Wizard with a Gun

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,915 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Wizard with a Gun Game Cover
Wizard with a Gun excels at providing players with a deep magic system and a wild world to inflict it on. With the world hanging on by a thread, it’s up to you to rewind time again and again until your mission is complete.
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"Wizard With a Gun" is a cooperative action-adventure game where players assume the role of Gunmancers, wielding unique wands to explore the mysterious Shatter world, defeat enemies, and uncover lore. The "Better Together" update introduces four-player co-op, adjustable difficulty levels, and new buildings like the Library and Voidskimmer. Completing the main story unlocks the Oculus for a thrilling conclusion. Teamwork and strategic use of abilities are key to overcoming challenges and harnessing the power of chaos.

  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,915 reviews
gameplay245 positive mentions
grinding200 negative mentions
  • The art style and animations are lovely, creating a well-crafted world that feels immersive.
  • The gameplay loop is engaging, with a satisfying mix of combat, crafting, and exploration.
  • The game offers a variety of bullet types and combinations, allowing for creative playstyles.
  • The game can become repetitive over time, with a lack of meaningful progression and variety in gameplay.
  • The final boss and ending feel anticlimactic and do not provide a satisfying conclusion to the story.
  • Inventory management is cumbersome, requiring constant back-and-forth between crafting stations and storage.
  • gameplay618 mentions

    The gameplay in "Wizard with a Gun" is characterized by a fun but repetitive loop that involves resource gathering, crafting, and combat, which can become monotonous over time due to limited mechanics and a lack of meaningful progression. While the art style and atmosphere are praised, many players find the combat simplistic and the crafting system cumbersome, leading to frustration with inventory management and a feeling of stagnation in gameplay. Overall, the game offers enjoyable moments, especially in co-op play, but it struggles with depth and variety, leaving some players wanting more from the experience.

    • “The gameplay loop is very unsatisfying, with combat you've seen the entirety of what it has to offer within 5 minutes and it doesn't seem to evolve anywhere, and the base is where you craft and upgrade stuff, through an obtuse UI made of dozens of separate menus connected to multiple separate crafting tables.”
    • “The gameplay is designed so that you are as excited to start a run as you are to end a run and get back to your base.”
    • “The core gameplay loop feels too grindy to be fun and the aiming feels worse than other comparable titles like Enter the Gungeon.”
    • “The gameplay gets really repetitive over time.”
    • “The fact that there are no spell casting options, nor any minigames to spice up the gameplay makes the lack of getting new abilities all the more apparent.”
    • “The gameplay loop is incredibly short, repetitive, and not even that enjoyable because the combat feels clunky.”
  • graphics330 mentions

    The graphics of "Wizard with a Gun" are widely praised for their charming art style, reminiscent of games like "Don't Starve," with vibrant visuals and a unique aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. Many players appreciate the beautiful artwork and engaging soundtrack, although some note that the visuals can occasionally hinder gameplay clarity. Overall, while the graphics are a highlight, they are often seen as a counterbalance to the game's more shallow gameplay mechanics.

    • “The art style is great, the music is just something I'll have playing in the background even when I'm not playing the game, and it is just a great concept: wizards with guns.”
    • “Gorgeous art style, engaging challenging gameplay, excellent soundtrack 10/10 highly recommend.”
    • “The art style is reminiscent of 'Don't Starve' mixed with 'Borderlands', with a touch of 'Hades', creating a beautiful and vibrant world of danger to wander through.”
    • “The graphics also make it difficult to figure out where enemies are, what's going to damage you, what is open space versus blocked, and so on.”
    • “Piss poor performance, low fps, no graphic options whatsoever, audio keeps cutting out constantly & suddenly can't connect with friends anymore after playing almost 9 hours together.”
    • “Expected something adjacent to Don't Starve with all the similar aesthetics, but got more of a generic crafter shooter with rather superficial mechanics.”
  • music323 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its engaging soundtrack composed by Ryan Ike, which enhances the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Many players find themselves humming the tunes long after playing, although some note that certain tracks can feel repetitive or generic. Overall, the combination of high-quality music and striking visuals contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout feature for many reviewers.

    • “The soundtrack on its own is worth it, done by the masterful Ryan Ike.”
    • “The music is phenomenal, the art is incredible and the game feels like something truly fresh.”
    • “A great game with an even better soundtrack, Ryan Ike really outdid himself.”
    • “The music is generic and does not play half the time.”
    • “Even the music in the game started to quickly feel repetitive.”
    • “It does feel a bit lacking for combat soundtracks though, the same song you're listening to while just exploring plays while you're in a shootout, creating an awkward dichotomy at times; any tracks that exist are amazing, but it feels like something is missing at times, making you want something more from the soundtrack.”
  • story265 mentions

    The story in "Wizard with a Gun" is often described as sparse and underdeveloped, with many players noting that it lacks depth and coherence, relying heavily on scattered lore and journal entries. While some find the premise intriguing and the world-building enjoyable, the narrative feels unfinished and anticlimactic, leaving numerous threads unresolved. Overall, the game is seen as more focused on gameplay mechanics than storytelling, with potential for future updates to enhance the narrative experience.

    • “I was pulled in with the thought of 'ha ha wizard has gun' but was met with an interesting world with a story to tell.”
    • “Overall this game perfectly scratches that itch I've been having, it has an interesting and unique story and I can't wait for more!”
    • “The story is honestly incredibly interesting, far deeper of a story than I figured it would have.”
    • “Unfortunately, once we hit the endgame following release, we found that the story wasn't finished yet and were eagerly waiting for more until we heard that Galvanic had shut down.”
    • “The endgame is disappointing; there's not that much diversity of challenge among bosses (or trash mobs for that matter), and the story doesn't really explain why any of this chaos stuff is going on or why the riders want to stomp on you.”
    • “The story is mostly obscure and hard to follow; it's told through scattered books which reference numerous places, characters, and concepts that struggle to come together in a coherently understandable lore.”
  • grinding206 mentions

    The grinding aspect of "Wizard with a Gun" is frequently described as tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing frustration over the extensive resource gathering and crafting required for progression. While some enjoy the fun gunplay and cooperative elements, the overwhelming need to farm materials often detracts from the overall experience, leading to a gameplay loop that feels unengaging and unnecessarily drawn out. Overall, those who appreciate grinding may find enjoyment, but many reviewers caution that it can become a chore, especially in solo play.

    • “20/10 the spell system is fun and deep, the gameplay is engaging and not too grindy.”
    • “It's like Don't Starve with wizards and guns, except for not tedious (so far) progression.”
    • “Excessive crafting-station and resource variety serve the grindy aspect of the game loop rather than any creative or emergent gameplay styles, ultimately discouraging experimentation in lieu of piling resources into already established upgrade paths.”
    • “The gameplay is extremely grindy and repetitive; at first, it feels okay, but the more you get into the game, you realize that you don't progress or evolve.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is grindy, repetitive, and unrewarding, even though the game sort of drives you to try elemental combinations by dangling the upgrades in your face.”
  • replayability30 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players finding it enjoyable and easy to revisit, especially with friends, while others criticize its linear gameplay and lack of content, leading to minimal replay value. Recent updates have introduced features that enhance replayability, but many still feel the game is held back by its rushed development and lack of depth. Overall, while some aspects like procedurally generated maps offer potential for replay, the consensus is that the game could benefit from further refinement and additional content.

    • “An isometric roguelike with interesting story hooks and easy replayability.”
    • “They just had a massive update and added many features which just fuels the replayability.”
    • “The fact that the game features procedurally generated maps adds greatly to the replay value of the stylish and satisfying experience that is Wizard with a Gun.”
    • “Its a fun little game to waste some time on, but it has zero replayability, and I could have gone without any of this bounty crap.”
    • “For a game tagged as a roguelike, it offers little to no replayability.”
    • “Overall this is a good game without any major bugs but it's being held back by its rushed development, lack of content, and absolutely no replay value.”
  • atmosphere26 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique aesthetic, combining elements of western and fantasy themes, which creates an immersive experience enhanced by charming music and art. While the world feels serene and captivating, some players note that the gameplay can overshadow the story, and the enemy designs lack variety. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite some gameplay shortcomings.

    • “An extremely charming and fun little game with a super unique aesthetic, simple but deceptively deep and satisfying gameplay, gorgeous atmosphere and a cool story and world if you can look past the jank.”
    • “The atmosphere out in the world is serene, wistful almost, as you watch your timer tick down.”
    • “The bluegrass and folk also helps support the western themes the game has very well, and both music and art come together to create a great atmosphere.”
    • “It does well in capturing the atmosphere of an untamed, savage land destined for ruin, and there are a great number of tools with the potential to bring out unique gameplay, but it fails to create any meaningful experiences for the game's presence to last.”
    • “The different biomes spice things up quite a bit in terms of atmosphere, but the enemies are usually just reskins of each other with higher stats.”
    • “For me, though, ingesting the story doesn't really impact the experience of the game as a whole - especially with co-op, it tends to fall into the background as the game moreso shines in atmosphere and gameplay.”
  • humor26 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its whimsical aesthetics and playful mechanics, such as shooting quirky guns with amusing bullet types and engaging in lighthearted interactions. Players appreciate the blend of comedy and gameplay, noting that while the humor may not always feel unique, it contributes to an enjoyable atmosphere filled with funny characters and clever chapter names. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with solid gunplay and intriguing lore, making it a standout experience.

    • “Great game, 10/10 would shoot a funny pink blob again.”
    • “The main draw of the game is shooting cool guns with funny bullets that have interesting interactions.”
    • “Eye-catching aesthetics with a funny little wizard guy with silly little ammo types and spells.”
  • optimization21 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting severe lag, low frame rates, and frequent audio/visual glitches, particularly in multiplayer modes. Many feel the game is poorly optimized and unfinished, lacking essential graphic options and suffering from performance issues, especially during intense gameplay. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game's current state does not justify its price, as it feels rushed and inadequately polished.

    • “There was always some way to innovate and improve my strategy to enhance my performance and get farther than last time.”
    • “Had a couple of performance hiccups, but nothing that stopped me from enjoying the game.”
    • “It is not very well optimized, but that is fine because they are using Unity.”
    • “The game feels really poorly optimized and like a lot of animations or visual feedback are missing, and the occasional audio/visual glitch indicates that this game is being held together with duct tape and twine.”
    • “Piss poor performance, low fps, no graphic options whatsoever, audio keeps cutting out constantly & suddenly can't connect with friends anymore after playing almost 9 hours together.”
    • “The game feels unfinished and it's not optimized properly - it stutters and drops frames constantly.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with frequent freezes and various bugs affecting gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some players report minimal issues, many experience frustrating terrain glitches and crashes that can lead to lost progress. Overall, the game is described as fun but in need of stability improvements.

    • “Almost not buggy at all, only encountered one or two throughout the entire game.”
    • “Constantly freezes, which you then have to endure or lose all your progress.”
    • “Although it's kind of buggy in some parts (soup crashes others, 2 players entering at the same time crashes other players but host, dream viewer can be scanned infinitely) and the ending is kind of lackluster.”
    • “The base building aspect to it is pretty nice although at this stage of the game, it's still pretty buggy.”
  • character development14 mentions

    Overall, the character development in the game is praised for its charming and cute design, with many reviewers highlighting the distinct art style and aesthetic appeal. While the visuals and character designs are well-received, some feel that the overall narrative and character depth may not be as innovative, often echoing familiar themes. The attention to detail in the world-building and lore adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the character experience.

    • “The visuals are distinct and nice to look at, the character designs are fun, and the music is simply great.”
    • “The developers did a great job creating this world, from small lore hidden in books and first edition pages, to the charming enemies and character designs.”
    • “I like the art style and the character design a lot.”
    • “The character design is cute, but everything else feels like a rehash of what we've seen before.”
    • “The character development lacks originality and fails to bring anything new to the table.”
    • “While the world-building is impressive, the characters themselves feel flat and uninspired.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is impacted by the frustrating design choice that requires chests to be in close proximity to crafting tables, leading to a cramped and inefficient organization of resources. Players express disappointment over the limitations this imposes on their creative and logistical gameplay experience.

  • monetization4 mentions

    Reviewers express frustration with the monetization strategy, criticizing the inclusion of microtransactions for cosmetics in a game that feels incomplete. They highlight that the limited enchantments and elemental interactions further detract from the overall experience, questioning the decision to monetize when core gameplay elements are lacking.

    • “Sure, they're just cosmetics, but why are you putting in microtransactions when your game is basically half finished?”
    • “For a game so prominently advertising the magical element and how you can enchant your bullets to do different things, the kinds of enchantments and elemental interactions in this game are way too limited.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

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Play time

10hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
3-16hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 18 analyzed playthroughs

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