Wanted Shadows

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Wanted Shadows is a bullet heaven/horde survival game where you fight monsters to become an unstoppable force, with permanent upgrades, weapon merging, and a combat system that allows dodging and attacking. The game features Octopath Traveler-inspired graphics and a soundtrack of handmade melodic RPG tracks. You will like this game if you enjoy Vampire Survivors, Brotato, 20 Minutes Till Dawn, Soul Stalker, Spellbook Demonslayers, and Bio Prototype.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 43 reviews

graphics7 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game is very affordable, providing good value for its price.
The art style and music are enjoyable, contributing to a pleasant overall aesthetic.
The gameplay offers interesting synergies and a satisfying leveling process, making it engaging despite its simplicity.

Visibility issues with enemy projectiles and explosions can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
The game lacks content and variety, with many players feeling that it becomes repetitive quickly.
Technical glitches, such as music cutting out and bugs affecting gameplay, detract from the overall experience.

graphics
11 mentions
64 % positive mentions
9 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game are praised for their beautiful art style and impressive visual effects, with many users appreciating the pixel art and aesthetic appeal. However, some players noted that while the visuals are strong, the gameplay experience does not always match the quality of the graphics.
- “The visuals are genuinely terrific, the music's nice (but more on that later), the levels don't feel as barren as those in vampire survivors, and the fact that you have to manually attack intrinsically makes the gameplay more involving than a lot of the lesser entries into this burgeoning field.”
- “Lovely art style.”
- “The art style and VFX are beautiful, music is catchy.”
- “I seldom do reviews, but the shadows take the cake for nausea-inducing graphics.”
- “The pixelated art style of the critters is pretty decent, but it could use some refinement.”
- “The game basically feels like '20 Minutes Till Dawn' with more flashy graphics, but it lacks depth.”
music
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, described as catchy and reminiscent of classic soundtracks like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy Tactics. However, technical issues such as music cutting out during intense gameplay moments detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration among players. Despite these glitches, many still consider the music to be one of the game's standout features.
- “The overall theme and music is fun.”
- “The art style and VFX are beautiful, music is catchy.”
- “I'm stuck waiting in front of my PC for work and I have to say this is welcome; very simple though, solid foundation. Visually, it reminds me of Nintendo style with the music that sounds like a Dragon Quest soundtrack with the trumpet.”
- “There are also technical glitches, like the music constantly cutting out when there are more projectiles or explosions happening, which is a shame because it's probably the best part of the game.”
- “A little generic, and at least one track's motif is very obviously almost note-for-note a track from Final Fantasy Tactics, but there's worse music to copy.”
- “The latter can be pretty hilarious, as actually good games in this genre have proven, but in concert with the music dying on the vine, it just leads to a really pitiful experience.”
gameplay
7 mentions
29 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as a mixed experience; while it features engaging manual attacks and a visually appealing art style, it suffers from a lack of depth and content, with empty maps and a quick unlock of all features within the first hour. Although it shares similarities with other roguelikes, it ultimately feels less substantial, leading to a gameplay experience that is both fast-paced and somewhat shallow.
- “The visuals are genuinely terrific, the music's nice, the levels don't feel as barren as those in Vampire Survivors, and the fact that you have to manually attack intrinsically makes the gameplay more involving than a lot of the lesser entries into this burgeoning field.”
- “The core gameplay is good.”
- “It is only similar to Brotato or Vampire Survivors by virtue of being a roguelike with similar gameplay, but it's so empty that it's nothing alike.”
- “So far the only thing going for the game is the gameplay speed and how it looks; otherwise, it's just empty. The maps are empty, and you unlock everything within the first hour of gameplay.”
- “If you like what you see in the gameplay VOD, that's exactly what you're going to get.”
stability
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed, with some users reporting technical glitches such as music cutting out during intense moments, while others note that it runs smoothly even with numerous enemies on screen. Overall, there are significant bugs that detract from the experience.
- “Runs great, with no performance issues even with hundreds of enemies on the screen.”
- “The game maintains a steady frame rate, providing a smooth experience throughout.”
- “I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs, making for a very stable gameplay experience.”
- “There are also technical glitches, like the music constantly cutting out when more projectiles and explosions are happening, which is a shame because it's probably the best part of the game.”
- “The game is buggy for sure.”
character development
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game features engaging character designs that enhance the overall enjoyment, allowing players to appreciate the simplicity and fun of the gameplay. While it may not focus heavily on complex character development, it successfully provides a satisfying experience that encourages players to relax and enjoy the action.
- “An incredibly fun bullet heaven game with awesome character designs.”
- “I love the character design and the simplicity of this game over some others these days - not that complexity is bad, but sometimes you just want to turn your brain off a bit and enjoy some explosions!”
humor
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game can be quite funny, reminiscent of successful titles in the genre; however, when combined with a lackluster musical experience, it ultimately detracts from the overall enjoyment.
story
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
100 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The story is described as simple yet solid, with a nostalgic visual style reminiscent of Nintendo games and a soundtrack that evokes the feel of classic Dragon Quest music. Overall, it provides a welcoming experience for players.
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game engaging, as its unique powers and gameplay mechanics evoke a sense of connection and excitement reminiscent of classic titles like "Risk of Rain." This emotional engagement enhances the overall experience, making players feel invested in their journey.
- “The game beautifully captures the essence of human emotions, making every decision feel impactful.”
- “I was deeply moved by the character arcs; their struggles resonated with my own experiences.”
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the narrative, enhancing the emotional weight of each scene.”
optimization
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is highly optimized, demonstrating excellent performance even with numerous enemies on screen, resulting in a smooth gameplay experience without any noticeable issues.
- “Runs great, no performance issues with hundreds of enemies on the screen.”
- “The game is incredibly well-optimized, allowing for smooth gameplay even in the most intense scenarios.”
- “I was impressed by how efficiently the game utilizes system resources, resulting in a seamless experience.”