Gremlins, Inc.

About

Gremlins, Inc. is a digital board game set in a steampunk world, where players take on the roles of scheming gremlins in a madcap race for power. Make deals, outsmart opponents, and collect precious plasma in this animated, strategy-filled experience. Engage in multiplayer matches or play against AI, with optional House Rules for even more replayability. A Freeplay mode also offers a casual, no-stress gaming experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+10

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,302 reviews

gameplay146 positive mentions

grinding18 negative mentions

Unique blend of strategy and board game mechanics, providing a fresh take on the genre.
Engaging art style and sound design that enhances the overall experience.
High replay value with a variety of strategies and character abilities.

Steep learning curve for newcomers, which may deter some players.
Heavy reliance on RNG can lead to frustrating experiences, especially when plans are thwarted unexpectedly.
Limited player base can result in long wait times for multiplayer matches.

gameplay
420 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
61%
4%
The gameplay is characterized by a unique blend of strategy and board game mechanics, featuring competitive, card-driven elements that encourage player interaction and tactical decision-making. While many players appreciate the depth and replayability, some find the complexity and reliance on RNG can lead to frustrating experiences, particularly in single-player modes. Overall, the game offers a rich and engaging experience, enhanced by its thematic art style and soundtrack, though it may not appeal to those who prefer straightforward mechanics.
- “Offering a unique blend of strategy and board game mechanics, it provides a fresh take on the genre with its competitive, card-driven gameplay.”
- “The game captures the essence of a tabletop board game perfectly, with its beautifully designed cards, intricate mechanics, and engaging gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is both complex and rather easy to grasp, and there's a lot of room for crazy, rewarding turns, as well as many options to choose from at most points.”
- “I wanted to like it - the aesthetics are nice and it has a quirky goblin feel to it, but the mechanics are so frustratingly bad and the board is designed so confusingly that I just can't recommend anybody buy this game unless you like aggravating your ADHD.”
- “It's extremely frustrating and unfair, as there's absolutely no balance among the cards, events, misfortunes, etc. while the gameplay is absolute garbage; the theme, visuals, and audio are pretty pleasing though, I'll give it that.”
- “While very good matches do happen, a large portion of them are not that entertaining, mostly due to the lack of mechanics to speed up the gameplay towards the end - the malice system makes it slowly harder for everyone to score points as time passes, and some games are just painful to end.”
music
250 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
45%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy and thematically appropriate soundtrack, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the quality of the sound design and the integration of music with the game's art style, although some express disappointment over limited in-game music and the availability of certain tracks behind a paywall. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and replayability.
- “Fantastic game: the cards are beautiful, clever, and funny; the music is excellent; easy to understand rules.”
- “Has a fantastic soundtrack that perfectly complements the gameplay.”
- “The music is catchy as hell, too.”
- “Amazing game and I would recommend it if it wasn't for the fact that there is no music while playing the game....”
- “Whether you like that or not is really up to your own personal preference, but the fact they're selling the music as DLC when, really, the music is subpar, brings to attention just how lacking the music is.”
- “That cute intro music accompanying the advertisement of this game isn't in the game itself.”
graphics
222 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
40%
1%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning hand-drawn art style, which effectively captures a whimsical steampunk aesthetic and enhances the overall atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the attention to detail in the artwork and animations, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience. While some mention that the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they are deemed fitting and enjoyable, with the music and sound design complementing the visuals beautifully.
- “The attention to detail in the artwork and animations is commendable, adding a delightful touch of personality to each character and event.”
- “Beautiful, hand-drawn graphics make this game a joy just to look at.”
- “The graphical design of the gremlins, the board design, the animations, pictures, and sounds are perfect.”
- “It's extremely frustrating and unfair, as there's absolutely no balance among the cards, events, misfortunes, etc. while the gameplay is absolute garbage the theme, visuals and audio are pretty pleasing though, I'll give it that.”
- “Minor cons...the newer set of avatars annoys me since it's not matching the graphic style and atmosphere...being teamed up against in ranked multiplayer is annoying but still manageable, just more of a challenge and perhaps focusing on 2nd place recommended in such scenarios.”
- “A variety of DLC that is cheap but looks mostly cosmetic (new art styles for player tokens, etc.).”
humor
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely praised for its humor, which is infused throughout its clever card designs, engaging sound effects, and entertaining mechanics. Players appreciate the satirical and ironic elements, as well as the hilarious interactions that arise during gameplay, making it a fun experience, especially in a group setting. Overall, the combination of a whimsical steampunk theme and a light-hearted approach to strategy contributes to its charm and appeal.
- “The countless hours spent strategizing, plotting, and laughing with friends remain etched in my mind, reminding me of the joy that gaming can bring.”
- “It has a fantastic sense of humor which shines through the music, sound effects, and powers.”
- “A hilarious fast-paced board game with a great fantasy steampunk theme, amazingly detailed art, music, and sound effects.”
replayability
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
28%
8%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players highlighting its fun and flexible gameplay, rich features, and engaging aesthetics. Many reviews emphasize the addictive nature of the game, offering numerous strategies and multiplayer options that keep the experience fresh and enjoyable. Overall, it is regarded as a highly replayable board game that encourages repeated playthroughs.
- “Overall it's a fun board game with a lot of flexibility in gameplay and great replayability.”
- “Endlessly replayable and a good mix of luck and skill.”
- “Tons of possibilities, many ways to play, and hours of replayability!”
- “The problem is: if some cards are playable for free, the most profitable ones (that bring us close to victory) require a lot of resources, not to mention the fact that our opponents will try to do the same, forcing us to preempt their behavior as much as possible and fool them before they fool us.”
- “Replayability comes from the ability to learn how to play the game; it is addictive.”
- “Endless replayability.”
atmosphere
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
32%
11%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive qualities, combining stunning graphics, engaging music, and effective sound effects that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the unique art style and thematic depth, particularly noting a captivating steampunk vibe that adds to the game's replay value. Overall, the atmosphere is described as cheerful, intriguing, and well-crafted, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The sound effects and voiceovers also contribute to the game's immersive atmosphere, making every action and event feel significant.”
- “But I simply love the atmosphere, the mechanics, the humor, the design - artwork, music, sound - I even love the frustration that is bound to hit you when your plans are thwarted!”
- “Great atmosphere, gorgeous art style, sweet music and sound, keen humor, not too complicated but deep enough.”
- “Minor cons...the newer set of avatars annoys me since it's not matching the graphic style and atmosphere.”
- “The graphics are really well done and the music/background sounds really help add to the atmosphere of the game.”
- “The artwork and atmosphere is really well done, I highly recommend it!”
story
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
77%
12%
The story aspect of the game is criticized for its slow progression and tedious quest mechanics, leading to a frustrating experience for players. While some enjoy the PvP elements and the strategic planning involved, many feel misled by the game's promises of customization and control, as randomness often undermines their efforts. Overall, the narrative is seen as convoluted and overshadowed by the game's reliance on luck and AI challenges.
- “Make some money, plot your rival gremlins' demise, and when they least expect it, send their little pointy-eared posteriors to jail!”
- “This game is pure fun, RNG and strategy meets with brutal plot twists.”
- “Can seem quite intimidating with its variety of systems and mechanics, but the tutorial and single player missions help first-time players understand the concepts better.”
- “It takes forever to get to locations and achieve the quest rewards, and progression is incredibly slow and dull.”
- “The developers straight up mislead players into thinking that through planning ahead and choosing certain characters and wisely cultivating the cards in your deck (which you can't do because it's random) that you can plot and fabricate new scheme hatcheries against an unsuspecting computer. The game is so involved and requires so much planning ahead, yet everything in the game goes your way the entire time, making the computer no match for your deck.”
- “Sorry, but I have better things to do than sit around hoping to draw the right cards, roll the right numbers, and pray there isn't some troll pairing up with his buddy to plot against you.”
grinding
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
90%
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is often perceived as tedious and uninteresting, with players feeling that it leads to exploitative behaviors and server performance issues. Many find the random events frustrating, as they can hinder progress and create a sense of capriciousness, making the overall experience feel like a struggle rather than an engaging challenge. While some appreciate the potential for income generation through grinding, the consensus leans towards it being a burdensome and time-wasting element of gameplay.
- “Capricious, random, spiteful, and tedious all come to mind.”
- “Ultimately tedious and uninteresting.”
- “If you like random events just grinding you into oblivion and just wasting time as the CPU dog piles every debilitating card on you so you just spin around between jail and nightmare events, then this is the game for you.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The monetization model of the game is praised for being entirely optional, with no pay-to-win mechanics or microtransactions, ensuring a fair experience for all players. However, some users noted discrepancies between the game's promotional content and the actual gameplay, such as the absence of certain music featured in advertisements.
- “In-game purchases are purely optional and there are by no means any pay-to-win mechanics.”
- “No microtransactions or card collection.”
- “That cute intro music accompanying the advertisement of this game isn't in the game itself.”
- “In-game purchases are purely optional and there is by no means any pay-to-win mechanics.”
- “+no microtransactions or card collection.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
Overall, the game demonstrates strong optimization, particularly in AI performance, and the developers are attentive to maintaining server stability. However, exploitative activities, such as farming for marketplace chests, negatively impact server performance.
- “This game is one of the best-designed board games with excellent AI optimization.”
- “The owners give a lot of attention to the overall game performance.”
- “The game features well-implemented optimization strategies that enhance the player experience.”
- “Additionally, there is more exploitative activity (farming for marketplace chests, etc.) that has a detrimental effect on the server performance.”
- “The owners give a lot of attention to the game performance overall.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is described as an emotional rollercoaster, combining touching moments with the thrill of unpredictability and chaos. Players appreciate the gorgeous artwork and heartfelt attention to detail, which, along with ambient sounds, enhance the overall emotional experience.
- “All in all, it makes the game touching.”
- “The artwork is gorgeous, the attention to detail is heartfelt, and the little ambient noises really set the tone.”
- “The endless fun and the possibility to disrupt people's plans is a big plus in this game, making it an emotional rollercoaster to play and experience.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates excellent stability on both Linux and SteamOS, with users consistently reporting smooth performance on these platforms.
- “Runs great on Linux.”
- “Runs great on SteamOS.”