Many games market themselves as a celebration of the media, though in reality few ever achieve this. Often, selling to people’s nostalgia means that the game fails to hold up in its own. As a result, the true celebrations tend to be titles that have nostalgia as a secondary factor. Enter The Gungeon is one of those games. While it is certainly valid to introduce it as a game that celebrates gaming history, that would certainly ignore the many other things that make it an addictive, fulfilling title.

Legend speaks of a gun that can “kill the past”, healing one of past sorrows and amending past wrongs. It is believed to be located deep within The Gungeon, a dangerous labyrinth where everything has been mutated to contain allusions or puns related to weaponry. Four companions set out to obtain this weapon for themselves. A deadly criminal, battle hardened marine, sly pilot, and skilled huntress make for an unorthodox team, yet they work together to survive the dangers within the famed Gungeon.

Being a rogue like, story certainly isn’t Enter The Gungeon‘s primary focus. The main story is adequate, though if tasked with a synopsis of the main plot, the opening cutscene and final cutscene would be all I need. The establishment of protagonists and their motives is all a rogue like’s story needs to do, and in that regard, Enter The Gungeon‘s succeeds.

However, what makes Gungeon‘s world remarkable is the seemingly endless amount of lore and diverse cast of characters. From the fractious Ox to the welcoming but short tempered shopkeeper, every character in Enter The Gungeon adds to the overall charm to the game. Every character has something to say and is distinct in a way that they can not be forgotten. Everytime I save a new character, I always look forward to the conversations to be had since the provide new insight to the Gungeon and are always humorous. The many characters of Enter the Gungeon help make the world feel alive and provide storytelling in a non traditional manner.

Everything in Enter The Gungeon has a story. The Ammonicon, a book that serves as an inventory overview, doubles as an encyclopædia of all the enemies and items in the game. Even with hundreds of entities detailed, the writers always had a creative spin. Most entries follow a two paragraph format: half of the entry dedicated to practical information, the other half containing history or a joke about the element in question. There is always a witty caption next to the name of each item, too. These entries were constituents of Gungeon‘s story as much as the main plot. The histories make the Gungeon seem like something out of legend, instead of a setting materialized for the player. Weapons used by famed gungeoneers of the past and bosses with roles in Gungeon society help scaffold a world deeper than any other rogue like. The Dramatis Personae in the prior paragraph are also mentioned in some of the descriptions, which only further the interwoven nature of the Gungeon’s universe. There is no flavor text in Enter The Gungeon; words that seem incoherent at first will eventually concatenate to create an intricate world.

Of course, the quality of a rogue like isn’t based on the world building. However, I often felt the world beckoned my return, even when I was frustrated and wanted to quit. The excitement of finding a new item is two fold: I get to try out a new tool in a game full of interesting, convivial ones, and I can read a new description. Although I didn’t realize it at first, retrospect shows that the world building was one of the most addictive aspects of Enter The Gungeon.

No matter how great the world building is, it doesn’t serve as a supplement for poor gameplay in a rogue like. Luckily, the gameplay is even stronger than the already stellar story. Being a rogue like, Enter The Gungeon is built on a gameplay loop of attempting to complete the game, dying and losing all the materialistic gain from the run, but gleaning new insight each time. A run starts with choosing a character, each with their own characteristics that make their gameplay distinct. You start off with a few items, and must obtain the rest from the Gungeon. During a run, you may discover new techniques and enemies, or unlock a new weapon. Unlocking weapons in Gungeon is not the same as in most games. When you start the game for the first time, only a small selection of impedimenta appear in chests and stores. The rest have prerequisites that must be completed to be able to find them in the aforementioned locations. Some are purchased using Hegemony Credits, a currency that is earned from defeating bosses and carries over between runs. Others are unlocked after completing a specific task. This unlock system means that almost every run will serve a purpose; you might get one step closer to completing a side quest, or be closer to purchasing an item you want to be able to find.

Needless to say, the most valuable acquisition in any run is experience. Whenever I died, I always thought about what I had done correctly and where I had failed. Rarely was there a run that held no value. Whether it is learning a new enemy’s attack patterns, the optimal way to use a weapon, or discovering a new secret, every run brings the player one step closer to mastering the Gungeon (Though that might not happen for thousands of attempts). It is practically impossible not to achieve something in a run, a design choice that made Enter The Gungeon unspeakably addictive. Even if I decided that I would “only play one round of Gungeon” before doing something else, this would rarely be the case. Making every attempt feel successful in some regard is often hard to accomplish without devaluing the accomplishments, yet Enter The Gungeon has a masterful gameplay loop that does this.

Another aspect of Enter The Gungeon that makes it enjoyable to play is the movement system. Set on a 2D plane, characters can run in any direction. Aiming is independently controlled by the 2nd analog stick on consoles and the mouse on PC. Since items can be used while mobile, Enter The Gungeon constantly encourages movement. There is no advantage to remaining stationary since running has no detriment on the player’s other abilities. This is critical, as it provides a basis for a run and gun style of gameplay. The quick paced action of Gungeon is made complete by the dodge roll. If a game mechanic shares a name with the company that created it, that must signify some importance! The press of a button causes the character to roll in an inputted direction, immune to all attacks while airborne. However, when they alight, the character returns to their prior status. This means that dodge rolling is strategic; deciding where you will land is as important as choosing to roll in the first place. Mashing the button to dodge roll whenever you are in danger would cause your character to careen into the malicious spray of an enemy’s attack. Of course, in the frenzy of battle, there isn’t much time to contemplate where you will dodge roll, opening up a new skill. For skilled players, dodge rolling is second nature, while beginners will inevitably fail to optimally use it. In later floors, dodge rolling is essential; the enemy coordination will force the player to weave in and out of attacks, strategizing when to attack and when to flee. At that point, movement becomes a thing of beauty. Dodge rolling flows well with other movement, adding to the speed of combat and making the game a dance.

Dancing with death is both the physical and metaphorical embodiment of Enter the Gungeon. The game constantly forces you to make life or death decisions. In the randomized dungeons, part of the skill set needed is being able to choose risks. Does one spend their casings on health, or buy a better gun? Use the last key on this chest, or save it on the next floor in hopes of something better? When should you dodge roll, and where? When do you use the valuable blanks to destroy all the bullets on screen? Being skilled at Gungeon refers to more than your ability to aim a gun and move; it is also the tactical mind of the player that counts.

I bring up skill since traditional complaints about the rogue like genre stem from the randomized aspect. People often complain that there is little skill to rogue likes, and all it takes to win is a lucky run. While luck plays an important role in Enter The Gungeon, it doesn’t mitigate the skill required to beat the game. The design of the bosses and enemies is such that skill will triumph in the end, though it doesn’t hurt to have a strong weapon. I tested this by playing two ways: In one run, I had many powerful weapons, but didn’t concentrate on the game. In the other, I honed in on the game, but got very weak items. The results showed that the latter state performed better, and most importantly, was much more enjoyable. Another thing to note is that the developers consistently work to make the experience more fair. This doesn’t necessarily make the game easier, but players will not have unlucky runs that are impossible to salvage anymore. In the end, one will need some luck to complete the game, but at that point, they are already significantly skilled and deserving of the completion.

Although the clear highlight of Enter The Gungeon is the intense combat, the presentation of the game is also wonderful. The game, like so many other indies, opts for a pixel art, 16-Bit style. However, the level of detail in the art is superb, from mossy castle walls, to squalid sewers, to a clean, foreboding final lair. The characters and guns look very nice as well, but certain angles coupled with certain weapons lead to odd results (Though this is comedic and intentional). The music of Gungeon is superb. While I wouldn’t call it on par with soundtracks such as Hollow Knight and Celeste, the techno OST of Gungeon is notable for its contrast. The way the intense, high tempo battle themes contrast the peaceful, gentle area themes helped build the game thematically. There weren’t too many memorable pieces, though the soundtrack is always enjoyable to listen to. One track worth singling out is the main theme, which combines elements of surprise with vocals and a great accompaniment. The presentation of Enter The Gungeon helps build the themes of the game and adds to the overall polish.

Enter The Gungeon is the paragon of the rogue like genre. From the expertly crafted world to the addictive gameplay loop, everything the developers set out to do was successful, leading to one of the best products of the genre. It, along with games like Stardew Valley, deserve to be played by everyone who wants to try indie games. The way skill and luck are incorporated make every play session enjoyable. Enter The Gungeon is a game I am willing to sink hundreds of hours into, exploring all the secrets the world has to offer, and all who try the game will mirror my sentiments.