Zedfest is a co-op third-person shooter in which you and up to three friends compete in a grisly game show. As the contestants try to achieve their objectives, they have to fight off wave after wave of bizarre monsters called Zeds. With bright, gory graphics and a streak of irreverent humor, Zedfest focuses on violent fun.

A team of four heroes battling monster hordes sounds reminiscent of Left 4 Dead, but Zedfest doesn't share that game's serious tone or linear narrative. Instead, its fast-paced arena combat recalls games like Killing Floor 2. Indeed, Zedfest feels very much like an intentional alternative to the more established KF2.

As much fun as you can have with a giant eggbeater

Zedfest celebrates its over-the-top mayhem, letting you equip yourself with anything from a machine gun to a grenade launcher to a giant chainsaw or a car's exhaust system. While luring aliens through a maze of slicing laser beams while wearing a pig mask is fun, the game also has robust gameplay. Different class and weapon choices produce very different experiences.

Zedfest's colorful levels and persistent blood spatter creates a unique experience that combines whimsy and brutality. However, the image of, for example, a pig-masked man, a robot, and a skeleton battling aliens can sometimes fall flat. At times, Zedfest's eclectic imagery feels less like creativity and more like being stuck together from whatever assets were available.

Fast-paced fun but a little rough

Zedfest is a frantic, colorful shooter with plenty of action. It's fun to play solo but even more enjoyable with friends. The gameplay can feel a little repetitive as the novelty of the absurd situations wears off. Also, if you like plot, characters, or aesthetic coherency, you're playing the wrong game. Still, blasting monsters in a blood-soaked fairground has its charms.