Showgunners

About

"Showgunners is a single-player turn-based strategy game set in a dystopian future where corporations rule. As contestant Scarlett Martillo, you seek revenge in a brutal reality show filled with traps and armed psychopaths. Hand-crafted stages, dynamic level design, recruitable partners, and character upgrades create a challenging and delightful tactical experience, although it can be quite buggy."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 936 reviews

story145 positive mentions

stability18 negative mentions

Engaging tactical combat that feels rewarding and allows for creative strategies.
Unique and immersive setting as a dystopian game show, reminiscent of 'The Running Man'.
Well-designed characters with distinct abilities and a fun progression system.

Limited replayability due to linear story and character progression.
Exploration and puzzle-solving sections can feel tedious and detract from the overall experience.
Some technical issues, including crashes and camera bugs, particularly on Steam Deck.

story
434 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
64%
3%
The story of "Showgunners" is a straightforward revenge narrative set in a dystopian future reminiscent of 80s action films, particularly drawing inspiration from "The Running Man." While the plot is generally simple and linear, it effectively engages players through its unique setting, well-designed characters, and immersive storytelling techniques, including graphic novel-style illustrations. Although some players found the story lacking depth and complexity, many appreciated its entertaining execution and the way it complements the tactical gameplay.
- “The story builds up to an antagonist which you will defeat in a very anticlimactic battle and then [spoiler]another mission to defeat the host[/spoiler].”
- “The story is interesting, though not terribly engaging.”
- “The storyline is fun, it's rare for such games to have tricks, new enemies, etc. coming up and making sense but here it all makes sense, as everything is a show and all fights are set-up.”
- “The story is extremely lackluster, to the point where I really wonder why they even bothered.”
- “The story is basic and weak, but it does not matter at all - you are here for the show and the game delivers plenty of it.”
- “The story is bland and fairly predictable, but isn't likely what draws people to the game anyway.”
gameplay
280 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The gameplay of "Showgunners" is characterized by its engaging turn-based tactics, reminiscent of the XCOM series, but streamlined to enhance accessibility and enjoyment. Players appreciate the mix of tactical combat and real-time exploration, with unique character abilities and a variety of mechanics that keep encounters fresh, though some find the gameplay can become repetitive over time. Overall, it offers a solid, fun experience with a compelling premise, though it may lack depth and complexity compared to other titles in the genre.
- “Showgunners is a fantastic turn-based tactics game that evolves gameplay elements in a way the XCOM reboots struggled to.”
- “The gameplay itself isn't overly complicated, the story and vibe are spot on, and it's a satisfying experience all the way through.”
- “The gameplay is intuitive, love the graphics and the 90s cinema vibe.”
- “Overall, the gameplay feels really repetitive, and the game becomes stale quickly.”
- “A disappointment in all areas, gameplay is simply dumbed down XCOM.”
- “The puzzle sections are more tedious than tricky, and serve more to pad the gameplay time out.”
graphics
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
41%
3%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their vibrant, comic book-inspired aesthetic and detailed environments, effectively capturing a cyberpunk atmosphere. While many players appreciate the art style and overall visual presentation, some have noted performance issues and optimization challenges, particularly on certain devices. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point of the game, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience.
- “The graphics, atmosphere, and music were just phenomenal!”
- “The graphics are bright and cartoony while staying realistic enough to be awesomely gory.”
- “The attention to detail, layout complexity, and environmental aesthetics are nothing short of amazing.”
- “My main two complaints: firstly, performance is quite poor and/or poorly optimized compared to most games, requiring more effort than usual from the user to make the game pleasantly playable on any given device in terms of graphical settings configuration; and secondly, because I played a large chunk offline on Steam Deck, at least one or two achievements failed to properly unlock.”
- “Had constant crashes until I disabled NVIDIA drivers in the graphics options then it ran smooth, although obviously graphics sucked after.”
- “Graphics: I mean, if you're playing a tactical game for the graphics, then you were probably born on opposite day.”
music
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
36%
4%
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and gameplay experience. While some found the soundtrack to be exceptional and fitting for the game's cyberpunk theme, others noted that it could be repetitive or high-tempo for a turn-based format. Overall, the soundtrack is described as a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's immersive qualities and enjoyment.
- “The atmosphere throughout the whole game was exceptional, as was the soundtrack.”
- “The music is amazing, both in and out of battle, and does a great job of underlining the 'showlights over dystopian slaughter' that is the setting.”
- “An amazing soundtrack and really cool cyberpunk style lift it up above most others in the genre.”
- “The soundtrack wasn't anything to write home about, but it did its job and was never grating or notably absent.”
- “I turned the music off because it's high tempo for a turn-based game, but that's just my brain.”
- “Unless you get annoyed by the repetitive music and announcements.”
replayability
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
68%
14%
Overall, the game exhibits limited replayability due to its linear progression, fixed character choices, and lack of procedural generation or branching paths. While some players find enjoyment in replaying for the fun of the gameplay, many reviewers note that once the campaign is completed, there is little incentive to return, making it more suitable for a single playthrough rather than extended engagement. The consensus suggests that while the game is enjoyable, it may be best experienced on sale, as its replay value does not meet the expectations set by similar titles in the genre.
- “For myself, the most linear of games can hold plenty of replay value if I'm having fun, and I can easily see myself playing this multiple times.”
- “The gameplay is super addicting so far, and I can definitely see myself getting replay value out of this as well.”
- “The game takes about 10-20 hours to beat and has some replayability if you want to increase the difficulty or try out ironman mode.”
- “Limited replayability: the game's levels and scripted campaign may offer limited replay value once completed.”
- “The lack of characters, enemies, and upgrade options reduces the replay value, but overall it's worth a play.”
- “Unfortunately, the game lacks true replayability or new game plus.”
atmosphere
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
34%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its exceptional quality, blending vibrant graphics, immersive sound design, and a unique game show vibe reminiscent of popular culture phenomena like "Squid Game." Reviewers highlight the engaging and often intense ambiance that enhances gameplay, with a mix of humor, gore, and character interactions that create a rich, immersive experience. While some find elements of the atmosphere to be somewhat generic, the overall consensus is that it effectively sets the tone and mood, contributing significantly to the game's identity.
- “The atmosphere through the whole game was exceptional, as was the soundtrack.”
- “The atmosphere is enticing and unique in every episode.”
- “It sets the mood and tone in every scene, creating a rich and immersive atmosphere that resonates with the gameplay's pace and intensity.”
- “But it feels a bit generic if you look into story, atmosphere and overall style and aesthetics.”
- “It adds to the game show atmosphere but honestly, if it wasn't there I wouldn't have missed it.”
- “The atmosphere and ambience is just delicious.”
humor
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cheeky, irreverent tone, with players enjoying the funny dialogue, quirky character interactions, and humorous tooltips. The combination of dark humor and gory visuals adds to the overall enjoyment, making it a fun distraction that complements the tactical gameplay. While some found the humor to be a highlight, others noted that the lack of replayability diminished its long-term appeal.
- “Love the vibes, aesthetic, humor, atmosphere, sound design, and soundtrack.”
- “Kudos to the person leaving humorous tooltips on every piece of loot and the artists that did a portrait for every single NPC.”
- “Love the hilarious commentary as you go along and the irreverent humor throughout.”
optimization
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
45%
23%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some players experiencing performance issues, particularly on lower-end devices and during specific scenarios like cutscenes. However, many users report smooth gameplay, especially on the Steam Deck and moderate rigs, with solid performance and minimal stuttering overall. While some minor bugs and crashes were noted, the general consensus leans towards good optimization, allowing for enjoyable gameplay with customizable settings.
- “The game has good optimization.”
- “As for optimization, the game runs excellently on Steam Deck, and with half-shading enabled, you can play for up to 5 hours without recharging (on maximum graphics settings, up to 3 hours).”
- “Excellent optimization - zero stutter or frame pacing issues.”
- “My main two complaints: firstly, performance is quite poor and/or poorly optimized compared to most games, requiring more effort than usual from the user to make the game pleasantly playable on any given device in terms of graphical settings configuration; and secondly, because I played a large chunk offline on Steam Deck, at least one or two achievements failed to unlock properly.”
- “I had some technical issues with stuttering, but had it not been for that, I would highly suggest this game.”
- “There's a lot of particle effects that can make performance drop a bit, and that was a particular problem in later cutscenes.”
stability
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players report smooth performance and minimal bugs, others have encountered frustrating glitches, freezes, and camera issues that can disrupt gameplay. Some users experienced specific problems, such as getting stuck or encountering graphical glitches, particularly on the Steam Deck. Despite these inconsistencies, many still find the game enjoyable and engaging.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “Bug-free, well balanced, and it scratched that XCOM 2 itch for me.”
- “We should be more generous to games that release bug-free, fun, with a great idea and great execution; this one is a sleeper that deserves a very positive rating, in my opinion.”
- “And the game can suffer from some freezes or camera bugs.”
- “There are some glitches here and there, sometimes you get stuck or the enemy HP goes into minus numbers at one particular level towards the end of the game, which could be irritating (especially if you need to load the game).”
- “However, technical issues/glitches pulled me out of the story and put me into troubleshooting mode.”
grinding
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some sections, particularly exploration and puzzles, are described as tedious and padding for gameplay time, they do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment. Many reviewers appreciate the lack of excessive grinding in combat and the ability to progress without long waits, though some note that replaying may reveal more tedious elements.
- “If you play the DLC missions, they are very grindy.”
- “The puzzle sections are more tedious than tricky, and serve more to pad the gameplay time out.”
- “The stuff in between combat is at best a tedious time waster, but the combat is pretty fun.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Character development in the game is generally perceived as limited, with players noting a lack of depth and variety in skills and progression. While the character design is praised for its clarity and distinct roles, the linear nature of both the storyline and character development leaves many feeling that there is untapped potential for more engaging growth and customization. Overall, the consensus suggests that enhancing character development could significantly improve the game's replayability and overall experience.
- “I like the character design a lot, with each teammate having a well-defined role, though I wish each character had different build paths for the sake of variety.”
- “Very solid level, enemy, and character design.”
- “With some more character development and skills, and some more weapon choices, it could be really good.”
- “Light character development.”
- “With some more character development and skills, and more weapon choices, it could be really good; too bad.”
- “Not much in terms of character development and skills, and you will eventually max out everything.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that while the game features interactions with teammates in a hub world, it lacks depth in exploring the protagonist's emotional state and does not offer meaningful companion relationships or reputation systems. Players engage more with the story and setting rather than experiencing a profound emotional connection.
- “Sure, we will meet a lot of people with her, but we never really understand her emotional state.”
- “Between stages, you visit a hub world to talk to your teammates; there's no research, no companion reputation, you're mostly just there to engage with the story and setting a bit more, like touching down on the Citadel in Mass Effect 1.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization aspect of the game is highlighted by the presence of blatant commercial advertisements, which some players feel detracts from the immersive experience created by the meticulously designed levels and environments.
- “The blatant commercial advertisements detract from the overall experience, making it feel more like a cash grab than a genuine game.”
- “The monetization strategy is overly aggressive, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
- “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, forcing players to choose between spending money or missing out on key content.”