Lil Guardsman

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,049 reviews
  • story
  • humor
  • gameplay
Lil Guardsman Game Cover
Witty banter, evocative storytelling, whimsical art, and spot-on voice acting makes Lil’ Guardsman a game not to be missed. Is it too soon to give it my Game of the Year?
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"Lil' Guardsman is a single-player, comedy RPG with a spectacular gameplay and ingenious soundtrack. As an unlikely 12-year-old hero, you must decide the fate of over 100 unique characters in this deduction adventure, using your powers of interrogation and trusty tools. Your choices in questioning and admitting characters will affect the kingdom's fate, leading to different outcomes in a sprawling, fantastical city."

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,049 reviews
story170 positive mentions
grinding22 negative mentions
  • Charming art style and excellent voice acting that brings the characters to life.
  • Clever writing with a humorous tone, filled with witty dialogue and pop culture references.
  • Engaging gameplay that combines decision-making with a unique time travel mechanic, allowing for multiple endings.
  • Frequent crashes and technical issues that disrupt gameplay and progress.
  • Some choices feel inconsequential, leading to a lack of meaningful impact on the overall story.
  • Pacing issues with long dialogue sequences that can become tedious, especially during replay attempts.
  • story362 mentions

    The game's story is a standout feature, offering a rich narrative filled with quirky characters and branching paths that respond to player choices, enhancing replayability. While many players appreciate the humor and emotional depth, some critique the linearity and predictability of certain plot elements. Overall, the engaging storytelling, combined with excellent voice acting and a charming art style, makes it a compelling experience for fans of narrative-driven games.

    • “The game itself is great, a neat little story with branching scenarios based on the decisions you make that is worth replaying just to see how the quirky characters react.”
    • “I thought the story was going to be just silly, but there were parts of it that made me very emotional, excited, and nervous.”
    • “Loved loved loved this game, the story was very compelling and the voices were amazing, I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good story game.”
    • “The plot tries extremely hard to contrive the situations that the developers apparently wanted in the story, to such a degree that it's borderline frustrating to rationalize.”
    • “As for the story and writing in general, it seems like the creators are too myopic to see past their own reflections, resulting in an incredibly shallow, naive, and binary experience lacking any nuance or insight.”
    • “Meanwhile, the overarching plot in its opening is an inane jumble of barely justified happenstances that exclusively exist to set up the very specific story that the developers are trying to tell.”
  • humor316 mentions

    The humor in "Lil Guardsman" is widely praised for its cleverness and wit, often drawing comparisons to beloved titles like "Papers, Please" and "Monkey Island." Players appreciate the game's mix of lighthearted and dark humor, with many finding the dialogue and character interactions consistently funny and engaging. However, some critiques mention that the humor can be hit or miss, with certain jokes feeling forced or overly verbose, but overall, the game is celebrated for its charming and entertaining writing.

    • “The humor is witty, making it a great game for anyone who enjoys an entertaining story with wonderfully exaggerated characters.”
    • “Some of the sharpest, wittiest humor writing in a game I've seen in years -- it proudly declares itself part of the lineage of Monkey Island and Papers, Please, and lives up to that promise.”
    • “The writing and the humor of the game is where it really shines, though---the whole thing is very Discworld-flavored and is absolutely brimming with references to and parodies of other media.”
  • gameplay199 mentions

    The gameplay of "Lil' Guardsman" is a blend of simple mechanics reminiscent of "Papers, Please" and classic point-and-click adventures, featuring deduction tasks and a time-rewind mechanic that allows players to correct mistakes. While many players appreciate the charming characters, engaging story, and humor, some criticize the pacing and linearity of the experience, feeling that it can become tedious and overly guided. Overall, the game offers a fun and immersive experience, though opinions vary on its depth and replayability.

    • “The gameplay is straightforward while still offering plenty of room for exploration.”
    • “At its best, the gameplay allowed for some interesting deduction work leading to creative outcomes.”
    • “It's humor stays on point for most, if not all, of the game, the characters are loveable, and the gameplay itself encourages exploration in a very enjoyable way.”
    • “Papers, please on steroids sounds great, but when the game holds your hands so much and animations take forever to do anything, you'll fall asleep before any real gameplay.”
    • “All things considered and even when taking these things into account, however, especially some of the scenes in between gameplay felt way too long and I sometimes found myself quite frustrated and just wanting to start the next shift.”
    • “It has a railroaded story, intentionally tedious gameplay, and is bloated with unneeded side-mechanics.”
  • graphics128 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and colorful art style, which effectively complements the humorous and engaging narrative. Many reviewers highlight the superb voice acting and detailed character designs, noting that the visuals enhance the overall experience. While some players experienced technical issues, the general consensus is that the graphics are a strong point, contributing to the game's appeal and accessibility.

    • “I absolutely adored the art style, fully-voiced cast, and writing.”
    • “The art style is beautiful.”
    • “First of all, the graphics are excellent - the art and designs are amazing with lots of easter eggs, the writing is witty and very self-aware of the world and the game.”
    • “The art style, the music, the entire package just didn’t mesh for me.”
    • “Don't let the charming art style fool you, this game has a surprising amount of depth, where it touches now and again on deeper subject matter.”
    • “The art style looks like something straight out of a cartoon, and all the characters are fully voice acted.”
  • music53 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its charm, fitting each scene beautifully, and enhancing the overall experience. Many players highlighted the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as fun, relaxing, and well-suited to the game's themes, with some even wishing they could experience it anew. While a few reviews noted that the music didn't resonate with them as much, the general consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's appeal.

    • “The music is charming and fits each scene.”
    • “Great music, a fun storyline, and characters you genuinely care about (or despise).”
    • “I loved the music and it really suited the medieval setting.”
    • “The art style, the music, the entire package just didn’t mesh for me.”
    • “Music: 7.8/10 I didn't like it too much, but it is well done.”
    • “Some Disney-esque designs and songs from time to time.”
  • replayability28 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it offers enjoyable experiences and multiple endings that encourage revisiting, many players note that the choices made do not significantly alter the main story, limiting long-term replay value. Some players appreciate the fun and potential for achievement hunting, while others feel the game could benefit from more streamlined options for exploring different paths. Overall, it provides a decent amount of replayability, particularly for those who enjoy exploring alternate outcomes and completing the game fully.

    • “Every choice you make matters and puts you on a different path, so it's totally replayable and absolutely worth all the money!”
    • “There's multiple endings as well, so there is replay value.”
    • “Its gameplay is enriched with decision-making, gadgets, and a time-control feature, offering replayability and a diverse character cast set in a visually stunning world, making it a memorable experience.”
    • “There is not a lot of replayability to it, outside of achievement hunting.”
    • “It’s a fun game, but it doesn’t really have a lot of replay value in the end; your choices don’t really affect much of the main story, but it’s still a fun story, just a bit too short.”
    • “This game doesn't seem to have a timeline branching system like 'Papers, Please', which makes searching out all the different choices less convenient, but said choices, alternate dialogue, etc. do certainly exist for solid replay value.”
  • emotional24 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt story, particularly the touching bond between Lil and her dad, which evokes a range of feelings from excitement to nostalgia. Players appreciate the blend of comedy and intensity, with unexpected plot twists that enhance the emotional experience, making it feel like an immersive, animated adventure. Overall, the game successfully combines humor and heartfelt moments, leaving a lasting emotional impact on players.

    • “Story: by far the best thing in the game is its story, with its emotional core being the bond Lil shares with her dad.”
    • “Full of unexpected plot twists and heartwarming moments ❤️”
    • “It's entertaining, sometimes touching, and even shocked me at specific points because of the immediate results of my decisions.”
  • grinding22 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, with repetitive tasks, unnecessary dialogue, and a lack of engaging mechanics contributing to a frustrating experience. The trial-and-error gameplay, combined with a railroaded story and navigation challenges, further detracts from the enjoyment, leading many to feel bored and eager to uninstall the game. Overall, the grind feels more like a chore than a fun adventure, diminishing the game's potential.

    • “What should be a fun adventure felt so tedious that I can't wait to finish writing this review so I can uninstall the game.”
    • “It has a railroaded story, intentionally tedious gameplay, and is bloated with unneeded side mechanics.”
    • “Otherwise, the mechanical system isn't deep enough to be particularly interesting on its own, and encourages trial and error gameplay that looks more tedious than anything.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its depth and variety, with players appreciating the engaging plot and the multitude of choices that enhance the experience. The character designs and animations are highlighted as excellent, contributing to the overall enjoyment, while the voice acting adds to the humor and charm of the characters. However, some players have noted minor issues despite their overall positive impressions.

    • “Love this game, so many choices and I love the character designs!”
    • “Many lovely animations and top character design!”
    • “The gameplay is quite fun, the voice acting and character designs are excellent and I really enjoy the humor.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The reviews do not specifically address the aspect of "optimization," focusing instead on the voice cast's performances, enjoyable gameplay, and appealing art style. As such, there is no information available regarding the game's optimization.

  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is described as significantly enhanced compared to similar titles, offering a rich medieval setting. However, the protagonist's frequent fourth-wall breaking and self-aware humor disrupt the immersion, leading to a disjointed experience that detracts from the overall atmosphere.

    • “If you came expecting 'Papers, Please' only with better graphics and a medieval atmosphere - you don't know what you're getting into - it's much, much better.”
    • “The protagonist constantly makes inorganic, often self-aware and even fourth-wall breaking statements that seem to be intended as jokes; but their responses seldom mesh with the conversation and mostly derail the atmosphere.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization in Lil Guardsman is generally viewed positively, though some users find the advertisements to be somewhat misleading.

    • “Lil Guardsman is an overall excellent game, even if its advertisements are a bit misleading.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

88% average critic score

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