Boneraiser Minions

97%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,118 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Boneraiser Minions Game Cover
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In "Boneraiser Minions," players assume the role of a condemned Boneraiser, amassing an army of undead minions to fight against heroic waves. This gothic-horror auto-battler roguelite allows players to use bones and souls of defeated foes to upgrade units, and collect relics and spells for an upper hand. A unique twist involves empowering both one's undead and the enemy heroes' forces to gather resources against the crusade led by King Gigald.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

97%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,118 reviews
gameplay213 positive mentions
grinding30 negative mentions
  • gameplay510 mentions

    The gameplay of "Boneraiser Minions" is widely praised for its addictive and engaging mechanics, offering a unique twist on the vampire survivors formula by focusing on summoning and upgrading minions rather than direct combat. Players appreciate the variety of classes, each with distinct playstyles, and the depth of the meta-progression system, which encourages experimentation and strategic planning. While some users note issues with visibility and clarity of mechanics, the overall consensus is that the game provides a fun, fast-paced experience with a charming aesthetic and humor, making it a standout entry in the rogue-lite genre.

    • “The gameplay is something you get addicted to, and you can either play it casually as a 'mindless' game or plan out each gameplay session if you're into that sort of thing.”
    • “Boneraiser Minions is a delightful little rogue-like that I highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of vampire survivors (or just rogue-likes in general); the gameplay is fun and addicting with great music and a surprisingly funny story.”
    • “The gameplay loop is addictive and rewarding, the art design, animation, and overall tone of the game is unique and well tied together.”
    • “Rough gameplay UX sometimes, and it is not always clear what can or should be done to progress in the game.”
    • “The gameplay can become chaotic and difficult to follow.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics are poorly explained, so most of my choices had little to no strategy, so I didn't have much fun.”
  • graphics399 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming yet cluttered pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for retro gaming, reminiscent of the NES and SNES eras. While many players appreciate the aesthetic and vibrant colors, some find the visuals difficult to parse, especially during chaotic gameplay, leading to challenges in distinguishing between allies and enemies. Fortunately, the game offers various accessibility options to help mitigate these issues, allowing players to customize their visual experience for better clarity.

    • “The graphics are simple but nice.”
    • “The art style is pretty and the texts are well written, with a theatrical dialect and silly puns.”
    • “The pixel art graphic with vibrant colors are perfect for upcoming fall and the music is amazing and retro.”
    • “However, the graphic style and color palette are really hard on the eyes, especially when trying to move and dodge all kinds of units and projectiles.”
    • “The graphics are too low res where you have a difficult time telling things apart.”
    • “The visibility is so bad due to the low pixel count art style that full screen on a larger monitor is an active detriment towards understanding what is happening on-screen, the whole game needs an art pass for increased pixel res and a major balancing overhaul.”
  • music376 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy and nostalgic 8-bit chiptune soundtrack, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the variety of tracks that change throughout the game, preventing monotony and adding to the game's charm. While some find certain tracks repetitive over time, the majority agree that the soundtrack is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's engaging atmosphere and enjoyment.

    • “The mix of units and classes gives it some nice variety and the soundtrack stands out, bringing back those nostalgic 8-bit vibes.”
    • “It's a great survivors-type game with tons of replayability, but for me, the best part is the soundtrack.”
    • “The soundtrack is easily one of my favorite parts!”
    • “The only ding I have on the game is the music, which I don't care for; however, I respect the choice of chiptune-y songs that match the aesthetic.”
    • “The music is really annoying.”
    • “The music, however, oddly does not fit into the game's theme at all.”
  • humor232 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of juvenile and crass jokes, particularly centered around bone puns and innuendos, which some players find hilarious while others may consider it immature or cringe-worthy. Despite its lowbrow humor, many reviews highlight the game's clever writing and engaging gameplay, suggesting that the humor adds to its charm and overall enjoyment. Overall, the humor is a defining feature that resonates well with fans of silly and absurd comedy, making it a unique experience in the genre.

    • “The game has an excellent sense of humor and bone puns abound.”
    • “It's got a bunch of childish humor in it, but never feels immature.”
    • “The humor hits all the right notes for me, as silly as it is.”
    • “There is a kind of 'old English' used by default that is not even correctly applied, and they tend to use jokes and vocabulary that might be funny for a teenager but come off as quite cringey.”
    • “It's written in corny millennial-speak, and the jokes are just terribly unfunny.”
    • “I know this seems like a personal gripe, but I witnessed an entire room of people get legitimately annoyed with how unfunny the text was.”
  • replayability105 mentions

    The game is praised for its high replayability, attributed to its diverse classes, unique minion designs, and various gameplay modes that encourage experimentation and competition. Players appreciate the depth of content and frequent updates, which enhance the replay experience, making it a worthwhile investment for both casual and dedicated gamers. While some comparisons to genre leaders like "Vampire Survivors" suggest it may not reach the same heights, many still find it engaging and addictive with significant replay value.

    • “Just a fantastic roguelite experience all around, with different minion designs, stages/monsters, and a very unique class system that gives a lot of replayability value.”
    • “The sheer variety presented in the game is impressive — numerous characters, minions, abilities, buildings, Steam achievements, and meta-upgrades contribute to its high replayability.”
    • “Boneraiser Minions has depth and tons of replayability.”
    • “There could be more variety in the types of bone minions available or additional challenges to further enhance replayability.”
    • “It's by far the easiest one of the bunch that I've played, and unfortunately falls a bit short on replayability compared to others as a result.”
    • “There is somewhat limited replayability since even endless mode lasts at most 15 or so minutes before it becomes impossible, but I probably played this more than 90% of games I spent 10x as much on.”
  • grinding34 mentions

    Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" are mixed, with some players finding it enjoyable and not tedious, particularly when focusing on meta progression and character unlocks. Others, however, describe the gameplay as repetitive and grindy, especially in the late game, where they feel forced to farm achievements or resources. Overall, while some players appreciate the depth and fun of grinding, others find it shallow and tedious, suggesting a varied experience depending on playstyle.

    • “Progression (meta + each run) is not tedious and is easy to pick up, albeit the many things you'll want to make a mental cheat sheet for builds. Everything is clear amidst the chaos of 'OMG so many things happening.'”
    • “I can honestly say that this is the first 100% trophy that I felt like I wasn't grinding to get.”
    • “An added plus is that this metaprogression game is not grindy at all.”
    • “Though after 10 hours, all the rest of the 'content' is basically just grinding the same thing for 100 more hours... yuck.”
    • “I like this genre of game in theory and how much content it has but it's very grindy and repetitive with boring levels and clunky movement; it's fun enough for a while in tiny bursts but I wish its level design and the feel of movement was more similar to Spirit Hunter: Infinite Horde.”
    • “It just feels super shallow and tedious.”
  • story31 mentions

    The story in the game is minimal, primarily serving as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a central focus, with players taking on the role of a necromancer seeking vengeance against a king. While the narrative is light-hearted and filled with humor, it is largely conveyed through introductory scenes and lacks depth, making it less significant compared to the gameplay mechanics. Despite its simplicity, some players find the storyline entertaining and engaging, contributing to the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “The story is as follows: you're one of more than a dozen different necromancers that have been sealed away in your mausoleum after a mild disagreement with the locals of the surrounding lands as to the proper treatment of corpses and the philosophical nature of the afterlife.”
    • “Risen again, our mission is to build an army, reclaim our power, resurrect our brothers, and take our vengeance on the crusade of King Gigald.”
    • “There's not much by way of story.”
    • “The story is practically non-existent, and is fully explained in the introductory scenes leading up to the title screen, but the story isn't the main draw of the game.”
    • “What the game does focus on is the juxtaposition of the stereotypical story of a (presumably evil) necromancer with a carefree atmosphere and a bevy of sexual jokes and innuendos, which makes for a surprisingly light-hearted experience that doesn't take itself too seriously at all.”
  • atmosphere23 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its spooky, retro Halloween vibe, enhanced by charming pixelated graphics and an engaging soundtrack that immerses players in a dark yet playful world. Reviewers appreciate the juxtaposition of light-hearted humor and darker themes, creating a unique experience that is both relaxing and entertaining. However, some critiques mention that the atmosphere can feel overwhelming or inconsistent at times, particularly when humor clashes with the intended mood.

    • “Absolutely recommend if you enjoy the 8-bit aesthetic, and a dark atmospheric game to relax and play.”
    • “The game's art style and sound design also contribute to the overall immersion, creating a dark and atmospheric world that's easy to get lost in.”
    • “It has a unique dark retro look to it, the music is exquisite and helps a lot to create its atmosphere.”
    • “Worst version of vampire survivors available in my opinion, anything from the bad art style to the unfun crowded atmosphere.”
    • “It definitely isn't used for atmosphere or immersion, because the game is constantly making boner jokes and puns.”
    • “Most are very light-hearted or chill, and don't really fit the gritty atmosphere and action-packed pace that the game sets.”
  • optimization11 mentions

    Overall, the game is generally well-optimized, providing smooth performance even with numerous units and spells in play. However, some users report occasional freezing issues and specific optimization problems in endless mode, which detracts from the experience. Despite these concerns, the graphics and gameplay remain engaging and accessible, even on lower-end machines.

    • “I would like to point out that the game appears to be pretty well optimized.”
    • “It's prettier, more fun, better optimized, more interesting, more engaging, and has really good music.”
    • “Enjoyable game at an accessible price with stable performance on low-end machines.”
    • “My main problem with the game is that you're constantly being interrupted to choose minions, relics, and spells, and this can get a little invasive, especially since it doesn't always feel like the choice you're making is going to change your performance much.”
    • “- Performance issues: the game will sometimes freeze for a second or two at a time.”
    • “Edit: horribly optimized for endless mode.”
  • stability7 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability, running smoothly on various platforms, including the Steam Deck, with most users reporting consistent performance and frame rates above 60 FPS. However, some players have noted occasional freezing and minor graphical glitches.

    • “It also runs great, and even though my PC isn't particularly good, I never noticed the FPS going below 60.”
    • “And it runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “It looks great, runs great, and even works on Steam Deck.”
    • “Great game, but it freezes sometimes.”
    • “The game offers some nice graphics and environments; however, there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the film is highlighted by its tragic portrayal of oppression faced by those suffering from boneitis, blending humor and wholesomeness in a unique narrative. The film's arthouse style evokes a deep emotional response, reflecting on both the struggles and resilience of its characters.

  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization model is well-received, as it avoids the pitfalls of being a cash grab, featuring regular updates and no microtransactions, which contributes to an enjoyable gaming experience.

    • “Weekly (or more frequent) updates, no microtransactions, and packed with fun in a tiny package.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

6hMedian play time
13hAverage play time
3-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 22 analyzed playthroughs

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