Gunbrella

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 841 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Gunbrella Game Cover
Gunbrella is a sensational action platformer with incredibly fluid locomotion and a story that takes some unexpected turns.
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"Gunbrella" is a single-player platformer game with an interesting noir-punk plot, set in a world dependent on a scarce natural resource. As the player, you'll wield the Gunbrella, a versatile weapon/umbrella, to navigate side-scrolling action levels and uncover secrets. The game features exceptional mechanics, delightful visuals, a unique atmosphere, and plenty of humor, leading you through diverse locations filled with intriguing characters and challenges.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 841 reviews
story183 positive mentions
grinding9 negative mentions
  • The movement mechanics are incredibly fun and fluid, allowing for engaging traversal and combat.
  • The art style and music create a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
  • The story features interesting characters and choices that impact the narrative, adding depth to the gameplay.
  • The game is relatively short, with many players feeling it doesn't offer enough content for the price.
  • Boss fights and enemy encounters can be too easy, lacking challenge and variety.
  • The dialogue-heavy sections can feel tedious, interrupting the flow of gameplay and making it feel more like a visual novel at times.
  • story425 mentions

    The story of the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it engaging and surprisingly deep, featuring themes of revenge and dark humor. While some appreciate the character development and unexpected twists, others criticize it for being predictable, linear, or overly focused on dialogue at the expense of gameplay. Overall, the narrative is seen as a highlight for some, but it may not resonate with everyone due to its pacing and execution.

    • “The story is really fun, and I usually don't care for story, but this drew me in and made me care for the characters more than usual.”
    • “The story hooks you fast and turns out to be an absolute roller coaster, with very heavy themes and story beats that had me genuinely in tears after all was said and done.”
    • “Engaging character writing, satisfying gameplay in all aspects; movement, combat, platforming, and level design, and a genuinely intriguing world and story.”
    • “The story and world building was just so underwhelming and sad.”
    • “The story here falls a little flat even for being expectedly tropey.”
    • “The story is very linear which would be fine if it was at least interesting but it's very basic and the consequences of your choices mostly boil down to whether someone will be seen during the ending cutscene or not.”
  • gameplay306 mentions

    The gameplay of Gunbrella is characterized by its unique mechanics and satisfying controls, particularly the central "gunbrella" feature that combines combat and traversal. However, many players feel that the game lacks challenge and variety, with repetitive encounters and underutilized mechanics leading to a sense of tedium as the game progresses. While the core gameplay is enjoyable and fluid, it often prioritizes story over gameplay depth, resulting in a mixed reception regarding its overall execution and replayability.

    • “The gameplay is tight and satisfying, while the characters and story go places I didn't expect.”
    • “Some of the most fun movement and combat mechanics I've ever experienced in a 2D platformer.”
    • “Gunbrella shines as a grungy noir-punk adventure with an immersive narrative and versatile gameplay centered around the gunbrella itself.”
    • “There isn't much of a challenge and it feels like a lot of the focus of the developers went more to the story rather than polishing the gameplay.”
    • “The gunbrella mechanic never evolves beyond what you see in the demo, with no exploration upgrades.”
    • “Gameplay wise, it's quite frontloaded - most of the fun parts happen at the start and the later parts suffer tedium wise - with the final 3 bosses being quite a letdown compared to some of the initial fights.”
  • graphics104 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many praising the unique pixel art style and gritty noir aesthetic that effectively sets the mood. While some found the visuals stunning and engaging, others noted that they could be basic or repetitive at times. Overall, the art style and atmosphere contribute significantly to the game's appeal, despite some minor criticisms regarding film grain and lack of unique environments.

    • “Really enjoyed the pixel art and the mood it sets for the game; there is a perfectly dim and grimy aesthetic that fits the world and the plot.”
    • “The clean pixel art graphics, moody music, and dark story all create a great aesthetic that kept me engaged.”
    • “The graphic style is fantastic, the audio is great, the writing is really well done (especially the humor), and it is all bundled up in an intriguing and fleshed-out world.”
    • “The visuals are gritty but quite basic in terms of pixel art.”
    • “The art style is fine, nothing to write home about.”
    • “I wish there were more unique environments with this game's art style.”
  • music99 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere and experience. While some tracks are noted as standout and memorable, others are described as fitting but not particularly remarkable. Overall, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a key strength of the game, contributing significantly to its charm and engagement.

    • “The soundtrack is 10/10.”
    • “The music is nice though, all the tracks feel right at home in this game and some of the more soothing jazz tunes evoke a noir feeling.”
    • “Not to mention the music which is absolutely amazing, and sets the tone of the game very well, and I'll probably be listening to it outside of the game.”
    • “An 8/10 game in just about every way except for the soundtrack.”
    • “Minor complaint is the music seems a little lackluster.”
    • “As for the music, there were no real standout tracks that I can remember, but it did do a great job of enhancing the atmosphere which is what it’s supposed to do so there’s really nothing to complain about there.”
  • atmosphere41 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting its unique "noir-punk" and eldritch steampunk settings. The visuals, sound design, and world-building contribute significantly to the overall experience, creating a charming and stylish environment that enhances the gameplay. While some players noted that the impact of choices in the story felt limited, the overall atmosphere remains a standout feature that captivates players throughout their journey.

    • “The atmosphere is fantastic and the gameplay mechanics and traversal are well done.”
    • “The setting is an eldritch steampunk world that's strongly atmospheric.”
    • “The music is also fantastic, but there were some portions of the endgame that I think lacked music not for atmosphere, but because the script wasn't working properly and the music just wasn't playing.”
    • “Art is clearly done well, and the original soundtrack really does set the atmosphere well.”
    • “Seriously, this game just oozes style and atmosphere in every frame - everything from the menus down to the minor environmental background details.”
  • humor40 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mix of clever dialogue, funny characters, and light-hearted moments that often contrast with its darker themes, leading to a unique tonal balance. While many players appreciate the engaging and witty writing, some feel that the humor can occasionally undermine the seriousness of the plot. Overall, the game is praised for its charming humor, memorable NPCs, and entertaining side quests, making it a standout in its genre.

    • “The game excels in pixel art, fitting music, humorous dialogue, and breezy 2D platforming action.”
    • “The dialogue and story have real heart and lots of personality with some great characters and really clever humor.”
    • “Gliding around with your gunbrella as you blast away enemies never gets old, and while the game does suffer from a lack of challenge and minor readability issues, it’s one of the most memorable and often funny titles of the year.”
  • replayability16 mentions

    Overall, opinions on replayability are mixed; some players find it lacking due to the game's short length and perceived forced mechanics, while others appreciate the presence of different routes based on choices, suggesting potential for replay value. However, many express doubt about returning to the game after completion, indicating that replayability may not be compelling enough for a second playthrough.

    • “Good replay value too.”
    • “Probably a bit short for its price (I finished the game in 5 hours), but there seem to be different routes depending on the choices you make, so replayability is there.”
    • “I can already tell there is a lot of replay value here too.”
    • “This severely limits the game's potential, as it also dooms replayability once you finish the game.”
    • “No replay value, though I'm pretty 100% sure I won't bother coming back to replay after I'm done.”
    • “Replayability value just doesn't hit the same when it feels forced, and it does here.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching narrative and cinematic presentation, which evoke a sense of grace during combat. Players express a deep connection to the story, particularly in moments that elicit guilt and empathy, such as the impactful encounter with a beast boss that leaves a lasting emotional impression. Overall, the game successfully blends gritty themes with whimsical elements, creating a poignant experience.

    • “It was simple on the surface, but cinematic and quite touching.”
    • “It's a cozy blend of gritty, whimsical, and touching tale about a man who is seeking revenge in a post-apocalyptic world.”
    • “- beast boss - I mean... come on man, that just made me feel bad killing the mother and leaving the cubs alone to probably starve ;x; I wish I could have just not done that.”
  • grinding9 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often feeling that the effort required to upgrade items detracts from the overall enjoyment. The frequent back-and-forth and lengthy dialogues further contribute to a sense of monotony, leading some to feel that they could have completed the game faster than it takes to grind for upgrades. While the graphics and gameplay are appreciated, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback.

    • “By the time you’ve finished grinding out cogs to fully upgrade the gunbrella, you could have just beaten the game.”
    • “Game becomes tedious and has a lot of pedantic dialogues.”
    • “[No place to review completed quests in journal, selling honeycomb is tedious, could use some quality-of-life improvements]”
  • optimization4 mentions

    Overall, the game's performance is stable with no crashes reported, but players feel it lacks a necessary update to address minor bugs and improve optimization. Suggestions for enhancements have been made to further refine the game's performance.

    • “Finally, performance was fine and I never had the game crash, but the game generally feels like it's missing an update that fixes just a handful of minor bugs or annoyances.”
    • “Here are some suggestions I believe could be added to improve the game's overall performance.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game is widely criticized for its instability, with multiple users reporting significant bugs that hinder gameplay. Overall, the consensus indicates that the game is currently too buggy to provide a satisfactory experience.

    • “This game is really buggy.”
    • “It's too buggy at the moment.”
    • “The game has a lot of bugs.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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Play time

8hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
2-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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