Lil Guardsman Reviews

Lil Guardsman is ranked in the 93rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9 / 10.0
Mar 7, 2024

Lil Guardsman is a delightful game that draws you into the complex and nuanced story of a well-constructed fantasy world and explores its political turmoil. The characters and dialogue are wonderfully written, with a great sense of humor and clear indication that your choices, no matter how small, make an impact.

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Unscored
Feb 23, 2024

An endearing fantasy adventure driven by a more puzzle-led variation of Papers, Please's border checks. It may lack the moral greyness of its source material, but this is still a winsome tale about the rippling effect of everyday decisions.

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9 / 10.0
Feb 15, 2024

Lil Guardsman is a perfect palate cleanser in this sea of bigger releases in early 2024. Its heartwarming and genuinely funny story and cast of characters make multiple playthroughs a joy and not a chore to replay. I have become a huge fan of indie games in the past few years, and developer Hilltop Studios have come out swinging with Lil Guardsman. Perfectly walking that line between cozy and comedy, I loved every minute of this one and if you need a smile; I highly recommend it.

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8 / 10.0
Feb 15, 2024

Lil' Guardsman is a standout indie game that combines humor, strategy, and point-and-click elements, presenting a compelling story of a girl guarding her town. Its gameplay is enriched with decision-making, gadgets, and a time-control feature, offering replayability and a diverse character cast set in a visually stunning world reminiscent of Disney's Gravity Rush, making it a memorable experience on portable platforms like the Steam Deck

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GameGrin
Top Critic
9.5 / 10.0
Feb 15, 2024

Lil' Guardsman is a cute yet hilarious point-and-click adventure with a surprisingly deep story. No level is the same, and it has a lot of heart, making it perfect for anyone wanting to have a laugh.

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Digital Spy
Top Critic
Feb 14, 2024

Lil' Guardsman is charming and novel enough that it's worth playing, but a flawed approach that skirts around aspects of the core idea holds the overall experience back.

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4.5 / 5.0
Feb 6, 2024

Set in the quirky fantasy kingdom of the Sprawl, the 12-year-old Lil finds themselves covering for their dad one day, taking over for his duties as guardsman. Now this one gig will help set off a chain of events that could determine the Sprawl's outcome, in this Papers, Please-inspired comedy adventure game.

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95%
Feb 1, 2024

If you're looking for quality satire full of imagination, definitely give Lil' Guardsman a shot.

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10 / 10.0
Jan 31, 2024

Witty banter, evocative storytelling, whimsical art, and spot-on voice acting makes Lil’ Guardsman a game not to be missed. Is it too soon to give it my Game of the Year?

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9 / 10.0
Jan 29, 2024

Unique, funny and so entertaining, Lil' Guardsman has all the traits I want from games in my old age. Lil' Guardsman is like nothing else on the market, it's beautiful and so well written that its world will swallow you whole. It's not often you get to play a game that makes you smile from start to finish but Lil' Guardsman stole a Lil' piece of my heart. I cannot recommend it enough.

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Yes
Jan 26, 2024

Hilltop Studios debuts in a big way with Lil' Guardsman, a humorous game inspired by titles such as Monkey Island and Papers, Please, which offers a cartoonish and fun adventure. The effort put by the studio in all sections is noticeable, resulting in an extremely complete and recommendable experience.

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Evan Norris
Top Critic
7.5 / 10.0
Jan 26, 2024

Combining the rules of Papers, Please with the whimsical sensibility of classic LucasArts games is far from an obvious choice, but the results speak for themselves. Lil' Guardsman is a lovely adventure game that succeeds mechanically, creatively, and comically.

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7.3 / 10.0
Jan 25, 2024

If you've ever thought that operating a guard post sounds like a mundane job then check out Lil' Guardsman where every person you admit or deny has a big impact on the fate of the city. This hilariously silly indie has heart, making the most tedious of jobs entertaining. 💂

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8.5 / 10.0
Jan 25, 2024

Yes, it’s completely filled with silliness, often times taking clear inspiration from games like Return to Monkey Island, but there’s a lot more to it than just zany humor. At times it has real heart, especially when it comes to the relationship between Lil and her father. Not every sinister looking monster is truly a villain, some are just poor, misunderstood creatures looking for some compassion. Lil’ Guardsman is absolutely delightful to play, and you should allow it entry into your life.

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8.3 / 10.0
Jan 25, 2024

For once a game that somewhat picks up the Papers, Please torch has managed to do something cool with it

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9.5 / 10.0
Jan 24, 2024

Lil' Guardsman is a fun game that expertly combines story and gameplay. It’s built around a loveable central character who finds herself at the core of an interesting although familiar narrative. The deduction mechanics require players to pay attention, but the game also smartly gives them a rewind ability if they want to retcon some choices.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jan 24, 2024

Lil’ Guardsman adds a fantasy-fuelled, Saturday morning cartoon twist to the Paper’s, Please formula, and believe me, it’s a whole lotta fun. I loved using every trick at my disposal to learn the intentions of the bizarre folk trying to make their way into the city, whilst there was nothing better than getting the perfect score in each interrogation. Add to that the funny little side tasks, the wonderful visuals that make up the charming world, and the excellent voice acting that brings each interrogation to life, and you’ll quickly find that this quirky puzzler definitely deserves your attention.

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95 / 100
Jan 23, 2024

Lil’ Guardsman is one of the better deduction games that takes on a very cozy approach with its art style and voice acting, but it keeps you hooked on its story. Fans of social deduction games will definitely enjoy this strange release for its incredibly strange and whacky events, but they’ll also be pleasantly surprised at just how deceiving looks can be.

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4.6 / 5.0
Jan 23, 2024

Lil’ Guardsman is a fantastic, fun story with a whimsical tone that allows the voice acting and art direction to shine in the fully developed world that has been created. The gameplay is polished, although there is a little confusion about how certain characters should be questioned. If you are a fan of characters full of life and fun, a story with choices that have lasting effects, and a fascinating cast of characters, then Lil’ Guardsman is undoubtedly a game for you.

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Rectify Gaming
Will "Fncwill"
7 / 10.0
Jan 23, 2024

Lil’ Gaurdsman is a game that offers a unique and enjoyable experience, with a lot of replay value. It is a game that will make you laugh, think, and feel, as you explore the world of the Sprawl and its inhabitants. , and is a game that will appeal to fans of Papers Please, or anyone who likes games that involve decision-making, storytelling, and fantasy, but may make some players confused on how to play with a lack of proper tutorial and instructions on how to use the tools in the game.

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