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Shiner

Shiner Game Cover
91%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics
Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, optimization
91% User Score Based on 160 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
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Shiner Game Cover

About Shiner

Shiner is a single player tactical role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Team Shiner and was released on March 17, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

Learn every attack that gets used against you in this turn-based strategy game. Meet (and battle) a colorful cast of fully voice-acted characters as you search for the bully who wronged you.

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Shiner screenshot
Shiner screenshot
Shiner screenshot
Shiner screenshot
Shiner screenshot
Shiner screenshot
Shiner screenshot
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Reviews

91%Audience ScoreBased on 160 reviews
gameplay14 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • Unique and clever combat system combining turn-based RPG and puzzle elements, where players learn and customize abilities by defeating enemies.
  • Charming and expressive art style with memorable characters and humorous, sometimes thoughtful dialogue, enhanced by notable voice acting.
  • Engaging and varied battles requiring strategic experimentation and problem-solving, with a pacing that encourages replayability despite its short length.
  • No save feature, forcing players to complete the game in one sitting and making retries frustrating, especially given the trial-and-error nature and length.
  • Some roughness in voice acting quality and sound mixing, giving an amateurish feel at times despite overall charm.
  • Certain battles feel constrained with only one viable solution, and the ending(s) lack satisfying conclusion or additional content, leading to an anticlimactic finish.

  • gameplay

    33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    42% positive mentions, 49% neutral mentions, 9% negative mentions

    The gameplay is praised for its fresh, engaging puzzle-battle mechanics that evolve with new moves and strategic possibilities, creating a consistently entertaining loop. The game's core mechanic of learning enemy abilities adds depth and rewards experimentation, though some players find the experience brief and certain mechanics underexplained. Overall, it delivers a unique, memorable RPG-style gameplay that many wish were extended into a larger game.

    • “Every area introduces new personalities, new mechanics, and increasingly strange combat scenarios that keep the experience fresh from beginning to end.”
    • “Certain combat mechanics and build combinations are so entertaining that it becomes easy to imagine a much larger version of the game with even more enemies and strategic possibilities.”
    • “The adventure can typically be completed within a few hours, which allows the gameplay loop to stay consistently entertaining without becoming repetitive.”
    • “Some players who prefer longer RPG experiences may feel the adventure concludes just as its mechanics are reaching their most chaotic and interesting stage.”
    • “Certain mechanics aren't explained very well, requiring you to pay attention to what actually happens when using a skill instead of relying on the given description.”
    • “As much as there is to be said about the art style and characters, the story is pretty dull and the gameplay is difficult without much explanation.”

  • graphics

    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    38% positive mentions, 49% neutral mentions, 13% negative mentions

    The game features a charming, colorful, and distinctive hand-drawn art style with expressive animations that enhance the combat experience, earning widespread praise for its cute and engaging visuals. While some appreciate the polished aesthetic and character design, others note technical flaws and simplicity that reflect its student-developed origins. Overall, the graphics contribute strongly to the game's fun and unique atmosphere despite occasional roughness.

    • “The colorful art style gives every character a distinctive identity, while the exaggerated animations make attacks feel expressive and entertaining regardless of how simple the visuals may initially appear.”
    • “Pretty cool concept and really cute art style, combined with surprisingly amazing dialogue and banger music (the bar music slaps so hard)!”
    • “I love the art style, the puzzle design, and the gameplay loop.”
    • “It's a badly made, unpolished and bug ridden mess... and to cap it off, not only did Digipen think it unnecessary to teach game students in 2023 how to do 3D graphics, they also didn't bother teaching them how to make a save game system, so you lose all your progress when the game crashes due to all the bugs.”
    • “One of the first things students should be taught in game development is that 3D graphics became mainstream in the mid 1990's with dedicated 3D cards like the Voodoo3 and the ATI Rage.”
    • “You can just claim the graphics is the art style, since it's developed by students.”

  • humor

    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The humor in the game is praised for its quirky characters, creative combat chaos, and witty writing that blends comedy with thoughtful themes, especially around violence. Players enjoy the game's ability to turn battles into amusing social interactions and experimental fun, supported by strong voice performances and comedic timing. While humor resonates well with most, it may not appeal to everyone due to its tone and message.

    • “Every encounter feels memorable because the world is filled with quirky, expressive, and genuinely funny characters who each possess their own unique energy and combat style.”
    • “The game openly embraces this chaos, turning every battle into an opportunity to discover another strange strategy or hilariously broken build.”
    • “The performances contribute heavily to the game’s comedic timing and emotional energy, helping the humor land naturally without feeling forced.”

  • music

    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    73% positive mentions, 27% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The music is widely praised for being catchy, well-produced, and a standout feature of the game, with some tracks described as "bangers" and deserving of awards. While the sound design and music receive strong positive remarks, occasional issues with voice acting and sound mixing are noted. Overall, the soundtrack greatly enhances the game's charm and appeal.

    • “Pretty cool concept and really cute art style, combined with surprisingly amazing dialogue and banger music (the bar music slaps so hard)!”
    • “I like almost everything about this game, the music, the characters, the idea, and the smoothness of animation.”
    • “The art, voice acting, and music are great throughout as well!”

  • story

    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    40% positive mentions, 30% neutral mentions, 30% negative mentions

    The story is generally regarded as simple yet enjoyable, with some players appreciating the character interactions and overall narrative despite its straightforward nature. While certain critiques mention the story as dull or lacking depth, the game compensates with engaging mechanics and options like "one-punch mode" to reduce frustration and keep players invested. Overall, the story complements the game's charm, though there's room for expansion and further development.

    • “Players who struggle with certain encounters can activate “one-punch mode,” a feature designed to reduce frustration and allow everyone to enjoy the story and character interactions regardless of skill level.”
    • “Toooo good, has room for story, lovable characters, great game overall, play it now.”
    • “If they continue to create polished games with solid mechanics and voice work/story, the graphics will change and morph to fit that vision.”
    • “And ok, the story is bad; true, there is no save feature; but the mechanism works so well and the game is free and I recommend it.”
    • “As much as there is to be said about the art style and characters, the story is pretty dull and the gameplay is difficult without much explanation.”
    • “While I knew the story, I didn't really know how the combat unfolded in its puzzle design, and by bad luck combined with good game design to guide me, on my first blind playthrough I fought every enemy in exactly the least productive order, losing almost every single fight on the first try without the correct tools available from other enemies.”

  • emotional

    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game blends humor and emotional depth by portraying combat as chaotic social interactions among complex companions, supported by strong performances that enhance comedic timing and emotional energy. Its mature writing and wholesome, meaningful ending contribute to a heartfelt experience, with charming, authentic art and voice acting adding to its appeal.

    • “The idea of fighting your own friends becomes part of the humor, with the game treating combat less like violent conflict and more like chaotic social interaction between emotionally complicated companions.”
    • “The performances contribute heavily to the game’s comedic timing and emotional energy, helping the humor land naturally without feeling forced.”
    • “A wonderful game written with an emotional maturity not often seen, the janky art and voice acting just circles back to the charm and authenticity on display.”

  • grinding

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    Grinding in the game is generally seen as tedious and unenjoyable, exacerbated by unskippable cutscenes and animations, lack of shortcuts, and an absent save system. While progression through experimentation is initially satisfying, the repetitive nature and slow pacing diminish the fun, especially on subsequent playthroughs.

    • “This proved as tedious and not so fun, due to the unskippable cutscenes, slow unskippable battle animations and turns, no shortcuts, lack of a save system, how uninteresting the game got on a second playthrough after knowing the right route to solve all the puzzles, and the tedium of some of the achievements.”

  • atmosphere

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game's lighthearted dialogue, lively interactions, and vibrant presentation create a polished, energetic atmosphere that keeps the adventure engaging and entertaining throughout, surpassing expectations for a smaller student-developed project.

    • “The dialogue and interactions maintain a lighthearted atmosphere that keeps the adventure consistently entertaining even during more difficult encounters.”
    • “Combined with the fast pacing and colorful presentation, the voice acting gives the game a polished and energetic atmosphere that elevates the overall experience far beyond what might be expected from a smaller student-developed project.”

  • optimization

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 100% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game's optimization ensures smooth performance that enhances comedic timing and emotional impact, allowing humor to feel natural and well-paced.

  • replayability

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game's short runtime enhances replayability by motivating players to experiment with various attack combinations and refine strategies for challenging battles.

    • “The compact runtime encourages replayability, especially for players interested in experimenting with different attack combinations or discovering more efficient strategies for difficult fights.”

  • stability

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    The game suffers from numerous bugs and frequent crashes, resulting in a frustratingly unstable experience. Additionally, the lack of a save system means players risk losing all progress when the game crashes.

    • “It's a badly made, unpolished, and bug-ridden mess. To top it off, not only did DigiPen neglect to teach game students in 2023 how to implement 3D graphics, but they also didn't bother teaching them how to create a save game system, resulting in lost progress whenever the game crashes due to numerous bugs.”

  • character development

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    Character development is praised for its unique and memorable designs, making the characters stand out and enhancing the overall experience.

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Play Times

2h Median play time
2h Average play time
2-2h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Shiner is a tactical role playing game with fantasy theme. Common tags for Shiner include free to play, turn-based, linear, exploration, 2.5d and others.

Shiner is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing Shiner.

Shiner was released on March 17, 2023.

Shiner was developed by Team Shiner.

Shiner has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked Shiner for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Shiner is a single player game.

Similar games include Druidstone: The Secret of the Menhir Forest, TINYFOLKS, Dicefolk, Transistor, Dice Gambit and others.