Showgunners

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 762 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Showgunners Game Cover
ShowGunners is a fantastic-looking game that delivers violence and gameplay in droves. If you're looking for something none-too taxing then this could be right up your alley! Not sure yet? Try the demo first!
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"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."

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 762 reviews
story114 positive mentions
stability14 negative mentions
  • Engaging turn-based combat that feels rewarding and strategic, with unique character abilities.
  • Creative and colorful setting inspired by 'The Running Man', with a fun and humorous tone.
  • Handcrafted levels and puzzles that keep gameplay fresh and interesting throughout the campaign.
  • Limited replayability due to linear story progression and lack of character customization.
  • Some technical issues, including occasional crashes and camera glitches during combat.
  • The exploration segments can feel tedious and detract from the overall pacing of the game.
  • story339 mentions

    The story of *Showgunners* is a straightforward revenge narrative set in a dystopian world reminiscent of 80s action films like *The Running Man* and *Death Race*. While some reviewers found the plot basic and predictable, many appreciated its engaging delivery through well-crafted animations and character interactions, which kept players invested throughout the campaign. Overall, the narrative serves as a solid backdrop for the tactical gameplay, though it lacks depth and replayability, leaving room for potential expansions or sequels.

    • “The game provides a nice context for the series of battles, telling Maria/Scarlett's story along the way.”
    • “The story is as simple as it is fitting, which makes the ending even more rewarding.”
    • “Great story, fun level design with gimmicks, and a light upgrade system that does not overwhelm.”
    • “The story is extremely lackluster, to the point where I really wonder why they even bothered.”
    • “The plot is okay, it's running man meets roller ball.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay215 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is primarily turn-based tactical combat reminiscent of XCOM, featuring a mix of exploration and puzzle-solving elements that keep the experience engaging. While many players appreciate the unique character abilities and streamlined mechanics, some note that the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth in certain areas. Overall, it offers a solid, polished experience with a fun atmosphere and enjoyable mechanics, making it a worthwhile choice for fans of the genre.

    • “Really interesting take on the TRPG formula, with handcrafted levels that often come with an unexpected twist, decent enemy variety, and an interesting blend of mechanics. Alongside the turn-based fights, you can explore some areas in real-time, which adds depth to the gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is so brutal and fun, especially with its turn-based combat, cool abilities, and synergies between them. It takes the gameplay of nu-XCOM, streamlines and iterates on it just enough to nail that mix of the familiar and comfortable with the new and exciting.”
    • “The combination of tactical gameplay, exceptional graphics, and a captivating storyline makes it a must-play for fans of the turn-based genre.”
    • “Unfortunately, the rest of the schmucks they throw at you are extremely one-dimensional mechanically.”
    • “Overall, gameplay can get repetitive after a while.”
    • “A disappointment in all areas, gameplay is simply a dumbed down version of XCOM.”
  • graphics90 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many users praising the vibrant art style, detailed environments, and engaging animations that enhance the overall atmosphere. While some players experienced performance issues, particularly with Nvidia drivers, the visuals were often described as colorful, cartoonish, and fitting well within the cyberpunk aesthetic. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, despite occasional lag and minor glitches.

    • “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.”
    • “Had constant crashes until I disabled NVIDIA drivers in the graphics options; then it ran smooth, although obviously the graphics sucked after.”
    • “Things that are just... okay: Scarlet, the main protagonist, is 2-dimensional, both in visual aesthetic as well as backstory/character.”
    • “Graphics: I mean, if you're playing a tactical game for the graphics, then you were probably born on opposite day.”
  • replayability58 mentions

    Overall, the game has limited replayability due to its linear structure, lack of branching paths, and fixed character options, which restrict players to a single playthrough experience. While some players find enjoyment in the core gameplay enough to replay it, many reviewers suggest that the absence of diverse choices and procedural elements significantly diminishes its long-term appeal. The game is recommended for a one-time playthrough, especially at a discounted price, but those seeking extensive replay value may be disappointed.

    • “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.”
    • “If you base replay value strictly on how many different things you can do in multiple playthroughs, you might be disappointed.”
    • “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.”
  • music50 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and fitting soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere. While some players found the high tempo music distracting in a turn-based context, the majority appreciated the nostalgic and thematic elements reminiscent of classic titles. Overall, the soundtrack is described as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience and enjoyment.

    • “The music and theming are perfect; I have nostalgia for playing Ratchet: Deadlocked, and the same style of bombastic music and blow-by-blow announcing reminded me of that.”
    • “Wrap it all up with a setting and story straight out of Running Man, complete with some surprisingly good writing and voice acting, and top it all off with an absolutely killer soundtrack, and you've got an addicting and satisfying package.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “The music suits the game process fine, although there is nothing special about it.”
  • atmosphere36 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant graphics, immersive sound design, and unique blend of themes reminiscent of a cyberpunk game show. Reviewers highlight the engaging environments and character interactions that enhance the overall experience, creating a rich and dynamic setting that complements the gameplay. While some find elements of the atmosphere to be somewhat generic, the overall consensus is that it effectively sets the mood and tone, making for an enticing and memorable experience.

    • “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.”
    • “The graphics and audio really help to build the atmosphere - everything runs without glitches, and the music pumps your adrenaline!”
    • “But it feels a bit generic if you look into story, atmosphere and overall style and aesthetics.”
    • “A pretty good-looking XCOM-like game with lots of gore and Manhunt's cyberpunk atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere and ambience is just delicious.”
  • humor20 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its cheeky and irreverent tone, with players enjoying the funny dialogue, humorous tooltips, and entertaining commentary throughout gameplay. The combination of dark humor, gory visuals, and quirky character interactions adds a unique charm, making it a fun distraction despite some concerns about replayability. Overall, the game successfully blends tactical combat with a lighthearted approach, appealing to fans of both turn-based strategy and comedic elements.

    • “A lot of fun, this game has a great sense of humor and is well worth the price.”
    • “Love the hilarious commentary as you go along and the irreverent humor throughout.”
    • “Kudos to the person leaving humorous tooltips on every piece of loot and the artists that did a portrait for every single NPC.”
  • stability17 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report a generally smooth experience with minor glitches, some encounter more significant issues such as freezing and graphical errors. The game runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck, but certain bugs can disrupt gameplay and immersion, particularly during critical moments. Despite these inconsistencies, many players 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.”
    • “There are some glitches here and there, sometimes you get stuck or the enemy HP goes into negative numbers at one particular level towards the end of the game, which could be irritating (especially if you need to load the game).”
    • “The gameplay is buggy and inconsistent.”
    • “However, technical issues and glitches pulled me out of the story and put me into troubleshooting mode.”
  • optimization16 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with smooth performance on various systems, including the Steam Deck and moderate rigs. While some players experienced minor stuttering and occasional bugs, these issues did not significantly detract from the gameplay experience. The game offers a range of audio and video settings, allowing players to tweak performance to their liking, and it runs well even with demanding graphics settings.

    • “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).”
    • “I've not experienced any bugs beyond a few odd animations, no crashes, and the performance is generally rock solid throughout (which is not a guarantee for a UE game!).”
    • “Game functions perfectly so far with a pleasant and responsive UI, decent graphics with fair options to tweak in the menu to get performance where you want it.”
    • “I had some technical issues with stuttering, but had it not been for that, I would highly suggest this game.”
    • “Some traps can instantly kill you, and I got some badly timed stuttering that removed my save file.”
    • “There's a lot of particle effects that can make performance drop a bit, and that was a particular problem in later cutscenes.”
  • grinding12 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While the core gameplay and combat are enjoyable, some sections, particularly exploration and certain gameplay loops, can feel tedious and drag on, especially during replay. However, many agree that the game avoids excessive grinding, allowing for a relatively smooth experience without overstaying its welcome.

    • “However, on a replay, it might end up being a bit tedious.”
    • “It isn't really hard, it just gets tedious.”
    • “The whole exploration layer feels a bit tedious and doesn't add much to the game at all.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally perceived as limited and linear, with players expressing disappointment over the lack of depth and variety in character progression and skills. While the character and enemy designs are praised, many feel that the potential for more engaging character arcs and diverse build paths is underutilized, resulting in a missed opportunity for richer storytelling.

    • “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.”
    • “Light character development.”
    • “Replayability might be the only issue I have because the storyline is linear and character development is linear too.”
    • “Not much in terms of character development and skills, and you will eventually max out everything.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    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 character development or companion relationships. 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.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviewers note that the game's monetization is intricately woven into its immersive design, featuring commercial advertisements that enhance the atmosphere while also serving as a revenue source. The careful placement of these ads alongside the game's handcrafted elements creates a unique blend of immersion and commercialism.

    • “The blatant commercial advertisements throughout the game completely break immersion and feel forced.”
    • “The monetization strategy is overly aggressive, making it difficult to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “It feels like the game is designed more to extract money from players than to provide a rewarding experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

81% average critic score

Buy Showgunners

Play time

19hMedian play time
18hAverage play time
13-24hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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