Exit the Gungeon

Devolver Digital is probably one of the very few companies that could release three games in the same series that are so widely different from each other. A few years ago, we were introduced to the rogue-like, bullet hell, dungeon crawler that is Enter The Gungeon. It swept through fandoms like a wildfire and offered a ton of replayability since you had all these different characters and challenge...

Enter The Gungeon die-hards will be instantly familiar with the weird and wonderful world presented by Exit The Gungeon, but they might be taken aback by the shift in gameplay. This is a finely honed action-platformer that adds a new dimension to the blasting and dodge rolling. It's not always a flawless transition, and this is a significantly less rich and rewarding experience than the original. ...

Now with much more precise controls than its original release on iOS, Exit the Gungeon is a solid spin-off to Dodge Roll's indie darling that can often be a little too frustrating for its own good.

Exit the Gungeon is an interesting experiment and a clever way to keep the series going without copying what’s already been done; but along the path to mobile, some crucial elements of the DNA of the franchise were lost. I’ll still be following it through its post-launch journey, however, and Gungeon fanatics will find plenty of references to smile at.

It took nearly 40 attempts for me to finally Exit the Gungeon, and despite some underpowered weapons and an ineffective combo system, it’s an enthralling platforming roguelite challenge. It’s not as satisfying nor deep as its predecessor, but the urge to finish a run with every character, unlock all the NPCs, and try out each and every gun gives Exit the Gungeon some legs.

In the end, that's why I can appreciate Exit for what it is rather than what it isn't. Is it another Enter the Gungeon? No, it isn't. But as a quick arcade romp, it's a blast. It shows that even when shifting genres, Dodge Roll knows how to craft a good roguelike and keep players wanting to punish themselves more and more with each run.

Those expecting the quality and polish of its predecessor will be disappointed with Exit the Gungeon. It’s too visually clustered and the new mechanics can be more frustrating than fun. Still, for a short burst of rogue-like goodness, you could do worse.

However, I am reviewing this title in 2020; there is a massive catalog of rouge-like games that do everything Exit the Gungeon does, and many that do what is presented here even better. Additionally, rogue-like games typically have so much replay value, that many players don't need a reason to expand past the ones they really love. A decade ago, that might've made Exit the Gungeon's strength it's ...

If you’re expecting a full follow-up to Enter the Gungeon, with the same degree of depth, you’ll be disappointed. Exit the Gungeon is, at its best, a fun but shallow shooter, which doesn’t really deliver on its appealing premise. But if you’re prepared to take this light and fluffy sidequel for what it is, there’s still joy to be had on your way out of the Gungeon.

While it certainly is a new game in the "Gungeon" series, Exit the Gungeon lacks the uniqueness that procedural generation can give a game. If you're a big fan of the original then chances are you'll still very much enjoy this title, with such a small and repetitive gameplay loop though others might find the game lacking.

The game does translate the hair-trigger chaos of bullet hell to a 2D sidescroller, but it’s not a perfect landing. While the highly skilled will get the most out of the mechanics, a bit too much is stacked against you and left to chance, making it less fun to attempt to meet the challenge. The game was released to Apple Arcade last September, and is now available on PC and Nintendo Switch for $9....