Gunforged - This NEW Roguelike Shooter is Breaking the Game!
0Gunforged is a chaotic fantasy roguelike shooter with a strong foundation, offering randomized gun parts, passive abilities, and rune-based weapon modifications to create absurdly overpowered builds. However, while the game has potential, it struggles to carve out a distinct identity among its competition, particularly in the realm of gun customization.
The Core Concept!
Gunforged brings an intriguing mix of strategic build crafting and arcade-style horde combat. The ability to fuse gun parts and attach runes allows for some genuinely wild combinations—one run might have you firing ricocheting sawblades while another turns your bullets into gold-exploding projectiles. The sheer variety of builds available makes each run feel unique and entertaining.
However, despite this potential, the game suffers from some fundamental design flaws, particularly in its execution of gun customization. The lack of clear indicators for how many modification slots each weapon has—or even which parts you are swapping—creates unnecessary confusion. Without an inventory system, players are forced to make irreversible decisions mid-run, sometimes losing valuable upgrades without realizing it. This undermines the depth of the customization system, which is supposed to be one of the game’s biggest selling points.
Gameplay and Progression!
Gunforged features a single-room arena system, which, while functional, can feel limiting. Compared to other roguelikes that introduce exploration elements—such as Vampire Survivors or even The Binding of Isaac—Gunforged’s lack of level variety makes its gameplay loop feel somewhat stagnant. Each run boils down to running in circles, dodging enemies, and hoping your build is strong enough to sustain you through waves of enemies and bosses.
The progression system is decent, offering permanent upgrades that help with long-term engagement. Unlockable features like the Loot Goblin companion, weapon upgrades, and increased Prize Wheel spins add a layer of replayability, but the game still struggles to maintain momentum for extended play sessions. The difficulty balancing is also inconsistent—some gun parts can make runs trivial, while others leave you feeling completely underpowered.
Technical Issues and Polish!
Performance is another area where Gunforged falters. Multiple users, including myself, have experienced crashes and frame stutters, particularly when modifying guns. These technical issues, combined with the lack of polish in the UI and inventory management, make the game feel somewhat incomplete. While indie games often launch with rough edges, the game would greatly benefit from further optimization and quality-of-life improvements.
Potential Improvements & Future Updates!
Gunforged has the potential to be a standout title in the roguelike genre, but it needs refinement. Here are a few suggestions that could greatly improve the experience:
Clearer Gun Customization UI: Labeling gun parts and slot availability would make build crafting far less frustrating.
Inventory System: Allowing players to swap parts mid-run without losing them would enhance strategic depth.
Level Variety: Expanding beyond the single-room structure would add much-needed diversity to the gameplay.
Performance Fixes: Addressing crashes, stuttering, and optimization issues should be a top priority.
DLC with Expanded Content: A gameplay-focused DLC featuring new levels, objectives, or interactive elements (such as doors, keys, or multi-room stages) could provide long-term replayability.
Final Verdict!
Gunforged is an ambitious roguelike shooter that delivers fun, chaotic gameplay but is hindered by its lack of polish and unclear customization mechanics. Despite its flaws, the game remains an enjoyable experience, especially for fans of build-heavy roguelikes. While I won’t be refunding it, I do hope the developer takes player feedback into account to refine and improve the game over time. Indie games like this are the future, and supporting passionate developers is key to keeping creativity alive in the gaming industry.
Pros:
Great enemy variety and fun boss fights.
Gun customization feels strategic and rewarding (when understood)
Decent level of polish in sound design and progression.
Potential for insanely fun, overpowered builds.
Cons:
Gun customization lacks clarity; parts aren’t labeled properly.
Some builds feel vastly overpowered while others feel underwhelming.
Single-room design limits replayability and engagement.
Performance issues, including crashes and stuttering.
Read the latest full patch notes here:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2258480/view/511824407089381452
Gunforged - Early Access Launched on February 17, 2025!
Platform: PC (Steam) Price: $8.99 USD
Link:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2258480/Gunforged/
Gunforged is a goofy fantasy roguelike shooter where you create broken builds every run. Forge your guns with randomized gun parts, and collect passive abilities.