videogamescritic
← all games
Buckshot Roulette

Buckshot Roulette

Mike Klubnika · released Apr 3, 2024

ActionIndieSimulationPCXbox Series X, Xbox One

Play Russian roulette with a 12-gauge shotgun. Four enter. One leaves. Roll the dice with your life. Good luck!

89
VGC Score
Stablehigh confidence

anchored at patch: “Match Customization, Free Look and QoL improvements and more — available now!” (1y ago)

89%
At launch
95%
Steam all-time
84%
Press
65%
Player sentiment
95%
Recent sentiment

PC 89 · Xbox 56

Screenshots & trailers

What players say

Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 422 sampled Steam reviews (390 positive / 32 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.

What positive reviews talk about

  • Multiplayer & servers7% mention it
  • Visuals & art5% mention it
  • Music & audio5% mention it

What negative reviews complain about

  • Bugs & crashes16% mention it
  • Multiplayer & servers13% mention it
  • Difficulty & balance13% mention it
  • Controls & UI9% mention it

Satisfaction by hours played

Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.

Under 5h

92%

269 reviews

5-15h

94%

125 reviews

15-40h

95%

22 reviews

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.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)8422
All-time Steam reviews95%901097
Metacritic user ratings79104
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)95%893000
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Nov 16, 2024) · 300 reviews sampled · 84003 total reviews in window · weighted 107.7 up / 10.6 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (20)

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
    trust 71May 18, 2024

    Buckshot Roulette is undoubtedly a horror production, although it does not scare in the traditional sense of the word. Yes, the rusty, somewhat blurry, fuzzy and grain-covered images arouse considerable anxiety, and the muffled background music emphasizes the dark atmosphere. The greatest fear and stress, however, is induced by randomness. If we put the barrel of a shotgun to our lips, will we survive? If we shoot at the dealer, will we hit a sharp cartridge? Although the described elements may not sound convincing, take my word for it - the whole audiovisual setting, combined with uncertainty and slow pace, can make your heart beat faster. As if that weren't enough, in the course of a double-stakes game, nerves grow with each successive game, increasing tension and stress to the limit.

    read full review ↗
  • 100
    trust 69Jul 15, 2026

    Buckshot Roulette takes one absurd idea and turns it into one of the most addictive indie games in recent memory. Every match is a tense mix of strategy, probability, and sheer luck, made even better by clever item design, excellent pacing, and a wonderfully unsettling presentation. Whether you have fifteen minutes to spare or an entire evening to burn, it’s the kind of game that constantly tempts you into playing just one more round. If you’re looking for a unique roguelite that thrives on tension and unpredictability, Buckshot Roulette is an easy recommendation.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 65Apr 18, 2024

    While it won’t be the best hour of gameplay you experience this year, it’ll probably be one of the more memorable.

    read full review ↗
  • 68
    trust 63Apr 4, 2024

    Buckshot Roulette is an intriguing darkly themed gambling game. The stakes are high for thrill-seekers and those who are a little curious about Russian Roulette, it could just be what they seek when they take a gamble with The Dealer deep in the underground club.

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    trust 63Apr 4, 2024

    Buckshot Roulette is short if you know what you’re doing, but like any good gambling addiction, you can’t help but come back for more.

    read full review ↗
  • 83
    trust 61Jul 9, 2026

    Buckshot Roulette proves that you don’t need a huge budget or dozens of mechanics to make a remarkable game. It takes a familiar idea and adds meaningful choices, smart item interactions, and a memorable atmosphere to make an experience feel unique from beginning to end. The rules are simple enough to learn, but the strategic depth keeps each round engaging long after you learn the basics.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 61Apr 4, 2024

    Its creepy art style and unsettling atmosphere will immediately draw you into Buckshot Roulette, but it's its quick-and-dirty Russian roulette gameplay that will keep you coming back. It's easy to play, but to succeed you'll need to keep your wits about you, and that makes for a really successful little game.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 60Apr 5, 2024

    While a few aspects of Buckshot Roulette won’t work for some like the art style, I loved the game, and my main complaint is the lack of Steam Cloud support right now. It plays and looks great on Steam Deck from start to finish and is an easy recommendation at its low asking price. I’m glad I didn’t look into it before playing, because Buckshot Roulette has been one of the nicest surprises of 2024 so far on Steam Deck. I look forward to checking out the multiplayer and console ports later this year.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 60Apr 4, 2024

    Buckshot Roulette is a very short experience, but one that is worth trying out. A uniquely interesting premise that will keep you busy for a couple of hours. Hopefully the developer can expand on this some more, as there is potential for expansion here.

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    trust 60Apr 8, 2024

    Buckshot Roulette is simple in design, but its dark and unsettling premise is executed perfectly to ensure each game you play is full of thrills. It might not take long to find success, but the surprisingly strategic gameplay and endless replayability offered in the Double or Nothing mode will ensure you’ll get plenty of bang for your buck (literally) when playing. It is a shame that the narrative isn’t built upon and some unlockables in the Double or Nothing mode would go a long way in adding to the replayability, but it’s hard to complain too much with the low-price of the game. If you’re a fan of shorter experiences that offer a unique and clever premise, you’ll definitely want to check Buckshot Roulette out, ESPECIALLY since multiplayer should be coming in the future.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 59Apr 4, 2024

    Buckshot Roulette is an adrenaline-fueled gameplay experience that unfolds roughly under twenty minutes. While surprisingly short, it manages to maintain its twisted, macabre thrill.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 58Apr 4, 2024

    Buckshot Roulette is a compelling indie game that stands out for its innovative gameplay, strategic depth, and immersive atmosphere. It's an excellent choice for those seeking a unique gaming experience and for streamers looking to share intense and engaging content with their viewers. Despite its potential limitations in variety and broader appeal, it's a testament to the creativity and craftsmanship of indie game development.

    read full review ↗

…and 8 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

  1. Hotfix v2.2.0.6
    Dec 13, 2024
  2. BUCKSHOT ROULETTE — Multiplayer Out Now
    Oct 31, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  3. v1.2.2 Hotfix 1
    Apr 16, 2024
  4. v 1.2.2
    Apr 11, 2024
  5. Update v1.2.1
    Apr 9, 2024
  6. Hotfix 2
    Apr 6, 2024
  7. Hot Fix 1
    Apr 4, 2024