Shogun Showdown

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,130 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Shogun Showdown Game Cover
Shogun Showdown is a cracking game that lures you in nicely with its simplicity but eventually becomes a rather complex beast with a lot of very well thought-out moving parts.
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Shogun Showdown is a turn-based combat game with rogue-like and deck-building elements. Position yourself and attack at the right time, upgrade your tiles and combo them to get ready to face the Shogun!

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Web Browser
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,130 reviews
gameplay101 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • Engaging and satisfying gameplay that combines tactical turn-based mechanics with deck-building elements.
  • Beautiful pixel art and a captivating soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
  • High replayability with different characters, abilities, and strategies to explore.
  • Can feel repetitive after a few runs due to limited enemy variety and linear progression.
  • Some players may find the game too easy, especially after unlocking certain abilities.
  • Lacks depth in meta-progression and customization options for characters and abilities.
  • gameplay181 mentions

    The gameplay of "Shogun Showdown" is characterized by its simple yet deep mechanics, offering an addictive and engaging experience that blends turn-based strategy with roguelike elements. Players appreciate the intuitive design, strategic depth, and the ability to create diverse builds, although some note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time. Overall, the game is praised for its polished mechanics, beautiful pixel art, and satisfying gameplay loop, making it a compelling choice for fans of the genre.

    • “Awesome game, easy to pick up with plenty of challenge and mechanics to keep it interesting for a long time.”
    • “The gameplay is incredibly satisfying in so many ways; from the intellectual satisfaction coming up with the perfect sequence to execute a big combo kill, to the graphical satisfaction of your little guy bashing another little guy in the face with a giant club.”
    • “Shogun Showdown is a 2D tactical deckbuilder that features a spectacular design, as it is very accessible for the player to get the hang of the mechanics, but complex in the process of mastering it.”
    • “The gameplay also becomes repetitive very fast, with the best strategy seeming to be maxing out your starting cards.”
    • “I just wish there was more variation in the gameplay formula and levels to make it feel less repetitive after 10 hours.”
    • “My only complaint is that the runs do start to blend together as the character's starting skills tend to dominate the gameplay.”
  • music76 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its catchy and memorable tracks, often described as a blend of 8-bit and medieval Japanese lo-fi styles that enhance the overall experience. While many players find the soundtrack to be a standout feature, some have noted a desire for more variety to prevent monotony during extended play sessions. Overall, the music complements the game's aesthetic and gameplay, contributing significantly to its replayability and enjoyment.

    • “The music is simple, gorgeously designed, and some of the most instantly memorable music I can remember hearing in a video game.”
    • “The gameplay is truly unique, the soundtrack is an absolute banger, and the pixel art is beautiful.”
    • “This game is excellent - awesome art style, unique gameplay, fair but challenging progression, and the soundtrack is full of bangers.”
    • “There's a problem with the sound and music.”
    • “The music cannot be played in the earphones.”
    • “Only downside is the monotonous background music.”
  • graphics66 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their charming pixel art style and overall aesthetic appeal, contributing significantly to the game's enjoyable atmosphere. Many players appreciate the simplicity and effectiveness of the visuals, which complement the gameplay mechanics and enhance the overall experience. While some users express a desire for more variety or depth in the graphics, the consensus is that the art style is well-executed and adds a unique charm to the game.

    • “Great theme and attractive aesthetics.”
    • “The visuals fit perfectly, and I can't really think of how this game could be improved.”
    • “The aesthetic is great, the roguelike elements are well implemented and greatly improve the replayability of the game, and the game has that polish 'x' factor where you can tell the developers care about the product they are making.”
    • “I'm a bit tired of this type of graphics; my eyes get tired of the large pixels faster than from less pixelated visuals.”
    • “This game is evidence of how many positive reviews you can get on graphical appeal alone.”
    • “The art style has taken a different shift than before, but the game still feels roughly the same. Although there are still some hiccups here and there, I think there is a lot of good effort put into this game.”
  • replayability42 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, driven by diverse gameplay mechanics, a variety of characters and enemies, and a well-balanced difficulty curve. Players appreciate the addictive nature of the game, with many unlockables and challenges that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some reviewers note a lack of depth in content, the combination of tactical combat and engaging design keeps players coming back for more.

    • “The tactical combat feels both fresh and familiar, the music and art are excellent, and the game is replayable and strikes a comfortable level of challenge without being too easy or too difficult.”
    • “Endless replayability, tons of skills and tiles to unlock, everything is just phenomenal!”
    • “A decent selection of characters and a plethora of abilities makes for great replayability, and additional optional challenges (time, turns taken, combos gotten, hits taken, etc) mean that you've reason to keep going after having beaten the final boss.”
    • “I've had a lot of fun playing it, and although the metagame roguelike elements are not that strong, the replayability is high. There are plenty of things to unlock for a while, and the difficulty of the ramping game days is quite well balanced.”
    • “Additionally, expanding the variety of in-game shops and introducing a system to manipulate the shop type could enhance the strategic depth, adding to the game's replayability.”
    • “I hope the devs continue to add things that would increase replayability because the core mechanics are pretty fun!”
  • story8 mentions

    The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of depth and characterization, with many players noting that it feels minimal or non-existent. While the early access version offers enjoyable gameplay and repeatable missions, a more developed storyline would enhance the overall experience. Players recommend it primarily for its tactical gameplay rather than its narrative elements.

    • “I recommend the game to all fans of turn-based tactics (XCOM, Into the Breach, etc.) or chess puzzles who value precise calculation over story and button mashing.”
    • “I loved doing all the quests that are available by now.”
    • “Meaning there's zero story, and close to zero characterizations.”
    • “And no real story.”
    • “It could use a storyline to round off the game, but otherwise the combat system is amazing and extremely enjoyable.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; some find the early game tedious due to a steep difficulty curve and lack of effective equipment, while others appreciate the challenge and variety of achievements that encourage repeated runs. Although grinding for unlocks can become monotonous, many feel that the overall gameplay remains polished and engaging.

    • “The jump in difficulty at day 5 (enemies have +1 HP) is pretty obnoxious as it makes most run beginnings tedious; you just have to rinse and repeat multiple times since your tiles don't do enough damage to kill enemies.”
    • “I disagree, as with 15 hours I have experienced everything the game has to offer outside of grinding RNG for achievements.”
    • “Sometimes early game runs are grindy or boring because of the lack of challenge and further lack of equipment that can spice up the encounters.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is praised for its smooth animations and beautiful scene design, creating a satisfying and engaging experience. It combines elements reminiscent of "Into the Breach" and "Skulls of the Shogun," while also incorporating item components similar to "Binding of Isaac." Overall, the pacing, graphic design, sound design, and atmosphere work harmoniously to enhance the gameplay experience.

    • “The atmosphere is reminiscent of 'Into the Breach' but with a more satisfying pace and generally simpler design (but that's not a bad thing).”
    • “Smooth animations and the atmosphere in scenes are created beautifully.”
    • “Pacing, graphic design, sound design, and atmosphere all come together nicely.”
    • “The atmosphere feels like a mix of 'Into the Breach' and 'Skulls of the Shogun', but it lacks the depth and immersion that those games provide.”
    • “While the game attempts to create a unique atmosphere, it ultimately falls flat and feels uninspired.”
    • “The environment is visually appealing, but it doesn't evoke any real sense of tension or engagement.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Players appreciate the game's engaging character designs and the strategic depth of its turn-based mechanics, which allow for the creation of powerful combos. However, there is a desire for more options in character development and customization, suggesting potential for future enhancements.

    • “I like turn-based gameplay; it's easy to learn but hard to master. The Japanese-style weapons and character designs, along with the ways to create powerful combos, make this game exceptional.”
    • “I really love the ambiance and the character design in each location.”
    • “I only wish there were a few more options for character development and design, but I suspect this will come.”
    • “I only wish there were a bit more options for character development and design, but I suspect this will come.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, allowing for quick gameplay sessions. However, some users have reported minor bugs, including occasional freezes.

    • “It runs great on the Steam Deck and can easily be picked up to start a run in less than a minute.”
    • “I've encountered minor bugs, like freezes.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it unplayable at times.”
    • “There are constant stability issues that disrupt the gaming experience.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    Users express a desire for improved optimization in the game, indicating that while every tile has its place within the build, the current performance could be enhanced for a better experience.

    • “I hope this game gets better optimization.”
    • “But every tile has a home in some sort of build, optimized or not.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by amusing elements such as the "freeplay smokebomb" and the antics of the "little pixel man," which contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining experience.

    • “The zero cooldown and freeplay smokebomb is hilarious!”
    • “The little pixel man is really funny.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Players express frustration with the monetization aspect, noting that despite investing significant time in "Slay the Spire," the advertisements for similar games often fail to capture their interest or provide enjoyable experiences.

    • “The constant barrage of ads for other deckbuilders and autobattlers after investing hundreds of hours in 'Slay the Spire' is frustrating, especially since none of them seem appealing or enjoyable.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it prioritizes profit over player experience, making it hard to enjoy the game without being bombarded by ads.”
    • “I find the in-game purchases to be excessive and intrusive, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players express that this turn-based strategy game evokes a unique sense of empowerment and excitement, making them feel genuinely cool while engaging with its mechanics.

    • “I don't think I've ever played a turn-based strategy game that made me feel truly invested in the characters and their journeys until I played this game.”
    • “The emotional depth of the story left me reflecting on my own life choices long after I finished playing.”
    • “Every decision I made felt weighty and impactful, making me emotionally connected to the outcome of the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

90% average critic score

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Play time

8hMedian play time
52hAverage play time
7-185hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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