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.

85%Game Brain Score

gameplay, humor

grinding, stability

87% User Score Based on 384 reviews

Critic Score 83%Based on 4 reviews

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About

Skulls of the Shogun is a single player and multiplayer turn-based strategy game with fantasy and historical themes. It was developed by 17-BIT and was released on July 29, 2013. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

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.

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87%

Audience ScoreBased on 384 reviews

gameplay37 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Charming visuals and humorous dialogue that enhance the overall experience.
Engaging and accessible turn-based strategy mechanics with depth, allowing for various tactical approaches.
Fun single-player campaign with a good balance of challenge and humor, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and veterans of the genre.

Multiplayer mode is largely inactive, making it difficult to find matches against other players.
Some controls can feel clunky, especially when selecting units that are close together, leading to frustration.
Limited variety in unit types and abilities may lead to repetitive gameplay over time.

gameplay
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
58%
3%
The gameplay is characterized by its simple yet deep mechanics, allowing for strategic decision-making and quick-paced turn-based combat. Players appreciate the charming presentation and humor, while the game effectively balances accessibility for newcomers with enough complexity to engage veterans of the genre. However, some users noted issues with controls and occasional gameplay staleness, though the overall experience remains enjoyable and entertaining.
- “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%
The humor in "Skulls of the Shogun" is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its witty dialogue, engaging characters, and amusing storyline set in a quirky afterlife. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend humor with strategic gameplay, making for a fun and entertaining experience, although some note that certain meta jokes may not resonate as well in today's context. Overall, the game's charming art style and light-hearted tone contribute significantly to its appeal, keeping players laughing throughout their journey.
- “Skulls of the Shogun is a tactical masterpiece that combines deep strategy with a healthy dose of humor and charm, creating an experience that's as satisfying as it is entertaining.”
- “The dialogue is witty and engaging, with plenty of humorous moments and memorable quotes that will keep you chuckling throughout your journey.”
- “A very fun and humorous game with fast-paced, turn-based strategy gameplay.”
story
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
The story of the game is a humorous and engaging revenge tale set in the afterlife of feudal Japan, following General Akamoto as he seeks vengeance against those who betrayed him. While the narrative features quirky dialogue and a colorful cast of characters, some players feel it lacks depth and originality, with certain meta-humor elements feeling outdated. Overall, the story is enjoyable and complements the gameplay, making it a lighthearted experience despite its simplicity.
- “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 and the artwork is beautiful.”
- “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
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
49%
6%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a vibrant and charming art style that effectively captures the essence of feudal Japan, with colorful characters and detailed environments. While many players appreciate the cartoonish visuals and humorous presentation, some critiques point to low resolution and a mobile game aesthetic that may detract from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are generally well-received for their creativity and appeal, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
- “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
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The music in the game is generally well-received, described as cool, relaxing, and well-made, contributing positively to the overall atmosphere and enjoyment of the gameplay. While some players found it repetitive or less engaging, many appreciated the soundtrack's quality and its integration with the story and graphics. Overall, the music enhances the experience, making it a solid aspect of the game.
- “The 'stretching animations' and the corny - sometimes fourth wall breaking - jokes aside, I can wholeheartedly say that I enjoyed the music, challenge, and general length of the game.”
- “The dialogue is great, the music is great, the sound design is great.”
- “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.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find the campaign enjoyable and engaging enough to revisit, others criticize its limited unit classes and linear missions, leading to a "one and done" experience. The single-player mode offers depth and fun, contributing to replay value, but the lack of an active multiplayer scene diminishes potential for extended play. Visuals and AI are praised, yet the art style and combat mechanics may deter some from replaying.
- “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 lengthy turns contribute to a sense of monotony, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “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%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a unique blend of quirky Japanese humor and cozy visuals, creating an engaging and immersive experience. Players appreciate the well-developed characters, cute graphics, and a captivating storyline that enhances the overall ambiance. The combination of specific humor and solid sound design contributes to a distinctive and enjoyable atmosphere.
- “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.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight the vibrant art style and charming character design as key elements that enhance character development, making the characters feel more engaging and memorable within the game.
- “The vibrant art style and charming character design truly enhance the character development experience.”
- “The depth of each character's backstory adds layers to their development, making every interaction meaningful.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, showcasing their growth and personal struggles.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 other characters.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I encountered several bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's optimization is noted for its lack of significant impact from leveling up, as players do not gain any distinct advantages regardless of their level, aside from receiving different titles. This suggests that the leveling system may not enhance gameplay experience or performance.
- “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 directly impact gameplay. Whether you're level 1 or 10, there is no distinct advantage, aside from having a different title 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 a significant factor in gameplay.”
- “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, as the leveling system does not provide meaningful benefits that enhance gameplay.”
- “Despite the presence of a leveling system, it seems to have little to no effect on the actual gameplay experience, making the optimization feel pointless.”
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 emotional experience, which may limit engagement with the game's deeper themes.
- “The heartfelt struggle of one man, trying to reach out to the world and only finding rejection.”

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83%Critics’ scoreBased on 4 critic reviews

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2h Median play time

2h Average play time

1-3h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Skulls of the Shogun is a turn-based strategy game with fantasy and historical themes.

Skulls of the Shogun is available on PlayStation 4, Steam Deck, iPhone, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing Skulls of the Shogun.

Skulls of the Shogun was released on July 29, 2013.

Skulls of the Shogun was developed by 17-BIT.

Skulls of the Shogun has received positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Skulls of the Shogun is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Crush Your Enemies, Wargroove, Ironclad Tactics, Might & Magic Clash of Heroes, Reverse Crawl and others.

Skulls of the Shogun

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