Skulls of the Shogun

76%
Game Brain Score Based on 203 reviews
  • humor
  • gameplay
  • story
Skulls of the Shogun Game Cover
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.
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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.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Ouya
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
  • Tablet
  • Windows Phone
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

76%
Audience ScoreBased on 203 reviews
humor60 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • Skulls of the Shogun offers a unique and humorous take on turn-based strategy, with engaging gameplay mechanics that keep players entertained.
  • The game features charming visuals and witty dialogue, making it a delightful experience for both newcomers and veterans of the genre.
  • With a variety of unit types and strategic depth, players can enjoy a satisfying challenge while exploring the quirky storyline.
  • The campaign can feel repetitive after a while, with limited variety in missions and mechanics.
  • Multiplayer options are underutilized due to a lack of active players, making it difficult to find matches.
  • Some players have reported issues with the user interface and controls, particularly when managing multiple units in close proximity.
  • humor60 mentions

    The humor in "Skulls of the Shogun" is widely praised for its clever and engaging dialogue, quirky characters, and a lighthearted tone that enhances the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend strategic mechanics with a comedic narrative, often finding themselves laughing out loud at the witty writing and charming visuals. Overall, the humor is considered a standout feature that adds depth and enjoyment to this turn-based strategy game.

    • “Brook: in conclusion, 'Skulls of the Shogun' is a game that'll tickle your funny bone and test your strategic skills!”
    • “The dialogue is pretty darn funny and I laughed out loud on several occasions while playing.”
    • “A fun strategy game with a great sense of humor.”
  • gameplay52 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its smooth controls, unique mechanics, and a blend of humor that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the turn-based strategy format, which offers a balance of simplicity and depth, allowing for both casual play and strategic planning. While the game features engaging and quirky dialogue, some users note that the aesthetic elements may overshadow the gameplay, leading to mixed feelings about its long-term appeal.

    • “I must admit, the game's controls and gameplay set it apart, offering a unique experience not found in other titles of the same genre.”
    • “Skulls of the Shogun has fast-paced gameplay that you can get into in only a few minutes, while still being difficult enough to give you an enjoyable challenge.”
    • “The gameplay consists of a relatively simple but unique turn-based combat system where the player and the AI each take turns commanding their units in a round to either move, attack, or perform other actions until they run out of moves.”
    • “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.”
  • story37 mentions

    The story of the game revolves around Akomoto, a samurai general navigating the afterlife after being betrayed, blending humor with a simple revenge narrative. Players appreciate the quirky dialogue and character interactions, which add charm and lightheartedness to the campaign, despite some critiques about the depth and originality of the plot. Overall, the story is engaging and entertaining, making it a notable aspect of the gameplay experience.

    • “This genuinely one of my favorite games of all time; it has an interesting story, unique levels, and the mythology aspect is captivating. The dialogue is quirky and funny, and the mechanics are really smooth.”
    • “The story revolves around a samurai general who goes into the afterlife and finds himself in a horrendously long line to get judged.”
    • “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.”
    • “What is the story?”
    • “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.”
    • “Skulls of the Shogun is a colorful and refreshing take on strategy games that switches up the monotony with faster-paced combat and gameplay, but it is let down by its lackluster story.”
  • graphics23 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their unique and charming cartoon art style, which complements the humorous storyline and quirky characters. While some users noted that certain elements can blend together, the overall aesthetic is described as clean and visually appealing, enhancing the gameplay experience. The combination of slick visuals and engaging animations contributes to a solid atmosphere, making it enjoyable for players.

    • “The artwork is fun and the monks (4 types of spellcasters) add a fun spice to an otherwise standard 'rock/paper/scissors' style combat system.”
    • “The graphics are clean, and the characters are quirky and fun.”
    • “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.”
    • “The art style of the units tends to blend in with other units and surroundings.”
    • “Cartoon graphics.”
  • music9 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised as enjoyable and atmospheric, often described as "ear candy" that complements the slick graphics and smooth gameplay. Reviewers appreciate the well-written humor and the overall engaging experience that the music contributes to.

    • “The music is also nice to listen to and enjoy.”
    • “I enjoy the music and the jokes are really well written.”
    • “The gameplay is as smooth as a waltz, and the humor is top-notch, much like my musical talents!”
    • “Cute graphics and decent sound/music with solid atmosphere and an interesting/funny storyline.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find the single-player campaign enjoyable and challenging enough to warrant multiple playthroughs, others criticize the limited unit classes and linear missions, leading to a "one and done" experience. The multiplayer aspect shows potential but suffers from low activity, further impacting replay value. Despite these drawbacks, some users appreciate the solid gameplay and engaging AI, contributing to a fun experience upon replay.

    • “The campaign itself is pretty replayable and just as fun every time after the first.”
    • “Awesome visuals, plays perfectly, hilarious, and loads of replay value.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by its cozy and engaging environment, complemented by cute graphics and decent sound design. Players appreciate the well-developed characters and unique humor, which enhance the overall experience alongside an interesting and funny storyline.

    • “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.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players note that grinding in the game primarily serves to collect and upgrade emblems, which are mainly aesthetic rewards reflecting time and dedication. While some find the repetitive nature of this grinding tedious, others appreciate the lack of character leveling, likening the experience to a turn-based strategy game without traditional grinding mechanics.

    • “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.”
    • “If you haven't heard of or played Advance Wars, then the best way I can think of describing the game is a turn-based strategy game without leveling or grinding characters.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, users find the game's stability to be excellent, though some report occasional glitches and issues with character visibility when one character obscures another.

    • “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 several bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    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.

    • “The experience points for leveling up and the emblems you receive at the end of each scenario are based on your performance, but they don't significantly impact gameplay. Whether you're level 1 or 10, there is no distinct advantage, aside from the different titles you earn at each level.”
    • “The optimization of gameplay is impressive, as it allows players to focus on strategy rather than grinding for levels.”
    • “I appreciate how the game balances performance rewards without making level differences feel overwhelming, ensuring that skill remains the primary factor in success.”
    • “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 turns out to be just a cosmetic change with no real impact on gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

83% average critic score

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Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
1-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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