Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Marvel's Spider-Man Secret Lair promotional image

    Get a Look At the Secret Lair x Marvel’s Spider-Man Superdrop

    09/08/2025
    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions gameplay still

    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions Is All About Adventure (with Friends)

    09/08/2025
    Chord in Persona 5 The Phantom X

    Now Is The Perfect Time To Jump Back In ‘Persona 5: The Phantom X’

    09/05/2025
    Cosmic Spider-Man card details

    [EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

    09/02/2025
    Lee Corso from College Football GameDay in EA Sports games

    EA Sports Always Understood Lee Corso’s Legacy

    09/01/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » PC » REVIEW: ‘Children of the Sun’ Makes You Feel Like A Badass (PC)

REVIEW: ‘Children of the Sun’ Makes You Feel Like A Badass (PC)

Matt SowinskiBy Matt Sowinski04/09/20245 Mins ReadUpdated:04/09/2024
Children of the Sun
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Occasionally, a game comes along that makes you feel awesome. The mechanics, vibe, art style, and gameplay all fit together perfectly, making the game not just a joy to play but also scratching a specific part of your brain. Superhot made you feel incredible taking down enemies. Rollerdrome had you skating your way through levels while blasting through enemies. The gameplay hook of Neon White was so finely tuned and featured some of the best platforming-level designs in recent memory. Children of the Sun, coming from René Rother and published by Devolver Digital, fits neatly into this already stacked category. The tactical puzzle shooter features some of the most rewarding gameplay I’ve experienced recently and just makes you feel like a badass.

Children of the Sun has a light but interesting narrative hook permeating each level. You play as The Girl, on a mission of revenge to take out the cult that betrayed your family. You hunt for The Leader, wading through a sea of bodies to get to and take him out. Some levels will start with a cutscene filled with incredibly stylized stills, showing more of the history between The Girl, The Cult, and The Leader. It isn’t in your face but works, and by the end, I was determined to help The Girl complete her mission.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Each level starts simply enough, with you loading into what will inevitably be a bloodbath of an arena. The location diversity is fantastic. Several levels are set in a forest, but each feels so distinct from the one before that I barely noticed. One may be a cut of road, broken down cars, or fires lighting the enemies as they walk. Another may be a campground, followed by a huge overpass, adding a ton of verticality to the encounter.

As you start the mission, you must pick the best spot to take your initial shot. The Girl can run left and right on the outskirts of the arena. Some let you make an entire circle around the arena, and others will limit your field of view. The first step is to find as many enemies as possible, marking them so you can keep track of where they are. Then, once you’ve mapped out the lay of the land, you take your shot. You have one bullet to take everyone out; this is where the hook digs deep.

Children of the Sun Gameplay

Killing the first enemy is great, but you must ensure you have sightlines for the next. The bullet hangs in midair, letting you redirect it to the next unsuspecting cult member. Children of the Sun starts simply enough: use one bullet as it ricochets between enemies to take them all out without hitting anything else. There are environmental pieces you can use to your advantage when planning: birds flying above, gas canisters, and gas tanks in cars. The game pushes you to make use of the entire landscape to succeed.

Soon enough, new elements are added. Curving the bullets makes you reconsider angles, counting on the curve to help you reach otherwise inaccessible targets. Enemies will start to highlight weak points. Hit enough of those, and you’ll be able to redirect the bullet midair, which becomes necessary when Psychic Cultists have giant glowing orbs of protection. Armored enemies will need a longer shot, manually pushing the bullet to ridiculous speeds to shred through their protection. The enemy variety isn’t massive, but Children of the Sun uses interesting positioning and environmental layout to make you think through each encounter.

The level design is incredibly put together. Each arena has enough littered around to make you concentrate on a clean line of fire. The bullet bending helps you navigate spaces creatively, dodging and ducking through cars and around pillars. Some enemies will be in huts, others in towers, while a select few will be whipping around the level in cars. Closely grouped enemies will start to react to their friends, getting their heads blown open as they try to run off. The plan you set at the beginning of each level is important, but reacting to the level is even more so.

Each level has you trying to rack up the highest score possible with an online leaderboard on display. Points are calculated using a few metrics, including time in level, body parts shot, and distance. Finding the best route through each encounter is challenging and a ton of fun. There are secret challenges, with only a hint on the level selection screen to help guide the way. I wish each level had a harder difficulty that would remix the enemy types or locations to use the spaces more.

Children of the Sun Gameplay

The art style, graphics, and music all fit the game perfectly. The forests are covered in darkness, fires, and brightly displayed targets lighting the way. Levels bend around the bullet as it accelerates, and colors warp into acid-tinged displays. It feels dour and grungy, fitting the revenge tale of Children of the Sun as vivid and uncomfortable animated cutscenes play out. The music is oppressive and heavy and complements each level perfectly.

Performance-wise, Children of the Sun ran with absolutely no issues on both my computer and Steam Deck. I played the majority of the game on Deck and had a fantastic time with it. The levels make it incredibly easy to pick up and put down when needed. It ran at a stable 60fps, and I experienced no technical issues whatsoever.

Children of the Sun is one of my favorite games this year. It makes you feel like a badass as you guide the bullet as it soars through each level. Figuring out a route to help you progress is so satisfying while diving back in for the optimal route/highest score is challenging and rewarding.

Children of the Sun is available on April 9th on Steam and verified on Steam Deck.

A code was provided for review by the publisher

Children of the Sun
  • 9/10
    Rating - 9/10
9/10

TL;DR

Children of the Sun is one of my favorite games this year. It makes you feel like a badass as you guide the bullet as it soars through each level.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Billy And Molly: An Otter Love Story’ Highlights How Nature Can Awaken You
Next Article REVIEW: ‘RoOT: Route of ODDTAXI’ Episode 2 — “Fancy Merch”
Matt Sowinski

Related Posts

Cronos: The New Dawn Nest
8.0

REVIEW: ‘Cronos: The New Dawn’ Does Post-Apocalyptic Psychological Horror Right

09/03/2025
Is This Seat Taken Diner
8.0

REVIEW: ‘Is This Seat Taken’ Seeks Place And Purpose

09/03/2025
Hell is Us
10.0

REVIEW: ‘Hell is Us’ Turns Getting Lost Into An Art Form

09/01/2025
Shuten Order keyart
8.5

REVIEW: ‘Shuten Order’ Is Fantastically Chaotic In Almost Every Way

08/29/2025
Shinobi Art of Vengeance permotional key art
9.0

REVIEW: Lizardcube’s ‘Shinobi: Art of Vengeance’ Is A Must-Play

08/25/2025
Fresh Tracks Key Art But Why Tho
9.0

REVIEW: ‘Fresh Tracks’ Brings Fresh Tunes And A Fresher Story

08/21/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
The Long Walk (2025) film review promotional image
9.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘The Long Walk’ Is The Most Heartfelt And Heartbreaking Stephen King Adaptation

By Kate Sánchez09/11/2025Updated:09/11/2025

The Long Walk is a brutal watch. Equally heartfelt and heartbreaking, it’s one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s work.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

EA Sports FC Icons Match promotional image from Nexon News

2025 Icons Match Returns With Football Legends Bridging The Pitch And Video Games

By Kate Sánchez09/03/2025Updated:09/03/2025

NEXON has announced the return of the ‘2025 Icons Match,’ a live event that brings a full roster of legendary players to the pitch.

Gojo Jujutsu Kaisen - But Why Tho (2) Features

Everything To Know About Satoru Gojo

By Kate Sánchez09/07/2023Updated:02/16/2025

Satoru Gojo is the heart of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 — now, heading into Cour 2, here is everything you need to know about the character.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here