action video game]] developed by [[Valhalla_Game_Studios|Soleil]] and published by 110 Industries. The game combines elements of [[third-person shooter]]s and [[hack and slash]] genres, as players control a former convict who is let out of prison to perform high-risk missions for the police. It was released for [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Xbox One]], and [[Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X/S]] on February 14, 2023. It received mixed reviews from critics.
== Gameplay == Players control Hannah Stone, a [[cyborg]] who has a life sentence commuted when she agrees to join an elite team that performs high-risk missions for the police.<ref name=radar>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/wanted-dead-review/|title=Wanted: Dead review: 'The well of ideas runs dry all too soon'|last=Bailes|first=Jon|work=[[GamesRadar]]|date=2023-02-14|accessdate=2023-09-21}}</ref> It combines [[hack and slash]] gameplay with that of [[third-person shooter]]s. Players have access to a variety of weapons, including guns, swords, and grenade launchers.<ref name=pcgamer>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/wanted-dead-review/|title=''Wanted: Dead'' review|last=Taylor|first=Mollie|work=[[PC Gamer]]|date=2023-02-14|accessdate=2023-09-21}}</ref> Players can do [[combo (video games)|combo]]s that involve both a sword and pistol. There are also cutscenes, some of which are done in [[anime]] style, and [[minigame]]s, such as [[quick time event]]s and elements of [[rhythm game]]s. When players die, they restart the [[level (video games)|level]] via a [[checkpoint (video gaming)|checkpoint]] system.<ref name=radar/> While progressing through the story, players can customize Stone via a [[skill tree]].<ref name=pcgamer/>
== Development/Release == Developer Soleil is based in Japan. The Valhalla Game Studios team was merged with Soleil during the game's development. Valhalla was known for developing [[Devil's Third]], published by [[Nintendo]] for [[WiiU]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Valhalla Game Studios Disappears After Merging With Soleil |url=https://www.siliconera.com/valhalla-game-studios-disappears-after-merging-with-soleil/ |website=Silicon era |date=24 December 2021 |access-date=16 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://soleilgamestudios.com/en/about/|title=About|work=Soleil|accessdate=2023-09-28}}</ref> 110 Industries published ''Wanted: Dead'' for [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Xbox One]], and [[Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X/S]] on February 14, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/games/wanted-dead|title=''Wanted: Dead''|work=Gematsu|date=3 October 2021 |accessdate=2023-09-21}}</ref> Publisher 110 Industries is headquartered in Switzerland.<ref>{{cite web |title=110 Industries |url=https://www.110industries.com/ |website=110 Industries |access-date=16 July 2025}}</ref>
== Reception == {{Video game reviews | MC = PC: 57/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/wanted-dead/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Wanted: Dead for PC Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref><br/>PS5: 57/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/wanted-dead/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5 |title=Wanted: Dead for PlayStation 5 Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref><br/>XSXS: 61/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/wanted-dead/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x |title=Wanted: Dead for Xbox Series X Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref> | OC = 59/100<ref>{{cite web |title=Wanted: Dead Reviews |date=14 February 2023 |url=https://opencritic.com/game/14287/wanted-dead |publisher=[[OpenCritic]]}}</ref><br/>20% Critics Recommend }}
''Wanted: Dead'' received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to [[review aggregator]] website [[Metacritic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/wanted-dead/|title=''Wanted: Dead''|work=[[Metacritic]]|accessdate=2023-09-21}}</ref>
''[[GamesRadar]]'' said it has "trashy charm" and attempts to "subvert genre norms", but they felt it to be "bogged down by low production values, imbalance, and repetition".<ref name="radar" /> ''[[PC Gamer]]'' called it an "intentionally messy throwback" to the PlayStation 3 era. Though they felt it is "too janky" for mainstream gamers, they said a niche audience may enjoy it.<ref name="pcgamer" /> [[Rock Paper Shotgun]] called it "a frustrating mess in almost every regard" and said it "doesn't know what it wants to be".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/wanted-dead-review-third-person-action-thats-more-dead-than-alive|title=''Wanted: Dead'' review: third-person action that's more dead than alive|last=Thorn|first=Ed|work=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]|date=2023-02-14|accessdate=2023-09-21}}</ref> Describing it as "one of the first big disappointments of 2023", ''[[IGN]]'' criticized what they saw as "shallow combat, dated presentation, and poorly balanced difficulty".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/wanted-dead-review|title=Wanted: Dead Review|last=Saltzman|first=Mitchell|work=[[IGN]]|date=2023-06-02|accessdate=2023-09-21}}</ref> ''Hardcore Gamer'' said it is a "modern take on third-person action games from the early 2000s" and, overall, "a punishingly-difficult bloodbath that's a joy to play".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-wanted-dead/436966/|title=Review: Wanted: Dead|last=Shive|first=Chris|work=Hardcore Gamer|date=2023-02-14|accessdate=2023-09-21}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.wanteddeadgame.com/}}
[[Category:2023 video games]] [[Category:Action games]] [[Category:Video games about amputees]] [[Category:Cyberpunk video games]] [[Category:Windows games]] [[Category:PlayStation 4 games]] [[Category:PlayStation 5 games]] [[Category:Xbox One games]] [[Category:Xbox Series X and Series S games]] [[Category:Single-player video games]] [[Category:Indie games]] [[Category:Third-person shooters]] [[Category:Transhumanism in video games]] [[Category:Unreal Engine 4 games]] [[Category:Hack and slash games]] [[Category:Video games about cyborgs]] [[Category:Video games about ninja]] [[Category:Video games about police officers]] [[Category:Video games about robots]] [[Category:Video games about zombies]] [[Category:Video games developed in Japan]] [[Category:Video games featuring female protagonists]] [[Category:Video games set in Hong Kong]]