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MADNESS: Project Nexus

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2021

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Quick resume

MADNESS: Project Nexus is a third-person Run n' Gun / Beat'Em Up filled with arcade-style action and button-mashing brutality. Gun your way through droves of bad guys in the Story Campaign, or build your perfect killing machine in the neverending onslaught of Arena Mode.

Global score

97/100

Genres

Action, Indie, Shooter

Similar games

    Pros

    • Faithful to madness combat series and nostalgia
    • Fast-paced and skillful combat
    • Extensive character and weapon customization
    • Multiple game modes including arena and sandbox
    • Local co-op support and modding community

    Cons

    • Some bugs and ai issues reported
    • Steep learning curve and grind in arena mode
    • Lack of online multiplayer
    • Weapon pickup and control complexity
    • Story can be confusing for newcomers

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Violence, Status. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Intimacy.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players can create and customize their own character in Arena mode, choose combat styles freely, and have sandbox mode for experimentation, indicating high player control and freedom."

    • Competence
      4

      "The game features challenging combat requiring skillful aiming, dodging, and weapon management, with a high skill ceiling especially in harder difficulties and arena mode progression."

    • Competition
      1

      "Arena mode includes leaderboards and ranks, but mostly the game focuses on personal progression and local co-op rather than direct competition."

    • Continuation
      4

      "Players report hundreds of hours played, with addictive arena mode and replayability, encouraging long-term engagement."

    • Cooperation
      2

      "Supports local co-op up to 4 players in story mode and AI teammates in campaign, but arena mode is solo; cooperation is present but limited."

    • Creativity
      4

      "Strong customization options for characters, weapons, and loadouts in arena mode; sandbox mode allows free experimentation."

    • Domination
      -2

      "No strong evidence of domination or power over others; interactions are cooperative or solo focused with mutual respect."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game for nostalgia, stress relief, and immersion in a violent fantasy world, indicating strong escapism."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of passion and nostalgia, with no indication of obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      4

      "Sandbox mode and weapon modding encourage trying new things; arena mode offers diverse combat styles and builds."

    • Exploration
      2

      "Story mode and arena mode have multiple maps and secrets; some exploration of lore and environment is present."

    • Expression
      4

      "Extensive character customization and weapon modifications allow personal expression."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "The game is based on a violent, exaggerated fictional universe with supernatural elements and stylized characters."

    • Fellowship
      2

      "Community engagement through co-op and modding; some social connection but mostly individual play."

    • Growth
      4

      "Skill trees, character progression, and learning combat mechanics provide strong opportunities for personal development."

    • Health
      -4

      "Primarily a sedentary game with no physical activity; some reports of long sessions and intense focus."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires constant attention and focus during combat; not suited for idle or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -3

      "Social interactions are limited to local co-op and casual community; no evidence of close emotional relationships."

    • Leadership
      1

      "Players can manage hirelings in arena mode, but leadership is limited and mostly tactical rather than authoritative."

    • Progression
      5

      "Strong emphasis on accumulating weapons, upgrades, skills, and character levels especially in arena mode."

    • Relaxation
      2

      "Some players find flow and catharsis in combat, but higher difficulties induce tension and challenge."

    • Sensation
      4

      "Enjoyable visual effects, gore, and soundtrack provide strong sensory stimulation and excitement."

    • Status
      1

      "Leaderboards and ranks exist but social recognition is not a primary motivator."

    • Story
      3

      "Story mode offers narrative immersion with characters and lore; arena mode has some story elements as well."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Combat requires tactical thinking, skill management, and planning loadouts; arena mode involves strategic progression."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Fast-paced combat with risk and suspense especially on higher difficulties and boss fights."

    • Value
      4

      "Players feel the game offers good value for money with extensive content and replayability."

    • Violence
      5

      "Core gameplay revolves around violent combat, gore, and destruction consistent with the Madness Combat series."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players must manage health, avoid death, and overcome threats especially on harder difficulties."

    Last update: 29/04/2026