Gonner
A roguelike shooter described as a shooter version of Spelunky.
Gonner (written as GoNNER) is a roguelike game from developer Art in Heart and publisher Raw Fury. It launched on October 12, 2016 for Windows, macOS, and Linux. A Nintendo Switch version was originally set for June 8, 2017, but was pushed back to June 29, 2017. Critics have called it a "shooter" take on Spelunky. A follow-up, Gonner 2, was revealed during the Guerrilla Collective livestream and came out on October 22, 2020.
**Gameplay** The game’s roguelike elements let players unlock different heads and limbs across multiple runs. These act as passive items, making bullets larger, speeding up fire, or granting other abilities. Gonner has four worlds, and players advance by defeating each world’s final boss.
**Release** GoNNER was shown at PAX East 2016. It hit Steam and GOG.com on October 12, 2016, and the Humble Store the next day.
**Reception** Reviews were positive. On Metacritic, the Nintendo Switch version scored 79 out of 100 (14 reviews), while the PC version scored 81 out of 100 (5 reviews). Adam Smith of Rock, Paper, Shotgun called the game “an absolute delight” and said it always felt good to play. Preston Dozsa of Hooked Gamers gave it an 8.5 out of 10, noting that frequent deaths mean it’s not for everyone, but for those who stick with it, GoNNER is “a rewarding, challenging experience that is a blast to play.”
Quick Facts
- Italic Title
- yes
- Title
- Gonner
- Developer
- Art in Heart
- Publisher
- Raw Fury
- Engine
- Unity
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Released
- Windows, macOS, LinuxWW · October 12, 2016Nintendo SwitchWW · June 29, 2017PlayStation 4WW · May 15, 2018Xbox OneWW · September 14, 2018
- Genre
- Roguelike
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Gonner was shown at PAX East 2016 before its release on October 12, 2016 via Steam and GOG.com, with a Humble Store release the following day. The game features roguelike mechanics where players unlock different heads and limbs over multiple playthroughs; these act as passive items that alter abilities such as bullet size and firing speed. There are four worlds, each ending with a boss that must be defeated to progress. A Nintendo Switch version was originally scheduled for June 8, 2017 but was delayed to June 29, 2017. A sequel, Gonner 2, was announced during the Guerrilla Collective livestream event and released on October 22, 2020.
Reader's Guide
Gonner received positive reviews. On Metacritic, the PC version scored 81/100 based on 5 reviews, and the Nintendo Switch version scored 79/100 based on 14 reviews. Adam Smith of Rock, Paper, Shotgun stated the game always felt good and called playing it 'an absolute delight'. Preston Dozsa of Hooked Gamers awarded an 8.5/10 rating, noting that Gonner is not for everyone due to the frequency of deaths, but for those who persevere, it is a rewarding, challenging experience that is a blast to play. The game is notable for being described as a 'shooter' version of Spelunky, and its roguelike elements—unlockable heads and limbs with passive effects—add replayability across four worlds.
Did You Know?
- The Nintendo Switch version was delayed from June 8, 2017 to June 29, 2017.
- The game has been described as a 'shooter' version of Spelunky.
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