Boneraiser Minions

About

Boneraiser Minions is a single player casual role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by caiys and was released on March 9, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Amass an army of deamonic undead to fight endless waves of heroes intent to end your boneraising ways! In this gothic-horror auto-battle roguelite, use the bones of slain heroes to raise your minions, collect powerful relics and spells, and unlock meta upgrades, all to survive King Gigald's crusade!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,597 reviews

gameplay181 positive mentions

grinding20 negative mentions

gameplay
423 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
54%
3%
The gameplay of "Boneraiser Minions" is characterized by its addictive loop, where players summon and upgrade minions to battle enemies, reminiscent of the "Vampire Survivors" formula but with unique mechanics that emphasize strategy and active dodging. While the game features a variety of classes and customization options, some players find the visuals and UI challenging to navigate, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game is praised for its depth, humor, and engaging mechanics, making it a standout entry in the auto-battler genre.
- “The gameplay loop is very addicting, and you will find yourself saying 'just one more match' 10 matches later.”
- “Boneraiser Minions is a phenomenal survivors-like game with enough content, unique identity, and gameplay to where it has quickly and reliably become my go-to game for when I have 30 minutes of time to spare.”
- “The different classes (each of which changes up the gameplay to varying degrees) and mind-boggling array of power-ups and minions means there's a ton of possible builds and ensures that no two runs go exactly the same.”
- “The overarching consequence is an incomplete understanding of what more than half of the descriptions entail and how the upgrades impact the gameplay.”
- “I played close to 10 hours and I found the mechanic to raise/upgrade units obtuse, off-putting, unclear and unrewarding.”
- “The gameplay is a bit repetitive though.”
graphics
326 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
59%
4%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the retro 8-bit aesthetic and pixel art style, while others find it difficult to discern characters and objects due to low resolution and a cluttered screen. Some users enjoy the nostalgic charm and vibrant colors, but others criticize the visuals as harsh or overwhelming, leading to eye strain and confusion during gameplay. Overall, the game's graphics are a defining feature that may appeal to fans of retro styles, but they can also pose challenges in visibility and clarity.
- “The charmingly lo-fi pixel graphics and not-too-demanding power requirements let you play it for quite a while, and it runs and controls beautifully.”
- “The graphics are spectacular, music is fun and nostalgic, it's cheap and overall just a plain fun time waster.”
- “Fantastic game with simple visuals, a lot of charm and hidden depths.”
- “The graphics are too low res where you have a difficult time telling things apart.”
- “The hurdle for getting used to this game is pretty massive, the art style looked like mush to me for a while even with visibility settings.”
- “The only thing I struggle with is that with this art style and so much happening on screen, half my deaths are because I cannot even see where my character is when things get busy.”
music
316 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
3%
The music in "Boneraiser Minions" has received widespread acclaim for its catchy and engaging chiptune soundtrack, which many players find nostalgic and fitting for the game's retro aesthetic. While some users noted that certain tracks can become repetitive over time, the overall variety and quality of the music enhance the gameplay experience, making it a standout feature of the game. Additionally, the inclusion of a jukebox feature allows players to customize their listening experience, further adding to the charm and enjoyment of the game.
- “The music is great, moving around in a little circle has never been this fun for me; help, I can't stop playing.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing; I wish I could buy it.”
- “The music is delightful retro goodness, and some tracks will be familiar to anyone who played Voidspire Tactics and/or its sequels.”
- “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.”
- “Some negatives I would have is that the soundtrack can be samey and you will get burned out of the sounds eventually.”
- “My only negatives are that the looped soundtrack gets old quick (had to turn it off within the first 30 min of playing) and when the battle gets chaotic it's hard to determine if a character or magic effect is mine or one of my enemies.”
humor
195 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in "Boneraiser Minions" is predominantly juvenile and crass, featuring a plethora of puns and innuendos, particularly centered around "boner" jokes. While some players find this style of humor charming and entertaining, others consider it immature and off-putting. Overall, the game's light-hearted and silly writing, combined with its engaging gameplay, contributes to a fun experience, especially for those who appreciate its unique comedic approach.
- “The humor hits all the right notes for me, as silly as it is.”
- “The writing and humor are top-notch!”
- “The humor is delightfully immature in a way to amuse my inner teenager.”
- “The repeated attempts at humor about boners, masturbation, etc. are childish and unfunny, and the extreme pixel graphics become too much of an eye strain on a 1080p screen.”
- “There is a kind of 'Old English' used by default that is not even correctly applied, and the jokes and vocabulary tend to be cringey, appealing only to a teenage audience.”
- “It's written in corny millennial-speak, and the jokes are just terribly unfunny.”
replayability
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
44%
4%
Boneraiser Minions is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, attributed to its diverse characters, abilities, and game modes that encourage experimentation and customization. Players appreciate the depth of its upgrade systems and the variety of builds, which keep the gameplay fresh and engaging over multiple sessions. Despite some calls for more content variety, the game's low price point and continuous updates enhance its replay value, making it a standout choice for fans of the genre.
- “The sheer variety presented in the game is impressive — numerous characters, minions, abilities, buildings, steam achievements, and meta-upgrades contribute to its high replayability.”
- “The builds, the classes, and all the post-run upgrades give this game hours upon hours of replayability across the different classes.”
- “Crazy amount of replayability and has you left wanting more every time you play.”
- “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.”
grinding
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
4%
87%
Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" in the game are mixed; while some players find the meta progression enjoyable and not overly tedious, others describe it as repetitive and frustrating, particularly due to frequent pauses for upgrades. Many appreciate the variety of content and classes, noting that the grind can feel rewarding and natural, especially in the early game, but some still feel that it can become shallow and tedious over time. Overall, the experience of grinding varies significantly among players, with some enjoying the process while others find it burdensome.
- “Added plus is that this metaprogression game is not grindy at all.”
- “I can honestly say that this is the first 100% trophy that I felt like I wasn't grinding to get.”
- “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.”
- “This is an awful ripoff of Vampire Survivor developed by a dude who seems to think grinding out meta progression is the epitome of game design.”
- “It just feels super shallow and tedious.”
atmosphere
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
41%
14%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its dark, spooky aesthetic, enhanced by charming pixelated graphics and an engaging soundtrack that evokes nostalgia. Many players find it immersive and relaxing, making it ideal for late-night gaming sessions, while others appreciate its unique blend of humor and unconventional writing. However, some critiques mention that the atmosphere can feel overwhelming or inconsistent at times, particularly when juxtaposed with light-hearted elements.
- “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.”
- “The sound effects and music add to the spooky atmosphere, making it the perfect game to play with the lights off and a bowl of popcorn by your side.”
- “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.”
story
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The story in the game is minimal, revolving around a necromancer's quest for vengeance against King Gigald after being sealed away due to a disagreement about corpse treatment. While the narrative is described as lacking depth, it offers a humorous twist and serves as a backdrop for the gameplay, which is more engaging than the story itself. Players can complete the main story in about 5 hours, with additional content available for completionists.
- “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.”
- “Boneraiser 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.”
- “There's not much by way of story.”
- “Quick plot synopsis because there ain't much: you're a boneraiser, raising boners.”
- “Sadly we get like old people in game dev that make the same cookie cutter stuff or 'woke' stories or some other useless elements.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
Overall, the game is well-optimized with smooth performance and stylish graphics, even on low-end machines. However, some users report occasional freezing issues and poor optimization specifically in endless mode, which detracts from the experience. Despite these minor drawbacks, the game remains enjoyable and engaging.
- “It's prettier, more fun, better optimized, more interesting, more engaging, and has really good music.”
- “Graphics are stylish and psychedelic, and the action runs smoothly with tons of units, spells, and relics at play flawlessly; when you mess up, it's on you!”
- “Enjoyable game at an accessible price with stable performance on low-end machines.”
- “Performance issues: the game will sometimes freeze for a second or two at a time.”
- “Edit: horribly optimized for endless mode.”
- “Those are my nitpicks, and besides the performance issue, none of those matter too much.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, where it runs smoothly and looks great. However, some users have reported occasional freezing and minor glitches, which slightly detract from the experience.
- “And it runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “It looks great, runs great, and even works on Steam Deck.”
- “Runs great on Deck, very fun.”
- “Great game, but it freezes sometimes.”
- “The game offers some nice graphics and environments; however, there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
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.”
- “The monetization system feels exploitative and heavily favors players who are willing to spend money.”
- “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra.”
- “The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the overall experience and makes it feel more like a money-making scheme than a game.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The film is described as a tragic yet emotional arthouse piece that balances humor and wholesomeness while addressing the serious theme of oppression faced by those suffering from the fictional disease, boneitis, in 1960s California.

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6h Median play time

13h Average play time

3-20h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 22 analyzed playthroughs

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Boneraiser Minions is a casual role playing game with fantasy theme.

Boneraiser Minions is available on PC, Steam Deck and Windows.

On average players spend around 13 hours playing Boneraiser Minions.

Boneraiser Minions was released on March 9, 2023.

Boneraiser Minions was developed by caiys.

Boneraiser Minions has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Boneraiser Minions is a single player game.

Similar games include Halls of Torment, Rogue: Genesia, 20 Minutes Till Dawn, Voids Vigil, Nomad Survival and others.

Boneraiser Minions

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