REVIEW: ‘Buckshot Roulette’ Is A Bang Worthy Of Every Buck (PC)

Buckshot Roulette, a first-person tabletop horror game by Mike Klubnika and CRITICAL REFLEX, is a high-octane twist on the concept of Russian Roulette. Instead of a revolver, rack your rounds and nerves into a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun. It mirrors the intensity of its namesake through its short-rounded gameplay that continually tests your luck and ramps you up.

Risk-takers and thrill-seekers face off against an ominous presence called The Dealer. As players approach the table, his form is shrouded in an aura of mystery and malevolence. With each movement, his white-gloved hands beckon players to uncertainty. You sign his waiver regardless; his sharp, toothy smile is somehow more sinister.

The game table is the main playground located above an active nightclub. The muffled bass thumping through the walls complements the high-risk, high-reward intensity of the game. Its upbeat energy rallies you for the next trigger pull or reminds you of your equally anxious heartbeat. Once you sign your life away to The Dealer, the roulette begins. A digital counter on the table will illuminate how much life you and The Dealer have for each round.

The goal is to best The Dealer and make it through the three rounds that generate different health bars and the number of shotgun shells. The arrangement of blue (blank) and red (live) shells appears quickly on the table, scaling from merely two to a full stack of eight. The Dealer quickly racks the shells randomly and then places the gun across the table. With quivering hands, rounds always start with the player choosing to either aim the shotgun at themself or The Dealer. 

As you and the Dealer begin to exchange blasts, Buckshot Roulette quickly unfolds into anything but simple interactions. The tabletop is gritty and exudes an unconventional appearance. There are distinct sections marked by white lines with four square quadrants in each corner. Additionally, there’s a rectangle in front of you and a line that runs across the middle, indicating your side and The Dealers. These geometric spaces serve as repositories and holding spaces for items obtained during gameplay.

Items are essential to the madness of Buckshot Roulette. They transform the game from a mildly enjoyable experience to a chaotic, adrenaline-fueled frenzy. A metal box appears on the table at the beginning of a new round. Its presence signals the onset of unpredictable twists. Inside the container are several types of items that can either help you or sabotage The Dealer.

Cigarettes, for instance, will help tack the edge off and regain one health bar. Alternatively, a handsaw will maw off the tip of the barrel, resulting in double damage. That is, should you happen to be lucky enough to unload a live round onto The Dealer. Whether obtaining three or four items, the selection is randomized. Adding items strips away any sense of subdued anxiousness and charges players with a sensation of confidence and victory.

At any point during the three rounds of Buckshot Roulette, players may falsely anticipate victory and instead are met with defeat. When you lose to The Dealer, the loop begins again as you bolt your way through to where it all began. Reconvene at the table with The Dealer standing across you once more. It’s a loop that feels masochistic as you continually entertain The Dealer with this overtop rendition of the classic Russian Roulette. Should you deliver the last blow, however, you’ll be rewarded with a briefcase stacked with cash. You can’t do anything with the money, but at least you finally bested The Dealer.

Completing the game once unlocks Double or Nothing mode. This new mode is introduced specifically for the title’s Steam release and includes new items, a boon for players familiar with its initial itch.io debut. In Double or Nothing, you can amplify your winnings or risk losing it all by choosing to play through another roulette round. The new items perfectly fit into the delirium, furthering the excitement of winning it all. Continue to chase the thrills of winning or cash out while you’re still ahead.

Buckshot Roulette is an adrenaline-fueled gameplay experience that unfolds roughly under twenty minutes. While surprisingly short, it manages to maintain its twisted, macabre thrill. Luck and odds collide in this high-stakes game where every trigger pulled mounts anticipation and nerves. It feels daunting at first, not knowing what to make of everything.

Once you embrace the absurdity, trying to best The Dealer quickly becomes an engaging experience. Every randomly acquired item becomes a plan with an action that begins to play out aloud from misplaced confidence. Buckshot Roulette holds no storyline whatsoever, but it doesn’t need it. It’s a quick, high-risk, high-reward title you can easily pick up anytime. Sitting at just $2.99 on Steam, why not step right up and test your chances?

Buckshot Roulette is now available on Steam.