Secret Level is a wonderful gaming anthology series in the style of Love Death Robots that is streaming on Prime Video. The first eight episodes were released on December 10, 2024, and eight more episodes were released on December 17, 2024. The first half of the show is definitely better than the first half, but the show as a whole doesn’t have a single bad episode. Let’s go through the first half of Secret Level from worst to best.
8. Crossfire: Good Conflict
Again, there are no bad episodes in this series, especially in the first half, but there are some that are simply better than others. This episode was solid, but it felt like a long cut scene from any Call of Duty game. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing as Call of Duty is known for its impressive, cinematic, action packed cut scenes. The theme of this one is the thing that stuck with me. The idea of each side in a conflict convincing themselves they are the good guys is representative of essentially every major conflict in all of humanity. The best part about the episode is that we never actually know who the good guys and bad guys are.
7. Unreal Tournament: Xan
Another great episode, this one focuses on the abuse of robots and artificial intelligence in a futuristic world that doesn’t care about them at all. The story follows a robot that gains sentience and uses it to fight back against the human oppressors. In this episode, we get some fantastic action sequences that are some of the best in the whole series. My only complaint, and the reason this episode isn’t higher on the list, is that it’s a concept we’ve seen over and over again. However, it’s presented in a new way and executed well.
6. Armored Core: Asset Management
This episode and the next two that I rank are almost all interchangeable. The list was hard to make at this point as every episode from this point on is absolutely incredible. What a fantastic role for Keanu Reeves. He plays the part of a grizzled pilot expertly, and I’m now dying to see this in live action. I was considering buying Armored Core 6, before this episode came out, and now I’m convinced. The action sequences in this episode were awesome, and the theme of brutality and losing one’s sense of humanity was done so well.
5. Dungeons and Dragons: The Queen’s Cradle
The first half of this episode didn’t really speak to me, but the second half blew me away. I’ve never been a Dungeons and Dragons fan, but, if they did a whole animated series in the wake of this one episode, I’d watch it every chance I got. The combat on the bridge was beyond cool, and the voice acting for every character was great. Obviously, the animation was wonderful as well. This one had a less discernible theme, but that bridge scene alone puts this in my top five.
4. Sifu: It Takes a Life
The action and animation is the reason this episode sits so high on my ranking list. The concept of coming back to life, but aging severely every time you die as well was something I’ve never seen done before. It resonated very well with me. The reason this episode isn’t higher is because I couldn’t ascertain why exactly the main character was fighting the goons. Maybe I missed it, but that part was lost on me.
3. New World: The Once and Future King
This was the only episode that seemed to even try to integrate comedy into it. As the first couple jokes went by, I didn’t think the rest would land for me, but they definitely did. The episode got funnier as it went, and the silly tone actually worked quite well. Normally, I like things that are serious, bleak even, but this episode accomplished exactly what it wanted to. Arnold Schwarzenegger really stood out as a voice actor as well and added to the comedic effect.
2. PAC-MAN: Circle
What an amazing reimagining of the classic game as a horrifying landscape of death and hunger. I was blown away by every minute of this episode. Turning Ms. Pac-Man into a horrifying machine that seems to be trapped in wherever they are for the sake of humanity is a genius idea. The writers took the concept of always eating in the game and turned it into straight up horror. The main character kills and eats as Ms. Pac-Man says everything in her world is eat or be eaten. I loved everything about this episode. I’m sure many people say this should take the number one spot, but, for me, it couldn’t be anything else.
1. Warhammer 40,000: And They Shall Know No Fear
I swear, testosterone started oozing from my TV as this episode played. Every single thing about this episode made me think “hell yeah” as it went. Before Space Marine 2, I knew nothing about Warhammer other than Henry Cavill really likes it. After Space Marine 2 and this episode, it might have to become my new obsession. Something about fighting off hordes of enemies with friends that I call brothers all for the glory of an empire really grabs me by the soul. There was not a single second I didn’t love.
I am ecstatic for season two of this series, and I hope we get some continuations of episodes from season one. Let me know what you think of this list, and check back for my ranking of the second half tomorrow!