PWND

About

PWND is a multiplayer casual shooter game. It was developed by Skydance Interactive and was released on April 6, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"PWND" is a multiplayer shooter game set in a dystopian future where cloning exists and rocket arena combat is the leading sport. To score, players must perform a victory dance over their downed opponents, leaving them vulnerable to counterattacks. The game features five unique characters, multiplayer maps designed for vertical combat, and a single-player challenge mode. Teamwork and situational awareness are crucial for success as the stakes rise throughout the match.

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70%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,102 reviews

gameplay58 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and fun mechanic of 'pwning' opponents, which adds a humorous twist to the gameplay.
Fast-paced and chaotic gameplay reminiscent of classic arena shooters like Quake and Unreal Tournament.
The art style and character design are vibrant and engaging, creating an enjoyable visual experience.

The player base is extremely low, making it difficult to find matches and often resulting in long wait times.
The game feels incomplete with limited content, including only a few characters and maps, which can lead to repetitive gameplay.
Technical issues such as lag and server problems significantly detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
204 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
65%
7%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its fast-paced, chaotic action and unique mechanics, particularly the "pwning" system, which encourages teamwork but has received mixed reactions for disrupting the flow of combat. While many players appreciate the engaging and easy-to-learn mechanics, some criticize the matchmaking issues and the juvenile nature of certain gameplay elements, suggesting that the core mechanics could benefit from refinement. Overall, the game offers a fun and energetic experience reminiscent of classic arena shooters, though its potential is hampered by design choices and player population challenges.
- “The central mechanic of 'pwning,' while rather juvenile, is actually a fantastic gameplay mechanic that forces players to look out for their teammates - even after they're dead, unless they want the enemy to rack up easy points.”
- “Gameplay is great, fast-paced, and easy to learn.”
- “Each of the 4 characters offers their own abilities and weapons, and a mix of the 4 (in a 3v3 situation) makes the game very fun - with one person flying above you shooting rockets down with their hover ability, and a second person supplying a shield with a different ability, they all combine for awesome gameplay.”
- “The absence of its high-octane gameplay, unique mechanics, and infectious energy is deeply felt.”
- “Pwning is a dumb mechanic that messes up the pace of the game (you basically tap E over a dying body and wait 5 seconds hoping no one comes and kills you) and is also how you win matches (not by kills/skill alone).”
- “You are required to stand still over your downed enemy and perform a very unfunny 'pwning' animation in order to gain points and win, which is just a bad game mechanic and kills the 'fast-paced' action of the game.”
graphics
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
36%
3%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising its unique and charming art style reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons and titles like Borderlands. While some players find the visuals appealing and well-optimized, others criticize the graphics as overly cartoonish or lacking depth. Overall, the game's aesthetic is seen as a strong point, though it may be graphically intense for some systems.
- “The visuals and characters are so charming, and the art style complements it even more. It's a solid and well-optimized game that needs more attention.”
- “The graphics are extremely nice and super smooth, with the characters having a bit of a Borderlands-ish look to them.”
- “Graphics are amazing. Graphics top notch, sounds and atmosphere on the maps are great.”
- “Interesting concept but far too messy, both graphically and gameplay wise.”
- “Cheap MOBA-style shooter with cartoon graphics for people too incompetent and/or immature to play a proper FPS.”
- “Failed attempt to look different and original by copying Borderlands' art and graphics style and introducing a completely pointless objective of pwning enemies, while having the classic lootboxes F2P recipe.”
humor
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
4%
The humor in "pwnd" is widely praised for its absurdity and over-the-top antics, making each match a memorable and hilarious experience. Players enjoy the comedic elements, such as the "pwn" mechanic and exaggerated celebrations, although some find certain game mechanics, like the required animations, disrupt the fast-paced action. Overall, the game is described as a fun and funny twist on the shooter genre, appealing to those who appreciate its unique brand of humor.
- “Hilariously over-the-top and thrillingly addicting, pwnd is a crazy shooter game that combines rocket arena-style combat with 'excessive celebration.' This game is as enjoyable as it is obnoxious, and it unapologetically encourages every player to be a bad loser and a shameless winner.”
- “This game is amazingly hilarious and has amazingly balanced characters as well as the feel of a free Overwatch. I highly suggest you play this game, where there are no advantages, only hilarious emoting over dead bodies.”
- “A fun little arena shooter with a funny twist, adding teabagging your enemies to get points.”
- “You are required to stand still over your downed enemy and perform a very unfunny 'pwning' animation in order to gain points and win, which is just a bad game mechanic and kills the 'fast-paced' action of the game.”
optimization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while many players appreciate its smooth performance and charming visuals, some report significant issues, describing it as "horribly unoptimized." There are calls for further improvements, particularly for players with slower machines, indicating that while the game is generally well-optimized, it still requires additional work to enhance the experience for all users.
- “The game runs smoothly and quickly throughout, and it was refreshing to have such a seamless experience right from launch when some competing big budget titles give me a headache with their minor glitches.”
- “The visuals and characters are so charming and the art style complements it even more; it's a solid and well-optimized game that needs more attention.”
- “A horribly, abysmally, catastrophically unoptimized experience.”
- “Optimizations still need a bit of work.”
- “Hopefully it becomes better optimized for slower machines in time.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
29%
14%
The music in the game is widely praised for its upbeat nature, perfectly complementing the fast-paced gameplay, with several reviewers rating the soundtrack as high as 10/10. However, some players feel that while the music is excellent, the overall content of the game is lacking, suggesting a need for more game modes and features.
- “The music is upbeat and fits the fast-paced gameplay perfectly.”
- “Soundtrack 10/10”
- “Music 9/10”
- “The game does not work; it feels stuck and only the music runs well.”
- “While I kind of like the game and really love its setting and music, it is very barebones and could use more content, especially more game modes.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
67%
25%
The game's story is largely criticized for lacking depth and progression, with missions focused on simple tasks rather than a cohesive narrative. Players express a desire for a more developed backstory for the universe and characters, as the current experience feels superficial and geared towards casual, immature fun rather than a serious storyline.
- “I think this game could do better with a back story for the universe and the characters.”
- “Almost no sense of progression: only missions like 'win 3 games', 'pwn 10 enemies', but no stats, no profile page, no rankings.”
- “I think this game could do better with a backstory for the universe and the characters.”
- “Do not expect a serious storyline; rather, expect your inner immaturity to unleash itself in full force.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Reviewers emphasize the need for improved monetization strategies, particularly through increased advertising efforts and a more appealing price point between $14.99 and $19.99. They suggest that better marketing, including partnerships with influencers and targeted ads, could significantly boost the game's visibility and sales. Additionally, the game's name is seen as a barrier to attracting potential players, indicating that rebranding might also be beneficial.
- “I think the devs should consider making this game $14.99-$19.99 and plan on spending a fair share amount of money on advertising to get this game up off its feet.”
- “For people to say they can't recommend this game because it took them a very long time to find a game, what did you expect playing a game that was just released and they didn't do much in the way of advertising for the game.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with a smooth and quick performance from launch, especially compared to other titles that suffer from glitches. However, players have noted some bugs and issues, particularly in the challenge mode, which are expected in early access. The developers are responsive to reports, providing a platform for players to communicate any problems.
- “Somewhat enjoyable challenge mode, but with buggy or unfinishable parts.”
- “Obviously it has its bugs and small glitches, but it's still early access, and you can report any bugs/issues on the Discord, where the devs will reply within hours.”
- “Somewhat enjoyable challenge mode, but with buggy or unfinishable parts.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game "pwned" is described as heartbreaking, indicating a strong connection or disappointment felt by players. However, there are concerns about technical issues that detract from the overall experience.
- “It's heartbreaking to review games like pwnd.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game lacks significant replayability, with players expressing a desire for more diverse playable characters and weapons to enhance the experience. Without these additions, many feel the game does not offer enough incentive to revisit.
- “I mean it's not a terrible game, but there is not really any replay value it seems.”
- “Just needs more playable characters/heroes... at least one with a sniper rifle and machine/assault gun.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players indicate that grinding in the game is so demanding that it may require a second life, suggesting it can be excessively time-consuming or tedious.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The atmosphere in the game is highly praised, with users highlighting the top-notch graphics and immersive sound design that enhance the overall experience.
- “The graphics are top-notch, and the sounds create an incredible atmosphere throughout the maps.”
- “The immersive atmosphere really enhances the overall experience of the game.”
- “The combination of stunning visuals and atmospheric sound design makes every moment feel alive.”