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Phantom Trigger

A pixelated hack-n’-slash with light RPG elements, Phantom Trigger is a fast-paced, delightfully difficult, and exceedingly fun adventure. There’s so much to love, and so many reasons to come back again and again.
53%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
stability, atmosphere
47% User Score Based on 38 reviews
Critic Score 65%Based on 9 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
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About

Phantom Trigger is a fantasy-themed action game where you, as a duplicate personality, explore a surreal world based on the dreams of Stan, a drugged office worker. The game features fast-paced combat with combos, spells, and traps, and includes roguelike elements. There are four different endings based on your choices and how you help Stan understand his reality.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Phantom Trigger screenshot
Phantom Trigger screenshot
Phantom Trigger screenshot
Phantom Trigger screenshot
Phantom Trigger screenshot
Phantom Trigger screenshot
Phantom Trigger screenshot
Phantom Trigger screenshot
Phantom Trigger screenshot
Phantom Trigger screenshot
Phantom Trigger screenshot
+10
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47%
Audience ScoreBased on 38 reviews
gameplay8 positive mentions
stability4 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful pixel art and vibrant neon aesthetics that create an engaging visual experience.
  • The combat system is fast-paced and encourages players to master combos, providing a sense of challenge and excitement.
  • The story, while cryptic, offers intriguing elements that keep players interested in uncovering the narrative.
  • The gameplay becomes repetitive and lacks variety, with limited enemy types and few unique combos, leading to a dull experience over time.
  • There is a significant lack of direction and quality of life features, such as tutorials and control settings, making it difficult for players to engage with the game effectively.
  • Numerous bugs and glitches can disrupt gameplay, causing frustration and detracting from the overall experience.
  • gameplay
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a solid, combo-based combat system that requires mastery to navigate challenging enemy waves, but it suffers from repetitiveness and a lack of variety in levels. While the visuals and music are praised, many players find the gameplay dull and unengaging, leading to mixed feelings about its overall enjoyment. Despite its potential, improvements in mechanics and enemy AI are needed to elevate the experience.

    • “Roughly 5 hours of gameplay on your first playthrough – it took much less on my second run.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, the game is solid and relies on a heavily combo-based combat system that you are forced to master as soon as possible in order to survive the waves of enemies that try to make your life miserable right from the get-go.”
    • “I actually quite enjoyed the tightness of the gameplay and felt that the developers went the direction of short and fun, rather than long and tedious.”
    • “It is by the book done right, I guess... like it functions and is colorful and plays tight, etc., but I can see the story a mile away and the gameplay is not fun enough to keep me around.”
    • “If the developer will make the gameplay less repetitive, tune the battle system a little, make enemies a bit smarter, and fix minor bugs like enemies hitting you while you talk with NPCs, this game will be perfect.”
    • “However, on the flip side, the gameplay really disappoints in the variety provided for two major areas.”
  • story
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it intriguing and well-crafted, featuring alternate realities and branching narratives that reward exploration. However, others criticize it for being predictable, weakly delivered, and overshadowed by repetitive gameplay. Overall, while the art and atmosphere enhance the storytelling, the execution leaves some players wanting more depth and clarity.

    • “There are four alternate endings, and you’ll have to connect the dots along five different mindscape worlds and the branching story yourself; it really pays off to explore everywhere for the collectibles.”
    • “The story gets slowly revealed through snippets along the game, and there are some interesting twists thrown in.”
    • “Nonetheless, I was pleasantly surprised by the story and found it to be one of my favorite aspects of the game.”
    • “The story is fine if not engaging, but the combat is not the best (maybe it's better with a controller, I don't know).”
    • “You are plopped into a story and you can kill things that you might not expect to be able to, as well as have a menu that is filled with imagery that means nothing to you at the start of the game and even after some progression may still confuse the player.”
    • “When you’re going up against wave upon wave of the same enemies throughout all the maps, using what is essentially the same combos over and over again, the additional 3-4 hours to complete it become a real slog, especially since the story doesn’t give you the answers you’re looking for either.”
  • graphics
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Phantom Trigger" are widely praised for their vibrant neon aesthetic, colorful visuals, and creative design, drawing comparisons to other beloved titles. While many players appreciate the stunning art style and detail, some feel it lacks depth and charm, particularly when compared to similar games. Overall, the game's visuals are a standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal.

    • “What drew me towards Phantom Trigger (or PT for short) was the neon art style, reminiscent of Dungeon of the Endless with a squared-off level design similar to classic gaming way back in the day and the story it wants to tell.”
    • “Phantom Trigger is a 'neon slasher,' so expect vibrant visuals, energetic electronic music, and lots of hack & slashing.”
    • “All in all, the colors and visual effects are very astonishing, and I have been blown away by the effort in detail used in this game. I would not have thought the graphics would be this beautiful for a sweet indie game.”
    • “Aesthetically speaking, it's not terribly interesting.”
    • “Art style is identical to Hyper Light Drifter without any of the charm.”
    • “The art style reminded me of quite a few other titles that I really loved, but after a few minutes, I wasn't sure if my reverence was appropriate.”
  • music
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and fittingness, enhancing the overall experience with vibrant electronic tracks that complement the visuals and gameplay. Many reviewers highlight the energetic and epic nature of the soundtrack, particularly during boss battles, while some note that certain ambient tracks can feel repetitive. Overall, the sound design is considered superb, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere.

    • “The sounds are spot on with nice synth music and fitting effects that offer very precise feedback of both yours and your opponent’s attacks.”
    • “The entire title is almost entirely focused on collecting stuff that eventually gives you access to that area boss battle and this, with the nice addition of appropriate sounds and music, helps give the moment you face a boss a very epic tone.”
    • “The soundtrack in this game is amazing and I would buy it for sure as it is sold as a DLC.”
    • “Music is a very familiar ambient mush that is both unobtrusive and yet boringly repetitive; I'm reasonably sure the first and second areas had the exact same score.”
  • stability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is criticized for being plagued by bugs and unfinished elements, leading to a frustrating experience. While some players appreciate the atmospheric effects created by glitches, the overall consensus is that the game feels generic and lacks polish, detracting from its potential enjoyment.

    • “Unfinished, buggy, and boring generic game.”
    • “Short, buggy, and boring.”
    • “The story is cryptic, the environments are beautifully crafted, and the effects of distortions and glitches are really well done, adding a lot of atmosphere to the game.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its beautifully crafted environments and effective use of distortions and glitches, creating a cryptic and immersive experience. Overall, players appreciate the unique style and atmospheric depth it offers.

    • “It's a very nice game that has its own unique atmosphere and style.”
    • “The story is cryptic, the environments are beautifully crafted, and the effects of distortions and glitches are really well done, adding a lot of atmosphere to the game.”
  • humor
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by a visually comedic moment where a character, Stan, unexpectedly takes a face plant during a conversation, leading to a humorous blackout on the screen. This blend of physical comedy and timing contributes to the game's overall comedic tone.

    • “Stan takes a hilariously nasty face plant to the floor mid-conversation, and the screen blacks out.”
    • “The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me laughing out loud throughout the entire game.”
    • “The humor is perfectly timed, with clever puns and unexpected twists that keep the gameplay entertaining.”
  • replayability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers around 6 hours of gameplay, but many users feel that its replayability is limited, suggesting that a shorter and more affordable experience would have enhanced enjoyment.

    • “The game is around 6 hours long, though it would probably have been more enjoyable if it were shorter and cheaper.”
    • “Once you finish the main storyline, there's little incentive to replay the game.”
    • “The lack of varied content makes it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
  • grinding
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players appreciate the grinding aspect of the game for its engaging and enjoyable gameplay, noting that the developers focused on creating a short and fun experience rather than a lengthy and tedious one.

  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is criticized for being insufficient, leading to a lack of narrative impact that ultimately makes the characters feel underwhelming by the abrupt ending.

    • “By the time the rather abrupt ending brings the game to a conclusion, the lack of character development and actual narrative impact made the characters feel lackluster at best.”
    • “The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evolve throughout the game, leaving players feeling disconnected from their journeys.”
    • “Despite the potential for rich storytelling, the character arcs are shallow and predictable, resulting in a disappointing experience.”
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65%Critics’ scoreBased on 9 critic reviews
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