It’s not an everyday occurrence for a roguelike game to completely catch me off guard, but Gunhead managed to do just that. This mech-based first-person shooter, set within randomly generated alien spacecraft, combines elements reminiscent of Borderlands in its art style and Titanfall 2 in its gameplay, even though it diverges in unexpected ways.
As soon as I started playing the Gunhead demo on Steam, I was immediately struck by the exceptional feel of controlling the mech. You swiftly maneuver through tight spaces using dashes and jetpacks, all while simultaneously firing four different weapons, resulting in a frenetic FPS experience. Given the array of weapons and the pace of the action, it evokes the sensation of a more streamlined and high-speed version of Titanfall 2.
A significant portion of your battles in Gunhead takes place within interconnected, randomly generated rooms, introducing the roguelike element to this FPS. You must navigate these alien spaceships to locate and destroy their central system core. You can preview the layout in advance and plan your loadout with 50 weapon choices and a variety of mechs to unlock (in the full game at least), offering delightful diversity.
The premise may be straightforward, but what truly impressed me was the satisfaction derived from controlling your mech in Gunhead. It may not replicate the heft of a Titanfall mech, but the movement mechanics it offers are immensely gratifying.
Gunhead’s cel-shaded visuals swiftly brought to mind the aesthetics of Borderlands, blending a nearly comic book-style appearance with vibrant colors and a multitude of sci-fi elements. As a dedicated fan of roguelike games at PCGamesN, the Gunhead demo has certainly piqued my interest in what the full game has to offer.
You can currently try out Gunhead for free through a Steam demo, with the full release slated for Wednesday, November 8th, on the Valve platform.
In the meantime, we’ve also compiled breakdowns of the best roguelike games and space-themed games currently available on PC, in case Gunhead has sparked a particular gaming interest for you.In this free-to-play first-person shooter roguelike, Titanfall 2 and Borderlands collide.