FORCED SHOWDOWN

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 659 reviews
  • gameplay
  • replayability
  • story
FORCED SHOWDOWN Game Cover
FORCED SHOWDOWN combines TCG mechanics and roguelite action gameplay into an enjoyable arcade mix that will appeal to a wide audience.
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"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
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 659 reviews
gameplay94 positive mentions
story8 negative mentions
  • Engaging gameplay that combines fast-paced action with strategic deck-building mechanics.
  • High replayability due to random modifiers, unique character abilities, and a large variety of cards.
  • Visually appealing with a fun atmosphere and humorous elements that enhance the gaming experience.
  • Frequent crashes and performance issues that can disrupt gameplay.
  • Lack of multiplayer mode, which was a key feature in the previous game, FORCED.
  • Some players may find the grind for cards and achievements tedious, leading to potential frustration.
  • gameplay222 mentions

    The gameplay in this title is a blend of roguelike mechanics and card-based strategy, offering a fast-paced, engaging experience with a variety of unique mechanics and character abilities. While many players appreciate the depth and replayability provided by the deck-building elements, 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, though it may feel repetitive for some players.

    • “A really well-made mix of roguelike-card game with an addictive gameplay loop.”
    • “The gameplay is very fast-paced and intense, it always keeps you on your toes, and winning a level is extremely rewarding.”
    • “The gameplay feels polished and well fleshed out.”
    • “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 problem here is that some of these RNG mechanics can absolutely destroy your run.”
    • “The gameplay itself is literally grinding.”
  • replayability76 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, driven by its roguelite mechanics, diverse character options, and extensive deck-building features. While some players find the randomness can lead to frustration, many appreciate the endless variety and customization that keeps gameplay fresh and engaging. Overall, it offers a rewarding experience with significant replay value, making it a strong choice for fans of the genre.

    • “The game is very addictive, very replayable, and well worth a $50 price tag - and considering right now it's selling (not on sale) for $19.99, it's a no brainer.”
    • “I think the replayability for this game is through the roof.”
    • “Solid roguelite with an awesome deck building twist that makes replayability skyrocket :)”
    • “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.”
    • “It's 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.”
  • story52 mentions

    The game is criticized for its lack of a substantial story, focusing instead on fast-paced combat and repetitive gameplay within a tournament-style format. While there are quests and daily missions that provide some engagement, many players find the progression system sluggish and the storyline minimal, with only a few elements hinting at a narrative. However, the developers' backstory is appreciated, adding a layer of charm to the overall experience.

    • “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.”
  • graphics50 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the art style, enemy designs, and overall visual appeal, describing them as polished and aesthetically pleasing. However, some players find the graphics overly busy and occasionally unreadable, which can detract from the gameplay experience. Overall, while the visuals are generally well-received, there are calls for more variety and clarity in design.

    • “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 kind of 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.”
    • “It's an indie title and looks like one; the graphics won't impress anyone.”
    • “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.”
    • “Graphics are often unreadable (e.g. instant nearly non-avoidable damage), but I guess this gets better with more experience.”
  • grinding32 mentions

    The reviews highlight that the game features a significant amount of grinding, particularly in collecting cards and gold, which many players find tedious and time-consuming. While some appreciate the core gameplay loop and the sense of progression, others criticize the grind as excessive and boring, detracting from the overall experience. Despite the grind, there is potential for replay value, especially for fans of deckbuilding and action games.

    • “Obtaining cards is atrociously grindy and random.”
    • “As many others have pointed out, this game is extremely grindy.”
    • “The gameplay itself is literally grinding.”
  • music20 mentions

    The music in the game has received high praise for its ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players noting its emotional impact and replayability. The soundtrack, particularly during card selection, is described as captivating and thought-provoking, leading some to purchase the deluxe edition for the OST. However, a few users mentioned that while the music and ambient sounds are great, they can become somewhat repetitive over time.

    • “Amazing musical score - the main theme of the game will finally succeed XCOM 2's 'Ready for Battle' as my pump-up song.”
    • “Extremely fun and rewarding gameplay, stellar production value, sleek graphics, and great music.”
    • “It even made me buy the deluxe edition 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.”
    • “Graphics and music work well enough.”
  • humor18 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring a bombastic announcer and dry, salty jokes that can be amusing but often become repetitive. While the writing and some voice acting are praised for their comedic elements, the novelty wears off quickly, leading to some annoyance. Overall, players find the humor enjoyable enough to enhance the experience, especially during sales.

    • “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.”
  • monetization12 mentions

    The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, allowing players to unlock new cards through gameplay rather than spending money, which enhances the overall experience. Reviewers note that while it feels like it could have been designed with microtransactions in mind, they are completely absent, leading to a more rewarding and engaging deck-building process. This absence of monetization strategies contributes to a smoother progression and deeper gameplay.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    Overall, 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 similar or better hardware report smoother gameplay. Despite meeting or exceeding the recommended specifications, many players struggle to maintain stable frame rates, particularly at higher graphics settings.

    • “For me, I run a 3rd-gen Intel i5 motherboard and a GTX 660, and it runs smoothly.”
    • “The performance is just awful (loading times and crashes).”
    • “My only gripe 11 hours in is the performance - I have trouble keeping a stable 60 on anything above the lowest graphics setting, though my PC meets and beats the recommended specs.”
    • “The performance is just awful (loading times and crashes).”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent bugs, unresponsive cards, and persistent freezing and force-closing problems. Players report that the game often becomes unplayable due to these technical failures.

    • “Super buggy game, cards don't work as described, freezes and force closes constantly.”
    • “Sometimes the game freezes on a loading screen and Windows tells me that the program has stopped responding.”
    • “It's buggy as hell.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised, immersing players in a vibrant environment that feels like a live show, complete with an engaging announcer, flying drones capturing moments, and cheering spectators, all contributing to a fun and dynamic experience.

    • “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 development2 mentions

    Character development is praised for its strong design, with each champion exhibiting unique strengths and weaknesses that enhance gameplay variety. This diversity contributes to a more engaging and dynamic gaming experience.

    • “The character design is very good, and each champion has its strengths and weaknesses that make the game much more varied.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

72% average critic score

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Play time

23hMedian play time
29hAverage play time
2-60hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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