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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.
PixelJunk Shooter Game Cover
85%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
replayability, grinding
89% User Score Based on 381 reviews
Critic Score 75%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

Playstation 3LinuxPCTabletMac OSPhoneSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
PixelJunk Shooter Game Cover

About

PixelJunk Shooter is a single player and multiplayer shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Q-Games Ltd. and was released on November 11, 2013. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"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.

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89%
Audience ScoreBased on 381 reviews
gameplay56 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions

  • Unique and engaging gameplay that combines shooting and puzzle elements, utilizing fluid physics effectively.
  • Visually appealing with a charming art style and a relaxing soundtrack that enhances the gaming experience.
  • Offers local co-op play, making it a fun game to enjoy with friends or family.
  • The game is relatively short, which may leave players wanting more content after completion.
  • Some levels can feel repetitive, and the requirement to collect gems to progress can be tedious.
  • Technical issues such as broken fullscreen/windowing options and bugs with music playback detract from the overall experience.
  • gameplay
    133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is widely praised for its fun, engaging mechanics that blend puzzle-solving with action elements, particularly through innovative fluid physics and elemental interactions. Players appreciate the variety of mechanics introduced throughout the game, which keep the experience fresh and enjoyable, although some feel the game is too short for its price. Overall, the combination of simple controls, cooperative play, and a well-designed level structure contributes to a satisfying gameplay experience, despite some critiques regarding pacing and underutilization of certain mechanics.

    • “Its innovative physics-based puzzles and engaging gameplay make it a must-play for fans of action and exploration.”
    • “The gameplay is simple and fun.”
    • “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.”
    • “Neat graphics and fluid physics, but very boring gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is very slow and tedious.”
  • graphics
    76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming 2D art style and vibrant colors, which have aged well over time. Many reviewers appreciate the unique and simplistic aesthetic, likening it to classic flash games, while some prefer the original version's visuals over the remastered "Ultimate" edition. Overall, the graphics are described as visually appealing and well-suited to the game's casual yet engaging gameplay, despite a few critiques regarding their simplicity.

    • “Its graphics have held up incredibly well due to its 2D art style.”
    • “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... 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
    51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its dynamic and unique qualities, particularly highlighting the relaxing and well-composed electronic soundtrack. However, some users report issues with music playback and a lack of variety in tracks, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the soundtrack enhances the game's atmosphere and complements its visuals, opinions vary on its appeal and execution.

    • “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

    The game's story is generally viewed as simplistic and secondary to the gameplay, with players uncovering narrative elements through rescued survivors who provide backstory about a mining expedition. While some find the story intriguing and a commentary on resource exploitation, others criticize it for being sparse and lacking depth, often feeling like a side note rather than a central focus. Overall, the narrative is seen as a modest addition that enhances the experience without overshadowing the core gameplay.

    • “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 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.”
    • “The one con would be that the story ends very abruptly and is primed for a sequel.”
  • replayability
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is mixed among users; some appreciate the item collection and co-op mode that enhance replay value, while others find it lacks depth, describing it as a one-time experience. Overall, the presence of collectibles and unique gameplay elements contribute to a decent level of replayability 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 collectables 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

    Reviews on grinding highlight a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the balance of challenge and reward without becoming tedious, others find the gameplay slow and occasionally frustrating. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a necessary part of progression, though it can lead to moments of tedium.

    • “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

    The game is praised for its humor, with players finding it genuinely 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

    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. Reviewers 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

    The game's stability is mixed; while it generally runs well despite complex mechanics, many users report frequent freezing issues that can render it unplayable, indicating that the port has several bugs that need addressing.

    • “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
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate that the game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some users providing guides to improve performance, suggesting that there may be issues that require user intervention for an optimal experience. Overall, the technical performance appears to need further refinement.

    • “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
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
    • “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully.”
    • “The constant push for in-game purchases ruins the immersion and makes it feel more like a cash grab than a game.”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 escape from dire situations. This dynamic creates a compelling emotional rollercoaster that enhances the overall gaming experience.

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13h Median play time
12h Average play time
11-13h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

PixelJunk Shooter is a shooter game with science fiction theme.

PixelJunk Shooter is available on PC, Mac OS, Phone, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 12 hours playing PixelJunk Shooter.

PixelJunk Shooter was released on November 11, 2013.

PixelJunk Shooter was developed by Q-Games Ltd..

PixelJunk Shooter has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its replayability.

PixelJunk Shooter is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate, Capsized, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, Trine Enchanted Edition, Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions Evolved and others.