FORCED SHOWDOWN
- March 29, 2016
- BetaDwarf
- 23h median play time
FORCED SHOWDOWN combines TCG mechanics and roguelite action gameplay into an enjoyable arcade mix that will appeal to a wide audience.
Get on Steam"FORCED SHOWDOWN" is an intense, rogue-like game with constant action and virtually limitless replayability, offering challenging deck-building and satisfying combat. It plays like ARPGs and MOBAs should, focusing on skillshots, accuracy, and timing. With a variety of unlockables and interesting deck-building, it provides an engaging and eloquent gaming experience.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The gameplay is fast-paced and engaging, combining elements of deck-building and action RPG mechanics.
- Each character feels unique, with distinct abilities and playstyles that encourage experimentation and strategy.
- The game offers high replayability with random modifiers, card collection, and daily challenges that keep the experience fresh.
- The game suffers from stability issues, including crashes and performance problems on certain systems.
- The achievement and quest systems can be frustrating, with unclear requirements and stage locks that may mislead players.
- The gacha-style card unlock system can feel grindy and may lead to frustration when hunting for specific cards.
- gameplay109 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of roguelike mechanics and deckbuilding, offering a fast-paced, engaging experience with a variety of unique mechanics and character abilities. While many players appreciate the depth and replayability, some criticize the game for its grindy nature and occasional RNG frustrations that can disrupt runs. Overall, the gameplay is described as fun and addictive, with smooth controls and a rewarding progression system, though it may feel repetitive over time.
“A cool mechanic introduced is that the boss at the end of each arena has their own deck, so they play cards that affect the arena.”
“The gameplay is slick, memorable, and addictive (not to mention challenging and fun).”
“The deckbuilding is fun and meaningful, the bosses have a lite-MMO raid boss feel to them, the heroes each have their own weapons, skills and playstyle, and the modifiers placed on arenas are interesting and keep the gameplay fresh.”
“However, just because something sounds good on paper, doesn't mean it's actually good when you have to play it, especially when all the mechanics are done poorly.”
“The gameplay itself is literally grinding.”
“Which wouldn't be a problem if the gameplay wasn't so generally boring and grindy.”
- replayability38 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its high replayability, driven by diverse characters, customizable decks, and random elements that keep each playthrough fresh and engaging. While some players find the grindy nature and randomness can detract from enjoyment, many appreciate the endless possibilities and challenges that enhance the overall experience. Overall, it offers a solid mix of deck-building and action gameplay, making it a compelling choice for those seeking long-term engagement.
“Controls are responsive and the replayability is endless.”
“I know I will spend a ton more hours on this game and its replayability is unquestioned there with each playthrough being different.”
“The sheer amount of content and replay value is probably most impressive.”
“I understand that this game came out when rogue-lites were all the rage and it serves to increase replayability/play time, but the game is sacrificing fun for replayability/play time.”
“Sure, adding RNG effects that can potentially destroy your run creates replayability, but it's not fun.”
“Its a bit grindy for my taste, but I can see the major replay value to those that have taken a liking to a game like this.”
- story26 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game lacks a traditional narrative, focusing instead on fast-paced combat and a tournament-style format reminiscent of a futuristic game show. While there are quests and daily missions that provide some structure and rewards, many players find the progression system frustrating due to bugs and hidden objectives. Overall, the absence of a cohesive story detracts from the experience, although the developers' backstory adds a touch of charm.
“You fight your way through shows of varying difficulty composed of randomly combined arenas, bosses, and gameplay modifiers in your deadly quest for becoming briefly famous on space TV.”
“Plus the gang at Betadwarf have an awesome company story which adds to the game's charm.”
“Betadwarf also has an amazing origin story.”
“This game lacks both the story and progression of typical single player games, as well as the nuanced difference per game that makes actual card games fun.”
“It's a PvE tournament style game that's repetitive and the storyline is poor.”
“No story.”
- graphics25 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the art style, smooth performance, and attention to detail, while others criticize it for being overly busy or lacking depth. Some players find the visuals aesthetically pleasing and fitting for an indie title, though there are concerns about readability during gameplay. Overall, the graphics are generally considered good, but there are calls for more variety and polish in character and map designs.
“Brief review: first of all this game runs really smoothly without any issues whatsoever, secondly mashing deck building together with rogue-like elements is a pretty good idea since the player can kinda choose his/her own style without having to rely on RNG completely, moreover, the combat feels satisfying and the graphics are still awesome to look at in 2019.”
“The graphics are pretty nice and there is plenty of variety of enemies and bosses.”
“Extremely fun and rewarding gameplay, stellar production value, sleek graphics and great music.”
“The graphics and enemy designs, as well as the level environment and attention to detail, are cool, but there's not much to keep playing; it just feels like an incomplete, lacking game.”
“All the deckbuilding and progression is just layers of noise - the graphics are over-busy with too much fluff - the sound is a barrage of limp cultural references and irritating effects - everything is just a bit of a mess.”
“It's an indie title and looks like one; the graphics won't impress anyone.”
- grinding16 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is a significant point of contention, with many players finding it tedious and overly time-consuming, particularly in relation to card collection and boss battles. While some appreciate the replay value and the unique gameplay blend, others criticize the grind as boring and excessive, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable but marred by its reliance on grinding mechanics.
“Obtaining cards is atrociously grindy and random.”
“As many others have pointed out, this game is extremely grindy.”
“The gameplay itself is literally grinding.”
- music10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players finding it engaging and emotionally resonant, particularly during card selection. While some noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive, the quality and production value of the music are generally regarded as stellar, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and replayability. Overall, the soundtrack has even inspired players to purchase deluxe editions to enjoy the music outside of gameplay.
“Both the voice acting and the music set the tone really well for a fun experience.”
“Amazing musical score - the main theme of the game will finally succeed XCOM 2's 'Ready for Battle' as my pump-up song.”
“It even made me buy the deluxe edition to keep the OST and listen to it during my daily routines as well.”
“It even made me buy the deluxe edition just to keep the OST and listen to it during my daily routines as well.”
“Music... the music and ambience sounds are great, but it can get a little repetitive.”
“Music... the music and ambience sounds are great, but it can get a little repetitive.”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring a bombastic announcer and dry, salty jokes that can be amusing but may become repetitive. While the writing and voice acting add to the comedic experience, the novelty wears off quickly, leading to some annoyance. Overall, players find the humor enjoyable enough to keep them engaged, especially when discovering quirky gameplay mechanics.
“Great fun, easily worth the price; get it on sale and you'll be laughing.”
“The writing is pretty funny too.”
“It's a tricky action game with a good sense of humor that I just keep going back to.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, allowing players to progress and unlock new cards through gameplay rather than spending money. Reviewers appreciate the deep deck-building mechanics and the high frequency of card acquisition, contrasting it with modern games that often rely on microtransactions. Overall, the absence of monetization strategies enhances the gaming experience.
“No microtransactions to stall progress.”
“The gameplay is tight, the deck building is surprisingly deep and best of all, despite being able to gamble for new cards for your deck, there are no microtransactions.”
“Important to know: unlike many card games, in Forced Showdown there are no microtransactions and thus the frequency of getting new cards is pretty high.”
“If it was made today, it'd be ported to mobile and riddled with microtransactions.”
“It just feels like it was made with microtransactions in mind, but they were taken out or something like that.”
“However, you're picking bonuses from a card deck that you built, and you unlock cards through playing--no microtransactions!”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users experiencing significant performance issues such as long loading times and crashes, while others with higher-end systems report smoother gameplay. However, even players with capable hardware struggle to maintain stable frame rates on settings above the lowest graphics options, indicating a need for further optimization.
“For me, I run a 3rd-gen Intel i5 motherboard and a GTX 660, and it runs smoothly.”
“My only gripe 11 hours in is the performance - I have trouble keeping a stable 60 FPS on anything above the lowest graphics setting, though my PC meets and beats the recommended specs.”
“The performance is just awful, with long loading times and frequent crashes.”
“My only gripe, 11 hours in, is the performance. I have trouble maintaining a stable 60 FPS on anything above the lowest graphics setting, even though my PC meets and exceeds the recommended specs.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent bugs, unresponsive cards, and persistent freezing and crashing, leading to a frustrating user experience.
“Super buggy game, cards don't work as described, freezes and force closes constantly.”
“It's buggy as hell.”
“Sometimes the game freezes on a loading screen and Windows tells me that the program has stopped responding.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, immersing players in a lively environment complete with an engaging announcer, flying drones capturing the action, and cheering spectators, all of which enhance the overall experience and enjoyment of the gameplay.
“The game is very atmospheric - you really feel like a part of the show, with an announcer, small flying drones that take pictures of you, and even spectators around the arena who cheer.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development for its strong design, highlighting that each champion possesses unique strengths and weaknesses, which adds depth and variety to the gameplay experience.
“The character design is very good, and each champion has its strengths and weaknesses, which makes the game much more varied.”
“The depth of character development allows players to truly connect with their champions, making each match feel unique and personal.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, providing a sense of growth and progression that keeps me engaged.”
Critic Reviews
FORCED SHOWDOWN Review – Three Card Manticore
FORCED SHOWDOWN combines TCG mechanics and roguelite action gameplay into an enjoyable arcade mix that will appeal to a wide audience.
80%Forced Showdown
Putting all that aside, there is plenty of content to hold you over as if you won’t already need to spend plenty of time in order to become good enough to defeat the big 3. There are also daily and weekly challenges with leaderboards which I personally feel is the most compelling feature, principally due to the fact that the game can show you numerically just how much you suck and having so many other players above you in the rankings makes you strive that much harder to do better next time. There’s also huge support for streamers and viewers that includes giveaways, in-game upgrades, and audience participation awards. Heck! Even the price of the game was reduced by the number of stream viewers. I can imagine throwing this huge curveball into the mix is really what Forced Showdown is going for. It is a game that was made to be played by streamers which is all good and well, but it’s also rather significant to note the majority of us are just players.
60%Forced Showdown (PC) Review
Let’s just say that you’ll be putting in a ridiculous amount of time into Forced Showdown. The strategy element to the game is more than enough for you not to put the sticks down, and the smash and bash action will keep you entertained for hours on end.
90%
