| Buckshot Roulette | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Mike Klubnika |
| Publisher(s) | Mike Klubnika |
| Engine | Godot |
| Platform(s) | Windows, Linux |
| Release | Dec 28, 2023 |
| Genre(s) | Action, Strategy, Horror, Retro |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Buckshot Roulette is a 2023 indie tabletop horror video game developed and published by Mike Klubnika on itch.io.[1] It features point-and-click controls and retro-style graphics. The game has been likened to Inscryption,[2] featuring gritty and industrial visuals instead. [3] Klubnika also composed the game's soundtrack.[4] It is coded in the Godot Game Engine.
Gameplay
The game involves the player playing a game of Russian roulette in an underground nightclub with a mysterious entity known as "The Dealer" (an AI), with the use of a 12-gauge shotgun rather than a revolver, which is traditionally used in Russian roulette. The game consists of three rounds, at the beginning of which, the Dealer loads the shotgun with a certain number of live shells and " blanks " in a random order. The player chooses to either shoot the Dealer or themselves; choosing the latter option with a blank in the chamber skips the Dealer's turn and the player gets another turn. Both the Dealer and the player are given the same amount of defibrillator charges, which will revive the player or Dealer when either are shot with a live round. A round is won when the player depletes the Dealer's charges, and lost if the Dealer depletes the player's. If the player loses on rounds 1 and 2, they are able to respawn indefinitely, which resets the round they lost on; however if the player loses on round 3, the game is over, and you have to restart. If the magazine is emptied and neither party has lost all their charges, the Dealer loads the shotgun again. Items are regularly given to both parties at the beginning of the second round, which can give an advantage to the user of the items.[2][5][4][6]
On January 12th, 2024, the game received update "v1.1", which added a new gameplay element known as "Double or Nothing", or "Endless Mode". The gamemode is accessed if the player takes optional pills at the beginning of the game. If taken, a random number of items are given on every round, along with a random number of charges, rather than the games item count and charge count being determined. Upon beating the Dealer, you are prompted with continuing the game and doubling your earnings, until you lose all your charges, which will force you to restart no matter the round you are on, or choose to leave with your money.[7]
Reception
The game quickly gained popularity on TikTok as streamers started showcasing it, which subsequently led to increased popularity on YouTube.[1][4][5][8] It has gained praise for its similarity to Inscryption, with multiple reviewers commending the strategic element introduced by the game's item system.[2][3][5]
References
- 1 2 "Buckshot Roulette Garnering Attention -". mxdwn Games. 2024-01-02. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- 1 2 3 O'Connor, Alice (2024-01-04). "Inscryption meets Russian Roulette in this weird short horror game". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- 1 2 Marshall, Cass (2024-01-09). "This indie game has you square off against a shotgun-wielding car dealer". Polygon. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- 1 2 3 Khan, Salman (2024-01-03). "Buckshot Roulette: A Dark Twist on Russian Roulette Gains Popularity". BNN Breaking. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- 1 2 3 "BUCKSHOT ROULETTE Is Taking The Spotlight On All Media". GameTyrant. 2024-01-02. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- ↑ Brendan Lowry (2024-01-10). "Is Buckshot Roulette on Xbox?". Windows Central. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ↑ "v1.1 - Buckshot Roulette by Mike Klubnika". itch.io. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
- ↑ Carcasole, David (2024-01-04). "Is Buckshot Roulette On PS5?". PlayStation Universe. Retrieved 2024-01-09.