GUNFIELD

About

GUNFIELD is a single player survival shooter game. It was developed by Shiv Games and was released on November 1, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

GUNFIELD - A game that combines genres: shoot 'em up, roguelite and bullet heaven. Destroy hordes of alien ships and giant bosses, unlock and upgrade new weapons and abilities. If you liked the game, you can add it to your wishlist on the Steam page The prototype of the game was developed on jam.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 132 reviews

gameplay13 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay that combines classic shmup mechanics with roguelite progression, offering a satisfying experience for both new and veteran players.
Beautiful pixel art and a catchy soundtrack enhance the overall aesthetic, making the game visually appealing and enjoyable to play.
Variety of weapons and characters to unlock, along with branching paths, provide replayability and encourage experimentation with different builds.

The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in just a few hours, leading to concerns about long-term replay value.
Difficulty may be too easy for experienced players, as some find they can complete the game quickly without much challenge.
Lack of deeper upgrade systems and synergy mechanics compared to other games in the genre may leave some players wanting more complexity.

gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
47%
10%
The gameplay is characterized by a challenging yet fair experience, blending traditional vertical scrolling shoot-'em-up mechanics with roguelike elements reminiscent of "Vampire Survivors." Players appreciate the engaging gameplay loop, smooth controls, and the variety of unlockable characters, including pixel-art anime waifus. Overall, the game successfully combines retro aesthetics with modern gameplay sensibilities, making it appealing to both veterans and newcomers alike.
- “The gameplay is smooth and blasting through waves of enemies feels really satisfying.”
- “With its addictive gameplay loop, diverse arsenal, and permanent progression, it also offers a compelling package that will appeal to both veterans and newcomers alike.”
- “It's a vertical scrolling shoot-'em-up combined with bullet heaven mechanics and meta progression, it's more or less Tyrian meets Vampire Survivors.”
- “Although Gunlock has more variety and deeper game mechanics, Gunfield has much better graphics and effects, a real story, and novelties like branching paths and upgradable pilots.”
- “It mixes the usual roguelite horde-attack bullet-hell gameplay with some aspects of classic vertically scrolling shmups.”
- “What I mean is, it's a single-person developed budget shmup with vampire survivors leveling mechanics and every character is a pixel-art anime waifu.”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
49%
13%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its energetic and fitting soundtrack that evokes nostalgia for classic titles, while others find it repetitive or lacking in standout tracks. Many appreciate the overall quality and integration of the music with gameplay, though some users noted issues with volume control and a desire for more variety, particularly in boss themes. Overall, the soundtrack is generally competent but not universally acclaimed.
- “Graphically and musically it reminds of great classics of the past like Tyrian (I swear that one of the BGM must be a tribute to that game's soundtrack), the pixel art is amazing, and even when there's tons of stuff on the screen (Gunfield is somewhat of a bullet hell in parts) it's always easy to understand what enemies, bullets, bonuses, and helpful areas are.”
- “While the soundtrack pulses with an energy that matches the on-screen action beat for beat, the heavily synthesized voice effects can sometimes be jarring. Despite this minor setback, the music still gets your head bobbing as you weave through bullet patterns and line up the perfect shot.”
- “Awesome shmup + bullet hell/heaven with a banging sci-fi house/techno/metal soundtrack.”
- “1 bug I noticed... if you change the volume of music and such in the main menu, it doesn't change anything.”
- “The bad news is, the music is just one song on constant loop.”
- “I usually love shmup music, but I had to mute this one unfortunately.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
31%
14%
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art and retro aesthetic, effectively capturing an 80s vibe while remaining visually appealing and easy to read, even during chaotic gameplay. Many reviewers highlight the anime influences and the overall quality of the artwork, noting that it enhances the game's addictive nature and complements its mechanics. While some mention a lack of content, the visuals and artistic style are consistently described as solid and enjoyable.
- “Graphically and musically it reminds of great classics of the past like Tyrian; the pixel art is amazing, and even when there's tons of stuff on the screen, it's always easy to understand what enemies, bullets, bonuses, and helpful areas are.”
- “On the presentation front, Gunfield embraces a retro aesthetic that perfectly complements its gameplay.”
- “The visuals are really good, clearly readable and charming; weapons sound and feel satisfying to use.”
- “Graphics are fine, the art is very anime-style in a lot of ways; it mostly just wants an excuse to show off cute girls.”
- “Can a game for a few bucks compete with AAA $100 service games (with additional DLCs for hundreds of dollars) or Unreal Engine 5 graphic monsters?”
- “Although Gunlock has more variety and deeper game mechanics, Gunfield has much better graphics and effects, a real story, and novelties like branching paths and upgradable pilots.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The game's story is divided into sections, allowing players to unlock new paths and endings as they progress, though it is generally considered brief and somewhat simplistic. While the narrative is serviceable and features engaging elements like branching paths and cutscenes, many players feel it lacks depth and could benefit from additional lore. Overall, the story serves its purpose within the gameplay, but some players express a desire for a more developed plot and character backgrounds.
- “The story is broken into sections, so as you finish the game, it gives you an ending and unlocks a new path with more story.”
- “The story, and the art especially, are superb.”
- “Story progression is done in an interesting way.”
- “The mission structure as it is kind of limits it to fairly short sessions; the game can never go on super long. About the time you're reaching max upgrades, the game is over.”
- “I was through the 'story' (actually just four different paths/branches) after a little bit over three hours.”
- “I'd actually like to see more out of these characters and the plot in general; it's a bit sad we don't get additional lore.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
14%
29%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while many players enjoy the fun mechanics and variety of weapons, it tends to diminish once all unlocks are achieved. Some appreciate the branching paths and random modes that enhance replay value, but others find the experience limited after maxing out content. Despite these concerns, many still consider it a worthwhile experience for its price.
- “Short and sweet but very replayable.”
- “Almost all of the weapons are serviceable and the branching paths plus random mode give you replayability.”
- “The pixel art is timeless and excellent, the enemy variety and patterns are interesting, and there's plenty of replayability.”
- “It's fun and all, but the way the unlocks work, it kind of has replay value until you get everything unlocked, then it sort of loses the desire to keep playing after.”
- “Personally, I find this quite disappointing, as it severely limits the replayability.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally perceive the grinding aspect of the game as somewhat excessive, particularly in the early stages of progression, where it can feel tedious. However, some users note that grinding for achievements is not a significant focus.
- “First, some may find the early stages of progression a bit grindy.”
- “Quite grindy.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The game is highly optimized for quick loading times and fast-paced gameplay, making it ideal for short play sessions. This design caters well to players with limited time, such as those working from home.
- “What you get for your money is a well-executed and fast-paced gameplay loop, with short, snack-sized play sessions. It's optimized to the point where it loads quickly, making it perfect for people who work from home and want to play a little game whenever they have a 15-20 minute gap of time.”
- “The optimization in this game is impressive; it runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware, allowing a wider audience to enjoy the experience without sacrificing quality.”
- “I appreciate how the game is optimized for quick loading times and seamless transitions, which keeps the action flowing and enhances the overall enjoyment.”
- “The game is poorly optimized, leading to frequent frame drops and long loading times that ruin the experience.”
- “Despite its potential, the optimization issues make it nearly unplayable on lower-end systems.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of optimization; it feels like the game was rushed and not properly tested for performance.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users have reported stability issues, particularly noting glitches with the worm boss that cause it to lose its instance during certain animations. This suggests that there are significant bugs that need to be addressed for a smoother gameplay experience.
- “The worm boss glitches and loses its instance during one of the animations.”
- “I frequently experience crashes that disrupt my gameplay.”
- “The game often freezes, making it nearly impossible to progress.”