Gunlocked

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 678 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Gunlocked Game Cover
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Gunlocked is a single-player Role Playing game with phenomenal mechanics and sensational visuals. It's a unique twist on twin-stick shooters, with controlled movement and independent weapon targeting. The game features action-roguelite gameplay, rich 2D pixel art, multiple playable characters, upgrades, enemies, and bosses, all working together to provide a different experience in every playthrough.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 678 reviews
gameplay42 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions
  • Gunlocked offers a unique blend of Vampire Survivors-style roguelike mechanics with classic shmup gameplay, making it engaging and fun.
  • The game features a variety of weapons and upgrades that encourage experimentation and strategic positioning, enhancing replayability.
  • The retro pixel art and catchy soundtrack contribute to a charming aesthetic that many players find appealing.
  • Many players find the starting build options uninteresting and the initial difficulty level frustrating, which can deter engagement.
  • The game suffers from issues with screen readability, particularly in later stages where color palettes can make it hard to distinguish between projectiles and enemies.
  • Some weapons feel underwhelming or clunky, leading to a lack of satisfaction in combat and making it difficult to create effective builds.
  • gameplay132 mentions

    The gameplay of this title combines classic shoot-'em-up mechanics with roguelite elements, offering a unique experience that emphasizes movement, upgrade strategy, and character builds. Players enjoy the smooth and responsive controls, diverse ship upgrades, and the challenge of navigating randomly generated enemies, although some criticize the reliance on RNG and the lack of meaningful persistence between runs. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging gameplay loop and retro aesthetics, making it a fun and addictive experience, especially for fans of the genre.

    • “Gameplay is smooth and fun, the ship upgrades are fun and make you want to try different combinations.”
    • “Mixing shoot-em-up scrolling with survivor style upgrade mechanics delivers a refreshing take on both genres at once.”
    • “Classic scrolling shooter gameplay mixed with modern roguelite mechanics to upgrade your ship makes for a satisfyingly addictive game.”
    • “The bosses themselves are randomly chosen from a pool, but their mechanics never necessitate specific builds to pass them, so it's just another layer of honestly pretty shallow procedural generation.”
    • “Lack of damage means low kills, low kills mean low experience gain, low experience gain leads to a gameplay loop that heavily involves just waiting to die.”
    • “I love the idea of a vampire survivors-like shmup, but the fact that this entire game revolves around this mechanic where your weapons all aim with a mind of their own is just plain not fun.”
  • graphics74 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their well-executed pixel art style, which effectively captures a nostalgic 8-bit and 16-bit aesthetic while maintaining clarity amidst chaotic gameplay. Many reviewers appreciate the vibrant visuals and catchy chiptune music, noting that the art complements the game's themes and mechanics, although some express a desire for more variety in art styles. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's charm and appeal, making it a standout in the roguelike genre.

    • “The audio-visual aspect is also pretty solid, featuring unique and very well done pixel art graphics as well as catchy, upbeat chiptune music.”
    • “The visuals are crisp and clean, quite readable even with tons of craziness going on.”
    • “The graphics are on point and fall somewhere in between the 8-bit and 16-bit era, using very simple designs but with very flashy effects that give everything a modern sheen.”
    • “40 years old concept with 30 years old graphics.”
    • “Fun and punchy but I do wish there were options for the art style in the game.”
    • “The graphics herald back to a 16-bit era while the music and sound effects are a homage to the 8-bit NES.”
  • music70 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its catchy chiptune style and retro homage, reminiscent of classic NES games. However, a common critique is its repetitiveness, leading some players to seek alternative playlists while playing. Overall, while the soundtrack enhances the game's nostalgic feel, it may lack variety for extended play sessions.

    • “The audio-visual aspect is also pretty solid, featuring unique and very well done pixel art graphics as well as catchy, upbeat chiptune music.”
    • “The chiptune soundtrack, in particular, adds to the fun with its upbeat and catchy tunes.”
    • “Unique idea, great graphics, and the music reminds me of the NES Mega Man games in the best possible way.”
    • “The music is repetitive, but without the catchy loops that make late 80s games of similar composition burn themselves in your head.”
    • “The music is dry as hell though.”
    • “There is very little visual or musical stimulation which can prevent the feeling of monotony.”
  • story20 mentions

    The game lacks a traditional narrative, focusing instead on a well-crafted setting and gameplay mechanics. Players engage in missions against unique enemies and bosses, with variations in attack patterns, while unlocking new characters and gadgets through achievement-style challenges. Despite the absence of a story, the gameplay offers enough content to keep players engaged for extended periods.

    • “So far I've played 9 hours of this, and though I've finished the main missions and unlocked all the characters, I can still see plenty of trials and unlocks so that it will probably have my attention for a while longer.”
    • “Pick a mission; there are two available at the moment and both have unique enemies.”
    • “Completing various challenges leads to permanently unlocked gadgets you can choose for the next mission.”
    • “There's no story here, but the setting is still well crafted.”
    • “The bosses encountered in the mission will be the same for every run of that mission, with the only variation being their attack patterns and features with each encounter during the mission.”
    • “So far I've played 9 hours of this, and though I've finished the main missions and unlocked all the characters, I can still see plenty of trials and unlocks, so it will probably have my attention for a while longer.”
  • replayability18 mentions

    Overall, the game offers a solid replayability factor through its diverse weapons, upgrades, and the ability to experiment with different combinations, which keeps the gameplay engaging. While some players feel that runs can become repetitive over time, the inclusion of achievements, difficulty modifiers, and various unlockable content adds to the replay value, particularly for fans of scrolling shooters. However, a few reviewers noted that the limited number of levels and pilots may hinder long-term replayability.

    • “The weapons/utilities/augments system offers a lot of replayability and strongly encourages the player to learn and test all kinds of different combinations, which I found really engaging.”
    • “It's a fantastic little game with tons of replay value.”
    • “It doesn't take long for the player to create a satisfying barrage of lasers, explosives, and more against the enemies scrolling down the screen, and with several ships, pilots, and rule changes to unlock and choose from, the replayability is already very promising, and the game is still getting updated.”
    • “Last but not least: I don't like games whose only replay value lies in achieving higher high scores.”
    • “Though it's somehow worse in replayability.”
    • “Chasing achievements or adding difficulty modifiers (trial runs) adds some replayability value, but after a while most runs kind of start to feel the same despite the decent array of available weapons and upgrades the game provides.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game; while some find it tedious, others appreciate the satisfying nature of the grind, complemented by enjoyable RPG elements, music, and artwork.

    • “To start with, this game felt really tedious to play.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a playful nod to retro genres, blending nostalgic elements with modern design. While some find the humor to be light and amusing, particularly in the context of space-themed antics, it may not resonate deeply with all players. Overall, it offers a charming and whimsical take on familiar tropes.

    • “It's funny to see how old genres find their way back into the modern design space.”
    • “It's okay, funny spaceships, pew pew, etc.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, where it runs smoothly and is well-received. However, players have noted the presence of occasional glitches that detract from the experience, despite the game's appealing graphics and aesthetic.

    • “It runs great on deck, one of my favorites.”
    • “The game has some nice graphics and a pleasant aesthetic, but there are several ugly glitches that detract from the experience.”
    • “The game features appealing visuals, yet it suffers from frequent glitches that disrupt gameplay.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The optimization of the game is hindered by visual design choices that detract from the player's experience, despite the game running smoothly overall.

  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game's unique weapon design, highlighting how it distinguishes itself from typical genre tropes. This originality fosters a sense of appreciation and engagement, making the experience feel fresh and memorable compared to other games in the same category.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Gunlocked

Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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