Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 77 | 24 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 93% | 88 | 982 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 88% | 82 | 8 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 24 reviews sampled · 16 total reviews in window · weighted 16.1 up / 2.1 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (21)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 90
“Showgunners brings a breath of fresh air to the world of turn-based tactical RPGs with its action and story set in the world of a twisted reality show. The story has the charm of classic 90s films, and combined with the gameplay, it creates just the right atmosphere. The gameplay combines exploration and action, and combat is where the game truly shines, as it’s very fair, what affects you also affects your enemies. Incorporating the fame and fan base of a reality show into the sponsor mechanics further enhances the gaming experience. For some players, however, the game may feel limiting, as it doesn’t offer as much freedom to create different skill builds as other similar games. It’s a great title if you’re new to the genre or if you’re looking for an action-packed game to really let off some steam.”
read full review ↗ - 77
“An interesting turn-based tactical game that doesn't innovate but is an honest proposition for fans of the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 80
- 100
“Showgunners is showing massive potential to shake things up in the turn-based strategy genre while maintaining a great story to keep you coming back. You’ll be made to think on your toes and sometimes outside the box, though this is also what makes it such a great game. The voice acting, visuals and general challenges in Showgunners pull it all together for a game that can appeal to everybody, making it well worth the time.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Showgunners creates a bombastic, colourful, chaotic world that incorporates elements of reality TV, turn-based combat, dystopian energy and characters that grow alongside a strong narrative. All of these elements combined could have made the game a messy experience, but the story kept me engaged, and I felt intrinsically motivated to conquer Homicidal All-Stars so that Scarlett can finally find peace. Showgunners is a successful mash-up, and Artificer's inclusion of various intertwining gameplay features make the game an ever changing, fun ride that made me excited along each step of the way.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you like Running Man style movies, this time you can experience for yourself what it's like to be both hunter and victim at the same time. A successful combination of exploring the environment with real-time traps and puzzles and intuitive turn-based battles creates a fun and unconventional experience.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“The zippy speed, 80s-style death sports game show aesthetic and sound tactical decisions all coalesce into an experience suited to both tactics veterans looking for a shorter sugar hit or novices wanting an easy way into the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“In its looks and execution, Showgunners does what it set out to do and creates a turn-based love letter to the 90s, updating those themes for a modern audience, while still somehow not managing to lose authenticity. It's a job well done and I'd much like to explore this universe further in the future.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“A pared back turn-based strategy that successfully replicates the action of XCOM but is so lacking in originality and variety it feels like half the game it could have been.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“If you’re a fan of the XCOM style of games, you’ll find a lot to enjoy in Showgunners. Though lacking some polish in the mechanical side of things and not straying far from a tried and true formula, the game is still solid and has a ton to offer with its style and setting.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“ShowGunners is a fantastic-looking game that delivers violence and gameplay in droves. If you're looking for something none-too taxing then this could be right up your alley! Not sure yet? Try the demo first!”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Showgunners is a good example of turn-based combat set within a dystopian world that will take you, on average, somewhere in the realm of 15-18 hours to complete the full game. This isn’t a bad duration, but for those who want a more procedurally generated experience with a lot of replayability, this may not be the game for you. For everyone else, it’s a fun ride with a grisly world and an enjoyable if fairly standard combat system.”
read full review ↗
Gaming Professors
ZTGD
GamesCreed
Checkpoint Gaming
SECTOR.sk
Explosion Network
TheSixthAxis
Metro GameCentral
Try Hard Guides
GBAtemp
NoobFeed…and 9 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Showgunners 1.1.1 HotfixJul 24, 2023
- SHOWGUNNERS DLC: SECURITY BREACHJul 22, 2023
- PATCH 1.0.3. ENTERS THE ARENAJun 6, 2023
- Showgunners Patch 1.0.2 is LIVEMay 24, 2023
- Showgunners 1.0.1 Patch: Streamer Mode!May 9, 2023significant · resets scoring window