Enter the Gungeon
A top-down bullet hell roguelike with procedurally generated dungeons.
Enter the Gungeon is a 2016 bullet hell roguelike video game developed by American studio Dodge Roll and published by Devolver Digital. Set in a firearms-themed dungeon called the Gungeon, players control characters called Gungeoneers who traverse procedurally generated rooms to find a gun that can 'kill the past'. The game features permadeath, a wide variety of conventional and exotic weapons, and a hub area called the Breach where players can unlock new items and interact with non-player characters.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Enter the Gungeon
- Developer
- Dodge Roll
- Publisher
- Devolver Digital
- Engine
- Unity
- Platforms
- Linux · macOS · PlayStation 4 · Windows · Xbox One · Nintendo Switch · Google Stadia · Android · iOS
- Released
- Linux, macOS, PS4, Windows · April 5, 2016 · Xbox One · April 5, 2017 · Switch · December 14, 2017 · Stadia · December 22, 2020 · Android, iOS · August 2025
- Genre
- Bullet hell, Roguelite
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Designer
- Dave Crooks
- Programmer
- David Rubel · Brent Sodman
- Artist
- Joe Harty
- Composer
- Doseone
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Enter the Gungeon was developed by four former Mythic Entertainment employees who left the company in 2014 to form Dodge Roll. Lead designer Dave Crooks derived the name 'Gungeon' after listening to the soundtrack for the game Gun Godz. The team created the game's lore over a lunch meeting and spent weeks developing prototypes. The game's dungeons are procedurally generated from handcrafted, playtested rooms. Many guns were inspired by earlier games such as Mega Man and Metroid, and mechanics like flipping tables and dodge rolls were implemented to encourage players to use the environment. The dodge roll mechanic was inspired by Ikaruga and Dark Souls, and the studio named itself after this mechanic.
Reader's Guide
Enter the Gungeon is notable for its blend of bullet hell and roguelike elements, with critics comparing it favorably to The Binding of Isaac and Nuclear Throne. The game received positive reviews for its creative gun designs and difficulty. It sold over three million copies by June 2020. Dodge Roll released several free content updates from 2017 to 2019, including 'Supply Drop' (January 2017), 'Advanced Gungeons & Draguns' (July 2018), and 'A Farewell to Arms' (April 2019). A third major update was canceled in November 2018 due to development fatigue. A platform game spin-off, Exit the Gungeon, was released in 2019, and a direct sequel, Enter the Gungeon 2, is set for release in 2026. The game was ported to Xbox One (April 2017), Nintendo Switch (December 2017), Google Stadia (December 2020), and iOS/Android (August 2025).
Did You Know?
- The name 'Gungeon' came to lead designer Dave Crooks after listening to the soundtrack for the game Gun Godz.
- Dodge Roll named their studio after the game's dodge roll mechanic.
- The game's 'Advanced Gungeons & Draguns' update was released on July 19, 2018, and included balance changes to make the game easier for inexperienced players.
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