Jydge

JYDGE is an enjoyable twin-stick shooter that has a fun and destructive core mechanic and a lot of replay value. If you’re a huge fan of twin-stick shooters it’d be a crime not to give this one a try and judge it for yourself.  

75%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

89% User Score Based on 974 reviews

Critic Score 61%Based on 24 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $9.98

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About

"Jydge" is a top-down shooter game with both single-player and local co-op modes for up to 2 players. Customize your cybernetic Jydge and build your own playstyle with various augmentations and Gavel rifle modifications. With a humor-infused plot, masterful mechanics, and an awesome soundtrack, "Jydge" offers high replayability through its numerous game-altering combinations, making it a must-play for shooter fans.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 551 reviews

story42 positive mentions

grinding34 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay with a variety of upgrades and loadouts that allow for different playstyles.
Fun and addictive, with a mix of shooting and strategic planning required to complete missions.
Great for replayability, as players can tackle levels multiple times with different objectives and approaches.

Progression is gated by a medal system that requires players to replay levels multiple times, which can become tedious.
Some missions can be frustrating, particularly those that require stealth or speed runs.
The AI can be inconsistent, leading to moments where enemies are either too blind or too aware, affecting gameplay balance.

story
324 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
84%
3%
The game's story is minimal and primarily serves as a backdrop for the gameplay, with a basic plot revolving around eradicating crime in the town of Edenbyrg. Players unlock missions and progress through the game by earning medals from various challenges, which can lead to repetitive gameplay as they are required to replay missions multiple times to advance. While the narrative lacks depth, the customization options and diverse mission objectives provide a degree of engagement, though many players express a desire for a more substantial story experience.
- “The story is minimal with some voiceover between chapters (5 chapters in total).”
- “It takes a minimalistic approach to story to give players the simple charm of the futuristic law enforcer that reminds of good ‘80s and ‘90s movies of the sort.”
- “My only complaint is that there is no real story to speak of.”
- “The overarching plot basically boils down to 'get rid of this one particular gang' and the story mostly being told as a radio voiceover played with a spinning graphic image.”
- “If you're looking for a game with story, this isn't it; if you're looking for a game that has a lot of customization and potential and completely wastes it, you got that game.”
gameplay
157 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
57%
8%
The gameplay is characterized by tight mechanics, extensive customization options, and a rewarding progression system that encourages experimentation with different playstyles. While the game features addictive twin-stick shooter elements and a variety of objectives, some players find the early grind and level gating frustrating. Overall, the combination of smooth controls, engaging challenges, and replayability makes for a compelling experience, despite occasional criticisms regarding pacing and repetitive elements.
- “The gameplay is tight, the modifications are fun, and the loadouts are a really great feature as you feel like you are polishing the different experiences you want.”
- “Fantastic gameplay that's been refined over time, good map design, and a relatively large amount of variety given the type of title and scope.”
- “The systems and mechanics work extremely well together, the core gameplay loop is motivating and exciting, and the technical execution is spotless.”
- “I was a little bit disappointed by the repetitive and grinding gameplay.”
- “As I saw the load screen and replayed the unskippable opening cutscene for mission #3 for the 5th time as I tried to finish the level in 20 seconds, I knew I didn't want to grind through another 5-10 hours of artificially lengthened gameplay.”
- “Main reason I regret buying this - after act 1 (5 or so missions) the game suddenly gates you behind that, in my opinion, stupid mechanic where you need to collect a certain amount of medals before you can continue.”
music
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
63%
5%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its variety and energetic electronic tracks that enhance the gameplay experience, while others criticize it as generic or repetitive. Players appreciate the ability to manually select songs during missions, but some feel that certain tracks do not fit the game's atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a highlight for many, contributing positively to the game's aesthetic despite some inconsistencies.
- “The music was a big (positive) surprise for me - at first it seemed 'chiptune-y' but after playing for a while it turns out that it somehow meshes really well with the visuals and brings out a cyberpunk-action-pastiche feeling to the forefront.”
- “Jydge also has a terrific, expansive random soundtrack ranging from a lot of synthwave to industrial buttrock and punk.”
- “The soundtrack contains a wide variety of electronic music, from chiptunesy or retrosynthy stuff to more jazz or loungeroom-style atmospheric tracks.”
- “The music is generic stock music compared to the heart pumping murdercarnage of Brut, Mavs, and Moon that games like Hotline and Brigador have.”
- “Jydge's music consists of the dull baseline of a generic mid-00s rap song redubbed 7 different ways to make a soundtrack.”
- “The background music largely doesn't fit the atmosphere the game tries to convey and is at some points laughably bad.”
graphics
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The graphics of the game are generally described as simple and serviceable, with a retro-futuristic aesthetic that includes steampunk and 80's neon influences. While some players appreciate the compact design that allows for smooth performance on various systems, others find the visuals lacking compared to modern standards. Overall, the graphics support the gameplay effectively, though they may not be groundbreaking or visually stunning.
- “It's a really great game, simple graphics, but runs like butter.”
- “The graphics are simple enough, high textured and colorful, has a bit of a steampunk/80's neon effect going on which is aesthetically pleasing.”
- “Overall I enjoy the graphics very much and the lights and shadows look so cool.”
- “Graphics, sfx and music are terrible.”
- “I myself like pretty graphics, and this really doesn't feel like a $15 game.”
- “Don't get me wrong, it's nostalgic to see more top-down shooters, but I'm expecting better visuals for 2017.”
replayability
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
45%
8%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, driven by a variety of challenges, unlockable medals, and different loadouts that enhance each playthrough. While the 18 levels may seem limited, the game's design encourages players to revisit missions to improve their performance and explore upgrades. However, some players noted that the experience can become grindy after extended playtime.
- “Nice level-up system through gear and guns, fun collectibles, and high replayability from more challenges being unlocked as you progress through the game.”
- “I think what really got to me is the replay value with challenges and the huge number of upgrades.”
- “The levels are random, so the replay value is there, but after the four-hour mark, I found it quite grindy to unlock the next level.”
- “There are 18 levels in total which may seem like a small amount, but the replayability in this game comes from challenges.”
- “It does have replayability in the sense there are medals for each mission, and because it's not procedurally generated, you can improve on your attempt each time or just plan to focus on one of the harder medals and get the rest later.”
grinding
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive and tedious, with many expressing frustration over the high upgrade costs and steep medal requirements for progression. While some enjoy replaying levels for fun, the overall sentiment leans towards grinding being a major detractor from the experience, making it feel repetitive and unnecessarily prolonged. Earning cash is relatively easy, but the need to grind for medals and complete objectives can lead to a frustrating gameplay loop.
- “The levels are random, so the replay value is there, but after the four-hour mark, I found it quite grindy to unlock the next level.”
- “Overall just super, super grindy, but not in a good or even tolerable way.”
- “My issue with the game is that progression is tied in with earning 'medals' for completing specific objectives per level, and the medal curve becomes so steep to progress it becomes tedious to keep playing trying to get every little thing done the way the game wants it done.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, featuring clever and whimsical elements such as a character wielding a gavel-gun and absurd scenarios like an invisible sniper laughing like a leprechaun. Reviewers note that the humor is both simple and effective, with a mix of overt and subtle comedic moments that enhance the overall experience.
- “I like this game and it reminds me of Judge Dredd, but the main character carries around a gun with a gavel on the end that you use to melee, which I think is actually pretty funny.”
- “I once solved a level as a shrunken, fast-running, invisible sniper that can shoot through walls and blanket entire rooms with frag grenades before disappearing into the night laughing like a leprechaun.”
- “+there is some pretty great subtle humor.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game's atmosphere is undermined by a background soundtrack that often fails to align with the intended mood, with some tracks being described as laughably poor. While the soundtrack features a diverse range of electronic music styles, including chiptunes and jazz, the overall execution detracts from the immersive experience.
- “The soundtrack contains a wide variety of electronic music, from chiptune or retrosynth styles to more jazz or lounge-style atmospheric tracks.”
- “The background music largely doesn't fit the atmosphere the game tries to convey and is at some points laughably bad.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players have noted that the game performs better on Steam compared to the Switch, particularly during intense moments where the Switch experiences slowdowns. This performance difference has led some users to purchase the game on multiple platforms to enjoy a smoother experience.
- “I played it on Switch and then bought it again on Steam to enjoy it with better performance; it slows down a bit on the Switch when there's a lot going on.”
- “You'll come back mission after mission to try and beat your time and performance.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its stability, with users reporting no bugs and a solid performance throughout. The option to modify camera angles enhances the gameplay experience without compromising stability.
- “Nothing buggy - this is a solid top-down shooter title. You even get a modification to keep the third-person angle and go further back with the camera to fully top down.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with users expressing frustration and disappointment, suggesting that it fails to resonate or connect with players on a meaningful level.