PixelJunk™ Shooter

Pixeljunk Shooter Ultimate is an easy buy, for those in love with the genre and those who maybe want a less intimidating gateway to dual stick shooters. though multiplayer can (and probably will) be completely ignored, the single player is varied and interesting enough to be worth a play through.

85%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

replayability, grinding

90% User Score Based on 373 reviews

Critic Score 75%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $2.31

Buy NowGet on Steam$8.99

About

"PixelJunk Shooter" is a twin-stick shooter game with puzzle elements, where players navigate through treacherous underwater levels to rescue trapped scientists. The game features a unique fluid physics system, allowing players to manipulate water, lava, and ice to their advantage. With a variety of enemies, power-ups, and challenging levels, "PixelJunk Shooter" offers a thrilling and engaging experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+10

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 377 reviews

gameplay53 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay that combines shooting and puzzle-solving elements, making it enjoyable and unique.
Impressive fluid physics and environmental interactions that enhance the overall experience.
Charming art style and a relaxing soundtrack that complement the gameplay well.

The game can feel short and may require replaying levels to collect all gems and survivors, which some players find tedious.
Some levels may present frustrating challenges, particularly with environmental hazards and enemy placements.
The existence of a more complete version, PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate, makes this version feel less appealing for potential buyers.

gameplay
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
57%
2%
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of twin-stick shooting and puzzle-solving, featuring unique mechanics centered around fluid interactions and elemental manipulation. Players appreciate the smooth controls and evolving mechanics that keep the experience fresh, although some feel that certain mechanics are underutilized or introduced too slowly. Overall, the game offers engaging, accessible gameplay with a strong emphasis on experimentation and cooperation, making it enjoyable for both casual and dedicated players.
- “Fun, easy-to-get-into game with easily understood mechanics that grow and build on each other progressively through the game.”
- “Each level is well-designed, visually entertaining, and the addition of new gameplay mechanics comes at just the right pace to keep you from getting bored.”
- “The gameplay is solid with excellent physics which are thankfully not entirely tied to your movement, which makes the controls quite responsive.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay mechanics take a back seat and it has many failings as a game.”
- “The gameplay is very slow and tedious.”
- “However, the game mechanic began to bore me fairly quickly.”
graphics
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
46%
4%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many praising its unique art style that combines colorful, cartoony aesthetics with smooth animations and fluid physics. While some reviewers noted that the visuals may appear simplistic or reminiscent of older flash games, they effectively complement the gameplay and narrative. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's charm, though some players recommend opting for the ultimate version for enhanced visuals and additional content.
- “The art style is smooth, colorful, and nice to look at.”
- “Great level design, stunning visuals, and tight controls make this game an absolute blast to play.”
- “The graphics are good with a very colorful style.”
- “The graphics are... they are nothing special, unless you are into programming, I think.”
- “The graphics when you look at static pictures don't look like much.”
- “While the aesthetics leave a bit to be desired, they serve their purpose fine.”
music
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
44%
6%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its dynamic and unique qualities that enhance the overall experience, particularly in creating a relaxing atmosphere and complementing the gameplay. Some players highlight standout tracks and the eclectic mix of genres, while others criticize the limited variety and occasional mismatch with the game's setting. Overall, the soundtrack is often described as a significant aspect of the game's appeal, contributing to its aesthetic and emotional impact.
- “The presentation is clean and has a relaxing soundtrack.”
- “This is a perfect game, and the soundtrack is one of the best electronic OSTs I've heard in a long time.”
- “The music is fantastic too, and sets the tone of the game perfectly.”
- “The only downside for this game is its low variety of songs played for the entire game, with some songs re-used for most levels/stages.”
- “Great gameplay, terrible soundtrack.”
- “The music just doesn't make any sense.”
story
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
72%
8%
The game's story is generally considered simplistic and serves more as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a central focus, with players uncovering narrative elements through rescued characters. While some find the story intriguing and reflective of environmental themes, others describe it as sparse and lacking depth, often delivered through text that can be easily missed. Overall, the narrative is seen as a minor aspect of the experience, with mixed opinions on its effectiveness and engagement.
- “There is a story that is slowly revealed by each of the special survivors rescued, and it is realistically intriguing, even serving as a kind of critical commentary on the exploitation of natural resources.”
- “It's a simple but effective story (the real focus is the gameplay and it doesn't try to overshadow that) and I've enjoyed getting additional scraps of information from each stage as I descend.”
- “The story is told when you rescue certain survivors, colored ones, which upon pickup will show up a text screen telling something that happened previously during the excavations.”
- “I mean, there is a story, it's just obvious that it's more of a side-note than the main focus of the game.”
- “The story is a bit simplistic with exposition delivered via text if you rescue the right people.”
- “Story seems really sparse.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game's replayability is mixed among users; some appreciate the challenge of item collection and co-op mode, citing decent replay value, while others find it lacks depth, describing it as a one-time experience with minimal incentive to replay. Overall, the presence of collectibles and unique gameplay elements contribute to a varied replay experience for some players.
- “Fun little shooter, a bit on the easy side; however, the item collection is where it will try to challenge you and have replay value.”
- “And replayable even if just to go back and get all the secrets.”
- “Unique, fun gameplay that requires both good reflexes and quick thinking, awesome liquid physics that changes how you play, dynamic music keeps the action tense, two-player local co-op, and lots of collectibles make for some decent replayability!”
- “I found the game to be a play once and done style game with very little replay value.”
- “Replay value: 1/10”
- “[b]Replayability:[/b] Some, Pixel Junk Shooter does offer a co-op mode so even your cheap friends can jump in.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" highlight a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the balance of challenge and reward without it becoming tedious, others find the gameplay slow and occasionally frustrating. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a necessary part of the game that can be both engaging and monotonous at times.
- “Gameplay is very slow and tedious.”
- “It's not *that* fun but certainly not unfun, though there are a few instances of tedious design.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its humor, with players finding it consistently funny and enjoyable, often laughing at their own mistakes during gameplay. The combination of a cheeky sense of humor, engaging graphics, and solid controls enhances the overall fun experience.
- “It's very funny, and you will have a lot of fun!”
- “I caught myself laughing after seemingly every death in the game because of my own foolishness.”
- “Good background music, pleasant graphical style, cheeky bit of humor, and most importantly... solid controls.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a relaxing ambiance, enhanced by chilled music and a slow pace, which fosters a light-hearted exploration experience. Players appreciate the atmospheric design and its alignment with the gameplay mechanics, contributing to an overall enjoyable environment.
- “The chilled music and relatively slow pace of the game create a relaxing atmosphere.”
- “A nice atmospheric game with interesting gameplay mechanics.”
- “It contributes to a light-hearted exploration atmosphere, which I think was well chosen for the game's theme.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while it performs well under complex conditions, frequent freezing issues significantly hinder the overall experience, making it frustrating for players. Additionally, the port has been noted to have several bugs that affect gameplay.
- “The game runs great considering how much must be going on in the background when things turn to gas, ice, or melt, and so on.”
- “The game is good and lots of fun; sadly, it freezes all the time to the point of being unplayable.”
- “This is a great game, but the port is kind of buggy.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The reviews indicate that the game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some users finding performance satisfactory while others suggest there are areas for improvement. Overall, the technical aspects may require further refinement to enhance the gaming experience.
- “This concludes my experience optimization guide.”
- “The technical performance of the game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “The optimization features really enhance the overall experience, making it accessible for a wider range of players.”
- “This concludes my experience with optimization.”
- “The technical performance of the game is severely lacking.”
- “The optimization issues make it nearly unplayable at times.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized, with users feeling that it does not align with the game's branding and advertising, leading to a lack of recommendation.
- “The monetization system feels exploitative and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending money.”
- “The constant push for in-game purchases ruins the immersion and makes it feel more like a cash grab than a genuine gaming experience.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the tension between life and death, where players can experience a sense of relief and hope through strategic gameplay, such as finding water to save themselves from imminent danger. This dynamic creates a compelling emotional rollercoaster that enhances the overall gaming experience.

75%Critics’ scoreBased on 6 critic reviews

Buy PixelJunk™ Shooter

13h Median play time

12h Average play time

11-13h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

72%237reviews