Destroy All Humans (2020) Review – A Well Crafted Remake

by enricofairme · Published July 27, 2020 9:03 AM · Updated January 14, 2025 7:16 PM

Back in 2005 a game called Destroy All Humans was released on PC, Xbox, and PS2. In 2019 THQ Nordic made a somewhat surprising announcement that they were remaking this title for a 2020 release. Destroy All Humans (2020) is that remake and it is out now. Does this title deliver to fans a well-done remake? Check out our thoughts in the Destroy All Humans (2020) review below.

What is Destroy All Humans (2020)?

Destroy All Humans (2020) is third-person action adventure game in which players take on the role of Crypto-137, an alien, who is sent to the United States in 1959. During this resource focused planetary invasion Crypto-137 faces off against a mysterious government agency called Majestic that is run by the equally mysterious Silhouette. While facing off against this agency Crypto-137 uses a number of weapons on foot along with psychic abilities and his flying saucer to destroy all humans and any other objects that get in his way.

Developer: Black Forest Games.
Publisher: THQ Nordic.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One.
MSRP: $29.99 USD (Standard Edition).
Hours Played for Review: 17.
Game Beaten: Yes.
Code Provided by Developer: Yes, THQ Nordic.

A Remake Done Right

In the current gaming industry one of the hottest products to make is a remake or remaster of older games. This tactic of re-releasing titles that may be a few years old can be a double-edged sword for developers with lazy remakes/remasters appearing as nothing but a cash grab. Destroy All Humans (2020) is thankfully not that but is a rather a competent remake that pulls a 15 year old title into 2020 with all the amenities and polish you would expect from a game released in the present day.

Refreshed Combat and Movement

Image showing combat from Destroy All Humans (2020). — Combat is a major aspect in the game.

One of the major overhauls in the game is the combat and movement. Crypto-137 now alternates between third-person, on-foot exploration and combat, and flying around in his saucer. On-foot gameplay has been revamped with the ability to use multiple inputs at once, such as firing a gun while using Psychokinesis. New abilities, Dash and Skate, allow for quicker movement, making Crypto-137 much faster than the basic running mechanic from the original 2005 game. These changes breathe new life into the on-foot combat, complementing Crypto’s wide array of weapons, including fan favorites like the Anal Probe.

While the revamped movement and combat make the game feel much more fast-paced and frenetic, the boss fights fall short. All three fights are drawn-out, multi-round battles with tanky bosses, even when Crypto is nearly fully upgraded. While staying true to the original design, these lengthy shootouts don’t offer much variety or excitement. A more creative approach to the boss fights would have been a welcome addition. Meanwhile, the saucer sections remain largely unchanged from the original, which I consider a positive decision. The few minor tweaks make the experience slightly more forgiving, but it still provides that satisfying feeling of leveling a city with saucer weapons.

A Planet’s Worth of New Additions

Image showing the map in Destroy All Humans (2020). — The map.

The remake brings more than just revamped movement and combat; it introduces several exciting new additions. Destroy All Humans (2020) adds new abilities, expanded upgrades for Crypto and the Saucer (increasing from 18 to 66), a new mission, bonus objectives, free-roam challenges, and unlockable skins. There’s a wealth of fresh content to explore, making it a great option for returning players who wanted more from the original. After about 17 hours of play, I still have plenty of collectibles to find and challenges to conquer.

As for challenges, these mini-games appear in free-roam mode, unlocked after completing missions in each location. Once unlocked, you can explore levels, collect probes, and tackle challenges in four types: Armageddon, Race, Abduction, and Rampage. Each challenge emphasizes different gameplay elements, from racing to destruction. These new challenges are fun and offer variety across the game’s six locations.

I appreciate Black Forest Games’ additions, which bring new activities and more playtime to the game. However, I would’ve liked to see even more to do and discover during free roam. You mostly use the exploration mode for challenges and collectibles, and given the series’ potential for an open-world future, some more experimentation with this open-world structure would have been a welcome addition.

A Shiny Space Paint Job

Before wrapping up, I want to briefly mention the presentation and visual upgrades in Destroy All Humans (2020). The game looks great, featuring new models, animations, and overall improved graphics that make the world feel more alive and immersive. However, these upgrades come with a slight downside—occasionally, the frame rate dips, especially in Capitol City. While this wasn’t a major issue, it was noticeable during hectic moments like boss fights, where the frame rate seemed to drop at inopportune times.

Aside from the visuals, the game retains the same wacky humor and storytelling that made the original a hit. Though the humor may not appeal to everyone, I found it just as entertaining as I remembered, especially moments like controlling the mayor for a speech about the commie threat. Overall, my experience with Destroy All Humans (2020) exceeded expectations. Despite a few minor issues with boss fights, lack of free-roam content, and occasional frame drops, the remake successfully balances nostalgia with modern improvements. If you loved the original, this is a fantastic return to the alien invasion action of 2005, now with a fresh 2020 twist.

8/10

Thoughts on our Destroy All Humans (2020) Review? Drop them in The Pit below.