Super Crate Box

About

"Super Crate Box" is a comedy shooter game that can be played both in single-player and multi-player mode. The game brings back the nostalgia of the arcade era, focusing on high scores and weapon crate collections. It features tight controls, unique game mechanics, retro-style graphics, and a hip chiptune soundtrack for an exciting and challenging experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,032 reviews

gameplay100 positive mentions

story8 negative mentions

gameplay
213 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
48%
5%
The gameplay of "Super Crate Box" is characterized by its fast-paced, addictive mechanics that challenge players to collect crates while managing a variety of weapons and enemies. While many players appreciate the simple yet engaging design and the nostalgic retro graphics, some find the gameplay can become repetitive and frustrating over time, particularly due to its high difficulty level. Overall, it offers a fun arcade experience with significant replay value, though technical issues like crashes have been noted by some users.
- “The fast-paced gameplay and rapidly increasing difficulty level constantly challenge the player.”
- “Super Crate Box is an exceptional game with amazing gameplay style.”
- “With its intense twitch-like gameplay as you constantly adapt to the endless barrage of enemies and new weapons, this fast-paced free indie game will keep you hooked as you keep trying to beat your high score.”
- “Despite all the weapons, the gameplay gets stale and boring fast.”
- “The whole thing is very repetitive, from the general gameplay down to the music.”
- “There's not a whole lot of depth to the gameplay beyond deciding when to get crates, and the gameplay doesn't have any variation.”
graphics
109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
3%
The graphics of the game are predominantly retro pixel art, which many players find charming and nostalgic, evoking a classic arcade feel. While some reviews note that the graphics are simple and reminiscent of 8-bit games, others praise the art style for its creativity and effectiveness in enhancing the gameplay experience. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received, with a consensus that they contribute positively to the game's appeal, despite occasional technical issues.
- “A game that combines stunning graphics and a deep plot.”
- “The graphics are nostalgic, looking like an 80s game on NES, the sound is pretty good, and the gameplay is brutal but keeps pulling you in for more.”
- “Nostalgic 8-bit graphics, a great little soundtrack, and crazily addictive, difficult gameplay make Super Crate Box one of the most fun games I've played in a while.”
- “They chose to use obsolete retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “While the art style does its job and gives the game the desired feel, it's nothing new. It's been done before countless times, even in cases where the theme of the game doesn't actually mesh well with the chosen art style.”
- “The low graphics might bother you.”
music
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
48%
6%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its catchy, retro 8-bit style that complements the gameplay and visuals. However, some users find the soundtrack repetitive and note issues with sound options, such as the inability to mute sound effects without also turning off the music. Overall, while the music enhances the nostalgic feel of the game, it can become overwhelming for some players.
- “This, in conjunction with the game's cute, pixelated visuals and retro soundtrack, gives it a feeling similar to what you would find at an arcade.”
- “The soundtrack is so wonderfully upbeat that you can't help but smile, and download time is nearly instantaneous.”
- “Nostalgic 8-bit graphics, a great little soundtrack, and crazily addictive, difficult gameplay make Super Crate Box one of the most fun games I've played in a while.”
- “First the bad: it has terrible controller support (I use Joy to Key for a Logitech Dual Action), no Steam services for high scores, saves/unlocks, and no multiplayer (which the template for this game, Mario Bros. from 1983 already had), no replays, no volume control for music or sounds.”
- “The whole thing is very repetitive, from the general gameplay down to the music.”
- “The music gets stupendously repetitive; however, the sound effects totally make up for that.”
humor
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently praised, with players finding it hilarious and delightfully silly, often leading to laughter during gameplay. The combination of funny characters, outrageous weapons, and absurd situations contributes to its charm, making it an enjoyable and addictive experience. Overall, the game's humor is a standout feature that enhances its appeal as a fun and entertaining platformer.
- “Even though this game runs on any machine which is more powerful than a smart fridge, it is hilarious.”
- “See, Super Crate Box is also one of the most delightfully silly, hilarious, brutally challenging freeware platformers around.”
- “My opinion on the disc gun is that it can be useful to clear floors of enemies, it is hilarious when it kills you, and it's outright silly.”
story
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
55%
24%
The reviews consistently highlight that the game lacks a traditional story, with many users noting there is no coherent narrative or character development. Instead, the focus is on fast-paced gameplay and high score challenges, reminiscent of classic arcade games. While some players express a desire for a storyline, the absence of one does not detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “The story is so deep and captivating.”
- “I especially like the plot that we get offered, because it's a very linear story and beats every COD campaign ever.”
- “With mind-blowing gameplay and an awesome storyline, it's okay.”
- “Worth noting there is no story.”
- “Fyi, this is an arcade game with no story mode.”
- “There is no story, you just try to beat your score like a mobile game.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
89%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with many users reporting persistent bugs, crashes, and unresponsive controls, particularly on Windows 8. While some players manage to run it smoothly on low-end PCs, the overall experience is marred by glitches that disrupt gameplay. Despite these issues, many still find the game enjoyable and appreciate the community's efforts to address some of the stability problems.
- “Runs great on any computer.”
- “Very good indie game that runs well on low-end PCs.”
- “This has always been a very buggy game.”
- “Crashes, buggy, and incredibly glitched navigation for me.”
- “It always freezes and crashes, and the controls are unresponsive.”
monetization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
55%
27%
The game is praised for its completely free model, devoid of microtransactions, loot boxes, or pay-to-win elements, distinguishing it from many modern "free-to-play" titles. Players appreciate the absence of advertisements and downloadable content, emphasizing that it offers a genuine gaming experience without the typical monetization pitfalls. Overall, it is celebrated as one of the best free games on Steam, providing enjoyment without financial strings attached.
- “This is one of the best free games on Steam; no bullshit trickery like endless microtransactions or awful addictive skinnerbox mechanics.”
- “No pay to play, no advertisements, 100% free to play and enjoy to your heart's content, which only adds to this game's arcade aesthetic.”
- “This is not 'free to play' in the modern sense of the term, which is a free game that earns back money through in-game purchases.”
- “Steam tags this game as 'free-to-play' but rest assured this game is purely free with no microtransactions involved.”
- “No DLC, no microtransactions, nothing.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
27%
27%
Overall, the game is highly praised for its replayability, with many users highlighting its fast-paced gameplay, engaging mechanics, and distinct weapon variety that encourage repeated play. The short rounds and numerous unlockables contribute to a compelling "one more game" feeling, making it a worthwhile experience for players seeking depth in a free arcade-style game. Despite some minor flaws, the game's replay value remains a standout feature, ensuring it can provide hours of entertainment.
- “Surprisingly replayable; the rounds are short enough and the gameplay engaging enough that it brings out that 'one more game' feeling in me.”
- “Great game, quite a bit of depth and replayability for a free game.”
- “Although it has its flaws (mainly crashing and low replay value), it's a one-minute download that serves for several hours of quick-fix, rage-inducing fun that will easily keep you entertained on a rainy day (and by rainy day, I mean a sunny day but with no internet).”
- “This free indie game is one of the best I've played, not because of its story (since it doesn't have one) or its graphics (simple 8-bit graphics) but because of its replay value.”
- “It feels and plays well, with small unlocks that help add to the replayability of a simple, arcade-esque game.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional response to the game, with some describing it as deeply moving and capable of evoking tears, while others find it frustrating and disappointing to the point of wanting to cry from dissatisfaction. The emotional impact varies widely, with some appreciating the nostalgic connection and challenge, while others criticize the lack of storyline and emotional depth. Overall, the game elicits a polarized emotional experience among its players.
- “The game made me cry”
- “11/10 would cry again”
- “No not really, but that's how it made me feel!”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect in "Super Crate Box" is characterized by a mix of fun and tedium; while the game offers enjoyable short bursts of gameplay, it becomes repetitive and tedious over time, especially once all content is unlocked. Players note that the lack of multiplayer and variety contributes to the feeling of monotony, making it better suited for brief sessions rather than extended play.
- “If there was a multiplayer for excessive co-op partner trolling or more variety in general, it would be a lot better, but this is just tedious.”
- “Game starts off slow but heats up after a bit of playing; unfortunately, though, once everything is unlocked, there really isn't much to do apart from attempt to beat high scores, and it then gets a bit tedious.”
- “Great little game to play for an hour or so, but gets tedious eventually.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game's optimization is notably lacking, with players expressing frustration over the absence of built-in options to enhance gameplay, particularly for those using arrow keys. While some users found unofficial patches to improve performance on newer systems, the overall sentiment is disappointment in the developers for not addressing these issues themselves, leading to a less enjoyable experience. On Windows 7, however, the game reportedly runs smoothly.
- “I have it on Windows 7 and it runs smoothly.”
- “After a little more searching online, I found numerous sources providing patches for the game to allow it to run smoothly on Windows 8.”
- “The optimization in this game feels like it was an afterthought, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “I was really disappointed with the optimization; it often feels like the game is struggling to run smoothly on even high-end systems.”
- “The lack of proper optimization makes the game unplayable at times, with long loading screens and constant lag.”