Skulls of the Shogun

Skulls of the Shogun doesn’t go out of its way to outclass its genre’s peers, but that’s okay. You would be hard-pressed to think of any other downloadable turn-based strategy games out there, that are this different and offering fresh ideas. Here’s hoping for an even meatier expansion down the line.

86%Game Brain Score

gameplay, humor

grinding, atmosphere

86% User Score Based on 423 reviews

Critic Score 83%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $3.75

Buy NowGet on Steam$9.99

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About

Skulls of the Shogun is a turn-based strategy game where you play as a samurai general, Akamoto, who leads an army of zombie warriors in the afterlife to conquer its four areas and defeat the Shogun. Consume the skulls of fallen enemies to strengthen your units, and employ tactics like ambushing and flanking to outsmart your foes. The game also features a laundery list of multiplayer modes for you and your friends to test your strategic might.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 368 reviews

gameplay37 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Skulls of the Shogun offers a unique and engaging turn-based strategy experience with a humorous storyline and charming art style.
The gameplay mechanics are simple yet deep, allowing for strategic planning and rewarding smart plays, especially with the limited unit actions per turn.
The game features a well-designed single-player campaign that is both challenging and entertaining, with plenty of replayability through various objectives and multiplayer options.

The multiplayer component is often empty, making it difficult to find matches, which limits the game's longevity for those seeking competitive play.
Some players find the user interface and controls clunky, particularly when managing multiple units in close proximity, leading to frustration during gameplay.
While the game is generally well-received, some critics note that the difficulty can spike unexpectedly, making certain levels feel unfair or overly challenging.

gameplay
91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
56%
3%
The gameplay is characterized by its streamlined and accessible turn-based mechanics that emphasize quick decision-making and strategic depth, allowing players to combine simple actions for complex outcomes. While the game is easy to pick up, it offers enough variety and challenge to keep both newcomers and veterans engaged, featuring humorous dialogue and a charming aesthetic. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its balance, smooth execution, and the ability to maintain interest over extended play sessions, despite some criticisms regarding depth and occasional repetitiveness.
- “Each individual mechanic is beautifully simple and easy to both understand and execute; the game's depth comes from combining different mechanics to overcome your opponents.”
- “Gone are the days of lengthy battles and complicated mechanics – instead, the game focuses on quick decision-making and strategic thinking, allowing for fast-paced and dynamic gameplay that keeps you on your toes.”
- “The mechanics of the game are simple but allow a tremendous range of strategies.”
- “The gameplay is rather shallow, the controls annoying more than anything, and still has its fair share of bugs.”
- “Pretty art with crap gameplay and rigged mechanics ruins what could've been a good game.”
- “The art direction is top-notch, but the gameplay itself gets meh very quickly.”
humor
91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"Skulls of the Shogun" is widely praised for its humor, featuring witty dialogue, quirky characters, and a charming narrative set in a humorous rendition of the Japanese afterlife. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend strategic gameplay with comedic elements, resulting in a fun and engaging experience, although some feel that certain meta jokes may not have aged well. Overall, the humor is a standout aspect that enhances the game's appeal, making it both entertaining and memorable.
- “The dialogue is witty and engaging, with plenty of humorous moments and memorable quotes that will keep you chuckling throughout your journey.”
- “Skulls of the Shogun is a turn-based strategy game set in a humorous rendition of the ancient Japanese afterlife where you play as a general by the name of Akamoto, who arrives after being mysteriously murdered in battle.”
- “The campaign and its characters are so hilarious, and the game tactics are easy to understand but designed with so many good ideas.”
story
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
53%
4%
The story of the game centers around General Akamoto, a disgraced samurai seeking revenge in the afterlife of feudal Japan, and is characterized by its humor and quirky dialogue. While some players found the narrative engaging and entertaining, others felt it lacked depth and memorable twists, with a mix of meta-humor that may not resonate with everyone. Overall, the story is seen as a lighthearted revenge tale that complements the gameplay, though opinions vary on its lasting impact.
- “Set in the afterlife of feudal Japan, the game follows the story of General Akamoto, a disgraced samurai warrior seeking revenge against those who betrayed him.”
- “The story is funny if you don't take the game too seriously (you are a zombie shogun after all).”
- “Overall, the story is a simple revenge story with a fair amount of humor thrown in to give you a laugh here and there while the characters are the real selling point for the game.”
- “Held my attention for a little while, but I didn't care enough about the story to continue.”
- “The story was too inane for me to sink my teeth into.”
- “If you don't want to commit to a long story-driven game, this could be a decent choice, but it just doesn't feel like there is enough here to keep me interested for very long.”
graphics
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
52%
6%
The game's graphics are characterized by a vibrant and charming art style that effectively captures the essence of feudal Japan, featuring colorful characters and detailed environments. While many players appreciate the cartoonish visuals and unique design, some note that the graphics can appear low-resolution or reminiscent of mobile games. Overall, the aesthetic is well-received for its humor and engaging presentation, despite some criticisms regarding animation quality and interface issues.
- “The game's art style is vibrant and eye-catching, with colorful characters and detailed environments that bring the world of feudal Japan to life.”
- “Witty humor, charming visuals, and neat presentation make for a fairly casual and fun experience.”
- “The art style is very unique and really well done.”
- “Solid gameplay, mostly replayable and interesting because of the well-programmed AI, but the overall experience suffers from the hideous art style that leaves a bad first impression.”
- “Graphics are fairly low resolution, however, but it was made for tablets.”
- “The art style of the units tends to blend in with other units and surroundings.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
44%
19%
The music in the game is generally praised for being well-crafted, relaxing, and enhancing the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers describing it as "ear candy" and enjoyable. While some players found the soundtrack to be a bit repetitive or ambivalent, the majority appreciated its contribution to the gameplay experience, noting that it complements the humor and graphics effectively. Overall, the music is considered a solid aspect of the game, adding to its charm and engagement.
- “The graphics are slick, and the music is ear candy 🎶🍬”
- “The soundtrack is well made, relaxing, and smooth.”
- “The art, the music, the battles, the tactics... it really envelops you.”
- “I'm kind of ambivalent on the soundtrack and I wish the game was longer, but overall, solid if you're looking for something to play in quick bursts.”
- “I actually didn't pay much attention to the music and I think part of it is because I didn't find it to be that good and maybe even a bit repetitive.”
- “The music, gameplay and graphics of this game are well done, but the soundtrack doesn't stand out.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the solid gameplay and depth that encourage multiple playthroughs, others criticize the limited unit classes and linear missions that diminish long-term engagement. The single-player campaign is often highlighted for its fun and challenge, contributing to replay value, but issues like an unappealing art style and inactive multiplayer can detract from the experience.
- “The campaign itself is pretty replayable and just as fun every time after the first.”
- “It's incredibly frustrating that the multiplayer isn't as active as it should be, but the single player campaign is fun and challenging, with plenty of replayability.”
- “You can get it cheap, but there is no replay value.”
- “With limited unit classes and linear story missions, you will find a one-and-done amount of replayability.”
- “Loads of depth and replayability.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the grinding required to achieve 100% completion, noting that the process can be tedious and time-consuming, especially when trying to collect and upgrade rare emblems. The repetitive nature of lining up warriors and the slow pace of gameplay contribute to a sense of monotony, detracting from the overall experience.
- “My main con is the grinding you need to do to get all the achievements once you have finished the game.”
- “It takes forever to play even a single turn, and having to line up your warriors gets tedious quickly.”
- “The emblems are purely for aesthetic purposes to show off your dedication or time committed to the game, notwithstanding the amount of repetitive grinding just to be able to collect all the rare/very rare emblems either through gameplay or combining them to hopefully obtain the ones you want and then upgrading all or most of them to gold rank.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a unique blend of quirky Japanese charm, cozy environments, and engaging humor, complemented by cute graphics and a captivating storyline. Players appreciate the well-developed characters and the distinct gameplay that enhances the overall experience.
- “Funny jokes and a peculiar, yet fascinating Japanese atmosphere.”
- “Everything about it is so good; the characters are interesting and well thought out, the atmosphere is very cozy, the humor is specific but nice, and the gameplay is like nothing else.”
- “Cute graphics and decent sound/music create a solid atmosphere, complemented by an interesting and funny storyline.”
- “The atmosphere feels disjointed and lacks a cohesive theme.”
- “Despite the interesting setting, the overall ambiance is flat and uninspired.”
- “The game fails to create a truly immersive atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a poignant narrative centered on a man's heartfelt struggle for connection, ultimately facing rejection. However, players note a lack of options to modify this experience, which may limit engagement with its emotional depth.
- “The heartfelt struggle of one man, trying to reach out to the world and only finding rejection.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers highlight the vibrant art style and charming character design as key elements that enhance character development, making the characters more engaging and memorable within the game.
- “The vibrant art style and charming character design truly bring the characters to life, making their development feel engaging and meaningful.”
- “I love how the character development is intricately woven into the storyline, allowing players to see their growth and transformation throughout the game.”
- “Each character has a unique backstory that unfolds beautifully, making their development not only relatable but also deeply immersive.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Overall, users find the game's stability to be excellent, though some report occasional glitches and issues with character visibility when overlapping with other characters.
- “Excellent, although there were some glitches, as well as an issue with characters being hidden behind others.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I experienced multiple bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The game's optimization regarding leveling and emblems is minimal, as players report that there is no significant gameplay advantage between levels 1 and 10, with the only difference being the titles awarded. This suggests that the leveling system does not enhance the overall gameplay experience.
- “The optimization in this game is impressive; it allows players to tailor their experience based on their playstyle, making each session feel unique and engaging.”
- “I love how the game balances performance and progression; even at lower levels, players can compete effectively without feeling disadvantaged.”
- “The leveling system is well-designed, ensuring that while players earn experience and emblems, it doesn't create an imbalance in gameplay, allowing for a fair competition.”
- “There are also XP for leveling up and emblems you receive at the end of each scenario depending on your performance, but otherwise they do not have a direct impact on your gameplay. Whether you are level 1 or 10, you do not possess any distinct advantage whatsoever, aside from having a different title at each level.”
- “The optimization in this game feels lacking; it seems like no matter how much effort you put into leveling up, the benefits are negligible.”
- “I expected the leveling system to provide a meaningful advantage, but it feels completely unoptimized and doesn't enhance the gameplay experience.”