Screencheat
- March 1, 2016
- Samurai Punk
Try not to screencheat while you Screencheat. Wait, no; do.
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Get on Xbox Games StoreScreencheat is a comedy-focused, local and online multiplayer shooter game where all players are invisible, so "screencheating" is necessary. The game includes a variety of one-hit kill weapons, split-screen combat for up to eight players, and numerous customization options. With a focus on bright maps, unique modes, and unconventional playstyles, Screencheat provides a hilarious and engaging party FPS experience.
Mac OS
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Linux
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Innovative and hilarious concept that turns screen cheating into a core gameplay mechanic, making it a fun party game.
- Fast-paced and chaotic gameplay that is best enjoyed with friends, providing endless laughs and memorable moments.
- Variety of quirky weapons and game modes, along with colorful maps that enhance the overall experience.
- Limited online player base, making it difficult to find matches unless playing with friends locally.
- Graphics and optimization issues, including a buggy main menu and low resolution even on high settings.
- Some weapons feel unbalanced or ineffective, and the game can become repetitive after extended play.
- gameplay34 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its fun, comedic mechanics and innovative "screencheating" concept, which adds a unique twist to traditional multiplayer shooters. While the straightforward mechanics and level design are engaging, the experience can become repetitive without a group of friends to play with, and some players find the learning curve for certain mechanics a bit steep. Overall, the game offers a customizable and entertaining experience, especially in social settings, but may lack depth for those seeking a more serious competitive shooter.
“Its a great concept that's perfectly executed, and when the gameplay gets dull you can add some mutators, like one that changes all the textures to the British flag, or one that makes you move and reload incredibly quickly, among others.”
“The level design is great, the gameplay is fun, it's a blast with or without friends, and it has lots of mode customization you can do when you get bored of the initial modes.”
“I am so glad this game exists and I truly believe that it is revolutionary, its gameplay is amazing and feels like an old arena FPS with new smooth movements and a great twist on shooter gameplay.”
“The gameplay is very simple and the game modes are very fun; but it can get a bit repetitive after a while.”
“Even the timed trials singleplayer is enough to satiate a temporary yearning for change in games, however without people to play and socialize with, once the session starts the game begins to feel a little monotonous and boring once the first 20 minutes of gameplay wear off.”
“The title features a variety of weapons, maps, and modes, but its mechanics take too long to grasp for it to succeed as a party game, while being too shallow for it to succeed as a serious shooter.”
- humor31 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in this game is widely praised for its clever and inventive design, particularly the unique concept of players being invisible and relying on screen peeking to locate opponents, which leads to hilarious mishaps and antics. Players enjoy the amusing kill messages and a variety of silly weapons that enhance the comedic experience, making it a perfect choice for fun with friends. Overall, the game is described as a brilliant blend of laughter and chaos, ensuring hours of entertainment.
“Enter 'screencheat.' This game takes that sneaky art of peeking at screens and turns it into a hilarious and genius concept.”
“Screencheat is hilarious to play with friends, especially when some of them are in the same room and on computers right next to each other lol.”
“You will never get bored trying to kill everyone when you can't actually see anyone, leading to a variety of stupid and funny mishaps that will leave you going 'wait, they were there?!'.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered average, with some reviewers noting that while the low-poly style and colorful art contribute to its charm, the overall visual quality is not impressive, even on high settings. The intentional design focuses on clear, color-coded areas to enhance gameplay, making it easier to track other players. While the graphics may not compete with more modern titles, they serve the game's fun and quirky atmosphere well.
“Graphically, it's not the most stunning game, but it's intentional, focusing on clear, color-specific areas for screen referencing.”
“The visuals were also very well done to make it much easier to determine where other players were.”
“The graphics may not look AAA, but the game has a lot of charm in its colorful art style, plus the maps are color-coded, which really does help when you are looking for other players.”
“Graphic quality is also meh, even on high graphics.”
“If graphics are important to you, then take a second look to make sure this game is for you.”
“Basic visuals won't outlast many of its FPS contenders.”
- music13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its energetic and funky soundtrack, which enhances the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Many players find it to be a standout feature, often enjoying it even outside of gameplay, while some feel it complements the game's silly visuals and mechanics effectively. However, a few reviews suggest that despite the fun music, the game may not fully realize its potential.
“The soundtrack is also bangin'.”
“The music is pretty funky and the design choices the devs made with this game really complement the silliness of both the weapons and the atmosphere of the game.”
“The music is fan-fucking-tastic and it fits well with the atmosphere and most importantly the gameplay as well.”
“Music is meh.”
“To be clear, there's definitely some fun to be had here, and the goofy visuals and music help emphasize this, but the entire experience reeks of wasted potential.”
“The first thing I noticed when I opened up the game was the music.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, optimization for the game is mixed; while some users report a stable performance and well-designed maps that enhance gameplay, others highlight issues with the main menu and controller compatibility, indicating that certain aspects remain unoptimized. Despite these concerns, many players experienced smooth gameplay without significant bugs or crashes.
“The game seemed to run well, and I can't recall any bugs or performance issues.”
“The maps have a design that is clearly optimized with this in mind, featuring simple yet distinct level geometry with color coding on sections of the map.”
“Don't let Screencheat's low-poly graphical offerings fool you, as it's clear the team spent a very healthy amount of time ensuring stability and performance.”
“The main menu is so buggy and unoptimized.”
“A little unoptimized for PS4 controllers, if you ask me.”
“It's bad, poorly optimized.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a decent level of replayability, with various fun modes and gameplay types that keep players engaged despite a lack of narrative or achievements. While some users note that the replay value isn't exceptionally high, the unique mechanics and multiplayer aspects contribute to its surprising longevity.
“Lots of the modes are fun and replayable.”
“Screencheat is greatly replayable.”
“Even though the replay value is not that high, the developers did a great job in adding many game types.”
“And if you're doing an FPS, replayability depends on the gameplay.”
“A surprising amount of replay value for something with no story, no achievements, and at a glance just the same gimmick over and over.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its funky music and vibrant design choices that enhance the silliness of its weapons and characters. The colorful, simplistic character designs, including a surprising appearance of Slender Man, contribute to a fun and entertaining environment, promising hours of laughter and enjoyment.
“The music is pretty funky, and the design choices the developers made with this game really complement the silliness of both the weapons and the atmosphere.”
“With nice artwork and a proper atmosphere (music and environment), this game will surely grant hours of laughter and fun.”
“I was surprised to find Slender Man to be one of the selections. Although all of the characters are one solid color, ranging from red to purple, it nonetheless keeps the atmosphere fun and entertaining to the eye.”
- story3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game lacks a narrative, with users noting that it has no story or achievements, making it unsuitable for those seeking a story-driven experience. Despite this, some players find it surprisingly engaging, suggesting that its replay value comes from gameplay mechanics rather than storytelling.
“A surprising amount of replay value for something with no story, no achievements, and at a glance just the same gimmick over and over.”
“There is absolutely no story to speak of; if you're looking for a story-based game, why are you even reading this review?”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting significant bugs and optimization issues in the main menu. Players often experience freezing after just a couple of rounds, necessitating a restart of the game.
“The main menu is so buggy and unoptimized.”
“In the off chance that you do get into a game, you can only play 1 or 2 consecutive rounds before the game freezes on you and forces you to reopen the game.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is somewhat unclear, particularly regarding its online and local multiplayer features, which may lead to confusion among users.
Critic Reviews
Screencheat Review
For a group of friends who regularly play together in the same room, this would be an ideal addition to the rotation. It’s an ironically fitting tribute to the days of Goldeneye, and one that will have your group in stitches by the end of your first session. Of course, you’ll be at it tooth and nail by the second session, and by the third you’ll probably be sick of it. While the idea and execution are both excellent, the game just isn’t substantial enough to warrant extended play sessions.
70%Screencheat review
Easy going in tone but frantic and stressful by nature, Screencheat seizes on a single novel idea and builds an enjoyable couch shooter around it.
78%Screencheat Review
If you and your crew want to play something far more unique than most first-person shooters on the market, then Screencheat is an easy recommendation. Those on their own will have it rough, however, since the online community just simply isn't there for it. It's a shame, since playing against bots can only sustain users for so long. What makes Samurai Punk's game so special is sharing the experience with other players, not the AI.
80%
