Shadow Bug

About

Shadow Bug is a platformer game where you play as an overpowered ninja hero, slicing monsters to save your home forest. With 36 hand-crafted levels, unique move-by-attacking mechanic, and immersive audio-visual experience, this game offers a fresh take on the genre. Compete in speedrunning leaderboards and conquer 6 memorable boss fights. Wishlist Shadow Bug now for a thrilling action-adventure experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+12

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 43 reviews

gameplay14 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Unique gameplay mechanic where players move by attacking enemies instead of jumping, providing a fresh take on platforming.
Beautiful graphics and fluid animations enhance the overall experience, making it visually appealing.
Challenging yet rewarding gameplay with a good difficulty curve, allowing for both casual play and speedrunning opportunities.

The game is relatively short, taking only a few hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
A sudden spike in difficulty in the final levels can be frustrating and may discourage some players.
Repetitive gameplay elements can emerge over time, as the core mechanic remains consistent throughout the levels.

gameplay
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
56%
8%
The gameplay of "Shadow Bug" is characterized by its unique mechanics that blend simple controls with intricate level design, requiring precise timing and strategic movement. Players appreciate the gradual introduction of new mechanics and the smooth difficulty curve, although some levels may feel repetitive or overly challenging. Overall, the game offers a satisfying experience with fluid controls, engaging puzzles, and a visually appealing aesthetic.
- “This one surpassed my expectations with crisp animations, great sound effects, and a smooth curve of difficulty when adding new mechanics and increasing puzzle difficulty.”
- “The game has a gorgeous aesthetic, a simplistic but well fleshed-out core mechanic that is fun to use, and nicely designed and challenging boss fights.”
- “Levels are increasingly difficult and incorporate new mechanics as you progress that are quite cool and satisfying to master.”
- “Great art style and content, but mostly casual game decides to do a solid faceplant on the last few levels where the difficulty spikes resulting in boring repetitive gameplay, locking off further level content.”
- “A lot of your time spent playing would likely be redoing levels over and over, trying to improve your times, similar to Dustforce, although mechanically easier because it's mainly clicking with your mouse cursor.”
- “The gameplay took me a little getting used to but is very unique.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
89%
5%
5%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful artwork, fluid animations, and engaging aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the distinct art style and well-designed environments, although some note that the animations can feel floaty, reminiscent of mobile games. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's charm and immersion, making it visually appealing and enjoyable to play.
- “The artwork is phenomenal and gives the game a distinct look; the soundtrack is pretty good as well.”
- “Aesthetic is very pleasing: fluid animation, beautiful backgrounds, and enjoyable soundtrack.”
- “To make the experience even better, you get to enjoy beautiful OST and even greater graphics, both at play level and background that make the fast trip around levels easy on the eyes and maintain the feeling of immersion constantly on high.”
- “The music is very generic and the graphics and animations feel floaty, something expected from a mobile game.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
79%
21%
The music in the game has received generally positive feedback, with many players appreciating its engaging and immersive qualities that enhance the overall experience. While some describe it as generic, others highlight its ability to complement the game's beautiful graphics and fluid animations without becoming irritating over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a solid aspect of the game, contributing to its enjoyable atmosphere.
- “The artwork is phenomenal and gives the game a distinct look; the soundtrack is pretty good as well.”
- “Aesthetic is very pleasing: fluid animation, beautiful backgrounds, and enjoyable soundtrack.”
- “The visuals are pretty nice (reminds me a bit of Ori) and the music is pretty solid; it doesn't get irritating to listen to over and over and definitely helps the mood of the game as you're going through levels.”
- “The music is very generic, and the graphics and animations feel floaty, something expected from a mobile game.”
- “None of the music or effects bothered me, even after hearing them repeatedly while trying a level.”
- “The music and story are both pretty much write-offs, but the rest of the game is good enough that for platforming fans, this is probably worth a look.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The story is relatively simple and brief, typically lasting 2-4 hours, and serves primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay, which features engaging mechanics and fluid controls. While the narrative and music may not stand out, the overall experience is enjoyable enough for platforming fans to appreciate.
- “You get to enjoy a rather simple story that eventually translates into the regular change of backgrounds, but not before you pass through the boss of that section, always present with refreshing and clever playing mechanics.”
- “The controls are very fluid, gameplay is super smooth, and there's actually a story too!”
- “The story may take 2-4 hours on average or maybe less.”
- “The story may take 2-4 hours on average, or maybe even less.”
- “The music and story are both pretty much write-offs, but the rest of the game is good enough that for platforming fans, this is probably worth a look.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game offers moderate replayability through secondary objectives and the challenge of balancing speed runs with power runs, as well as hidden secrets in some levels. However, once players achieve all stars in each level, the replayability diminishes significantly, leaving limited incentives for further play.
- “Sometimes it's simply not possible to both speed run and power run, so it adds that extra challenge and replayability, with some levels having secrets to be found.”
- “Limited replayability; once you have all stars per level, there's nothing else to do.”
- “Sometimes it's simply not possible to both speed run and power run, which adds an extra challenge and replayability, with some levels having secrets to be found.”
- “Secondary objectives give more replayability if you are up for an additional challenge.”