Skip to main content

GUNS UP!

Any good they might have had are quickly swallowed up by a plethora of issues. The desperate or the gullible may find a glimmer of fun hidden somewhere in the pit.
GUNS UP! Game Cover
73%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
grinding, monetization
80% User Score Based on 3,333 reviews
Critic Score 48%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

PCPlaystation 5Playstation 4WindowsPlayStation
Buy NowGet on Steam
GUNS UP! Game Cover

About

GUNS UP! is a single player and multiplayer tactical real-time strategy game. It was developed by Valkyrie Entertainment, LLC and was released on February 5, 2018. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

GUNS UP! is a free-to-play side-scrolling strategy game that pits players against each other in a battle to destroy enemy bases to increase their own army’s strength. GUNS UP! combines the fun of enemy base invasion with tower–defense, for an experience like no other on the PS4 system.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
GUNS UP! screenshot
GUNS UP! screenshot
GUNS UP! screenshot
GUNS UP! screenshot
GUNS UP! screenshot
GUNS UP! screenshot
Skip User Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,333 reviews
gameplay49 positive mentions
grinding76 negative mentions
  • Unique mix of base building, real-time strategy and tower defense gameplay creating addicting and strategic battles.
  • Free-to-play nature allows enjoyment without mandatory spending, with various customization and upgrade options.
  • Cross-platform play (PC and PS4) supports active community, alliances, and ongoing events enhancing social interaction.
  • Matchmaking is unbalanced, often pairing players with significantly stronger opponents, leading to frustrating and unfair battles.
  • AI pathfinding and unit control are flawed, with troops often making illogical decisions, reducing strategic depth.
  • Heavy pay-to-win elements encourage spending real money for competitive advantage, creating a significant grind and barrier for free players.
  • gameplay
    135 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is a mix of base-building, strategy, and tower defense with comparisons to mobile games like Clash of Clans, featuring simple mechanics and a repetitive loop of attacking, defending, and upgrading. While generally fun and addictive with solid strategic elements, it suffers from monotony over time, pay-to-win dynamics, broken or buggy mechanics, and occasional server issues that affect the experience. Nonetheless, the game offers enjoyable progression, customization, and a charming art style that appeals to fans of casual strategy games.

    • “Its gameplay loop, with its wonderful base building and design, was something that really jammed with me.”
    • “The gameplay loop is simple: build a base, attack other bases, then use your winnings to further fortify your HQ and units.”
    • “Now it has the mechanics and pacing of a mobile game: you build a base made of defenses, you raid other players for resources to advance and to earn a higher spot on the leaderboards, you work with an alliance, you unlock more and more new and better types of troops to use, you upgrade said troops, you spend time trying to make the best defense, you progress by leveling up and upgrading, you have your hero units, with slightly more depth added to it, more ways and modes to play the game, not exactly having the type of troops you'd expect elsewhere for the most part, not bothering you over multiple types of resources, just one, offering the best customization options thus far that really isn't in any game of this genre/type, actually offering CPU raids against you and encourages them as well for rewards, and with the already familiar kind of gameplay so quite well refined but with twists such as the different playing field. It's a pretty neat game, rather fun, enjoyable so far, plenty of changes have been and are being made to accommodate the game for the PC, with a handful of activities and plenty of goals worked on by a potentially dependable team, mobile game or not, it's a good game if it brings fun and motivation to keep coming back for more.”
    • “Pay 2 win, repetitive gameplay, can't speed up vs bots, server issues.”
    • “The mechanics feel shallow compared to a “real” strategy game, there’s little control during battles, and fights mostly come down to whether your setup lucked out rather than strategy.”
    • “The biggest problems with this game are in its actual gameplay.”
  • graphics
    93 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features a charming, colorful cartoon-style art style that many users find appealing and well-crafted, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. While some note minor graphical glitches and low-fi elements reminiscent of older games, the visuals are generally praised as beautiful, vibrant, and fitting well with the game’s fun, strategic tone. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's unique and engaging atmosphere despite occasional performance issues.

    • “For a completely free game, this offers so much appealing content like strategy, base designing, and camaraderie: all drafted in a stunning and carefully crafted art style.”
    • “The art style is what drew my attention towards the game when I was browsing the free-to-play section: the way the soldiers are colored and modeled and the way they are animated is proof that much work has been put into the aesthetic side of the game.”
    • “The visuals are amazingly well done, with a charming and well-polished art style that complements the gameplay.”
    • “Only played it on my Steam Deck, there are a lot of minor graphical glitches.”
    • “Graphics are a bit low-fi too.”
    • “So all in all it's okay, but feels like I'm playing something made in the 90s for more reasons than just the graphics.”
  • grinding
    80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Grinding is a prominent aspect of the game, with many players finding it time-consuming and sometimes tedious, especially at higher levels where progression slows significantly. While some appreciate the rewarding feeling from persistent play without pay-to-win advantages, others feel the grind is excessive and may push players toward spending money to advance faster. Overall, grinding adds longevity and strategic depth but can become repetitive and challenging for casual players.

    • “It's a really good game and if they updated it, it would be one of the best games out there. The only problem it has is that it's very pay-to-win or really grindy. I have over 50 hours in this game and only unlocked three of the characters out of the many you can unlock with in-game currency, but it takes so long. I think they're very money hungry though after the mobile version was released. It's very sad to see such a good game with a lot of potential go.”
    • “If you are looking for a game to spend your time for a few hours, it is okay but from one point onwards it becomes time-consuming and a bit tedious, but this is the choice of every game player.”
    • “Can't recommend this game because while it's got some simple but well-designed gameplay and it's a lot of fun, you will lose all interest once the matchmaker pits you against enemies you have zero chance of winning without a) grinding more than your average Korean in an MMO and b) the paywall prevents you from using better units.”
  • story
    47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game lacks a traditional story or campaign, focusing instead on repetitive missions and base-building gameplay. While the missions can be engaging and challenging, many players find them frustratingly difficult or poorly balanced, with some requiring premium currency to skip. Overall, the absence of a narrative and the grind-heavy mission system are common points of criticism despite the game's fun mechanics.

    • “Guns Up definitely has a real heartwarming story; the plot really keeps you engaged. Would recommend if you enjoy some good banter.”
    • “The missions are good, fun, and unique in terms of rewards, though some missions are really difficult requiring gold to skip. Still, the missions add plenty of challenge and variety.”
    • “Great game, and if it had a story line, it would be even better. 10/10.”
    • “☑ No story.”
    • “But the next missions are very similar to the previous ones... it's just not fun.”
    • “Hard/frustrating/long term/impossible daily missions, like finishing a battle with five surviving flamers, is not only impossible but utterly stupid. There's no real way of achieving this, even if you go out of your way, which you shouldn't normally have to do. This leads to wasting hard-earned gold on skipping these mission, costing 20 to 50 gold, which is madness.”
  • monetization
    40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Monetization in the game heavily relies on microtransactions, often perceived as aggressive and intrusive, with many players labeling it a cash grab or "pay-to-win" scheme. While purchases can speed progression and unlock content, grinding is possible without spending, though balance and difficulty often push towards spending. Some reviews note it as less invasive than similar games, but overall the monetization detracts from the experience for those sensitive to in-app purchases.

    • “This game is like Clash of Clans except without the microtransactions and more base building and strategy.”
    • “Guns Up has some of the mechanics of Clash of Clans and Clash Royale, but the microtransactions are very much optional and it's very easy to stroll through the game without paying a dime.”
    • “+ Doesn't force you to buy gold (microtransactions are still available but you can get gold from your daily free option :D).”
    • “This game subconsciously throws microtransactions in your face, whether it's demonstrating a lower cost on a card pack for a period of time or showing a pop-up message where to gain a specific unit, you either need to pay with gold or buy card packs using that gold.”
    • “The only way to get XP is by conquering other bases (as far as I know) and the game's monetization is egregious as hell.”
    • “This is deliberate, as the game shoves 'buy more assault power and more elite units in the cash shop now!' advertisements down your throat left and right.”
  • stability
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game suffers from frequent bugs and glitches, including graphical issues, freezing, crashes, and problematic AI behaviors, which often hinder gameplay and cause frustration. Many users find the stability poor enough to make the game nearly unplayable at times, though some still enjoy the core gameplay despite these technical flaws.

    • “Fun, runs great”
    • “Game is unplayable, it freezes every 30 seconds.”
    • “The more I play the more frequent bugs occur, to the point where every three minutes there is a freeze forcing me to restart the game and lose progress.”
    • “Just a little side note: I can't join factions, the game freezes or gets stuck on a perpetual loading screen.”
  • humor
    27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is often described as playful and lighthearted, with amusing ragdoll physics, silly AI behavior, and funny animations that add charm to the cartoonish military theme. Players appreciate its simple, quirky comedic style, though some find the humor less enjoyable due to pay-to-win mechanics. Overall, it provides a fun, casual experience with a mix of subtle and slapstick humor.

    • “Great game, great art style, good gameplay, funny ragdolls' physics. Really sad it'll be gone soon.”
    • “The AI acts really stupid; it's just hilarious sometimes how dumb they are, but we can't expect much from a free-to-play title, just like many others in that regard.”
    • “The animations are awesome and sometimes hilarious.”
  • music
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally praised as great, immersive, and epic, complementing the animations and overall style well. However, some find the soundtrack limited in variety and occasionally tiresome, though it suits background play during extended gameplay. Overall, the sound design and music enhance the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.

    • “Soundtrack was also amazing.”
    • “Music and sound effects are great.”
    • “A special mention goes to the music, very immersive and epic!”
    • “The sound is average for a game like this and the music is only okay.”
    • “Decent music.”
    • “Yes, this can get tiresome early on, but if you are working on other projects, listening to music, watching YouTube, etc., it makes it easier to slowly build up and upgrade your sniper towers, machine gun bunkers and walls.”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game suffers from poor optimization, causing performance drops, crashes, and long loading times despite its simple mechanics and low computing demands. While not a bad game overall, users feel resources were misallocated and expect improvements as it is still in early access.

    • “Of course, the game is still in early access, so the negatives relating to crashes and loading screens are of course to be fixed and optimized.”
    • “The game mechanics are so simple, there is no hard computing, no clever AI, but still, somehow they made it more demanding than some of the best games out there. In my opinion, they wasted resources on wrong aspects and possibly have really bad optimization.”
    • “The worst optimization; I'm sure the developer team doesn't know anything about optimization.”
    • “Buggier than cyberpunk, clan wars unoptimized, no fishing; the list goes on. I put my soul into progress and had a very bad time!”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers solid strategic gameplay but suffers from limited replayability and persistent bugs. Additionally, frequent cash-based content updates have frustrated some players, reducing long-term engagement.

    • “Needs more replayability though.”
    • “This is a very good strategic game; however, in terms of replayability, it's a little weak, but other than that, the game is great.”
    • “The game would be more playable if there weren't many bugs which are rarely fixed, as developers only add new things to pay with cash, which makes some players stop playing this game.”
  • atmosphere
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere is light and fun, complementing the game's overall playful style.

  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users find the game emotionally engaging with a heartwarming story and an engaging plot, making it a recommended experience for those who enjoy lighthearted and entertaining moments.

    • “Guns Up is definitely a heartwarming story; the plot really keeps you engaged. I would recommend it if you enjoy good banter.”
Skip Critic Reviews

48%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
Skip Game Offers

Buy GUNS UP!

19h Median play time
28h Average play time
9-43h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 11 analyzed playthroughs
Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like GUNS UP!

Games Like GUNS UP!

GUNS UP! Mobile War Strategy ImageGUNS UP! Mobile War Strategy ImageGUNS UP! Mobile War Strategy Image
78%10kreviews

GUNS UP! Mobile War Strategy

2018Strategy
TabletAndroidPhone+3
Games like GUNS UP! Mobile War Strategy
Battle Legion: Mass Troops RPG ImageBattle Legion: Mass Troops RPG ImageBattle Legion: Mass Troops RPG Image
83%7.9kreviews

Battle Legion: Mass Troops RPG

Strategy
TabletAndroidPhone+1
Games like Battle Legion: Mass Troops RPG
Dead Ahead: Zombie Warfare ImageDead Ahead: Zombie Warfare ImageDead Ahead: Zombie Warfare Image
77%10kreviews

Dead Ahead: Zombie Warfare

2017Survival Shooter
TabletAndroidPhone+8
Games like Dead Ahead: Zombie Warfare
Warhammer Combat Cards - 40K ImageWarhammer Combat Cards - 40K ImageWarhammer Combat Cards - 40K Image
60%1.2kreviews

Warhammer Combat Cards - 40K

Action
TabletAndroidPhone+1
Games like Warhammer Combat Cards - 40K
Island War ImageIsland War ImageIsland War Image
76%10kreviews

Island War

Strategy
TabletAndroidPhone+1
Games like Island War
More games like GUNS UP!
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

GUNS UP! is a tactical real-time strategy game.

GUNS UP! is available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 28 hours playing GUNS UP!.

GUNS UP! was released on February 5, 2018.

GUNS UP! was developed by Valkyrie Entertainment, LLC.

GUNS UP! has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

GUNS UP! is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include GUNS UP! Mobile War Strategy, Battle Legion: Mass Troops RPG, Dead Ahead: Zombie Warfare, Warhammer Combat Cards - 40K, Island War and others.