Lil Guardsman Reviews

Lil Guardsman is ranked in the 93rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8 / 10
Jan 23, 2024

Lil Guardsman's mix of border control and adventure is a whole heap of fun, with genuine comedic moments combined with great acting. There are a few issues with the story, with the occasional inconsistency or predictable moment, but all in all this is a great addition to the genre.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jan 23, 2024

Lil' Guardsman is a truly wonderful comedy game, with Papers, Please style border guarding gameplay in a charming fantasy setting.

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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
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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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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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
Jan 23, 2024

With so many fleshed-out characters to get to know through its Papers-Please-lite gameplay, there’s good reason to grant Lil’ Guardsman entry to your Switch.

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90%
Jan 23, 2024

Lil’ Guardsman is an entertainingly hilarious heartfelt adventure.

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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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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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GameSpew
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Jan 23, 2024

Lil’ Guardsman is so much fun to play. Players will be laughing out loud from the very beginning and will enjoy the fun references and silly jokes throughout. And those that like to play games multiple times will be able to see all of the different options and outcomes.

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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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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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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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8.2 / 10.0
Jan 23, 2024

Lil Guardsman is funny, occasionally heartwarming, and a ton of fun.  It takes a simple premise and builds it into a unique and excellent video game.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jan 23, 2024

Lil Guardsman is a point-and-click adventure where you interview people, almost always resulting in funny situations and dialogue. If that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, you may not enjoy the game. But if you have ever enjoyed a game in a similar vein to this I highly recommend checking it out. Hilltop Studios has created a fun, endearing and funny adventure that I won’t soon forget.

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Loved
Jan 23, 2024

I thoroughly enjoyed Lil’ Guardsman, and I’ll enjoy it for a while longer while I get more endings. Meanwhile, I’ll recommend it several times to the same people until they finally decide enough is enough and try it themselves. It’s that good

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9 / 10.0
Jan 23, 2024

Lil Guardsman absolutely surprised me with its detail, depth, humor, and heart.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jan 23, 2024

Lil’ Guardsman’s witty humor and laid-back style make an investigation and puzzle title fun and leave the player eager to receive the next decree and continue with their interrogations, which could decide the future of Sprawl. Even without subtitles in Portuguese, it is a great recommendation for those who want a challenge to complete without rushing while having a lot of laughs.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jan 23, 2024

Lil' Guardsman speaks to all parts of me. The child in me who fell in love with adventure games, the 30-year-old who looks back on them longingly, and the jaded human living in 2024 who needed a laugh. It's so genuinely funny, so full of heart, and it's one game you should immediately allow entry to your gaming library in 2024.

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