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Enter the Gungeon Review: Is This Bullet-Hell Roguelike Worth Playing?

Enter the Gungeon pairs responsive bullet-hell combat with changing runs, secrets, and a huge variety of weapons. Its challenge rewards persistence but may not suit players seeking forgiving play or strong permanent progression.
Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team

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Enter the Gungeon is worth playing if you enjoy learning enemy patterns, surviving demanding fights, and discovering a different mix of weapons and items on each run. Its responsive twin-stick combat and secrets make it highly replayable, but the difficulty is real—and its progression is less about building a character permanently than about unlocking discoveries and getting better at the game.

What kind of game is Enter the Gungeon?

Developed by Dodge Roll and published by Devolver Digital, Enter the Gungeon is a top-down bullet-hell dungeon crawler released on Steam on April 5, 2016. You choose a hero, descend through changing floors, fight enemies and bosses, and search for the legendary gun that can kill the past. Steam’s listing describes both single-player and multiplayer/shared-screen support.

The central challenge is active and immediate: aim and shoot while reading volleys of enemy fire, use cover where it helps, and dodge roll through danger. The weapons and items you find during a run shape how you approach its fights, so success depends on movement and judgment as much as on finding a powerful gun.

What makes the runs replayable?

Floors, bosses, weapons, items, and secrets give each attempt room to feel different. The variety is not just a collection of guns to admire: it asks you to adapt to what turns up and make the best of the tools available. Exploring and discovering new possibilities is a major part of the appeal.

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#1 Best Overall
Enter/Exit the Gungeon - Nintendo Switch
  • The Gungeon: Enter the Gungeon – a constantly evolving bullet hell fortress that elegantly blends meticulously hand-designed rooms within a procedurally-generated labyrinth bent on destroying all that enter its walls. But beware – the Gungeon responds to even the most modest victory against its sentries and traps by raising the stakes and the challenges found within!
  • The Cult of the Gundead: The Gungeon isn’t just traps and chasms – calm your nerves and steady your aim as you face down the gun-totting Cult of the Gundead. These disciples of the gun will stop at nothing to put down the heroes in their tracks and employ any tactics necessary to defend their temple.
  • The Gungeoneers: Choose between one of several unlikely heroes, each burdened by a deep regret and in search of a way to change their past, no matter the cost. Filled with equal parts courage and desperation, these adventurers won’t hesitate to dive across flaming walls, roll through a wall of bullets, or take cover behind whatever is around to make it to their goal alive!
  • The Guns: Discover and unlock scores of uniquely fantastic guns to annihilate all that oppose you in the Gungeon – each carrying their own unique tactics and ammunition. Unleash everything from the tried and true medley of missiles, lasers, and cannonballs to the bizarrely effective volley of rainbows, fish, foam darts, and bees! Yep, bees.
  • The Gungeon has become a paradox and is collapsing! Blessed by the magic of the Sorceress, your gun will change rapidly as you ascend the Gungeon. The better you play, and the higher your combo, the more powerful the form your gun will take.

That structure also explains the game’s progression trade-off. You can make unlocks and discoveries, but the experience is not primarily a steady climb in permanent character power. If you want every attempt to add substantial lasting strength, the run-based structure may feel stingy; if you like learning through repeated attempts, it has more to offer.

Is Enter the Gungeon hard?

Yes. Difficulty is a defining feature, not an optional side challenge. Enemies fill the screen with projectiles, and avoiding damage means reading patterns and moving precisely. The April 8, 2016 review excerpt from We Got This Covered summed up the appeal as “It’s extremely difficult, but equally rewarding.”

Rank #2
Enter the Gungeon - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]
  • The Gungeon: Enter the Gungeon – a constantly evolving bullet hell fortress that elegantly blends meticulously hand-designed rooms within a procedurally-generated labyrinth bent on destroying all that enter its walls.
  • The Cult of the Gundead: The Gungeon isn’t just traps and chasms – calm your nerves and steady your aim as you face down the gun-totting Cult of the Gundead.
  • The Gungeoneers: Choose between one of several unlikely heroes, each burdened by a deep regret and in search of a way to change their past, no matter the cost.
  • The Guns: Discover and unlock scores of uniquely fantastic guns to annihilate all that oppose you in the Gungeon – each carrying their own unique tactics and ammunition.

That balance will not suit everyone. A Play UK review excerpt on Metacritic cautioned that the steep difficulty curve and limited persistent progression could put off more casual players. The game offers unlocks and discoveries, but those do not remove the need to improve your timing and decision-making. If repeated attempts and gradual mastery sound satisfying, the challenge can be the point; if you want a forgiving run or a strong sense of permanent advancement, expect friction.

What do reviews say?

Critics have generally responded favorably. When retrieved on October 8, 2026, Metacritic showed an all-platform critic score of 82/100 from 33 reviews and a Nintendo Switch critic score of 87/100 from 18 reviews. These are dated snapshots of changing review aggregates, not guarantees of how every player will feel.

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Rank #3
Enter/Exit the Gungeon
  • Enter the Gungeon: -Der Gungeon: Eine sich ständig weiterentwickelnde höllische Festung, die handgezeichnete Kammern elegant mit einem prozedural generierten Labyrinth verbindet, das jeden Eindringling zu vernichten versucht. Nimm dich in Acht – der Gungeon reagiert auf deine Siege gegen seine Wächter und Fallen, indem er dich mit immer schwierigeren Herausforderungen konfrontiert!

EGM’s April 5, 2016 review, quoted in the Metacritic listing, called the game “one of the most polished games I’ve ever played,” pointing in particular to its multitude of items. Destructoid’s review highlighted the combination of dungeon exploration, demanding gunplay, and a distinctive visual identity. The common thread is a tightly focused action game whose depth comes from its combat and variety rather than a forgiving pace.

Can you play with someone else?

Steam lists single-player and multiplayer/shared-screen support. That supports local shared-screen play as an option on the listing, but does not establish online co-op. If multiplayer is important, check the exact platform and edition before buying: the cited listing does not settle platform-specific details.

Rank #4
Enter The Gungeon: Deluxe Edition - Nintendo Switch
  • The physical version of Enter the Gungeon includes all DLC, Exclusive “Shotgun Kin” Playable Skin, Exclusive Stickers, Exclusive Bullet Kin Paper craft, Reversible Jacket Artwork and a download code for the Original Soundtrack of Enter the Gungeon.
  • The Gungeon: Enter the Gungeon - a constantly evolving bullet hell fortress that elegantly blends meticulously hand-designed rooms within a procedurally-generated labyrinth bent on destroying all that enter its walls.
  • The Cult of the Gun dead: The Gungeon isn't just traps and chasms - calm your nerves and steady your aim as you face down the gun-toting Cult of the Gun dead.
  • The Gungeoneers: Choose between one of several unlikely heroes, each burdened by a deep regret and in search of a way to change their past, no matter the cost.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Which edition should you consider?

Digital listings provide a straightforward route to the game, while the documented Switch physical package adds collectibles. The right choice depends on whether you value convenience or physical extras; current pricing and availability are not established by the cited listings.

Option What the cited listing establishes What to check
Steam digital listing The game is listed for Steam, with single-player and multiplayer/shared-screen features. The Collector’s Edition is described as including the game, soundtrack, digital comic, and an instant Microtransaction Gun unlock. Steam listing Current price, availability, and the exact edition contents shown at checkout.
Nintendo Switch digital listing Nintendo lists the Switch version and marks its behavior as consistent with Nintendo Switch. Nintendo listing Current regional price, availability, and platform-specific multiplayer details.
Nintendo Switch physical edition Nighthawk Interactive documents a package with all DLC, a Shotgun Kin playable skin, stickers, Bullet Kin papercraft, reversible jacket artwork, and the original soundtrack. Nighthawk Interactive package description Current stock and price, whether a used copy includes all extras, and whether the package matches your region.

Who should play it?

Enter the Gungeon is a strong fit if you want precise, fast-moving combat; enjoy learning bosses and bullet patterns; and like runs built around changing gear and discoveries. It is a less natural fit if you need a gentle difficulty curve, substantial permanent character progression, or confirmed online co-op. For players who welcome the challenge, its combination of responsive shooting, dodge rolls, secrets, and run-to-run variety gives it lasting appeal.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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