The Walking Dead: Streets of Survival | Switch 2 Review

When I saw that a side-scrolling beat ‘em up based on The Walking Dead was being made, I was hooked before even clicking the download button. Would it be loyal to the comic? To the TV series? Would it be a standalone story that used the classic characters? In the case of The Walking Dead: Streets of Survival, the team opted for a heavy dose of nostalgia, delivering an arcade-style brawler that feels like a direct throwback to the mobile and handheld action games of the 2000s, when developers would take a popular IP and build a game around it. While it captures the gritty charm and intense gore of the source material, it also brings along a brutal difficulty curve and a frustrating technical hiccup. 

Walking Back to Season 8  

Finding that Daryl Dixon was a playable character was enough to let me know that the game was based on the TV series (Daryl does not appear in the comics). The narrative drops you right into one of the most chaotic eras of the television series: the war against Negan and the Saviors around Season 8. You play through chapters and levels that adapt key moments straight from the show, featuring familiar faces like Rick and Michonne leading the charge. The story retreads high-stakes plot points, including the fall of the Scavengers and the emotional aftermath of Carl’s death.

For fans of the TV series, stepping into these iconic scenarios offers a fun walk down memory lane. The developers lean heavily into the retro aesthetic, using clean, detailed pixel art to depict the post-apocalyptic world. Do not let the pixelated look fool you; the game is aggressively gory. Every strike, chop, and shot comes packed with satisfyingly wet sound effects and brutal visual feedback that fits the grim tone of The Walking Dead universe perfectly.

Each level is played by a different character. Some levels are restricted to one character, while others offer a choice. Play as Rick with his magnum revolver, Michonne with her blade, or Daryl with his crossbow. Each character also has a close-combat weapon, while weapon upgrades and ammo drops can be found throughout the level. There is also a skill tree for each character that helps them grow stronger as the story progresses. 

Relentless Waves & Brutal Punishments  

Where Streets of Survival really separates itself is in its gameplay structure and unforgiving difficulty. The levels quickly become suffocating, routinely throwing far more walker hordes and human enemies at you than the screen can comfortably hold. It demands sharp reflexes and tight positioning just to keep from being overrun. Thankfully, the framerate holds steady throughout the game, making it easy to control. The lack of permadeath also keeps me engaged and happy to keep trying.

Make no mistake: this game is relentlessly difficult, even when you drop the setting down to Easy. The boss fights are particularly unforgiving. One character, in particular, features one-hit-kill attacks that can end a promising run in a split second. In that particular level, you have to defeat thirty walkers. Multiple times, I made it to my twenty-fifth or, even worse, twenty-ninth walker, only for the one-hit-kill enemy to take me out and force me to start the level over again.

The game tries to soften the blow by handing you an extra med kit whenever you die and restart a level, but the steep difficulty spike in later chapters will test the patience of even seasoned action veterans. And, let’s be serious here: when you can die in one hit, extra med kits do not make a lick of difference. Adding to the frustration, there often isn’t enough time to use the med kit before you’re overrun by walkers or human enemies. 

Beauty and a Bug  

While the arcade brawler loop can be satisfying, the experience is hindered by a few technical issues. During my playthrough, I cleared an entire stage only for the game to completely bug out at the victory screen. Instead of progressing, I had to hard restart the entire game and replay the stage from the beginning. In a game that is already this demanding, having your hard-earned progress wiped by a bug hurts.

That being said, the game looks, sounds, and performs magnificently aside from that bug. The pixel art delivers that nostalgia kick, while the familiar characters are recreated perfectly, right down to some sound bites pulled directly from the show. Negan and his cronies are just as despicable here as they are in the show.

While the payoff is predictable if you’ve watched The Walking Dead, getting there is a blast if you enjoy a good, often frustrating challenge. I must also comment that the short runtime is great. Despite that, I felt the combat getting pretty repetitive. While the main enemies get stronger, I had learned how to evade and attack the basic enemies by the time the final levels arrived.

Final Verdict – The Walking Dead: Streets of Survival 

The Walking Dead: Streets of Survival is a double-edged sword. On one hand, its gory pixel art, great sound design, and 2000s-era mobile nostalgia make for a fun retro brawler set during a classic era of the show. Its 3–4 hour runtime is inviting, as well, although the short length can’t hide how repetitive the combat can become, even with three different heroes to choose from.

The punishing damage, the one-hit-kill enemy, and the progress-stopping bug prevent Streets of Survival from reaching its full potential. If you are a die-hard fan of the TV series looking for a tough retro challenge, there is fun to be had here, but be prepared for a steep uphill battle.

To hear me talk more about The Waling Dead: Streets of Survival, be sure to listen to the October 6th, 2026 episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast.

This review is based on a Switch 2 copy of The Walking Dead: Streets of Survival provided by Sandbox Strategies for coverage purposes. It is also available on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.