If you’re a fan of Wolfenstein 3D, DOOM, Blood, or basically any shooter where your survival depends on good footwork and even better reflexes, here comes another contender for your backlog. Yes — another one. The retro-FPS revival refuses to slow down, and FatCatGames’ newly launched Brotherhood is the latest to step into the arena.
This comes just a few weeks after another Wolfenstein 3D tribute, Darkenstein 3D — which is rather good, to be fair.
Released today on Steam and across all major consoles, Brotherhood promises fast, frantic gunplay mixed with grim atmosphere and maze-like levels — very much in the spirit of id Software’s early 90s output. The difference here is its setting: you’re a test subject trying to escape a secret underground facility, and the only things between you and the exit are traps, mutants, and enough corridors to make an architect cry.
What Brotherhood brings to the table
The game leans fully into the old-school formula: keycards, medkits, big levels full of secrets, and enemies that want you very dead. FatCatGames claims 24 large labyrinth-style stages, spread across six acts, ranging from prison blocks to deserts to ancient fortresses.
Combat is deliberately uncompromising too. Expect fast movement, tight weapon handling, and enemy encounters designed to overwhelm.
There are more than 20 enemy types, each with their own way of ruining your day, plus the game’s big twist: mutagen abilities. You’re not just running and gunning, but also using experimental powers to stay alive — a nice modern touch without losing that retro core.
A release shaped by community feedback
Brotherhood had a public demo earlier this year, and the developers say the full release has benefited from a lot of community involvement. Improvements include refined level flow, better visuals, upgraded audio, and general polish. Lead developer Belkovskyi (which is spookily close to “Blazkowicz”!) calls the final version a “love letter” to the shooters FatCatGames grew up with — intense, atmospheric, and fully committed to old-school design principles.
Where to play Brotherhood
The game is out now on:
Each platform includes the same single-player campaign, complete with its dark retro soundtrack, tricky difficulty, and languages ranging from English to Japanese.
For full details or to check out the launch trailer, the Steam page is probably the best starting point — but if you’re more of a console player, the PlayStation, Microsoft, and Nintendo Store listings are all live.
Another retro FPS — but worth a look
Yes, the retro-FPS scene is crowded. Between throwback shooters, boomer shooters, and full-on modern reinterpretations, there’s a lot to choose from. But Brotherhood looks like it’s trying to blend classic design with a slightly nastier, more oppressive tone — more Wolfenstein grime than DOOM bravado.
If that’s your flavour of nostalgia, this might be one to watch.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
