Jamestown

About

"Jamestown: Legend Of The Lost Colony" is a local co-op top-down shooter for 1-4 players, set on 17th-century British Colonial Mars. It offers a unique cooperative gameplay system, where players can resurrect their teammates, and features intense action, deep mechanics, handcrafted pixels, and a masterful soundtrack. Blast your way through historic Mars in this exhilarating and hilarious experience. A remastered version, Jamestown+, is also available with additional content and updated visuals.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,845 reviews

music323 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

Beautiful pixel art and vibrant graphics that enhance the gameplay experience.
Engaging soundtrack that complements the game's atmosphere and keeps players immersed.
Challenging yet accessible gameplay with multiple difficulty levels and a variety of ships to choose from.

Short campaign with only five levels, which may leave players wanting more content.
Mandatory replay of earlier levels on higher difficulties to unlock later stages, which can be frustrating.
Lack of online multiplayer, limiting the co-op experience to local play only.

music
427 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
76%
23%
1%
The music in this game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its epic orchestration and catchy melodies that enhance the gameplay experience. The soundtrack is described as beautifully crafted, fitting seamlessly with the game's retro aesthetic and intense action, often evoking nostalgia for classic titles. While some critiques mention a lack of variety in tracks across levels, the overall consensus is that the music is a standout feature, elevating the game's appeal significantly.
- “The music is pure genius.”
- “The soundtrack alone is worth the full price of the game.”
- “The music helps too; every track is listen-worthy outside the game and each song gets the heart racing-- a word to describe the music is 'epic'.”
- “The rudimentary gameplay is not interesting or challenging enough to sustain prolonged interest, the enemy types are forgettable, the stages are bland and mono-paced, and the same song plays for every level, minus the last--an unforgivable sin, to my mind, in this genre where ZUN and so many others have set such a precedent and high standard of quality for soundtrack composition.”
- “The music and the setting are unique and carefully done, but too carefully done I think-- I'd rather play a game where the game makers' time was all spent on rock-solid mechanics at the expense of the story than the opposite, and this is the opposite in my own opinion.”
- “You'll need to buy the DLC if you want to use the only fast ship, the final level is amazing and the rest of the game isn't terribly interesting, it has some great bullet patterns, the spritework is very pretty and the soundtrack is absolute crap, just a generic faux epic snorefest that wants to be Radiant Silvergun but is more like Epic Meal Time.”
story
334 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
63%
1%
The story of "Jamestown" is a quirky and absurd narrative set in an alternate 17th-century where British colonists battle Spanish forces and Martians on Mars. While the plot is often described as simplistic and somewhat irrelevant to the gameplay, it adds a unique charm and humor to the experience, making it engaging for players who appreciate its eccentricity. Overall, the story serves as a lighthearted backdrop to the game's solid bullet-hell mechanics, with many players enjoying the combination of its whimsical narrative and vibrant visuals.
- “A fantastic shmup with an amazing storyline; easily the best storyline ever in a game that needs no story at all.”
- “The story is a neat throwback to the days of crazy, out there stories, and it's great fun with friends if you can get everything set up to allow them to play, being a local co-op game rather than an online one.”
- “The story is unique and interesting, crammed full of proper historical references stuffed into the alternate what-if timeline of 17th century colonial Mars.”
- “The story is completely absurd, and it's sorry it's not sorry, you can purchase an alternate script that's even more childish and might give you a little smirk.”
- “The plot leaves a lot to be desired as does the majority of the gameplay really...”
- “The story is short, but the message it carries across is touching.”
graphics
272 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
41%
1%
The graphics of the game have received a mixed response from users, with many praising the charming pixel art and retro aesthetic that evoke nostalgia for classic arcade shooters. However, some players have reported frequent graphical glitches, particularly on certain graphics cards, which detracted from their overall experience. Overall, while the visuals are often described as beautiful and well-crafted, technical issues have impacted some players' enjoyment.
- “The graphics are fantastic, excellent vibrant pixel art crawling with details and wonderful animations.”
- “The graphics are charming, full of beautiful depth and vibrant color.”
- “A fantastic shooter with great artwork and pixel graphics, an overall satisfying package.”
- “The graphics look old.”
- “It's got random graphic glitches and the entire game has slowed down; it's like you are playing in a bullet time mode.”
- “Constant graphics artifacts and screen flashing, both in-game and on the menu, make this game impossible to enjoy.”
gameplay
265 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
The gameplay of Jamestown is characterized by its engaging bullet hell mechanics, tight controls, and a unique "vaunt" system that adds depth and strategy to the experience. Players can choose from various ships, each with distinct abilities, and the game is designed to shine in cooperative play, enhancing the overall enjoyment. While some find the gameplay straightforward and accessible, others appreciate its challenge and replayability, making it a solid choice for both newcomers and veterans of the genre.
- “The gameplay is tight and well made, with four different ships to choose from (three that have to be unlocked through playing the game) with very different play styles.”
- “The solid gameplay combined with an amazing setting provides a worthwhile experience with tons of depth and replayability.”
- “Awesome bullet hell with tight/precise gameplay, brilliant art and a great soundtrack... would highly recommend to anyone who likes the genre!”
- “The mechanic of the immediate insta-death on any damage is needlessly stressful.”
- “Like most every bullet hell shoot 'em up ever made, it's dull as a brick to play, exchanging the creativity of gameplay mechanics, level design, and power-ups for an emphasis on scoring, which let's be honest, who cares about outside of an arcade cabinet?”
- “At the end of the day, Jamestown feels like an experience not designed around itself--the fluff is what makes the gameplay, but the fluff is stupid (no, it's /really/ stupid), and I don't like it and you can't make me like it, and therefore the game doesn't hold much weight by itself.”
replayability
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
50%
3%
The game boasts high replayability despite having only five short levels, thanks to multiple difficulty settings, a variety of ships, and numerous challenge modes. Players appreciate the engaging mechanics, local co-op options, and unlockable content that encourage repeated playthroughs. Overall, the combination of addictive gameplay and diverse challenges makes it a title worth revisiting.
- “The game has 5 levels, with 5 difficulties, 4 ships, and a bunch of challenge levels to complete, making replayability high.”
- “The solid gameplay combined with an amazing setting provides a worthwhile experience with tons of depth and replayability.”
- “While the main campaign only consists of 5 relatively short levels, the game has great replay value because of the various difficulty settings.”
- “The game is just way too short with not much replay value.”
- “Sadly, the game has a decent amount of replayability thanks to the extra ships, difficulties, and bonus missions.”
- “If you're looking for weak points, the only things that come to mind are the extra ships DLC and the inherent replayability that's associated with fixed levels and how high the skill barrier is for you.”
humor
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its over-the-top and zany elements, including a hilarious storyline and quirky imagery, such as cowboys in spaceships. Players enjoy the comedic aspects of the game, which enhance the intense gameplay experience, making it both entertaining and engaging, especially in local co-op settings. Overall, the combination of a funny premise, witty dialogue, and amusing cutscenes contributes to a memorable and enjoyable gaming experience.
- “The 'Jamestown' setup is pretty funny and over the top, comes with a good pixel-based graphic style.”
- “Xd it's a bullet hell game with hilarious imagery like cowboys in spaceships and all kinds of other zany things in cutscenes.”
- “In short, Jamestown is one explosive, manic, and hilarious game.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its excellent art, music, and inventive storytelling, creating a unique blend of alternate history and steampunk elements. Reviewers appreciate how the soundtrack enhances the overall experience, evoking a sense of adventure reminiscent of classic titles. The combination of graphics and sound effectively immerses players in a captivating world filled with pirates and colonial themes.
- “The game's soundtrack complements the game's excellent presentation and really hits home the atmosphere the game tries to get across.”
- “The music is well picked and along with the graphics provide the right atmosphere for this game.”
- “The art style, poetry of the storytelling, and particularly the music, give this game an atmosphere that's akin to Wind Waker (think pirates, terrifying sea creatures, and a general buccaneering vibe).”
- “The art and music are good, and the alternate history/attempt at a story is a nice change for the genre, but I'd rather just play Steel Empire on my Mega Drive instead for a similar atmosphere and way better gameplay.”
- “A parallel universe of the 1600s, because of that you smell steampunk atmosphere.”
- “Plus the whole colonial steampunk on Mars atmosphere is kinda rad.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marred by frequent and intense graphical glitches that significantly detract from the overall experience, leading some players to feel frustrated and unable to continue. While some users noted that these issues may be related to specific hardware, the consensus is that the game is currently in a state that is not recommended for play due to these persistent problems.
- “It's also got intense and frequent graphical glitches that are so off-putting I don't want to play anymore.”
- “I can't recommend the game in the state it is in. The trailer you see on Steam is how the game used to be, but now the game has random graphic glitches and the entire game has slowed down; it's like you are playing in a bullet time mode.”
- “I had some odd graphical glitches on both the title screen and in-game, where textures would start flickering.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight a mixed emotional impact, with some praising the touching story and beautiful art, while others criticize the soundtrack as lacking emotional depth and not fitting the gameplay experience. Overall, the game's narrative resonates positively, but the musical accompaniment receives divided opinions.
- “The story itself is short, but the message it carries across is touching.”
- “Beautiful art, heartwarming and exciting soundtrack as well as tight controls.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting the lack of options to purchase extra lives, which can lead to early abandonment of the game. While it offers a frantic multiplayer experience, the RPG mechanics shift the focus from personal skill improvement to character grinding, altering the motivation behind replaying stages.
- “With no way to 'buy' extra lives in the in-game marketplace, which would allow you to get to the end of the game after grinding, this title is being deleted after a few hours.”
- “The whole RPG mechanic kind of threw a wrench in the idea of improving yourself to overcome the challenges, and changes the psychology of repeating a stage to improve yourself to grinding a stage to improve the character.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
300%
Reviews indicate a strong resistance to the prevalence of microtransactions and loot boxes, with players expressing a desire to combat the pay-to-win model that undermines fair competition in gaming.
- “Together, we shall weather the storm of microtransactions and loot boxes, standing tall against the tide of pay-to-win villains like noble knights in a digital crusade.”
- “The game is riddled with microtransactions that feel exploitative, making it hard to enjoy without spending extra money.”
- “Loot boxes are everywhere, and it feels like the game is designed to push players towards spending more rather than rewarding skill.”
- “The pay-to-win mechanics ruin the balance of the game, leaving free-to-play players at a significant disadvantage.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers note that the game's optimization is hindered by the lack of continuity between levels, as each presents a unique challenge without any performance carryover, which can disrupt the overall experience.
- “The other aspect that detracts for me is that each level is its own unique challenge and that your performance in one does not carry over to the next.”

Buy Jamestown

5h Median play time

5h Average play time

5-5h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

88%955reviews

Assault Android Cactus

2015

Arcade Shooter

+12

94%1.4kreviews

Crimzon Clover WORLD IGNITION

2014

Arcade Shooter

86%1.3kreviews

Nex Machina

2017

Arcade Shooter

90%1.9kreviews

Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions Evolved

2014

Arcade Shooter

+13

88%708reviews

Sky Force Anniversary

2015

Casual Shooter

+16

94%459reviews

DRAINUS

2022

Action

99%298reviews

Bullet Heaven 2

2015

Shooter

88%363reviews

Steredenn

2017

Casual Shooter

+12

83%397reviews

Syder Arcade

2013

Arcade Shooter

91%732reviews

Mushihimesama

2015

Arcade Shooter

Jamestown

Platforms

About

Buy Jamestown

Jamestown Steam Key GLOBAL

Jamestown

Videos

Games Like Jamestown

Assault Android Cactus

Crimzon Clover WORLD IGNITION

Nex Machina

Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions Evolved

Sky Force Anniversary

DRAINUS

Bullet Heaven 2

Steredenn

Syder Arcade

Mushihimesama