ZeroRanger

About

ZeroRanger is a single-player or local co-op science fiction shooter game with a wholesome story and impressive visuals/music. Blast through alien invaders across 4 stages, unlocking new weapons and abilities. With 8 distinct colors, scanline options, and colorblind modes, this game offers a phenomenal shooting experience and high replayability. Try the demo at .

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,358 reviews

music294 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

Incredible artwork and a unique color palette that enhances gameplay clarity.
Fantastic soundtrack that elevates the gaming experience and keeps players engaged.
Challenging yet rewarding gameplay that encourages skill development and replayability.

The final boss deletes your save file if you lose, which can be frustrating and discouraging for players.
Some players may find the difficulty curve steep, especially in the later stages.
Limited weapon variety and some mechanics may feel punishing or unclear to newcomers.

music
461 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
36%
1%
The music in this game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience. The soundtrack is described as a "banger," featuring catchy, energetic tracks that perfectly fit the game's various scenarios and elevate the overall atmosphere. Players often highlight the music as a standout element, making it a key reason to engage with the game, even beyond its solid gameplay and visuals.
- “The music is fantastic, each track fitting perfectly with the action that unfolds on your screen, boosting up the gameplay in the process.”
- “The soundtrack is just stacked with killers.”
- “The music is absolutely incredible and I would say it is as good as Chrono Trigger's amazing OST.”
- “The unequivocally disappointing aspect of this game to me was the music.”
- “The music is so-so to decent, but with no real hits that I'll be humming down the line.”
- “I don't like the music very much though because I think the sound font is 'cheesy', but hell that's just me.”
gameplay
288 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
60%
1%
Zeroranger offers a blend of tight, responsive gameplay and a unique narrative that intertwines with its mechanics, making it both accessible for newcomers and challenging for veterans. Players appreciate the game's forgiving nature, allowing for progression through its levels, while also highlighting the engaging weapon variety and creative level design. However, some criticisms arise regarding certain late-game mechanics that can lead to frustration, particularly concerning save management and difficulty spikes. Overall, the gameplay is celebrated for its depth, aesthetic appeal, and a soundtrack that enhances the experience.
- “Zeroranger combines the ease of console gaming and the gameplay density of arcade gaming in one smooth package.”
- “The gameplay is tight, controls are responsive, and the narrative is top-notch.”
- “The gameplay is incredibly fun and engaging, mainly due to its weapons and combo system, where you are forced to choose between one of two weapons, both of which are extremely helpful and versatile in their own ways.”
- “But the actual gameplay here is bogged down by severe balance issues, a lack of explanation for fundamental mechanics, baffling choices for how the last boss is handled, and a wealth of unlockable content that can only be reached after beating a last boss that will cause most players to give up and quit in frustration.”
- “The final boss of this game changes combat mechanics entirely, and if you have the audacity to not immediately know what they are without having them explained and die, your save is deleted permanently and is unrecoverable.”
- “Frankly the game is way too long and the leadup to the final boss, which you have to repeat every time you want to attempt it, is no less than five minutes long of unskippable cutscenes and pointless gameplay since you're invulnerable during it.”
story
262 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
64%
3%
The story of Zeroranger is surprisingly deep and engaging for a shoot 'em up, weaving themes of reincarnation and existentialism into its gameplay and visuals. While initially appearing simple, it evolves into a complex narrative filled with twists, emotional moments, and clever storytelling that rewards player exploration and skill. The integration of gameplay mechanics with the story enhances the overall experience, making it a standout title in the genre, despite some players finding its presentation and depth somewhat polarizing.
- “The story goes into some interesting places and has some fun meta-elements.”
- “An amazing example of a game delivering an idea and a story through almost nothing but gameplay, and with actual fun gameplay.”
- “The game's style and worldbuilding is superb and I, someone who rarely cares about game stories, was hopelessly intrigued at how the game confidently told so little directly, and instead lays loads of worldbuilding and visual storytelling, and has you go out of your way to find lore.”
- “🤷‍♂️ The presentation of the 'story' is quite poor.”
- “The big problem is, the story isn't very Buddhist at all, or even any more spiritual than like, a Zelda game.”
- “The story is very hard to talk about because the game doesn't really give it to you; you have to fight a boss in a special way to get any story during the true final boss of the game.”
graphics
178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
44%
2%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and beautiful pixel art style, utilizing a limited color palette that enhances the overall aesthetic while maintaining clarity during gameplay. Reviewers highlight the impressive level design, creative enemy visuals, and the seamless integration of graphics with the engaging soundtrack, creating a captivating experience that feels both nostalgic and modern. Overall, the visuals are described as polished and detailed, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The graphics are gorgeous, and while it can be a little confusing to differentiate your shot from the enemy's, it's not that bad.”
- “The visuals are thrilling, the soundtrack is phenomenal, and the story is actually pretty satisfying.”
- “The graphics, music, and general aesthetic would be believable for a game made for the SNES, but the quality of the game and the way it perfectly blends all its elements together to make an incredible shmup is something only a game that has learned from all its predecessors could do.”
- “While it only uses two colors that actually work well with it, the graphics feel simple, and there's just some kind of charm that comes from it.”
- “Visuals are fairly clear despite the highly limited palette, though there were a few times I lost track of my ship after getting hit during chaotic fights.”
replayability
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
49%
8%
The game boasts exceptionally high replayability, driven by multiple ship and weapon combinations, hidden surprises, and various gameplay modes that encourage players to experiment and improve their skills. Users appreciate the engaging scoring mechanics and the captivating soundtrack, which further enhance the desire to replay. Overall, it is considered a standout title in the shmup genre, offering a wealth of content that keeps players returning for more.
- “With multiple ship and weapon combinations, along with alternate gaming modes, there is quite a bit of replay value.”
- “The weapons system allows you to try multiple combinations, which along with the hidden bonuses and other secrets increases replay value even after you've finished the main game.”
- “The game has a single achievement for finishing the content, and it doesn't demand absolute mastery over the game, which is fantastic since it offers quite a bit of replayability.”
- “The weapons system allows you to try multiple combinations, which, along with the hidden bonuses and other secrets, increases replay value even after you've finished the main game.”
- “For a game that can be finished in around ten minutes, it definitely offers a lot of replayability, as it has customizable weapon sets and multiple possible endings.”
emotional
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke deep feelings, ranging from overwhelming sadness to heartfelt joy, often surprising players with its emotional depth despite being a shoot-'em-up. Many reviewers noted the game's clever storytelling and impactful moments, which resonate strongly and create a unique emotional experience that transcends typical genre expectations. Overall, it is described as a beautiful tribute to the genre, successfully engaging players on an emotional level.
- “I think there's something to be said about the emotional weight of knowing you can do something, knowing you can get there, and then really trying your hardest and exceeding that.”
- “An emotional experience and a beautiful masterpiece.”
- “It even manages to be emotionally engaging, something shmups rarely even attempt, let alone succeed at.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
Players express frustration with the grinding mechanics in the game, particularly the need to farm continues to progress, which can feel tedious and punishing, especially for newcomers. While some appreciate the challenge and the opportunity to earn extra lives, many find the grind detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging gameplay element. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant hurdle that can overshadow the game's artistic vision and enjoyment.
- “Unfortunately, it's held back by a grindy continue system, gating the last sections of the game behind obscure nonsense, and deleting your save if you fail the last level, making you replay about an hour of all the rest of the game to get one more try.”
- “Gaining the continues three times faster would work perfectly; I reached the true final boss and didn't even have full continues, so it is obvious the current system is grindy, which ultimately punishes new players.”
- “That all leads into grinding earlier levels for more continues, and let me tell you, if there's one mechanic I absolutely don't want to see in a shmup, it's grinding.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
50%
The humor in the game is described as cleverly integrated into its visuals and gameplay, enhancing the overall experience with unique graphical options and witty text. Players appreciate the joy and fun derived from its art style and stage design, which contribute to a rich, immersive world filled with humor that often references other media and tropes. Overall, the game is celebrated for its beautifully crafted comedic elements that engage and entertain.
- “Its visuals, humor, and other art are all beautifully crafted, and pull you into its world.”
- “This game has been my obsession for the past week; it is great fun to go through and has been a great joy to me along with its art style, humor, and its stage design, each feeling unique and bringing a new context to the story.”
- “Not only this, but it also has some humor, conveyed mostly through gameplay or small pieces of random text, relying on your knowledge of other media and tropes.”
- “I used to have an unfunny joke review here, but this game deserves much better than that.”
- “The humor in this game falls flat and feels forced, making it more cringeworthy than funny.”
- “I expected some clever wit, but instead, I was met with tired clichés and predictable punchlines.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its thoughtful plotting and immersive qualities, creating a unique experience that feels akin to playing through an anime. Users highlight the combination of great artwork, music, and storytelling, which together enhance the overall ambiance and gameplay. The atmosphere is described as both challenging and approachable, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “Challenging yet approachable, with thoughtful plotting and atmosphere to go alongside top-notch gameplay, this really is a special game.”
- “+great artwork, atmosphere, music, and story”
- “Strangely, this lack of consistency works wonders for the gameplay and atmosphere.”
- “In addition to that, it has a lot of 'moments' that feel like you're playing through a goddamn anime, setting the atmosphere through gameplay and music alone.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The game strikes a commendable balance between difficulty and skill development, allowing players to learn from their mistakes without excessive frustration. However, it suffers from performance issues and initial compatibility problems with Xbox controllers, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these setbacks, its unique theatrical narrative enhances its appeal.
- “The balance between difficulty and skill development is just right, to the point where I almost never lost a credit without learning something crucial that would improve my next performance.”
- “Finally, I had a lot of performance issues throughout the game and problems with the Xbox controller at first.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game demonstrates strong stability, with users reporting smooth performance, including compatibility and reliable operation on the Steam Deck.
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
- “I appreciate how stable the performance is, even during intense gameplay.”
- “Also runs great on Steam Deck.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviewers appreciate the developer's commitment to providing new game modes and soundtrack updates as free content, contrasting positively with the prevalent trend of paid DLC and microtransactions in the industry. This approach enhances the game's value and encourages player support for the developer.
- “The fact that two entirely new game modes, as well as several new soundtrack songs, are coming as free updates—not paid DLC—when they are completed makes the developer even more worth supporting, especially in the modern age of paid DLC and microtransactions.”
- “The fact that two entirely new game modes, as well as several new soundtrack songs, are coming as free updates, not paid DLC when they are completed, makes the developer even more worth supporting, especially in the modern age of paid DLC and microtransactions.”